Chapter 78
Judea was much different from Gretchintown. In Rain’s hometown, all of the streets were perfectly straight. Blocks were square. Buildings were constructed in even rows so that everywhere one looked, they’d see order and structure. As she walked from Esther’s home to the armory building where the bi-weekly dances were held, she couldn’t help but notice how chaotic the layout of the little town was. Houses were sprinkled haphazardly beneath the faux sky, tinges of pink and orange catching their nonuniform roofs as the fake sun went down behind a row of fluffy white virtual clouds. None of the houses looked the same. None of the roads were straight; they all curved and arched and wound around the structures. It was a beautiful mess, one that made Rain’s eyes dart from one place to another, a smile on her face.
Even the road itself made little sense to her. It wasn’t asphalt or even concrete. Rather, it seemed all of the roads in this area of the mountain were made of gravel, poured over top of the mountain bottom, perhaps to make it smoother for the vehicles to travel on. Not that many of them operated inside of the town. She knew the boats and larger vehicles were all kept in a huge garage near the tunnel that they’d used to enter the mountain. She didn’t remember being brought in that way, but Esther had told her all about it later, after she’d awoken and was able to hold a conversation. Small plumes of dust kicked up as she walked across the gravel in her borrowed pink high heels, size six. With no breeze to speak of inside of the mountain, it resettled. She’d traversed many types of surfaces lately, but this one reminded her of home in a way she couldn’t quite explain--not the home she’d left, but the home she hoped to have. Someday. A home with unexpected turns and houses that looked nothing like one another amidst churches, schools, shops, and other buildings she thought the perfect home town must have.
A few other people were headed toward the armory building as well. She only knew where she was headed because Seth had pointed it out to her before he left. He’d apologized for not walking with her. It seemed he’d spoken to Hannah about the possibility of not picking her up and that had not gone over well. So… he’d left twenty minutes before Rain so he could walk across town to get Hannah and escort her to the dance, like a proper boyfriend, despite insisting to Rain he was not dating Hannah.
It was fine with her that he’d gone on ahead because she didn’t want to give any of the townsfolk the impression that Seth was dating her. Not that the idea was embarrassing or that she wouldn’t be proud to be on his arm. He would have to come back here someday, after he delivered her party to Louis City, and if others shared the same sentiment as that dreadful Daniel Redd, Seth might face ridicule. He didn’t need that, and she didn’t want to be the one to cause any sort of difficulty in his life--any more difficulty than she already had. As it was, he’d gone to an awful lot of trouble for them already, and he intended to do much more.
Rain slowed as she approached the building. The soft sound of music drifted to her out the door, propped open so that attendees could walk right in. She couldn’t quite see through the open entryway yet, but the music was lovely. In Gretchintown, most of the music didn’t appeal to her. Marches and anthems pervaded the radio stations. She liked some of the nature songs Mist played from time to time, but this song, even though she couldn’t make out all of the lower notes, seemed much more enjoyable.
A couple walked into the armory, the tall, thin boy’s arm around the girl’s shoulders. She was pretty, wearing a green dress that fell just above her knees and black heels. Her hair was twisted up in the back, and her earrings were round, and white--maybe pearls. Rain glanced down at her own dress and was glad it was of a similar style. The rosy pink color was not one of her favorites, but Esther insisted it looked lovely with her creamy complexion and red hair. Mary had brought this one because it was her eldest daughter’s favorite dress--but it didn’t fit her anymore. Rain didn’t ask why. She’d simply thanked the midwife and gotten dressed. Esther’s amethyst earrings and a necklace with a thin gold chain, the pendant of a golden heart her husband had given her when they were first married, finished off the outfit. Mary had brought over some makeup from one of her daughters as well. Rain had never been much for lipstick, rouge, and the like, but she’d put on a little to appease the two older women who seemed lost down memory lane watching her get ready. It was abundantly clear they had high hopes that this dance would be a once in a lifetime experience for Rain, a memory she’d keep with her always. She had a feeling she’d spend a few hours awkwardly sitting in the corner before she snuck out and headed back home, hopefully after Esther was already in bed or so far in the back of the house she didn’t hear her come in.
Deciding she may as well get on with it, Rain approached the building. Made of brick and rather large, compared to the other buildings in sight, save the school down the windy road, it seemed to be on the older side. She noticed some chinks missing in the mortar, some pock marks in the metal door. It was quaint in a way she couldn’t explain. Once more, she found herself jealous of the people who got to call this place home.
She expected someone to meet her at the door, to take her name or something of that sort, but no one was stationed there. A darkened, narrow hallway led off to another section of the building. On either side, glass cases held old photographs and plaques. She would’ve loved to take her time to peruse them, to learn more about the history of Judea, but she didn’t head that way. Instead, she moved forward, toward the music, and the light pouring from the largest room, one she imagined was constructed for the purpose of holding dances and other public get-togethers.
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