Chapter 79

The song playing now had a faster tempo than the one she’d caught drifting on the air earlier. This one featured a brass instrument she thought might be a trumpet, but she’d never heard it played this way before. It wasn’t trilling out the power of the military. Rather, whomever was playing on the recording seemed to be having fun, teasing the listener, doing her--or his--best to inspire them to move to the beat.
Rain glanced around. Most of the room was empty of furniture so that there was plenty of room for couples, or groups, to dance. Around the perimeter, several round tables were set up with white tablecloths covering them and folding chairs strewn here and there. Again, there was no pattern--six chairs at this table, four at that. One in-between with no home. The tables weren’t in a particular order either. It might’ve driven the Mothers who taught her math classes crazy, but it was a relief to Rain. Even the two rectangle tables near the door she’d entered weren’t exactly the same. Both were covered with white tablecloths, but their edges were not even, and one had lace trim around the border while the other did not. Trays of cookies were set out, as well as some other snacks, and in the center of the first table a large bowl full of pink liquid waited for thirsty dancers. Behind the table, two older women, maybe Esther’s age, sat chatting. Each of them had their legs crossed, one foot swaying to the beat of the music. They smiled and waved at her, and she waved back. They had to know she didn’t belong there, but they didn’t dismiss her. Instead, their smiles implied she was welcome, despite the war she’d brought upon their people.
A few couples, maybe a dozen, were on the dance floor, their arms around one another as they moved in time to the song. Another cluster of people were dancing in a group at the other end of the room. Smiles and laughter indicated they were friends. Male and female, in close proximity to one another, spending time together, the way nature intended. There were about six boys in the group, not quite as many girls. One of the females wore a bright yellow dress, fitted to her curvy form. She had dark brown hair, almost black, cut short. When she laughed, it echoed through the hall, sounding above the music. For a moment, Rain let herself imagine what it would be like to be friends with this girl and smiled.
The door she’d come in wasn’t the only one that accessed the large space. She saw at least three other entry points. One of them opened and a couple of young men walked in, laughing. Beyond them, Rain saw the fake sky. She wondered if the door she’d accessed was the only one that didn’t lead directly outside or were there other hallways, other trophy cases and picture displays?
The two young men joined a group standing over by the tables across from Rain. It was then that she realized Seth was already there. He didn’t have his back to her, but a taller male with jet black hair and broad shoulders had been blocking him until he stepped over to greet the new arrivals. He had a cup of the pink liquid from the table in one hand, but his other arm was incapacitated. A frail looking girl with honey brown hair held so firmly to him, Rain wondered if his circulation might be affected.
The girl had to be Hannah Cooper. She recalled what Seth had said to Adam, when Rain wasn’t supposed to be listening, that Hannah was not his girlfriend. At the moment, it looked otherwise. She was pretty, Rain supposed. With a thin frame and eyes so large, they didn’t quite fit on her narrow face, she was a little odd looking, but not in an ugly way. Her lips were hidden behind mauve lipstick that gave them the illusion of being a little more plump, a little fuller than they were. Seth had kissed those lips; that girl, Hannah Cooper, knew what Seth tasted like. A pang of jealousy hit her in the gut, and not for the first time, Rain remembered that she didn’t belong there.
She turned to go. Despite Esther’s and Mary’s kindness in arranging for her to have everything she’d need to appear to fit in, she didn’t. It would be better if Seth never even saw her, if he just assumed she’d changed her mind before she came all the way over here.
“Hello there,” one of the women behind the refreshment table called, that friendly smile still on her face. “Would you like a cookie?”
Rain’s eyes went to the trays of treats spread out before them. The woman rose, picking up one of the plates and tilting it so that Rain could better see what was available. “The oatmeal raisin is delightful,” she added. “I made them myself.” She winked in a motherly sort of way. Rain found herself stepping closer.
She’d never had an oatmeal raisin cookie before, so she decided she may as well try it. Picking up the last one in the row, she found a smile. “Thanks.”
“Of course.” The woman placed the plate back on the table and found her seat again. Still smiling kindly, she asked, “Are you one of the girls from Michaelanburg?”
Rain had just bitten into the cookie. The woman was right. It was delicious. The texture of the oats mingling with the plump fruit sent a burst of flavor through her mouth. She chewed quickly so that she could answer, but she’d certainly be finishing this scrumptious delight. “I am,” she said, once her mouth was mostly empty.
“I’m Ruth Harris,” the cookie-maker said. “This is Naomi Beckham.”
“How do you do?” The other woman’s smile was just as friendly.
“I’m well, thank you,” Rain said politely, even if it wasn’t quite true at the moment. She finished the cookie, wishing she could have another, but she needed to leave.
“What’s your name?” Naomi asked, adjusting the blue skirt of her dress.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She rolled her eyes at herself. “I’m Rain.” She would’ve gotten reprimanded if she’d been speaking to a Mother and been so rude.
“Rain?” Naomi echoed. “Isn’t that lovely. I’ve never heard of a person named Rain before, but I think it’s splendid.”
“Thank you,” Rain said, remembering how she’d asked Esther what an Esther was.
“What’s your surname, Rain?” Ruth asked.
Rain stared at the woman for a moment, doing her best to figure out what she’d asked. “Surname?” she repeated, never having heard that term.
“Yes, your last name. Your father’s last name,” Ruth explained.
“Ruth!” Naomi said quietly, giving her a little wave of the hand. She attempted to be discreet, but Rain understood what was happening, and she also got the meaning of the word.
Ruth turned a little pink in the cheeks. “I beg your pardon, dear. I guess… you don’t have one of those, do you? Or rather, you don’t know who he might be.”
“No, but that’s okay.” Rain managed a smile, knowing no harm had been intended. She had never spent much time at all thinking about who her father was or what might’ve become of him, but the question found a place in her mind, somewhere she could come back to it later. “We are named after the town where we live, so my name is Rain Gretchintown.”
“Really?” Naomi asked, her eyes wide. “That’s… interesting.”
It was obvious the women were just trying to be polite. While she could’ve stood there all night asking them questions about how life was in Judea, answering their questions about life in Gretchintown, she didn’t feel like discussing her past with two women she’d likely never see again. Besides, she was on her way out the door.
“Would you like some punch?” Naomi was already scooping the pink liquid into a clear cup that looked similar to glastic, the conglomeration of plastic and glass Rain was familiar with, but when the cup reached her hand, she realized it was actually just plastic, something she rarely encountered back home.
She had to take the drink. The woman was so kind in offering it to her. “Thank you.” Rain took a sip. It tasted a lot like cold strawberries, with a few other notes of various juices blended in. “It’s very good,” she said before taking a second swallow.
“Thank you. I made it myself.” Naomi beamed. “My own recipe.”
Rain gave them each a smile and said, “It was nice speaking to you.”
“You as well, dear. Take care,” Naomi said.
“Lovely to meet you,” Ruth added.
Lifting her hand, Rain stepped away from the table, thinking she’d finish her drink and then head out. A trash receptacle near the door became her destination of choice. She figured she would gulp down the rest of the drink--whatever it was called; she couldn’t remember--toss her cup in the garbage, and then sneak out. Several more people had come in since she’d been speaking with the two women at the snack table, so it would be easy for her to go unnoticed. She glanced over at where Seth had been standing, but he wasn’t with his group of friends anymore.