Chapter 35
Grace was assigned a unit with Lourdes and Matt, so at least she had them whilst the rest of the Second Mass was spread around the facility. She didn't even know where Hal or Anne and her dad got placed yet, but her room was about a ten minute walk from the main cafeteria area where they had arrived. It looked like it had been built to be a hair salon, with mirrors and basins placed along the walls. At least they had a working sink each, even if the water was a little cold and brown when you first turned it on.
They were sharing the room with a middle-aged woman, Miriam, and her daughter, Jess. They seemed nice enough and showed Grace to her single bed in the corner of the room, where she immediately threw her pack and collapsed, letting the mattress absorb her. There were two other single beds opposite, which were occupied by Miriam and Jess, one directly next to Grace - which was Matt's - and one closer to the door, which Lourdes took.
It wasn't luxury, but it wasn't bad either. They had obviously done the best they could with what they had. Grace had certainly slept in worse places. At least they had made an effort to make these rooms comfortable. Having actual beds was a big bonus. The glass windows were covered with newspapers for privacy, and there were small chests of drawers placed by each bed for them to store their things. There was even the odd poster and painting stuck on the walls to perk the place up a bit, though the pictures weren't really to Grace's liking - kind of dark and classical and mostly military themed. Whoever decorated had specific artistic tastes. The whole place was a bit like that, actually. Like with the civil war paintings, it seemed everything had been coordinated to match with the tastes of the big man in charge - a man her father revealed was a history buff like him.
He knew this because Charleston's new leader (or Majority Leader, as he put it) was her dad's former mentor, a history professor at Boston College. Grace made a joke about Charleston being a beacon for the people they used to know, but she supposed that wasn't far from the truth. If Charleston was the capital of the New United States, then it made sense that anyone still alive would end up here one way or another. It was still crazy, though. After all this time, all these miles, no one would expect to run into old friends. But the Second Mass having friends in high places was certainly a welcome coincidence.
That night, Grace didn't sleep as well as she thought she would. Maybe it was getting used to being in a real bed again, or sleeping alongside strangers, or getting her head around the idea that she had to think beyond the Second Mass now. It felt weird to accept. They weren't in their own bubble anymore. They were suddenly part of this huge community that had their own army and their own leaders and their own way of doing things. For weeks, she had dreamt of this place, hoping it would be the answer to all of their problems. Now being here, she felt overwhelmed with anxiety. Beyond the Second Mass? She had lived and fought and bled for the Second Mass for almost a year now. It was going to be hard to accept that they were part of something bigger.
Their little world was expanding, as exciting and terrifying as that was.
Come morning, Grace's anxieties were amplified when she received her work assignment, shoved under the door along with the 'South Carolina Gazette'.
Miriam handed her the letter with a warm smile whilst Grace was pulling on her boots.
For the attention of Miss Grace Mason.
We are pleased to be able to assign you the position of Childcare Educator Assistant at Monroe Kindergarten & Nursery.
Please arrive promptly at 0900 for your induction.
She gripped the note angrily. "Kindergarten? Is this a joke?"
Lourdes looked over at her as she was buttoning up her shirt. "What? Is that your assignment?"
Grace practically threw the note at Lourdes. "Look at this! It must be some mistake!"
Lourdes took the note and studied it briefly. "There must be a reason. What did you write in your profile questionnaire?"
"Those dumb forms they gave us?" Grace moaned. "I don't remember. They asked a lot of questions. I guess I could have written something about teaching with Uncle Scott. But that doesn't mean I'm suited to teaching! I've killed skitters! Surely I can be of more use elsewhere!"
"You'd be a good teacher, Grace," Matt comforted her as he packed a fresh notebook in his bag ready for his first day at school. "It'll be fun!"
"Thanks, Matty," she sighed. "At least you're looking forward to school."
"Zoe - sorry, I mean Ms Maddison - is letting me borrow the entire Harry Potter series! She even says I can read it in class."
Grace gave him an unconvincing smile. "That's great, Matt. I'm glad you're enjoying it."
"You should give it a chance," Jess encouraged her, toothbrush still in her mouth. "I didn't think I'd enjoy my assignment either, but turns out I like having a job. Makes me feel normal - more normal than I've felt in ages." She paused to spit in one of the sinks. "It's only administrative stuff, but I'd take it over running and hiding for my life every single day. Plus, I feel like I'm supporting my community, keeping things running smoothly."
Lourdes gave her back the letter, smiling reassuringly at her. "She's right, Grace. Give it a chance. I'm sure there's someone you can speak to if you're still unhappy."
Grace narrowed her eyes. "What did you get?"
"I'm assigned to the surgical unit."
Her frown dropped even more.
"I wrote on my questionnaire that I was pre-med," Lourdes explained. "They must have thought I'd be useful there."
"Of course you will be! What use will I be babysitting?"
"Kids are our future," Miriam reminded her. "Whoever's left, they'll be our legacy. They need to be prepared for whatever future we can give them. That's a big responsibility."
There was truth in that, but Grace still thought she could be useful elsewhere. How could she sit in a classroom all day now, after everything she had been through? After everything that still had to be done? The war wasn't over - surely the authority here knew that? They weren't just going to pretend that everything had gone back to normal?
Jess finished brushing her teeth and started to place her long brunette curls in a tight bun. She was dressed in a smart blouse and dark trousers. "I work in the admin office. There's a sergeant there you can talk to if you're still not happy with your assignment at the end of the day."
Grace raised an eyebrow. "Not Sergeant Clemmons by any chance?"
Jess laughed. "No. He's much nicer than him - and easier on the eyes. Come on, I'll show you and Matt to your assigned classes."
Grace released a small groan before grabbing her bag. "Fine. Let's go, Matty."
Beyond the Second Mass, she kept reminding herself. She had to think beyond the Second Mass and support the community they were a part of now, even if that meant biting her tongue and forcing a smile.
Monroe Kindergarten was in a unit - more of a large alcove - filled with toys and small play equipment. Attached to the kindergarten was a nursery where people could drop off infant children while the adults attended to their duties, but this was currently empty.
Grace was looking after about seven young children, most of them aged five or younger. The kindergarten was run by two other women, Jackie and Gael, who were both a lot older than Grace. They welcomed her and showed her around eagerly. She was introduced to the children who were all cheerful and friendly and excited to see a new face.
She spent the day reading to them, drawing with them or playing with whatever old, broken toys were in the class toybox. It was actually kind of nice. Grace almost forgot about the circumstances that led her here. Perhaps there was something to this 'normal job' thing. She hadn't felt this normal in a long, long time. She had even arranged a lunch date with Zoe, who was teaching in the unit next door with her own class - and Matt. Hopefully he was enjoying class as much as he did yesterday.
Casey stopped by at one point to check the place out with Etta. She hadn't received her assignment yet, which she assumed was because she was taking care of Etta, but she was told she would be expected to pay back the community in some way or another. She explained that she was living in a unit with a few other single mothers. It was going okay, but they all assumed she was Etta's biological mother and it was getting tiring explaining the whole situation to people.
"Maybe you should stop correcting people," Grace said, half-jokingly. She knew that Casey had an issue taking up the proper title of Etta's mother, as if it was an insult or something to Sarah, her biological mother. Everyone else had already accepted it: Casey Taylor was that baby's mother. But perhaps Casey hadn't accepted it herself yet.
The woman didn't respond, though Grace noticed her look down at Etta in her baby seat and smile slightly. Instead, she changed the subject back to their assignments. Apparently Grace wasn't the only one unhappy with their assignment. Casey revealed that Anne was working in the infirmary, but back in paediatrics - her vocation before the invasion. Anne had proved herself beyond all of that. Her skills would be wasted checking kids' temperatures and prescribing painkillers every day. Apparently she was pissed and Grace didn't blame her one bit. She couldn't imagine Anne living out the rest of the war looking down sore throats and giving out lollipops.
Grace never pictured herself as a teaching assistant either, but she didn't hate it. It was refreshing playing with the kids all day and she enjoyed getting to know them and their unique personalities. There was one small boy who loved Disney princesses, another who apparently loved the taste of paint, and a girl with a creative imagination who needed Grace's help destroying invisible evil beings - Grace had a fun time chasing her around. But it didn't quite feel right. It was like they didn't even know what was going on outside Charleston. Grace knew, and inside it was chewing away at her. This teaching gig felt like a distraction from what she really needed to do, and that didn't involve chasing little kids around all day.
She mentioned this to Zoe later on their way to the cafeteria. It was just the two of them - apparently Matt was spending the lunch break playing with some new friends, which was a good sign. At least he was having fun, and Grace could complain freely about her assignment.
Zoe flushed red. "Oh crap. Grace. I'm sorry. They asked me about you and I said you were good with kids and the whole school thing. I put in a good word for you! I should have realised you wouldn't want to be cooped up in a classroom."
"It's not just that. It's just, I get a weird vibe here. Like everyone is trying so hard to be normal and ignore what's going on out there. Assigning Anne to paediatrics and me to a classroom when we could be out fighting the enemy? It's like they don't care about saving this planet."
"Believe me, I get that." Zoe sighed, slowing her pace a little. "Me and Jeanne pointed it out, and now we're paying the price."
"What do you mean?"
"How do you think I ended up in the classroom? I'm only a sub while the real teacher is off sick. You know I hated school, girl! And math is the actual worst."
Suddenly, it made sense. Grace couldn't help but giggle at the realisation. "I thought it was a little out of character for you - or at least the you I used to know."
Zoe laughed. "Who'd have thought I'd become the very thing I used to hate. Mr Ward would be spinning in his grave. Presuming he's…you know."
Grace chuckled morbidly, immediately feeling guilty.
"I also have cleaning and cooking duties." Zoe mimed a puking face. "Jeanne is serving up at the cafeteria as we speak."
"So you're being punished? For what?"
"For speaking out of turn? Disrespecting authority?" Zoe shrugged. "Manchester wasn't impressed."
"Seems a little harsh. You were just pointing out the truth. They are a little too complacent around here." Grace looked around at the residents, all busy with their duties, many of them working in the units they were passing - she spotted what looked like a clothing store, and a pharmacy, even a laundrette, as they approached the queue for lunch.
"Tell me about it." Zoe rolled her eyes before seeing Jeanne serving up in the canteen area. "Jeanne!" She skipped over and grabbed a tray. "Look who I found." She pointed at Grace enthusiastically.
"Hi Jeanne," Grace smiled awkwardly as she grabbed her own tray.
"Grace. Glad you made it." Jeanne smiled but Grace could see how forced it was.
"Bet you're glad to see your dad again?"
"Yeah," she said quietly. "I'm glad he's safe."
Grace sensed the worry in her voice. "I heard about Diego and the boys. I'm sorry."
"Thanks." She sighed, fidgeting with her food-stained apron. "The worst thing is they could still be out there somewhere and Manchester won't let us do a thing to find them."
"He won't?"
"That's why we're being punished," Zoe explained, rolling her eyes. "We kicked up a fuss and here we are."
"That doesn't seem fair."
"He doesn't give a damn about what's fair," Jeanne snapped, practically throwing down her ladle and splashing lumpy mashed potato everywhere. "As long as we all do what he wants and behave, he doesn't care that people out there are dying, that most of us are sleeping ten to a cubicle, that some of us have other ideas about how things should be done around here." She paused, noticing some of the mash had made its way onto Grace's sweater. "Sorry - I'm just mad. Diego and the boys could be hurt and I'm here serving slop to the masses."
She scooped a spoonful of said slop and piled it on Grace's plate. A mix of soggy mash, mushrooms and beans. She raised her eyebrows. "Wow. Not like yesterday's menu, huh?"
"That was a special welcome gift from Manchester," Zoe said dryly. "Rations from here on out, baby! Apart from special occasions of course."
"I have to say something," Jeanne mumbled, barely paying attention as she served another spoonful onto Zoe's plate, almost missing it. "Maybe at the meeting tonight."
Grace looked up from her 'appetising' meal. "Meeting?"
"Something Manchester's organised where the people can speak their thoughts and concerns about his leadership," Zoe answered, sounding bored by the idea.
"Well, that sounds like a good opportunity. Are you worried how he'll react?"
"What's he gonna do?" Jeanne scoffed. "I'm already pulling double shifts."
"He could throw you in jail," Zoe warned.
Grace almost laughed. "Of course this place has a jail!"
"It's probably the first thing Manchester built," teased Zoe.
"I think it's a good idea. Speaking up," Grace said. "You should do it. At least everyone else can see how important it is to you."
"Like they'll listen," Zoe retorted, starting to guide Grace away to a table. "Let's leave Jeannie to her very important work."
"Ha ha," Jeanne said sarcastically, giving Zoe a playful scowl.
Grace watched Zoe as she sat down at one of the tables. "You don't seem like you want Jeanne to speak up at this meeting tonight?"
Zoe plopped down opposite her and immediately scooped up a sizable spoonful of mash into her mouth. "No point," she said in between chews. "Manchester won't change his mind."
"It's not like you, turning down the chance to challenge authority."
"Well, I've grown up. We're on thin ice already," Zoe said, pouring herself a cup of water from the jug on the table. "And I don't want to get Jeanne's hopes up. She's suffering enough."
Grace pushed a mushroom around her plate for a moment, hesitating. "Zo, what happened to Diego and the boys? Could they still be out there?"
Zoe swallowed her food, avoiding Grace's curious gaze. Then she set down her fork and released a quiet sigh. "It all went to shit after we left the Second Mass. We never should have left." She paused, closing her eyes for a moment. "Skitters spotted us one night and attacked. Me and Jeanne got separated from the boys. We had a meeting point but they never turned up. After a while, we gave up waiting for them. We remembered you guys were heading to Charleston so we decided to come here. So yeah, it's possible, but very unlikely."
"I'm sorry. I know you cared a lot about them…and Diego…But it is possible they're okay. We could find them."
"Grace," Zoe almost snapped. "Just don't." She looked back at Jeanne miserably serving some other people before leaning back and sighing. "Jeanne would do anything to get the boys back. That's what I'm worried about. I can't lose her too."
The tinge of fear in Zoe's eyes told Grace she meant it. She understood that fear all too well. "Okay," she said, glancing back down to her meal. Before she even managed to take a bite, she felt a presence drop down next to her.
"Ladies."
"Hi Hal," Zoe beamed. "You're looking well. A little hot and sweaty though, maybe you need a cold shower?"
Grace almost choked on her beans as Hal pulled a sarcastic face.
"The only one who needs a cold shower around here is you," he said dryly.
Zoe stuck her tongue out at him.
"She's not wrong though," Grace said, pulling a disgusted face at Hal. "You reek. What have you been doing?"
Hal took a self-conscious sniff at his armpit. "I've been running drills with the soldiers."
Grace's mouth dropped open. "Wait a minute. You're assigned to the army? You get to train with them and stuff?"
"Yeah, surprised you weren't there. You're not missing anything though. Waste of time if you ask me."
Her fist tightened around her fork. How had her younger brother been assigned to the fighting forces but not her? Perhaps because she was a young female? "This is bull! I'm drawing stick figures with babies and you get to train with the actual army."
"Not sure I'd call them that," Hal said snidely. "Captain Weaver says most of these boys have never even fired a shot."
"Seriously?" Grace shook her head with disbelief. "How is that possible?"
"They seem to keep their heads down, keep out of conflict."
"Not really your style, is it?" Zoe smirked at them both.
"This must be killing Dad. Can't he talk to Manchester? Maybe confide in him about the skitter resistance?"
"Sorry, did you say 'skitter resistance'?" Zoe repeated, her eyes widening.
"It's a long story," Grace said under her breath.
"Apparently he tried," Hal answered with a shrug. "Manchester wouldn't buy it. We're in for an interesting ride here. Not sure how long it's gonna last."
"We can't just sit back and do nothing."
"What are you gonna do?"
"Someone has to speak up at this meeting tonight."
"Think Dad has to do a speech anyway. I'm sure he can make a point about it."
"Great." She pushed back her chair and got to her feet. "In the meantime, I'm going to complain about my assignment. Zo - point me in the direction of the admin office. Sounds like this army needs another Mason in its ranks."
