2
“What do you
think, Lance? Should they hold new
elections?” Ginny, head in her arms as she sat in the cafetorium table across
from me. She had arrived early, ahead of
the others. I was always first to get a
head start on notes for The Sands of Loren.
She has been quiet for a while, except to say good morning. She knew my routine and let me have quiet to
write.
I put my pencil
down. She was still so beautiful to me,
Her auburn hair maybe a fraction longer than a year ago, her green flecked eyes
wide and expressive, her button nose, her sardonic smile – I had to remind
myself that she was with Artie now. They
had been together almost from the time the Trap fell. I was almost ashamed at how much I was still
attracted to her, but after what I had been through with Lisa, my flair for the romantic had been virtually
extinguished. I was just glad that Ginny
was a part of my life. She was a good
friend, and I hoped I would never lose that.
“New
elections? Why? Is Artie tired of it already?”
“Oh, you know
why. Granni-Knights still dominate the
Student Council. It’ll make it real
difficult for your Dad to manage things.”
I understood her
fear, but I was skeptical of Granite’s hold on them. “However, many of them got onto the council,
I doubt if they still feel beholden to a convicted murderer.”
“You’d be
surprised. I mean, my gosh, Lance, one
of them is Mark’s brother!” That was
true. Mark’s younger brother, Donald,
had won a Sophmore seat (class designations were becoming increasingly
meaningless, but there you go – soon we would all technically be adults) in the
last election.
“I don’t
know. Shouldn’t everyone be judged on their
own merits? The sins of one brother aren’t
necessarily the sins of the other brother.”
“You might be
right, but you might not. I think we
should start with a clean slate. If any
of the Granni-Knights run again and they’re re-elected, more power to them.”
“I disagree. We should at least, give it some time. See where their loyalties really lie.”
Ginny shook her
head, strong enough for her lovely, slightly curled hair to spin across her
face. “By then, it might be too late. I
think we should change things up before the dust settles, before Mark’s
defenders can strengthen their rationalization.”
“Or more evidence
comes out about what a monster he is” I still held out hope that he would be
held responsible for Lisa’s death.
“Look, I can dig
what you’re saying, but truthfully, Artie has told me that your Dad is 99
percent set on having elections by the middle of May. I can’t believe that Artie has to be the one
who has to tell me what your Dad is thinking.
Haven’t you two resolved your differences? Aren’t you two better now?”
“Better, yes. But no, we’re not talking administrative policy
or Student Council politics. Sorry.”
“It’s ok. I understand.
I still envy you your relationship with your father. My Dad is…well, not much like your Dad.”
From what I knew,
that was a bit of an understatement. William
Estill was the owner and pharmacist at Estill Pharmacy. The rumors were not all the prescriptions
made it onto the shelf. As far as I
knew, he wasn’t abusive to Ginny, but he was distant and cold.
“My Dad is a good
man. I won’t slip up again. I won’t withdraw from him again, no matter
what happens.”
“Will you run
again?”
“Run for what?”
“Student Council,
silly.”
I hadn’t thought
of that. Mostly because I had no interest
in resuming any kind of political career. “I don’t think so. Nepotism, and all that.”
“Still, if students
elected you, then that meant they were accepting of all that.” She grabbed my hands
and stared at me with those beautiful, intelligent eyes. My head swam. It was intoxicating. I instinctively squeezed her hand.
I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t want it. But I didn’t want not to support my Dad, or
the many students that had been hurt by the Granni-Knights. So, I deflected. “What about Artie? Will he run for
re-election?”
“I haven’t made up
my mind yet. I’m kinda waiting to see what
you and Lindsey do.” Artie had come up
to us while my mind had been absorbed in Ginny. He looked down and saw we were
holding hands. “Hey! Whatchu doing with my girl?”
I withdrew my hands
quickly, and at first, saw a dire look cross Artie’s face. It just lasted a millisecond, and he promptly
brightened with a smirk and a wink.
“How many times do
I have to tell you, Arthur Evans Pentler?
I’m not your possession. I don’t
belong to you,” Ginny said, her expression more amused than bothered.
He sat down next
to her and put his arm around her. They kissed
briefly. I thought she seemed embarrassed
by that, but it was probably just me reading into things.
“What about the
big Dance, Lance? Do you know about
that?”
“No. Not really.” I had not been involved with student dances
since the one just before Lisa’s murder, the one with the violent confrontation
with Robert Pelley.
“It’s something
your Dad initiated, Lance,” said Artie. “A
celebration of a return to normalcy.”
“Please don’t miss
it, Lance,” Ginny urged. “It will be
good for you.”
There were too many
bad memories. I doubted that another
dance was capable of washing them away.
Artie stood up and
extended his hand to Ginny. “Come to me
to my Kasbah.”
Okay, I wasn’t
even sure what that meant. It felt like
I had stepped into the middle of something that I had of no knowledge or part.
“What, my little
Poohbah?” she replied. “Why would I want to be a part of your Harem? Just another lass for you to fawn over?”
“Ah, but my
dear! You are not just another Harem
girl; you are THE Harem girl.”
That was more than
I could take. “You two need to get out
of heer. I can’t take any more of this
conversation.”
Ginny laughed. “Ok, bye-bye, Lance. But please do go to the dance.” They started to leave, arm in arm, but after
a few steps, she turned and said, “And be sure to save one dance for me, You know, like always.”
One dance. Like always.
What could be the harm in that?
