CHAPTER NINE - THE CITY
"Have a nice day Anderton family and companion." The [auto] chirped. As they stepped out. Into the bustling hustle. Of the city. Washington D.C.
The old buildings. The past. Rotting. And gray. The new buildings. The future. Gleaming. And silver.
So close to each other. Yet so far away. As well.
"Wow." Catcher saw the world. For the very first time. Leaning back. Looking at the buildings.
"Pretty huh?" Agatha asked. Holding her mother's hand.
"It's beautiful." He'd said that before. About his own heartbeat.
"Come on!" Agatha called. Some ways up the walk. Her mother pulling.
Catcher rushed to catch up. Walking with them. As they hit the sidewalks. Merging into the crowds.
A sea of people. He had to stop. To look at them all.
All sorts of people. Amazing people. Ordinary people. Fat people. Skinny people. Tall. Short. Strange. Normal. In couples. Alone. Talking on phones. Talking to themselves. Not talking. Carrying bags. Not carrying bags. Walking dogs. Not walking dogs. Living.
He watched them all. As they passed by.
"Excuse me." They'd say. "Pardon me." When they'd brush his shoulder. Some sternly. Some compassionately. He watched them all.
Smiling.
He looked down. But saw no one he recognized.
His smile fell.
The bustle went by. With him in the middle. Motionless.
He looked to the left. No one.
He looked to the right. No one.
His heart sped up. The faces weren't familiar. He didn't recognize them. They didn't look friendly.
Where were they?
"Catcher!" Agatha called below the living sea.
"Agatha! Come back!" Lara called from behind.
Agatha ran to him. "Come on Catcher," she smiled up. "We're getting lunch."
She took him by the hand. And led him back towards her mom.
Once together. Again. They made their way through the crowd. Agatha holding his hand.
They turned into a diner. Stuck between two bigger buildings.
Nothing greeted them. Lara looked up. Seeing no scanner. Anywhere.
A woman went by. Big black hair. Poofy. She wore a checkered dress. And went about on roller-skates. She had a notepad in her hand. The theme was a 70's diner. "Michelle" was on her nametag.
"How you doin' sweetcheeks?" New York accent. Michelle, the waitress, snapped her gum. Looking at Catcher. Before turning to Agatha. "Darlin'?" Greeting her. Then to Lara. "Ma'am. Three of you?"
Lara nodded.
The waitress led them back to a table. And sat them down. Lara and Agatha on one side. Catcher on the other.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" The waitress asked. Handing out menus.
"Iced tea." Lara said.
"Milk." Agatha said smiling.
"Same." Catcher agreed.
The waitress left. And Catcher leaned over the menu. Lara watching him intently.
"Do you remember anything yet?" She asked. And he looked up.
"No."
"Nothing at all?"
"Nothing." Catcher assured.
There was a pause.
Lara leaned back. "I have to use the restroom," she turned to her daughter, "do you?"
"Nope." Agatha said. Also looking over the menu.
"Are you sure?"
"Mhm." She didn't look up from the menu. As her mother left.
Just as he disappeared. Into the bathroom. The drinks came.
"One iced tea." She set at the empty spot. Then reached over and set down Agatha's tumbler. "One milk."
"And another milk for slick." She winked at Catcher. As she set the tumbler down. Dark. And blue.
"You want to order now?"
"Can I have a grilled cheese sandwich, please?" Agatha asked. Michelle jotted it down. "You?" She turned to Catcher.
He shook his head.
"You have to eat something or you'll get sick." Agatha commented. Drawing a finger over her menu. "He'll have a grilled cheese sandwich too please."
"So two grilled cheese sandwiches?"
"Yup." Agatha set the menu down.
"And what about her?"
"She'll have a salad with Ranch on the side." Agatha folded her hands. Looking at Catcher smiling. Who was looking at the waitress. Staring. Who was looking at him. Picking up the menus.
"She likes you." Agatha whispered. As the waitress rolled away. Leaning over the table. Her chin in her crossed wrists.
"You think?" Catcher watched her go.
Agatha sat up. And nodded. "Do you like her?" Putting her lips down on the straw.
"No."
"Good." Agatha preferred. Blowing into her milk.
The bubbles sprung up. Making a popping noise. Catcher looked at her. Amused.
"Try it." She suggested. Putting her lips down. And doing it again.
He did so. And the bubbles exploded in his cup.
Soon. It became a contest. Each one blowing their hardest. Until finally. Agatha leaned back. Puffed up her chest. And blew with all her might.
The milk ruptured onto her face. And she shook with laughter. Clutching at her sides.
Catcher laughed too. Until Agatha's face fell.
"Mom's coming!" Agatha rose the alarm. And they both set into action. Mopping up the milk. Using sleeves. Napkins. Anything they could.
Her mother rounded the corner. But got stuck behind a man with a large tray. Buying them time.
"Where do these go?!" Agatha held a wad of soppy napkins.
"Here," Catcher put out his hand. Took them. And shoved them into his coat pocket.
Finishing. They both sat back. As Lara sat down.
"Hi mom." Agatha squeezed out her smile. Covering it with her hands.
"What?" She looked at Agatha. Then Catcher. Who only shrugged. She glowered at them both.
Then the food came. Michelle bringing it.
She set it down without talking. Then left. Leaving the bill. And looking one last time at Catcher.
"I told you." Agatha whispered to him.
Smiling. She began peeling her sandwich apart. Catcher watched her. "I don't like crust. I'm allergic to it." She explained.
"You are not allergic to it."
"Am too! Look!" she raised her wrist. And peeled back the Band-Aid. Revealing a healing scrape. "I'm getting a rash. Allergic things give you rash."
"Agatha, that's when you fell off your bike. And you're not allergic to crust, you just don't like it.
"That's what I said!" She finished skinning the bread. Smiling deviously.
Catcher looked down to his own plate. Fingering the crust. Tipping up the sandwich.
"You should eat yours though, it's good for you." Agatha said through her first bite. "Grilled cheese is my favorite."
"I thought peanut butter and jelly was." Catcher countered.
"I like a lot of sandwiches." Agatha took another big bite. Nodding respectfully.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Lara warned. And turned away.
Agatha flashed her a mouthful of cheese and bread. All chewed up to mush. Then closed it before she could see.
After that. Their meal was quiet. Catcher and Agatha flicking smiles at each other. All throughout it. Till Lara caught them. And made them stop. With just one look.
Agatha finished off her sandwich. "Done!" she announced. Lara was still poking her salad. And Catcher had barely eaten one half of his sandwich.
"We're not." Lara said. Pulling out a beet. Eating it with a crunch. Glaring her down. Before smiling.
Agatha slumped down her chair. A frown on her face. Then the boredom came. Her arms crossed about her. Waiting impatiently. Sighing every few seconds.
Lara quietly ate her salad. Occasionally glancing up at Catcher. Who was poking at the remaining half of his sandwich.
Then he looked up to Agatha. Suddenly. And she smiled. Obviously pleased.
His face frowned. As he moved his feet beneath the table. Stepping on her toes. Sliding off. Because hers weren't long enough. To touch the floor.
She stepped on his feet. A good step too.
He pulled back. And stepped on hers. Sliding off.
She stepped on his.
He stepped on hers.
"Foot WARS!!" Agatha screamed. Half the restaurant turning. Watching as they went at it.
Agatha began to kick. Catcher kicked back. Stomping their feet on top of each other's. Bruising mostly his toes. She kicked hard.
It started small. Like the milk bubbles had. Until the table shook. And as an end. Lara's half drunk iced tea. Bounced once. And spilled. Right onto her lap.
"Agatha! Catcher!" she reproached them both. Surprised at the coldness. As it touched her legs. "Behave yourselves!"
She wiped desperately at the dark blossom. Using her napkin.
Agatha only laughed. Behind her hand. And Catcher couldn't hide the wide smile.
"Have a nice day Anderton family and companion." The [auto] chirped. As they stepped out. Into the bustling hustle. Of the city. Washington D.C.
The old buildings. The past. Rotting. And gray. The new buildings. The future. Gleaming. And silver.
So close to each other. Yet so far away. As well.
"Wow." Catcher saw the world. For the very first time. Leaning back. Looking at the buildings.
"Pretty huh?" Agatha asked. Holding her mother's hand.
"It's beautiful." He'd said that before. About his own heartbeat.
"Come on!" Agatha called. Some ways up the walk. Her mother pulling.
Catcher rushed to catch up. Walking with them. As they hit the sidewalks. Merging into the crowds.
A sea of people. He had to stop. To look at them all.
All sorts of people. Amazing people. Ordinary people. Fat people. Skinny people. Tall. Short. Strange. Normal. In couples. Alone. Talking on phones. Talking to themselves. Not talking. Carrying bags. Not carrying bags. Walking dogs. Not walking dogs. Living.
He watched them all. As they passed by.
"Excuse me." They'd say. "Pardon me." When they'd brush his shoulder. Some sternly. Some compassionately. He watched them all.
Smiling.
He looked down. But saw no one he recognized.
His smile fell.
The bustle went by. With him in the middle. Motionless.
He looked to the left. No one.
He looked to the right. No one.
His heart sped up. The faces weren't familiar. He didn't recognize them. They didn't look friendly.
Where were they?
"Catcher!" Agatha called below the living sea.
"Agatha! Come back!" Lara called from behind.
Agatha ran to him. "Come on Catcher," she smiled up. "We're getting lunch."
She took him by the hand. And led him back towards her mom.
Once together. Again. They made their way through the crowd. Agatha holding his hand.
They turned into a diner. Stuck between two bigger buildings.
Nothing greeted them. Lara looked up. Seeing no scanner. Anywhere.
A woman went by. Big black hair. Poofy. She wore a checkered dress. And went about on roller-skates. She had a notepad in her hand. The theme was a 70's diner. "Michelle" was on her nametag.
"How you doin' sweetcheeks?" New York accent. Michelle, the waitress, snapped her gum. Looking at Catcher. Before turning to Agatha. "Darlin'?" Greeting her. Then to Lara. "Ma'am. Three of you?"
Lara nodded.
The waitress led them back to a table. And sat them down. Lara and Agatha on one side. Catcher on the other.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" The waitress asked. Handing out menus.
"Iced tea." Lara said.
"Milk." Agatha said smiling.
"Same." Catcher agreed.
The waitress left. And Catcher leaned over the menu. Lara watching him intently.
"Do you remember anything yet?" She asked. And he looked up.
"No."
"Nothing at all?"
"Nothing." Catcher assured.
There was a pause.
Lara leaned back. "I have to use the restroom," she turned to her daughter, "do you?"
"Nope." Agatha said. Also looking over the menu.
"Are you sure?"
"Mhm." She didn't look up from the menu. As her mother left.
Just as he disappeared. Into the bathroom. The drinks came.
"One iced tea." She set at the empty spot. Then reached over and set down Agatha's tumbler. "One milk."
"And another milk for slick." She winked at Catcher. As she set the tumbler down. Dark. And blue.
"You want to order now?"
"Can I have a grilled cheese sandwich, please?" Agatha asked. Michelle jotted it down. "You?" She turned to Catcher.
He shook his head.
"You have to eat something or you'll get sick." Agatha commented. Drawing a finger over her menu. "He'll have a grilled cheese sandwich too please."
"So two grilled cheese sandwiches?"
"Yup." Agatha set the menu down.
"And what about her?"
"She'll have a salad with Ranch on the side." Agatha folded her hands. Looking at Catcher smiling. Who was looking at the waitress. Staring. Who was looking at him. Picking up the menus.
"She likes you." Agatha whispered. As the waitress rolled away. Leaning over the table. Her chin in her crossed wrists.
"You think?" Catcher watched her go.
Agatha sat up. And nodded. "Do you like her?" Putting her lips down on the straw.
"No."
"Good." Agatha preferred. Blowing into her milk.
The bubbles sprung up. Making a popping noise. Catcher looked at her. Amused.
"Try it." She suggested. Putting her lips down. And doing it again.
He did so. And the bubbles exploded in his cup.
Soon. It became a contest. Each one blowing their hardest. Until finally. Agatha leaned back. Puffed up her chest. And blew with all her might.
The milk ruptured onto her face. And she shook with laughter. Clutching at her sides.
Catcher laughed too. Until Agatha's face fell.
"Mom's coming!" Agatha rose the alarm. And they both set into action. Mopping up the milk. Using sleeves. Napkins. Anything they could.
Her mother rounded the corner. But got stuck behind a man with a large tray. Buying them time.
"Where do these go?!" Agatha held a wad of soppy napkins.
"Here," Catcher put out his hand. Took them. And shoved them into his coat pocket.
Finishing. They both sat back. As Lara sat down.
"Hi mom." Agatha squeezed out her smile. Covering it with her hands.
"What?" She looked at Agatha. Then Catcher. Who only shrugged. She glowered at them both.
Then the food came. Michelle bringing it.
She set it down without talking. Then left. Leaving the bill. And looking one last time at Catcher.
"I told you." Agatha whispered to him.
Smiling. She began peeling her sandwich apart. Catcher watched her. "I don't like crust. I'm allergic to it." She explained.
"You are not allergic to it."
"Am too! Look!" she raised her wrist. And peeled back the Band-Aid. Revealing a healing scrape. "I'm getting a rash. Allergic things give you rash."
"Agatha, that's when you fell off your bike. And you're not allergic to crust, you just don't like it.
"That's what I said!" She finished skinning the bread. Smiling deviously.
Catcher looked down to his own plate. Fingering the crust. Tipping up the sandwich.
"You should eat yours though, it's good for you." Agatha said through her first bite. "Grilled cheese is my favorite."
"I thought peanut butter and jelly was." Catcher countered.
"I like a lot of sandwiches." Agatha took another big bite. Nodding respectfully.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Lara warned. And turned away.
Agatha flashed her a mouthful of cheese and bread. All chewed up to mush. Then closed it before she could see.
After that. Their meal was quiet. Catcher and Agatha flicking smiles at each other. All throughout it. Till Lara caught them. And made them stop. With just one look.
Agatha finished off her sandwich. "Done!" she announced. Lara was still poking her salad. And Catcher had barely eaten one half of his sandwich.
"We're not." Lara said. Pulling out a beet. Eating it with a crunch. Glaring her down. Before smiling.
Agatha slumped down her chair. A frown on her face. Then the boredom came. Her arms crossed about her. Waiting impatiently. Sighing every few seconds.
Lara quietly ate her salad. Occasionally glancing up at Catcher. Who was poking at the remaining half of his sandwich.
Then he looked up to Agatha. Suddenly. And she smiled. Obviously pleased.
His face frowned. As he moved his feet beneath the table. Stepping on her toes. Sliding off. Because hers weren't long enough. To touch the floor.
She stepped on his feet. A good step too.
He pulled back. And stepped on hers. Sliding off.
She stepped on his.
He stepped on hers.
"Foot WARS!!" Agatha screamed. Half the restaurant turning. Watching as they went at it.
Agatha began to kick. Catcher kicked back. Stomping their feet on top of each other's. Bruising mostly his toes. She kicked hard.
It started small. Like the milk bubbles had. Until the table shook. And as an end. Lara's half drunk iced tea. Bounced once. And spilled. Right onto her lap.
"Agatha! Catcher!" she reproached them both. Surprised at the coldness. As it touched her legs. "Behave yourselves!"
She wiped desperately at the dark blossom. Using her napkin.
Agatha only laughed. Behind her hand. And Catcher couldn't hide the wide smile.