Caesar's Pearl 2 Chapter 4
Earlier that same day Margo was going through a daily routine she sometimes went through during points of the week when she didn't feel like scavenging for parts and other pieces of equipment to trade for meager rations of food.
For instance after she and Ranger woke up what Margo immediately went to do was tend to the majority of her daily chores. One of her favorites is tending to the flourishing cherry blossom tree in the section of her backyard that used to belong to her next door neighbors. A couple of years ago Margo had deconstructed the fencing that acted as the boundary between the two property's to make access easier to get to it. Each time Margo was around that tree she recalled the story her parents would tell her of from when she was a baby. How Caesar had risked serious injury from their crazy and intolerable neighbor in order to get her a cherry blossom flower that she had admired. She still had the fake one in the house, but those didn't really compare beside the real life thing. So in honor of her parents and Caesar Margo would always look after that tree and its blossoms to the best of her ability.
Speaking of those cherry blossoms. After her parents died and Caesar disappeared the symbolism of those flowers became ever more important to her. They became a sort of therapeutic way for Margo to hang on. Before the ALZ-113 had begun to run rampant after Caesar's liberation of the apes at the San Francisco Zoo, San Bruno Primate Shelter, and Gen-Sys labs Margo and her parents had done a little family project they could all do together.
The three of them drew and painted a cherry blossom tree in her room. So much hard work and love was put in that mural.
It was one of the last things the three of them did together. Ranger had fun too. He'd been running around getting his paws in the paint and stealing the brushes. There were even puppy sized paw prints on certain sections of the walls that he'd touched so the Rodman family thought it was only fair they put their handprints on as well alongside his. Not long after the plague took the lives of Caroline and Will from Margo leaving her and Ranger all alone. No one else would know those prints were theirs, but she would and that was enough for Margo.
All she can do now was keep the vines from outside and water stains from ruining it. There's a reason why this room and the attic that had been Caesar's home were the best kept rooms in the house excluding the piano Charles played in the house whenever his case of Alzheimer's wasn't affecting him.
What else could she do?
Although there is one room in the house that she practically never went in at all and whenever she did it was with the deepest of reluctance.
As a child Margo had never been permitted to go in there. To her understanding that was her fathers private office. Not even her mother would step foot in that room. At first the stuff she found in there didn't really make much sense to her, but then once she got older Margo finally realized what all that stuff meant. Especially when she watched some of his recorded log sessions about his work, research, and experiments. To this day Margo still loved her father, but she became absolutely appalled with what he had done. His actions had and those at the other people involved at Gen-Sys had cost so many people everything including her. Will may have quit his job there for the sake of his family, but by then it was already too late.
But then again if Will hadn't done any of this then she wouldn't have had Caesar in her life.
So technically Margo had very mixed feelings about it. All of that stuff confused her so she basically stayed out unless she really needed anything crucial out of there. The only thing she went in there for were his books.
Because she had been so young when the ALZ-113 had run rampant across the globe Margo never had the opportunity and pleasure to attend school with other children. So by all accounts Margo was entirely self-taught. As the years went by on her free time Margo had traveled to library's within the city limits reading whatever she could get her hands on. This is how she became skilled in mechanics and piano. The last one should've have been so surprising given Charles had been quite adapt in music before his illness. Playing the piano is her way of staying connected to him. No one stopped her from taking books. One things for sure Margo definitely inherited her fathers brains after self-learning so many different subjects without someone to guide her in this span of time.
No one really cared about that kind of stuff anymore. But she would not be going to the library today.
Instead Margo and Ranger took a trip down to San Francisco Bay. Margo was in the mood for a bath. Whatever water Margo got she'd rather save it for consumption not bathing. She didn't wish to waste it this way. The method isn't as conventional as taking a regular shower in a house, but it's doable.
No one went down there too often so in Margo's point of view she's safe from any unwanted visitors.
While Margo was busy Ranger occupied himself with having some fun. It was common for Ranger to splash in the water, playing with crabs scurrying in the sand, and chasing seagulls. These are some of his favorite pass times. Margo humored him in this sometimes joining in. Having to grow up so fast it's good to act like a child again when she had the chance.
Margo and Ranger didn't stay down at San Francisco Bay long, perhaps an hour. Margo was just finishing getting dressed when she heard cars coming in the distance. As she listened Margo realized the cars were coming her way, but were crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Taking out some binoculars from her bag she identified the vehicles as jeeps, but not who were inside. It was too far away. Margo's brow furrowed deeply as she wondered what citizens from the San Francisco Colony would be doing crossing into the woods. They had no business being there. Either way she'd find out soon when she went there to do some trading. That's her next stop.
Authors Note:
We're getting closer! Dun Dun Dun!
Also, the anniversary for the terrible tragedy of day of 9/11 year's ago just occurred.
I was a very young child when that happened. All I can remember that day was my mother picking me and my little sister up from grade school. At home my sister and I learned what happened in New York City. My father came home soon after fearful that we were all going to be attacked. That was one of the scariest days of my life. I know for a fact I'll never forget it. I doubt anyone will.
For those reading this right now I know we can't all be together, but I ask that you share a moment of silence and prayer, no matter your religion, out of respect for the people who died that day and those alive who are still suffering from being there that day. And those of you who may be either going to a restaurant or a bar please raise a glass in a toast for those survivors and fallen.