Author's note Draft 2
If the story does not say draft 2, it's not the final draft
To answer Eragon135790 an the question on why Louise cares so much about Lynda is that Louise kind of didn't think of her as a separate person. If you really think about it at the beginning of the story Louise just thought of Lynda as an extension of herself. When I showed the flashback or somebody else's point of view on the past it shows that Louise tried to copy Lynda in what was normal but failed. When Louise forced the issue on there codependent on each other and yes they're both co-dependent it kind of made her realize that Lynda is a separate person. It is why Louise shows such sadness in the later chapters about being separated from her sister because she didn't realize what she had at the time. What did she have was...well I don't want to spoil what's happening next so I will stop here.
There's an anime reference in this chapter. Can anybody spot it?
Now last thank you to salports779 and fulltimesimp for Favoring me. And thanked loki98065 for following me.
Foreshadowing = 30
Life Worth 0
XLVII-LV
XLVII (Tuesday March 25 1958. Ista house , New Orleans, United States of America. )
I'm not going to lie. I thought today was going to be a good day. I woke up to a sunny morning with the knowledge that I won't have a lesson with Talia today. So I was free today to do whatever I wanted.
I plan to spend it with Lynda and Andrei, using Neil as a cover. Neil said he didn't mind me using him as he covered today because he has something to do in the city anyway.
I was curious but didn't think about it any further. Neil would probably tell me if there was something important and if it had something to do with me. Nine out of ten I will find out anyway. I just have to wait until he's ready.
Getting up out of my bed I started to get dressed. Had chosen my clothes out yesterday it didn't take me long to get dressed. Finish getting dressed walk out of my bedroom and knock on my sister's bedroom to see if she was ready.
She told me she would be out in a minute. So I turned from her bedroom and walked the rest of the way down the hall to the dining room.
Getting to the dining room I can already see who was up.
No surprise to see it was Dad, Halona and Ista. Walking over to my seat at the dining table I sit down and begin my breakfast.
Today's breakfast was an American breakfast made of bacon, pancakes, and orange slices. Topping it all off was a glass of orange juice.
Lynda eventually came out of her room dress and came and sat down in her seat in a dining table and started on her own breakfast. That only left the two boys to come sit down and eat.
Neil was the next one to come in to start breakfast that only left Luthor.
When Luthor came into the dining room I could tell he was just waiting for everybody to give their own breakfast by the way he came into the room. He had this air to him when he walked in the scream stubbornness.
It all but said that he would not back down for whatever he was going to tell us.
I can see everybody else could tell too because nobody starts talking. The peaceful air I walked into when I came to start my breakfast was gone.
By the time most of us were done with their breakfast with Luthor, they finally spoke.
"Today I will be applying to go to a university in Alabama or Mississippi if my acceptance letter does not come from Gambling State University." Luthor said.
That one of the sentence quit the whole dinner table.
I'm not going to lie what he just said frightens me. I'm not going to say I know a lot about Mississippi or Alabama in this time period.
The best I could think of right now is about a book that was published in 1963 called The Wastsons Go to Birmingham. And that's not helpful right now.
But we live in the 1950s so I can think of nothing good with everybody's reactions.
"Luthor" Dad said.
But before he could say anything else Luthor cut him off.
"Dad I made up my decision already. And I would like to remind you if it's your ideal to get out of Louisiana." Luthor
That was the moment I looked at Lynda and Neil and made my decision.
"Let's go" I said directed everybody attention to me.
They both looked at me like I was stupid. But I knew if I didn't want to get dragged into the argument we had to leave now.
As I got up from the table I could see a little relief in Luthor's eyes. Huh he knew that we could have been dragged into this.
As I started the walk back to my room to get my bag I could hear Neil and Lynda coming right after me.
Halona Pov
When Louise made it known she and the other were leaving, I took that as my clue to also leave the room.
Didn't go far from hearing range I just went out of sight.
In a way Luthor was bold to tell Mom and Dad that he was going to study in Alabama for college. But he is also an idiot.
He was stupid to think that they would take it well. But by the way he waited for everybody to be done eating he knew they were not going to take it well.
So it brings up the question of why he when an about that way.
Sitting on the floor hearing mom and dad auger with Luther about how dangerous Alabama is right now, and the options he can take for college. Makes me feel drained.
It's like he doesn't get how privileged he is to have those options.
Unlike me who's going to be stuck here on this land for the rest of my life... And you know that doesn't bother me as much. To be the one to be stuck with responsibility for the inheritance of our family. But that doesn't mean I'm not aware of the shackles that bounce me.
In the next few years I will be expected to finish my last few years of schooling we offer on the community land and probably get married and have a baby. Then wait for the day mother says I'm old enough to take the lead in the community. In between raising my own children and running the community like we have always had.
And yeah, my siblings are going to be out there exploring the world and I'll be here keeping everything together. I don't have a problem with that either...not truly.
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At least that's what I keep telling myself. I thought to myself as I got up from the floor and walked out of the house.
Yes I keep telling myself it's not a problem.
XLVIII (Tuesday April 1st 1958, Ista house, New Orleans, United States of America. )
Wake up I know today is going to be a good day for me. Unlike last week when Luthor told the family that he was going to college in Alabama.
The house has been tense to be in for the past few days. It hasn't been this tense in the house since January.
My thoughts were cut off by Neil screaming about toothpaste.
Well it seems like the Lynda prank worked well.
Luthor Pov
Well somebody wanted to start the day off with a bang. I thought that as I moved over to my dresser.
Opening up my under clothes drawer, I see nothing but girly underwear and bras. Staring at the under clothes for a few seconds my mind couldn't process.
"Who has my underwear?" I shouted as I turned around the stomp out of my room.
I hope they like the cookies I thought anger.
Halona Pov
As Luther said something about underwear I realize what day it is. I want to go look at my own under clothing.
Looking at my own under clothing draw I can only see what I believe is Neil's under clothing.
At the turn to my door I can hear Mama shout about the kitchen drawers being rearranged.
As I walked past my desk table I looked at all the soap on the table. I hope they like pretty rocks.
Neil pov
As I grab for soap to wash off the food dye on my hands I realize it was too hard to be soap.
Oh this means war. I thought as I started to think up ideas on how to get back at everybody.
And I thought I was just going to be nice by paying confetti on the ceiling fans.
Louis Pov
As I walked into the living room to get to the kitchen to see what Ista was screaming all about I realized how hot it was in here.
Walking over to the fan switch I cut on the ceiling fan. And was covering a small pile of black confetti.
Well I hope the brownies taste great to them.
Lynda Pov
As I woke up to all the noise they were making, I register that there were cockroaches all over my bed. I scream trying to get out of the bed.
Seeing them not moving, I got angry. I hope they like toothpaste.
Ista Pov
I hate this holiday. Every year since the twins turn four, there has been nothing but pranks on the hold day.
But the family have fun, even when they sound angry on this holiday. So I will let it slide this year.
XLIX (Friday April 11, 1958. Garden district, New Orleans, United States of America. )
Sitting in City Park practicing gymnastics with Lynda, and teaching Andrei to be more flexible I couldn't help being moody.
I had this bad feeling all day but I couldn't put my finger on it. It's not like I woke up on the bad side of the bed today. My family didn't do anything to put me in a bad mood of late. It's just like this itch on the back of my head telling me to be worried.
Along with having a lesson with Taila that's going to last all the way to dinner time do not help.
Yet being out here stretching my muscles with these two helps a bit with my nerves.
Halona Pov
"Halona how do you feel about your birthday next week?" Dyani asked as we sat down and worked on birthday decorations.
I was really not working on the decoration but telling them what exactly to do. I have an image for this birthday party and I don't want it to be ruined.
"Do tell Halona, you must have a grand event a plan. Since you going through all this trouble to explain exact details of what you want." Nizhoni said as to cover her mouth and some of the other girls laughed.
"As a matter of fact I do. I'm turning 13 this year remember. 13 is a magical number." I told her not taking defense of what she said.
"What exactly is the theme?" Komorkis asks.
"It's a surprise" I told her.
"I think you got the whole surprise birthday backwards" Gouyen said to me.
"You're right about that but I want to surprise everybody" I told them effectively ending that line of questioning.
Neil Pov
"Hey do you got a present for Halona?" I ask Luthor as I work on carving this statue.
"Yeah and you" Toss the question back at me.
"Yeah almost done. What do you think it's going to be this year?"I asked him.
"Something magical theme more like it. She's been throwing around number 13 for the past two months now."He said laying the couch.
"I just hope it's fun this year. Last year's birthday party was boring."I told them.
Ista Pov
"How is the expensive of this year's birthday party going?" my husband asked me from behind as he wrapped his arms behind me.
"Great Halona gave me the budget for her birthday party five months ahead of time" I told him without hesitation.
"You know I wonder why the girls of just better at dealing with money than the men of this family." He said with a flirty tone.
"Well it's maybe because you let me handle your bank book. Or maybe because you like a woman in power with your finances" I said as I turned around in his hold.
"Yeah maybe that's the reason" He said than he kissed me.
Louise Pov
When Talia told me on Monday that I was going to have a lesson at 4:00 in the evening. I thought he was crazy.
I mean how was I going to explain to my family why I was not going to be at dinner? How was I going to get permission to be out that late without rousing suspicion? And which one of my brothers I was going to bring.
When I came down to it I just asked for permission to be out that late. When asked why, I told them Andrei parents invited me to be over for dinner. When they asked me who was going to escort me I told them Luthor.
When I asked Luthor to go along with it. He made plans to go on a date with his girlfriend.
Now sitting in this car with Taila to go to this spot to learn my lesson for the day was agitating.
My nerves have been bad all day I knew something was up from the moment he mentioned being out this late.
He wouldn't even tell me what the lesson was about today. The most he told me so far was to dress all in black. Do he realize how suspicious that would be for my family? I had to leave the house in a different pair of clothes to not look suspicious.
As we pulled up to this surprisingly well kept building, I became even more agitated. I mean think about it. We're clearly about to do something highly illegal, but the place we're about to go to doesn't look like somewhere something illegal is happening in.
The name of the neighborhood we are in right now is the Garden district. One of New Orleans' upper elite neighborhoods.
And me and Taila stuck out like a sore thumb with are dark skin and someone's dirty black clothing. Maybe that's one of the reasons why we came so late into the day. Around the time when the sun starts to go down.
We walked into the nice manicured building. And I looked around it looked. It is no different from what you expect a bank to look like.
Walking past the lounge room we went straight to the back of the building. It seems like Talia knew his way around. The people working here didn't even try to stop him. So he must have been known.
We stopped at the door and told you knocked on it and a voice said to come in. The man was not American from the strictly Canadian accent he had.
"What can I do for you this time?" The man asks in a somewhat subservient tone. Just from that I could tell all the boasting my teacher did in the past was not a lie.
From my point of view it looks like my teacher should be accommodating into this man who is dressed in a nice well suit. But no it's the other way around.
Who is my teacher really was the question fooling around in my head now. It's a question I need serious answers to now.
"My apprentice needs a new ID" Talia told him as if it was nothing.
"Apprentice sir, congratulations on finding a worthy student." The man said as he started to kiss my teacher's ass.
"Yeah it is brat what do you want your new name to be" Talia said handing over the decision to me.
I sat there for a minute. I need to be a name that I know I can remember and respond to. Truly it's a no-brainer really.
"I want my new name to be..."
L (Friday April 18 1958, Ista house Hallway, New Orleans, United States of America. )
I look at the door I just left out of. In a way I'm sad but at the same time I'm not.
It's not like it's my fault that I couldn't go...Or maybe I'm deflecting...Maybe Neil is right, I am a terrible sister.
Lynda Pov
"Lynda have you seen Louise?" Luthor ask.
"No not since yesterday, but she told me last Friday she was going to ask for today off. Maybe she couldn't." I told.
Luthor snarls and clints his fist. "That girl is going to be the death of me." He unclenches his fists and continues to say,"All right I'm going to tell Mama an excuse. That's just hope she's back before 5:00. It's going to be really obvious if she's not back by then."
"Me you both" I told him as he started to walk away from me.
Louise Pov
"Now brat let's play hide and seek" Taila said as he walked up near me.
I rose my head from the like I was working on to lock up at him. Since I got here today all you had me doing was practicing my pic locking skills.
It's already 1:00. I thought he would let me leave by now. He usually doesn't hold me for too long for my lessons. Even that went missing for most of the morning. Nobody would have mine too much as long as I was there for the most important events.
Looking at him I can see some type of amusement on his face. "Go hide brat I want to at least try to stretch my skills."
Neil Pov
Looking for my spot as people sing around me I can see Lynda quietly panic. I looked over to where I last saw Luthor standing to see him starting to look uncomfortable.
I looked over and I looked over to where Mom and Dad were standing. Dad had a neutral smile on his face. I only saw it on his face a few times. And Mom looking like she's ready to blow up at somebody, but holding it in because she didn't want to ruin the party.
And I finally looked at the star of the event herself looking as happier as she has ever been.
Oh my dear favorite toy, what a difficult spot you put us all in.
Louise Pov
Hiding behind this chimney I couldn't help but think about what happened last Friday.
* Start of a Flashback*
We just got back to Taila usual training spot. He started to go on about what is a good ID looks like and what is a terrible ID looks like. And all the signs I had to look for. Also What other countries' identity papers look like.
He was telling me how to not use that ID for right now. That will be needed in the future. He was telling me how we were going to make up a history for that identity. For that, there wouldn't be too many questions later on.
As his speaking started to slow down I took this as my chance to ask him.
"Teacher my sister's birthday is next week on that Friday. Can I have no lesson that day?"
And it only took him a few seconds to answer"No" And then he walked away, leaving me with no idea what to do when next Friday comes.
*Flashback ends*
As I heard footsteps coming near I decided to get off this roof.
Halona Pov
As I looked at the hold unwrapped gifts I looked at the last gift I had to unwrap.
It was a medium sized box wrapped in aquamarine blue wrapping paper. I found it on my vanity this morning and knew who it was from just by just buy the moss green ribbon. Louise is the only one who gives me presents with that shade of green ribbon.
Unlike Lynda who gets a different shade of purple with every birthday gift. Louise constantly gives me the same shade of green.
As I unwrapped her gift to me I found a stunning moss green evening gown. As I pulled it out of the box more design came unfold. You could tell it was a Hollywood inspired dress.
It's the type of dress the girls in the movie always wear when it's time to show them walking down the stairway.
The shade of the dress matches the ribbon. I notice that when I look closely at the ribbon I realize I could use this for my hair.
Somehow Louise always gives the best birthday gifts.
It's moments like these that I wish I wasn't so envying of her. I thought to myself as I rose the dress up so everybody could see it better and to show off the ribbon that match.
Louise Pov
As I got ready to leave Taila spoke to me.
"You know brat...today was a lesson in it own right." He said, catching my attention.
"Oh you must have thought I was just being a dick, by not letting you go to your sister's birthday party. Boohoo sucks for you... You chose this life little girl. This life style is unpredictable. So the plans you might have made for the next day might not even come true."He said was so much serious I knew he was just not messing around like he usually does.
"Backup Backup Backup that's what I'm going to tell you now Louise. Life is unpredictable so you got to make sure you have a backup for anything. So when you know something important is going to happen make sure you have a backup plan to make sure you're there. In any way you can be."He said now stand up walking towards me.
"Because you and they will not going to always be there brat. Enjoy your time while you can."He said that he as patted my head.
For the first time since I've known this man he felt like what it truly meant to have a master and apprenticeship relationship.
"Thanks master" I told him sincerely.
LI (Thursday April 24 1958. French Quarter, New Orleans, United States of America. )
Running in an away in a way is calm. It's relaxing in the way that your mind only focuses on one thing.
At least that's how I feel every single time I run.
But I'm coming to realize I run away from a lot of things in this life and the last. But running is so addicting... it's freeing... I just don't have to worry.
At the minimum that's what I keep telling myself.
Surprisingly running away doesn't get too far. It's just really a delaying tactic.
Nothing the less that's what I came to realize while staying away from my family the last few days.
When I didn't show up for Halona's birthday party I knew I was going to be in some big trouble. So I tried to make my excuse at being stuck at Louis house being the reason why I couldn't make it. That I didn't want to go to her birthday party and wanted to be with my friend instead.
To say Ista was furious is an understatement. As punishment I was not allowed to see Andrei for a week. That was not a big deal in itself. I was just going to meet him in the city anyway.
So that's what I've been doing up late meeting Andrei in the city.
But it recently came to my knowledge that Neil had been following me around. I came to this knowledge when Neil gave me an idea for a listen with Andrei. Ensure Neil knew about the classes I've been having with him but then he didn't know what exactly I was teaching Andrei at the time.
So for the last few days I've been watching my surroundings very closely to spot him.
At the day while playing Talia attempts a hide and seek/parkour training game. I spotted Neil on one of the rooftops.
He was on top of a house that was playing Connie Francis' new song Who's Sorry Now. He was wearing his golden sweater.
What made it even more ironic was the lyrics playing at the time I spotted him.
-Why do the end
Just like a friend
I try the one you somehow
You have your way
Now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now-
Wow Neil how long was this going to go on before I spot you one day I wonder... You truly are the only one that makes me truly feel like a fool in this family Neil.
-Why do the end
Just like a friend
I try the one you somehow
You have your way
Now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now-
Truly I'm just a fool compared to you Neil. I thought as I turned my eyes away from him.
LII (Friday April 25 1958. Ista Dinner Room , New Orleans, United States of America. )
"Andrei do you ever feel like the world is not giving you a break?" I asked my best friend the moment I saw him.
Not a hello, not a how are you doing, not a how was your day, but a world shaking question. By the pinch look on his face I could tell the question shook him for a bit. Sometimes I wonder why he is still friends with me.
He still there for a minute to collect his thoughts. It's fine I'm not even in a rush to get an answer from him anyway.
"No, not of late." He answered my world shaken question.
"Why" He asked in return.
There's a reason why I'm friends with him. Well one of the reasons. Andrei is just so responsible and reliable. And a small moment like this reminds me that he cares about my well-being.
"I don't know if I truly want to talk about it now" I told Andrei is that turned away from him.
"Is that so" He said as he started to follow me down the street.
As we both walk down the street I couldn't help thinking about the job I am about to do next. Me and Andrei have been running out of money as of late. Last week I asked Taila for a job.
His response to that was why not and how I needed more real life practice anyway.
I wonder when the day will come when he will tell me no I couldn't do a job. To be truly honest with myself my relationship with the man of late has not been bad.
Before I was just getting over with my feelings of being afraid of him. But when he made me miss my sister's birthday. It made me truly realize that this man is my teacher... my master. The person who's going to guide me in the near future.
And even if he got some unclear motives for why he wants to teach me so badly. I'll come to the decision I have to put my trust in this man. That I need to trust this man to look out for my best interests.
And that lesson on my sister's birthday shows me that. It showed me the hard lifestyle that I was beginning to dip my toes into.
So as of late I've been trying to become closer with him. Get to know the man that is my teacher. And I think my teacher has decide go alone with this too.
The man that has started to show me how to fight the way he does. Apparently he favorite short blades but he's in depth and it has full a different type of weapons. I think it's his own way of bonding.
"Louise we're here" Andre says snap me on my thoughts. Well it's time to get to work.
Luthor Pov
I ran down the stairs of Dad's house. I couldn't wait to get home. But wait I have somewhere else to go. I wonder if she has got in her letter yet. It's time for both of us to take the next step.
Louise Pov
As I ate my pork dinner I couldn't hide the anticipation I felt. For some reason for the past few hours I've been so happy. But I couldn't have put a reason why.
At first I thought it was because of the success me and Andrei had doing the job Taila led out for us. However I came to the quick realization that the feeling of happiness started right as the job began.
If I didn't know better I would not think these feelings are my feelings. Nevertheless I've been having a somewhat good mood of late even with doubt creeping in.
My thoughts were interrupted by Luthor getting up, "I have an announcement to make. everybody I just got into Harris-Stowe State University"
LIII (Tuesday April 29, 1958. Outside Mr. Burn Antique shop, French Quarter, New Orleans, United States of America.)
Andrei and I walk into the fencing shop. Taila shows me when I fence the jewels.
When I think about it, I start to see a theme with the place Taila brings me. You wouldn't be able to tell that quaint little antique shop in the French Quarter was really a place that criminals fence their goods at. To be honest with you, there are a lot of antique shops in the French Quarter. Hence the average person would not have thought about it too much. Which is what makes it so brilliant.
"Not with your teacher this time, girl" The man sitting behind the very well made counter said. The man's name is Mr. Burn he's the shopkeeper as Taila put it. For some reason the way he put it bothered me. I just can't put my finger on what it is. But it had a ring to it so in my head I kept calling the man that.
Unlike the man at ID Place, the man behind the counter has a New Orleans Uptown accent.
"Atramentous gave him the package"I told Andrei not answering the shopkeeper's question.
When we were at the ID place I came to the realization that Taila did not once call me by my name. He didn't even call me by my name when he took me here. He did not call me by my name or gender either. He kept calling me Brat.
But somehow the shopkeeper could tell I was a girl. It made me wonder because that day Talia told me the dress as if I was neither a boy nor a girl.
He didn't tell me to do that for the ID place. Subsequently because they needed my gender for the ID.
Therefore following that event of Taila dictating to me what I could wear the first time. I started to dress more as if I didn't have a gender. I told Andrei before we came here today to do something similar.
Personally I think you could describe Andrei as being androgynous. Honest I don't know why I assume Andrei was a boy when I first met him.
Because Andrei is androgynous I asked him to braid his somewhat long hair and wear one of my jackets.
I did the same thing with my outfit to make sure we matched. To give of symmetry illusion.
"Boy put it over here" The shopkeeper said pointing to a table not too far away from the counter to expect the package.
How did he know I questioned as I took in me and Andrei's appearance again. Nothing truly gives it away that Andrei is a boy. The only reason why I could think of that he knew I was a girl is because of my voice... Then again last time I didn't speak either.
"I will give you $20 for it." The shopkeeper told me.
Oh that's why he mentioned my teacher. "I know that painting is at least worth $100" I counted the shopkeeper.
"Yes but it's also a legal good." He counters back.
"$70"I offered.
"Mmm $40"He offered back.
"$55" I told them and that was my final offer.
"$55 it is" He agreed.
Lynda Pov
"I have a feeling Louise is doing something dangerous right now." I told Dad as we sat near each other quietly reading.
Hn was his reapply to me. I think Dad is going be the desensitize to Louise doing something she shouldn't.
With that I went back to my reading.
Louise Pov
"Here's your half" I told Andrei as I handed over $27.50.
"Do you have something to do after this?" I asked him.
"No, not really," he said.
"Do you feel like coming shopping with me?" I asked him in return.
"You mean be your butler." He told me in return.
But it stopped me for a moment."Do you feel that way?" I asked of him.
See me serious he replied with a grin"I once told you you were the boss."
Him saying that didn't please me however."Yes, but I think of you are as more a friend than somebody who works for me."
Now beginning to realize how serious I am he stopped grinning. "You're my friend Louise. I just don't mind if you treat me to something akin to a butler"
I was stun but not for long. "Well I do mine... Andrei... I thought of you as more as my partner in crime."I told him.
We both stood still there staring at each other. Not knowing how to continue this conversation. We both spoke about our feelings on this matter. And it is something I just couldn't go through again.
The last time I had a friend who thought of there self as more as my servant told my mom everything I did without me knowing until the end of that friendship.
Maybe sensing my uneasiness slow reach my right hand giving me enough opportunity to pull away. He held my hand in a firm grip.
He spoke "Louise.. thank you" The small little smile he gave me made me feel too many things in that moment.
"Hey partner" He said, now changing from holding hands to looping our arms together. "Let's go shopping"
Neil Pov
"Well Louise you're still the best at getting gifts. Even if it's last minute."I said as I watched my favorite toy and her accessory across the street leave the shop.
Watching them heading in the direction I know Louise loves to get they get her crawfish from. I took my time in following them.
Luthor Pov
Harris-Stowe State University is a historically black college. The university founded it in 1957 in St Louis Missouri. Home of the Hornet colored in brown and gold.
That is the place I will be spin the majority of my time. The place of new beginnings and change. The place where the girl I think might be the love of my life is going to. The place I'm leaving home for.
I don't know why, but it just hit me that I'm leaving home... I'm leaving. Why does the thought of it make me feel like I'm crazy? I mean I hate it here in the community and the expectation that it's only a 10-hour car drive give or take. At the most and half a day. My mind tells me
I should be as happy as I was when I got the letter I tell thought I'm leaving keep persisting in my mind taking any joy I could have felt.
How unfair a situation I felt myself in. I'm starting to think that I am going to lose it. Your not one part of my mind, I say. Maybe a little bit another counter... Oh the early signs of insanity. I am not surprised.
I want to be surprised. But what our family history is it's not. Am I truly going insane or am I just panicking? Why do I not want to know the answer to that question?
"Luthor here"Louise said breaking me away from my thoughts. In her hands was a gift. It was not very big but it was bigger than the last gift she gave me.
The gift was wrapped in the usual indigo wrapping paper with a yellow bow on top. I take the bow off. Similar to my little sister I keep the bow.
I carefully open the rest of the gift. Laying inside with a very nice camera. And next to it with some camera rolls. Huh I think I need to learn how to make photos.
"I thought you would want to capture your memories" She said catching my attention. Looking back down at the gift I can see how thoughtful she meant for the gift to be.
"Thank you" I said as I came to the startling realization that Louise was the only one who believed in me from the beginning and had no doubts that I be begin to college this year. Everybody else came to the conclusion that I would be going next year. Even myself planned for next year. But Louise was the only one who thought otherwise. She's the only one who thought I should pack at least some of my stuff.
At the time I humored her. But looking back I couldn't be even more overjoyed for her faith. Huh this was the first time I can remember feeling any type of happiness since I came to the realization I'm leaving.
I whispered thank you as I pulled her into a hug. I'm leaving the only thing going through my mind. If I cried a little she didn't say anything.
LIV (Sunday May 4 1958. Taila training spot , New Orleans, United States of America. )
"Brat" Was the first thing Taila said signified the start of the lesson of this day. He was sitting in his usual spot. But funny enough there was nothing in front of him like usual. Looking around I looked for the item I will be focusing my lesson on.
"What is the definition of smuggling?" He said, drawing my attention back to him.
"the definition of smuggling is the legal movement of goods into or out of the country."I told him repeating one of the first lessons he taught me.
With that he got up from where he was sitting."Come sit today, there will be a lecture."
Following his directions. I came by him and sat down. He sat back down too.
"You brat have come upon a time to move to the next stage of your apprenticeship. Being my assistant. What does this stage entails brat"He rote his left eyebrow at me when he asked this.
"It means I will be following you around and assisting you with things. I'm out of a hand on lesson with your jobs."
"Yes, there are two different types of smuggling. There is Outright Smuggling and Technical Smuggling."He started his lecture.
"Outright smuggling is the type of smuggling that takes place on the isolated beaches of the archipelago with no import documents and includes swing operations at the port of entry. While technical smuggling, for its part, involves undervaluation,under declaration of the volume shipped,mis-declaration and mis-classification of the shipment," Talia said.
"The next few lessons are going to be on what type you will want to do" He told me.
"Why can't I do both" I ask of him
"Because doing both takes time and money. And you don't have either of them. Also don't you want to make money now?" He state with that one eyebrow lifted again.
"Yes" I told him but I still felt a little upset.
"Don't worry you'll be learning both ways. It just the one that you are better at is the one we will put less focus and time on."He told me that he patted my head. He has been doing that a lot lately.
"Now on to the next part. Your schooling helps you with a lot of things that you need to survive a criminal lifestyle. Take those language classes for example..."Taila continues with lesson of today.
Andrei Pov
"And that is what Taila told me. Andrei, what do you think would fit me?" My somewhat dramatic friend asked me.
It didn't take me long to answer her. I think it's pretty obvious. "A Technical Smuggler suits you the best."
"Ah, I thought that too. Show I will be spending more time on outright smuggling then."She formed a pout when she said it.
"Cheer up at least you know you can spend more time at the beach." I told her as I pinched her cheeks and got up and ran away from her.
She got up and started chasing me too. Please that my aim at the distraction worked, I started laughing. This spurn her on to chase me even faster. It just made me laugh even more.
LV (Monday May 12 1958. Ista house, New Orleans, United States of America. )
Mother's Day is the day that celebrates mothers all around the world. Mother's Day has always been the holiday I didn't know how to feel about. Fun fact Mother Day is also one of the only holidays the community does not go out of their way to celebrate. It's because the holiday is supposed to be private for each family. The same goes for Father's Day.
Okay I admit it I have mother issues. But when your first mom controls every single thing you do for most of your life you will have them too. Ista I have come to realize do something similar but then again she doesn't. Ista doesn't control everything she just has expectations she wants them to meet.
And that's okay, that's normal. It's just I know that I'm not going to meet the expectations she wants from me.
Those are the tragic thoughts I had going through my head as I watched Ista open her presents from the others. She finally reached my gift, a box wrapped in burgundy wrapping paper with a swamp green bow.
Inside the medium box was a dark brown record player. Ista loves music, she always has the radio on. Now for her next gifts I only have to get the vinyl collection she loves. I thought as I saw a smile come to her face.
Author's note :
The next update, hopefully, will be 6/15/22
Now on to the facts.
History Divergent
How flame's user affects history
How does the Government affect the flame users
And what changes the principal character did in history
Now Fun Fact
55 bucks in 1958 is the equivalent of having 550 bucks now days.