A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry it's taken me so long to post this school just started and I have been SO busy! I'll try really hard to post more frequently from now on! Also, I want to thank you all for all the great reviews keep em' coming cuz I love them! Also, it's because of hurricane Isabel that I was able to update, (she gave me a 3 day weekend!) which gave me the extra time I needed to write! Also, thanks to all the people who give me ideas for my story I really appreciate it!
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Everything is pretty much mine but anything that's not belongs to whoever created it : )
***I'm really sorry about the formatting for the entire story fanfiction keeps messing it up!
~~ PLEASE R/R THANKS ~~
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End of chapter 4:
Snapping out of my thoughts, I was surprised to find myself standing in front of the Senator door. I took in a deep breath and knocked lightly on the door.
---
"Yes come in." I heard a muffled voice say from behind the door.
In response, I slowly began to open the heavy door, peering around the
corner. I found myself looking into a very dark room, lit only by a
single lamp upon a polished oak desk opposite me. Behind the desk sat the senator, his black suit stiff against his skin.
"Erm, Senator. I was wondering if I could have a word."
I heard a sigh of annoyance from the man, yet he beckoned for me to come in.
It took me a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the
room, but once they did I was very happy to drink in my surroundings. I was standing in a library. Shelves full of books lined every wall.
Wooden floorboards crisscrossed their way around the room. My eyes then landed on the Senator, sitting in his high backed, scarlet colored chair. He looked like someone I had scene before, though I could not place him. His facial expressions, they were the same as someone else's, but who? I begun to ponder this until—
"Miss Maria, are you here for a purpose, or are you just looking for
another room?"
"Oh, yes Sir sorry. Um well, you see I was just well—"
"Do you mind getting to the point sometime today. You do realize that
I'm trying to run a state, and you are making it rather difficult."
I was shocked by his out burst. I let my mouth hang open for a
mere second, then I shot back my defense.
"For your information, Sir, I am here on behalf of your children not
for myself. I hope," I gave a quick pause, trying to make my speech more meaningful, " that your children are important enough to you that you can take a pause from the state you have been running for the past three years, and talk about them."
A pair of cold, dark eyes were fixed upon me, and I was glaring right
back into them.
"Be careful Maria, you must show more respect towards your boss"
"And you-" I stopped myself, knowing that I had already gone too far.
The Senator raised his eyebrows at me, showing no signs of kindness.
"As I recall, you came here to talk about my children not me."
"Yes Sir," I began, feeling rather guilty for my outburst, "Yes, well I
came to talk to you about clothes for the children. You see-"
"Miss Maria, my children have no problems with their clothes, and if
that's all you've come to talk about, I ask you to waste no more of my time. Please promptly exit from where you so rudely entered."
With that he looked back down at the document he was reading.
Unfortunately, I was not able to handle this to well, being the outspoken
person I am. Instead of turning and leaving, which would have been the
best choice to make, I persisted.
"Senator, forgive me, but I have not seen anyone wear the type of
clothes that the children wear since 1991almost ten years ago!" I said, crossing the room, until I was standing right in front of the desk.
"Maria, did I not tell you to leave it you were going to talk about
clothes? I really have no time for this nonsense-"
"Sir! If you think that the self-esteem of your children is nonsense-"
"Miss Maria, I see in no way how what the children wear can effect
their self-esteem-"
"Why of course it can! If they were to go out, for ANY reason,
children their own age would chase them through the streets laughing at them! I'm sorry Sir, but girls these days DO NOT wear bright, neon pink, knee length sweaters over black stirrup pants they would be tortured! Why, I-"
"Alright, alright I get your point. You, however, don't seem to
understand me. My children, Miss Maria, do not go out, therefore it doesn't matter," the Senator said in a commanding, stern voice.
"Yes, but Sir. You're also missing my point. Do they ever, in any
way, interact with other children their own, or around their own age?" I responded in a questioning tone.
"Only their cousins" he trailed off, reading the expression written
across my face.
"Fine, if it will make you leave me alone to do my work, you can buy
them clothes BUT only one thing each! Understand? I don't want them
getting any ideas-"
"Oh thank you Sir! Oh, the children will be so happy! They're going to
love-"
"Yes, yes, alright. Now will you please leave me in peace," he asked, gritting his teeth and glaring at the paper.
I could tell that even if he wasn't going to show it, he did appreciate
my happiness, soon to be his children's.
"Yes, right away Sir," I said, feeling as happy as a soaring eagle.
I turned and began to leave the room. I had won the argument. I had
convinced the Senator that I was right I had convinced the man, who
from day one I had known was going to be tricky. I felt as light as a
feather, my thoughts drifting up into the clouds my plan was working. I felt so perfect, so whole. I wished I could tell someone of my happiness something clicked; Carl. I had to call him, to tell him of my plan-
"Miss Maria," the Senator spoke, breaking my thoughts, "unless you wish
to pay for these clothes yourself, then I suggest you come back hear and take this."
He was holding something in his hand, though form a distance I could
not tell what.
I crossed the room once more, and reaching his desk, bent over the
object now lying on the table.
"What is it?" I questioned.
"A pre-paid credit card. You have 700 dollars on that, 100 dollars for
each kid I don't suppose you'll need more, hmm?"
"No," I began, "I think that will be quite enough."
Smiling down upon him, I took the card in my hand and made my way back
to
the door.
"Oh Maria," the Senator caught my attention once more, "Now I do trust
your judgment, so please, don't get anything inappropriate, okay?"
"Of course," I broadly smiled as I exited the room.
Deciding to give the children a few more minutes on the computer, I
hurried to my room. I spent a few minutes digging through my drawers, looking for my phone card. Once I had found it, I promptly dialed Carl's number. The phone rang twice then I heard the happy voice of an old friend.
"Hello," said Carl.
"Guess who," I began, playing with him.
"Well hello Sunshine! How's life in the northeast's own Golden State?"
He asked, jokingly.
"Well, I'm afraid it's not as golden as I'd hoped."
"Oh," he responded, sounding interested, "do tell."
"Well, Mr. Golden himself is in fact not all he appears to be," I said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"No?" He said, sounding even more interested.
"No he is very much not. In fact I would say he's even opposite of
being golden."
"Wait, were talking about the same person here, right? Senator Easton,
the man who lowered crime rate in California 25 %, the man who raised
teachers pay 15%, the man who-"
"Yes the same man who forbids me to let his children go beyond the
wall surrounding their house, the man who blocks half the sites on the
internet so his children have no idea what in the hell is going on in the world, the man who forces his daughters to wear knee-length floral sweaters over stirrup pants, the man who forbids his children to have friends!" I finished exhausting all the air from my lungs in anger.
"Whoa, now the floral sweater is harsh!" He responded.
I had to chuckle at that. Even in my pure frustration, Carl could make
me laugh.
"Yes, well lucky for them their father and I just had an argument over
that," I said.
"You argued with the Senator? Is that even legal-"
Again I laughed.
"Of course it is," my tone lightened as I continued, "Now
listen. I told the senator the floral sweaters were WAY harsh, and in the end he broke and gave me a 700 dollar pre-paid credit card see, aren't you proud of me?! I'm not a pushover when it comes to my boss!"
"Congratulations! You'll be the first person I'll come to if I ever
need to know who to lose my job!"
"Hey! You're so mean to me," I exclaimed in mock annoyance.
It was his turn to chuckle.
"Oh Sunshine, your always outspoken, which really gets you far in life-"
"You have one minute of talk time left," a computer animated voice cut
in.
"Oh crap-" I started to say.
"Well, according to Mrs. Timely, it looks like it's time for you to get
going, huh Sunshine?" Carl said.
I gave a small sigh; I was enjoying my time talking to Carl.
"Yes oh, but wait! I have to tell you my plan!" I said excitedly.
"Okay, but hurry."
"Yes, well here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to take Amanda out
tomorrow night. They have these outdoor concert things on the Mall,
you know that big grassy area downtown?"
"Yes I know that big grassy area downtown'," he said mockingly.
"Ok, well I was just checking any way, I'm taking her to a concert
tomorrow night where, I hope she'll meet some kids her own age. Then, on either Saturday or Monday, I'm going to take all the kids on a tour of Washington D.C.!"
"Sounds like fun" he said, "but right now I'm going to say goodnight
before time is up I'm also going to say good luck, because if the Senator catches you taking the children out, well, I don't even want to comment on that."
"Well, thanks for the encouragement," I said.
"Oh, you're welcome I though you'd appreciate it."
"Goodnight, Carl."
"Night-night, Sunshine."
With that, we hung up.
I sat on the plush, comfortable bed for a moment, just staring at the
phone.
I was reflecting on the past the way life had been before I had
moved.
My thoughts broke when there was a small knock on my door.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Miss. Maria are you in there?" I heard the squeaky voice of little
Audrey.
"Oh yes I'm coming," I replaced the receiver and joined her in the
hall.
"Now, what do you need," I said as I bent over, picking her up.
"I need help with another math problem, Miss. Maria!"
"Oh? Did you try my trick?" I asked.
"Yes! It didn't work, the numbers were too big!!!"
"Really? Well, I have an idea. Why don't we save the math problem for
tomorrow, when we can think clearer, and why don't we go and get
everyone ready for bed?"
"But, I'm not tired!" Audrey protested.
"Well, how about I make a deal with you. If you go to bed now, you can
tuck all of your brothers and sisters in before you go to sleep how's that sound?"
A tiny smile spread across her face.
"Alright let's go get em'!" she said confidently.
We headed off, back to the computer room. There, Audrey gathered
everyone up and they all went off to clean up for bed. Mimi, Audrey and I went our own way.
"So," I began. I was sitting on the edge of their bathtub in their
private bathroom, watching them brush their teeth.
"What do you think we should do this weekend?"
"Something fun maybe we could all play a board game together!" Mimi
responded.
I gave a small smile as they both spat into the sink, their
teeth brushing time over.
"Alright! Time for bed actually, Audrey, I need you to come with me
for a moment. Mimi, will you get into bed? Audrey and I have to go do
something really quickly!"
"What? Can I come?" Mimi begged.
"Sorry sweetheart, but not this time." I apologized to the little
girl.
"But-"
"If you go to bed without a fuss this time, next time you can come," I
said cutting her off quickly, showing a small smile.
"Well okay. But you promise next time I can come?" she asked, just
making sure.
"I promise!" I promised as I bent down to pick up Audrey, "Now
go hop into bed."
Without another word, Mimi flew out of the bathroom and over to herbed.
"Good girl now we'll be back in 3 minutes alright?"
She nodded as Audrey and I left the room. We walked to each child's
bed side where Audrey promptly placed a kiss on their forehead, then said good night. It was lovely watching her. She was so cute, acting all grown up. She was even tired when it was finally her turn to be kissed upon the forehead by me.
"Good night you two," I said quietly, closing their door behind me.
"Good night Miss. Maria!" Mimi and Audrey responded in unison.
Once the children were all in bed, I quickly gather up some of my
stuff. After the children's bedtime was the only free time I had. If I wanted to take Amanda out the next night, I had to go shopping now. So I did. I drove out into the busy summer night, in search of a mall. Lucky for me, there was one not to far from the Easton's residence. I wandered around in there for two hours or so, trying to find things I thought kids would like to wear. It wasn't the easiest thing ever, but in the end I think I did fine.