Chapter 179: The District
Saturday, January 14th, Evening
The night had settled over the District of Columbia. The small group took an UBER to a nice, but small and understated restaurant. In the backseat, the three young women sat there in almost meditative silence. One of them looked out of the window. She studied the strange, even twisted, dichotomy of the United States Capitol, the very rich, and the very powerful lived and worked just mere blocks from some of the poorest people in the area.
Finally, they arrived at the restaurant. They got out of the UBER, and Jess stood on the sidewalk looking down the street. She turned to see her Mom and Aunt were now out of the UBER. Her Mom paid using the app and turned to her Aunt Sarah.
Sarah looked up at the unimpressive building. Jess had been here before, so the building held no interest to her.
"So, why are we here?" Sarah asked.
"A friend of mine used to play for Washington, and she suggested it," Angela said.
"Okay," Sarah said.
"Well, let's get inside," Angela said, "It's getting cold."
The three women went inside. They were greeted at the door by someone on the staff. Before they got their table, the Owner came to them.
"Welcome Ms. Scott, how have you and young Ms. Scott been?" The Owner asked.
"We've been well," Angela said.
"Let me show you to your table," The Owner said.
The Owner showed them to their table. Like most of the tables in the restaurant, it's round. They took their seats, where they could look across the table and look at each other. The waiter handed out the menus, and Jess took her menu. She started to look through it to make sure what she wanted was still being offered. Jess noted there were a few things she liked on the menu, but not many.
The waiter came, and they placed their orders for dinner and drinks. Finally, Angela looked over at Sarah.
"It's good to have you with us," Angela said.
Sarah nodded, "Well, I thought it would be a good time, and well, I can't put it off forever," she said.
"I've felt that way, too," Angela said.
Sarah turned to Jess, "So, Jessi, how's school going?" Sarah asked.
"It goes, Aunt Sarah," Jess said, "And I like being called Jess, now."
"Okay, everyone has the right to be called what they want to," Sarah said, a bit confused about why Jess corrected her.
"My friend calls me Jess, and I like it better than Jessi or Jessica," Jess said, "But Jessica isn't that bad."
"So, you're in fifth grade now?" Sarah asked.
Jess nodded, "Yeah, I am," she said.
"Do you still play basketball?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah," Jess said, "plus volleyball, and ran track."
"So, Jess, did you enjoy today?" Angela asked.
"Yeah, but we've done it all before," Jess said.
"I understand, our next vacation, this summer, hopefully, we'll be someplace different," Angela said.
"Can we go to the National Gallery?" Jess asked.
"Why didn't you ask that earlier, we could have headed that way earlier?" Angela asked.
"We've been there; I want to go to the one in London," Jess said.
"Why, London?" Angela asked.
"Never been, and, well, The National Gallery has an interesting collection," Jess said, "According to Wikipedia."
"Wikipedia, were you rechecking my page?" Angela asked.
"You have a Wikipedia page?" Sarah asked.
Angela nodded, "Yeah, it's mostly my stats, and a few links to family members," she said.
"I do look, but I was seeing if Uncle Lucas had another book coming out," Jess said.
"You're too young to read his books," Angela said.
"I want to see how many I have to read when I can," Jess said.
"Still keeping her from reading him?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, wouldn't you?" Angela asked.
"Fair point," Sarah said.
"So, Aunt Sarah, are you coming with us tomorrow?" Jess asked.
"Where are you going tomorrow?" Sarah asked.
"Our normal visit to the garden," Angela said.
Sarah nodded, "Already?" she asked.
"We're traveling Monday," Angela said.
"Oh, I see," Sarah said, "When are you going?"
"We try to get there when they open and usually walk since the tour doesn't take you where we need to go," Angela said.
Sarah nodded, "Maybe, I should meet you somewhere," she suggested.
"Maybe we should have breakfast together," Jess suggested.
"I'm not sure about that," Sarah said.
"It would be easier, and I have plenty of room for you to drive over with us," Angela said.
Sarah nodded, "Well, that is the purpose for my visit," she said.
"Then it's settled. I'll text you the details and such," Angela said.
Sarah nodded than looked at Jess. "So, Jessi, are you still playing basketball?" she asked.
"It's Jess, please, and yes," Jess said, "I'm still playing, they have me playing forward, but I want to play guard."
"I told you, it's because you're taller than the other girls," Angela said.
"So, I take it as a yes," Sarah said.
"Oh, I forget not everyone knows basketball," Jess said.
"No, I'm not much of a sports fan," Sarah said.
"It's okay, Grandma Karen and Grandpa Andy tolerate me playing basketball," Jess said.
"That's a parent thing," Sarah said, "They tolerate the things I did in school."
Jess nodded, "Not, My Mom," she said.
"That's because she also plays basketball," Sarah said.
"I also dance," Jess said.
"Yeah? What do you dance?" Sarah asked.
"Ballet mostly," Jess said, "I'd like to take up a more modern form."
"I loved it when I danced," Sarah said.
"Don't forget, you're starting karate soon," Angela said.
"Yeah, but why can't I take the same one you study?" Jess asked, Angela.
"I started in karate until I was older, then I switched," Angela said.
"What did you dance, Aunt Sarah?" Jess asked, turning to Sarah.
"Ballroom, I wanted to do ballet," Sarah said.
"Why didn't you?" Jess asked.
"I tried ballet," Sarah said, "I found out I lack the coordination."
Angela chuckled.
"What was that chuckle about?" Sarah asked.
"Just thinking how your cousin was uncoordinated as well," Angela said.
"Yeah, well, shit happens," Sarah said.
"Does she still curse about her nose?" Angela asked.
"Yeah, and she'd be trying for the marketing coup, and bring you back to Atlanta," Sarah said.
"I can just see it; they'll play Coming Home for my first introduced at a home game," Angela said, "So cliché."
"Which version?" Sarah asked, teasing.
"I would love he Skylar Grey version, but they'll use the P Diddy Dirty Money version," Angela said.
"Doesn't fit," Sarah said.
"It doesn't," Angela said.
"Have you decided where you're playing this season?" Sarah asked.
"No," Angela said.
"I know we'd like to have you and Jessi closer," Sarah said.
"Jess," Jess said.
"I know, but I'll do what's best for Jess and me," Angela said.
Before Sarah could respond, their dinner arrived. The waiter passed out the plates, and they ate.
