And so our story continues…
Day 68: “Well, we do want you to feel welcomed back and you will no doubt want to make the rounds to see all of your friends. I am certain they have missed you as much as you missed them.”
“Well, we do want you to feel welcomed back and you will no doubt want to make the rounds to see all of your friends. I am certain they have missed you as much as you missed them.” Christopher smiled at her.
Anna managed to produce a small smile in return and he seemed pleased. She thought of the first night after she received her pardon. Her clothes were still damp with rain and as she rinsed out any possible trackers Anna ran through a list of all she knew before she fled. None of them seemed like trustworthy contacts and none were people she particularly missed.
She somehow suspected they felt the same. ‘And if I do make the rounds, I’ll be accepted once as an oddity as they feel scandalized hearing details of life as one of the non-elites.’
Christopher lapsed into silence again, chewing his lip as he tried to come up with topics of conversation. “There are some stunning new fashions this season,” he said. “I only managed the first of the season’s shows before I left the capitol but what I saw was simply stunning. There will still be some shows worth attending as designers present their offerings.”
“Oh,” Anna said. She wasn’t particularly interested, but if Christopher was talking fashion then he wasn’t asking questions.
Encouraged by her brief response Christopher launched into an explanation of all that this seasons’ fashion houses had to offer. As he spoke she nodded politely when appropriate, only half listening. At times, Anna caught the driver glancing into the rearview mirror to study her. As she was certain this was a government car, Anna was certain their driver was more than merely a paid chauffer.
From fashion, Christopher shifted into food and the newest dining experiences available to those in the capitol. He kept up a steady stream of conversation with very little input from her. Anna was worried that she might appear sullen or withdrawn but all he really needed was a look of polite interest to allow him to keep talking. Anna was fairly certain he preferred talking to listening. His only pauses were when he exhausted a topic and had to switch to a new one.
The interior of the car fairly vibrated with his voice and Anna found she viewed the sight of the Capitol in the distance with anticipation. She was fairly certain she heard enough words from Christopher on this drive to last her a life time. During the conversation however she also realized she was out of practice with social conversations. For the most part she kept her own counsel and when she did speak to someone it was because she needed to speak to them about something. She no longer really made small talk.
She wasn’t really looking forward to resuming it. As Christopher waxed on about the latest restaurant and the artist the owner commissioned to design everything from the light fixtures to the plates and accompanying silver, Anna watched the city gates grow closer. Thoughts began to flicker through her mind.
Ten til Midnight 