My parents and I walked in silence to the breakfast room, as I tried to collect my thoughts. Would I find someone that I love during the Selection? What would happen if I don't? I kept on dreaming about that one girl... What if the Selection is the way to find that girl? What if its not?
"Mom! Dad! Caleb! Why are you so late today," my sister exclaimed.
"Calm down Amberly, it was an important meeting that we had to have with your brother. You will have one some day too don't worry," my father smiled.
"Yeah Am, don't worry," I said tugging my ear. I saw my parents tugging their ears all the time so Am and I started doing it as well, just to make a tradition about it.
Amberly got the hint. "Okay Caleb, we can talk later." I smiled at her, even though she is almost seven years younger than me, we have become so close. I hoped that I could find someone that I could love just as much as I love Amberly, but in a different way. I remember my parents excitement the day she was born because they were finally able to name a child after Grandma Schreave. I never got to meet her, Mom says that there were some very difficult circumstances around the time that Mom and Dad got married, but they never got into too much detail. I think Grandpa Singer died around the same time. They both seem to get very emotional talking about it, so I never ask them too much about it.
"Caleb, aren't you going to eat?" Amberly caught me out of my thoughts. I realized that I had not eaten a bite. I looked over at my parents and their food remained untouched as well, and they were talking in hushed tones. I was obviously not the only person having thoughts about my impending decision.
As I was leaving the breakfast room I noticed the Illea Chronicle sitting alone on the recycling bin. An article on the front page caught my immediate attention.
It has been 22 years since the Coronation and Wedding of our current King Maxon and Queen America, and the Selection that we won't forget. Our world is a completely different place during the rule of King Maxon and Queen America. Now, as Their Majesties son is turning 19 in 4 months we must guess if Prince Caleb will have a Selection as well. His Majesty has told us many times that if it was not for Her Majesty, he would have never thought of taking away the castes, meaning King Maxon's Selection was very important to Illea. Could the same thing happen to Caleb? We will be interested to find out. Only time will tell.
There was more in the article, but I found myself too overwhelmed to finish. Already, people had been talking about the possibility of my Selection? I knew that once word got out people would be talking about it, but the thought had never entered his own mind until that morning. I ran down the hallway, ignoring my father and mother as they talked to me.
After I reached my room, I sat on the bed, overwhelmed. How could my life change so suddenly? Just this morning I was complaining about not being able to sleep in, but in just 3 hours my life had changed completely. I could have a wife within a year. A WIFE.
I heard a loud knock at my door. "Son? We need to talk. Please let me in."
It was my dad. I knew I should open it, so I did. He didn't say another word until we both were sitting on my bed.
"Caleb, I know exactly what you are thinking right now. Remember, I went through it too. You are thinking of the possibility of having a wife within a year. Believe me, that scared me too, but you must know that there are many positives that come out of the Selection."
"Dad, at your selection, did you instantly know that you wanted to be with Mom?"
"Your mother son… was a very complicated girl. I always knew of my feelings for her, but it was a complicated process. Someday I will tell you the specifics, but I will tell you that everything she did, made me fall in love with her more. So if you ever have any doubts about if love can come out of the Selection, your mother and I are the prime example. Now, if you decide you don't want to have a Selection that is fine with us. We give you the complete decision. I will need to know within 2 months what your decision is so we can prepare."
Two Months. Man I thought I could have a vacation.