Chapter 4: Getting Ahead and Getting Rebellious
Cressida paused at her door when she got home. Pollux and Castor stood on either side of her like body guards. The door opened and Tom shook his head. "Cress, they don't remember anything." He reassured her.
"Ok." Cressida said softly. Tom grinned at the Smith twins.
"Hey guys." He said.
"Hey." They said in tandem.
"Uh –" Tom paused. "Thanks for watching out for my little sister. Um – I – she and I really – appreciate it."
"No problem. She's awesome." Pollux said before turning beet red. To cover the awkward silence, he held out his hand for Tom to shake. Castor followed suit before they made their way back to their apartment. Cressida went into the living room.
"Hi Cressida! Happy Tuesday, hon!" Her mother called cheerfully raising her glass with some sort of spirits in it.
"Hi Mom!" Cressida said hugging her. It's actually Thursday, Mom. She thought, but this was precious time where she could have a coherent conversation with her parents. "How are you?"
"Oh, Fine. I slept in a bit." Mrs. Wilson said. Cressida looked at Tom with a look that said: Is she mad about the mirror? Tom shook her head. "How was school, dear?"
"Oh fine." Cressida said. "I'm doing well in my assignments and everything. How's work going, Mom?"
"Oh – very well!" Mrs. Wilson said smiling. "In fact – I was sleeping in this morning – so I couldn't tell you then – but I'm choosing the outfits for this next year's Hunger Games!"
"Wow!" Cressida said raising her eyebrows. "That's great, mom!" She hugged her mother smiling. She was genuinely happy to see her mother in a good mood. "What about Dad?"
"Oh – right – he's away – he's planning the costumes for the Victory Tour!" She giggled. "Actually, Cressida dear – we were wondering if you would like to help us!" Cressida's mouth dropped. Mixed feelings ran through her head. She was excited that she could use her art talent in the real world, however, she was wary of going deeper into participating in the Capital's culture. "Oh – yes – my dear!" She trilled. "I know you'll be so so excited! Would you like to help your father with the photo-shoots on the Victory Tour?" Cressida nodded eagerly. "Think about it dear – you'll be meeting the Victors and so many grand people of Panem!"
"I like photography." Cressida said smiling. "It would be a good opportunity. Thanks, Mom!" Her mother drank the rest of her drink.
"Well, I must be off, dear! Flavius is waiting for me! He's one of the Games stylists!" Cressida nodded, wondering if Flavius was stranger she threatened that morning.
"Uh – mom?" Cressida asked. "Aren't you staying for dinner?"
"Oh – I gave Tom some grocery money. You two can pick something special out." She kissed Cressida and Tom before heading out the door.
"Thirty U's." Tom said shaking the envelope on the coffee table.
"Thirty bright shiny Panem Monetary Units!" Cressida quipped. "Uh – for how long?" She asked. They had learned the hard way that her parents would sometimes underestimate how much money the two needed for things like groceries and school supplies. Once they were given 10 U's for three weeks' worth of groceries. Tom looked at the envelope and shrugged.
"Dunno. We'll get dinner tonight, and I'll check the budget to see how we are on grocery money." Tom explained. "Wanna go out to dinner?"
"Go out?" Cressida gasped. Because of the sometimes erratic money situation, she and Tom rarely ate out unless they were at an event with their parents.
"Yeah." Tom said grinning. "I don't want to cook. And – well – I'm sure you've had enough of this house for a bit." Cressida laughed and hugged her brother before putting her backpack in her room. "Plus, I have news for you!" Cressida raised her eyebrows as she came back into the living room. "Once I graduate, I'm officially in the accounting apprentice program!" Cressida squealed and hugged him before they walked out the door.
They went into a nearby restaurant. It was a cheap restaurant by Capital standards where plates were only 8 U's on average. Music was blasting and there was a bar that was rather full with happy-hour guests. Tom and Cressida ordered their food. Cressida noticed that the waitress was around her age. "Do you go to Capital East?" She asked. The girl shook her head sadly. She waited silently with her electronic tablet that would send their orders to the screen in the kitchen.
"Cress, do you know what you want?" Tom asked.
"Yeah – ooh – the lasagna looks good. Yeah – I'll go with lasagna." Cressida said smiling. "Have you tried it? Is it good?" The girl smiled a bit. "I'll take that as a yes."
"I'll take the pork-chop dinner." Tom said to their waitress. She nodded and then took their menus after typing in their orders.
"Cress," Tom said in an undertone, so Cressida had to lean across the table to hear him. "This restaurant has Avoxes as staff."
"Oh – oh yeah." Cressida said blushing. "But – she did look like she was in high school." Tom nodded. "Tom – why would someone our age be an Avox?"
"Dunno." Tom said. He cleared his throat. "Speaking of school, no more telling me about your year's float for the Victory Parade. It's no use. The seniors will win the best float as usual!" He said loudly.
"Oh – Oh yeah!" Cressida said grinning. She giggled. "Well – your year doesn't have the Smith twins like mine does." She giggled before taking a sip of her soda. "So, watch it, big bro!" The waitress brought their plates and Cressida smiled at her before she left. They chatted about school as they ate. "Here's to my big bro, a future government official!" They clinked their glasses of soda together. "I knew you'd get into the civil service apprenticeship." Cressida said smiling. "You've been helping our parents with their books for years." As in he was paying bills electronically and figuring out budgeting since he was ten years old and could hack into our parents' accounts.
"Thanks, sis." Tom said. "Listen – I need to drop by the Smith's shop to check out a new calculator tonight. You keep your flirting with Pollux to a minimum when I'm around." Cressida blushed as he laughed. They paid for their meal and went to the electronics shop. Tom picked up his calculator and found Mr. Smith to have a chat about making sure it worked.
"Well, I have the twins watching the shop. So no need to rush." Mr. Smith said to Tom and Cressida smiling. The three of them were in a small room in the store-room and office area of the store. "We're in a soundproof room so we can test any sort of equipment you want in here."
"Well, looks like this calculator is in working order." Tom said after they went over some technical stuff with it. "I was thinking about getting one for Cressida."
"Tom, I'm not in accounting!" Cressida yelped.
"No – but you will need one if you get into a photography program to do the calucations required for configuring your camera equipment." Tom said. "She's helping with the Victory Tour." Mr. Smith raised his eyebrows.
"Are you excited, dear?" He asked.
"Uh – sure?" Cressida asked. Mr. Smith laughed.
"I see my boys have been talking with you." He said. "What are your thoughts? I promise whatever you say won't leave this room."
"Uh –" Cressida paused. "Sometimes I think life in the Capital is stupid." She admitted. "I want to go to photography school to get out of regular school. Everyone's so ditzy there. It's like no one really cares about anything important." She paused. "Like – my friends wouldn't wonder why Tom and I had a high-school aged Avox as a waitress tonight. They might not even notice her at all."
"I see." Mr. Smith said. "Would it come as a surprise that your brother has similar feelings?"
"You're part of trying to rebel too?" Cressida gasped looking at Tom. "But you just got that civil service position!"
"Well, we need people actually in the government if we're going to take it down at some point." Cressida's jaw dropped.
"When – when did you –" Cressida stammered.
"Remember when you were twelve and we were locked out of the house because our parents were throwing a party for someone in government?" Cressida nodded. She remembered that it was the dead of winter and she had on her sweater on over her dress that she had worn to school. It had began to snow as school ended. She and Tom were in the lobby doing homework. After several hours, they were both hungry, but couldn't go into their house to get food. Tom and Cressida had to make their way almost a mile away in ten degree weather and blowing snow to the Smiths' apartment for a place to sleep and food. "After you went to sleep on the twins' floor, I began ranting about how our parents had left us on our own and how no one cared that two kids had to get into the apartment to eat and sleep before school the next day. Mr. Smith here explained that other people felt that way and if I wanted to make a difference, I could help those differently-minded people."
"What – what have you been doing for them?" Cressida asked in a low voice.
"Mostly errand running. I'm not allowed to tell you everything, sis. But I wanted the decision to rebel or not to be completely your own." Cressida nodded. "The Smiths moved into our apartment building to be closer to us. So they couuld begin helping me – and now you – become part of the resistance." Cressida nodded solemly. "Ok – let's go home. You still have school tomorrow."
"Thanks for letting us test some stuff, Mr. Smith." Cressida said as they came back into the store.
"Anytime, and good luck with your projects you two." Mr. Smith said smiling. Tom paid for their calculators and they went home. Cressida got her stuff ready for the next day and then lay on her bed thinking. She was relieved that her brother had the same mindset as she and the Smith twins. On one hand, she was glad she wasn't trying to rebel alone. On the other hand, if something went wrong, she knew they would all be in trouble. However, if it truly made a difference, she decided it would be worth it.