Chapter 1
Daniel sat in the third-class coach from Cork to West Fenia. He tried to be inconspicuous, trying not to draw attention, but it was difficult as the whores and salesmen saw him as the most unusual of the travelers on this particular taxi. And so he acted friendly to them, seeing that people were curious about why a young man was on this particular taxi.
�What are you doing here, sweetie?� one red-headed whore asked.
�I am going to school in the capital,� Daniel replied.
�Really? Where at?� a blond haired whore asked.
�I go to school at the Imperial School, which is at the Directrix�s palace,� Daniel replied.
�How old are you hun?� the red head asked.
�I�m fourteen,� Daniel replied. �I don�t turn 15 until July.�
�You look even younger than that, with your big glasses and your freckles,� the blond haired girl asked.
�Is that a good thing?� Daniel asked.
�Well, I think it is. It keeps you out of trouble. After all, we may be hookers, but we aren�t interested in taking advantage of anyone, unless they want to be taken advantage of. Ever been with a girl before?� the red head asked.
�No, I haven�t been with a girl before,� Daniel said.
�Well, I believe that when you get a couple years older, if you haven�t been with a girl yet, seek us out. We�d be willing to show you how to treat a girl. It is our pleasure to help out someone who is a virgin,� the red head replied.
�Yeah, it�ll be on us. No one deserves to grow up without knowing how to find their way around a woman�s body,� the blond girl added.
�Don�t let those whores sweet talk you, son,� a salesman piped up.
�What do you mean?� Daniel asked.
�These whores haven�t been pure girls since they were your age. Most of them are runaways, from mothers who were drunks and pill-poppers, from fathers who beat them or molested them, or maybe they were kidnapped and sold off to the highest bidder of the sleazy pimps on the street. Regardless, these girls are fallen women. Seek them out at your own peril,� the salesman said.
�You�re probably limp,� the red head piped in.
�How are we different from any other salespeople?� the blond asked. �After all, all salespeople whore a product. Our product just happens to be ourselves.�
�What do you sell anyway, sir,� Daniel said. �We already know what these ladies well.�
�I sell TSA�s to schoolteachers,� the salesman replied. �I try to make sure that they have enough money saved up for their retirement.�
�Well sell futures too,� the red head said.
�Yes, but the future I sell does not include sexually transmitted disease,� the salesman replied. �Besides, I have a wife and kids at home in West Fenia. Why would I need the likes of you?�
�Everyone knows that guys cannot bear to have just a good woman at home to raise the kids, cook, and clean. Guys need a little excitement on the side to go with the steady girl at home,� the blond one said.
�I have a wife at home that I have been married to for over 25 years. I don�t need anyone else on the side,� the salesman said.
�Well, why did you come on this third-class taxi today if your job is so good and your family life is so good?� the red head asked.
�I had to go today, and the first and second class personal carriers were already full. So I had to take this,� the salesman answered.
�Well, we are giving this young man here an education,� the red head said.
�Yes, we are,� the salesman replied.
�What is your dream, lad, and where have you come from?� the blond asked Daniel.
�My name is Daniel Miller. I grew up in Cork, the son of small farmers who fought to keep above debt and taxes. My dream is to be in the Imperial Corps of Engineers, and to represent my people, the peasants of Cork,� Daniel replied.
�You are an ambitious one,� the red head replied. �I take it you�re not well liked where you grew up.�
�Why do you say that?� Daniel replied.
�Well, if you were well liked, you would not have left Cork for the big city. You�re running from something,� the red head answered.
�No, I am not well-liked. And yes, I am running from the ridicule and rejection of my life. You read me like an open book,� Daniel said.
�I can see it in your eyes. Some people just can�t hide what they feel even when they want to. You�re one of those people that cannot help but betray their feelings and thoughts in every little action you do. Do you have any hobbies?� the red head replied.
�I love to read, and write poetry and plays. I also keep a little diary every day,� Daniel answered.
�You probably write a lot of stories, but somehow they always end up being about yourself,� the red head said.
�How do you know that?� Daniel asked, incredulously.
�Just a sense I get from you,� the red head said. �The palace is coming up now, so have a good time at the palace. Just don�t let the city swallow you whole. You�re a good kid, but the city doesn�t care about who you are. Never forget that. The city will chew you up and spit you out without a second thought, and you have too much good in your heart. Hopefully someday you will find the renown and the peace of mind you are looking for.�
�Alright, you guys, have a good time here yourselves,� Daniel said. �And good luck with the TSA�s.�
�Will do,� the salesman said.
Daniel got out of the taxi and took out his bags. He was, like usual, burdened down with his luggage. Surprisingly, as the taxi sped off, he saw Delia and her mother. Delia came up and hugged him, and then helped him out with his bags. Delia�s mom came up and talked with him as well.
�So you are Delia�s boyfriend?� Baroness Sanchez asked.
�Yes, I am,� Daniel said, smiling.
�I see you came on the third-class taxi,� Baroness Sanchez said.
�Yes, my parents are small farmers from the Bravian countryside. They cannot afford to send me on first or second-class personal carriers, so I ride with the hoi polloi,� Daniel replied.
�Delia says you are the brightest student in the class. How did a commoner get so smart?� Baroness Sanchez said.
�Well, there are a few reasons for that. I tend to read a lot to keep myself from getting bored senseless. I do not have the money for entertainment, so I keep myself amused with reading and with my imagination. I do not have the financial backing that most of my classmates do, so I work harder than they do. I was born intelligent, and my family helped me along as much as possible to realize that gift. Just because I come from a poor family does not mean I am stupid. Do you need any other reasons?� Daniel replied.
�No, that is quite enough. Do you love my daughter?� Baroness Sanchez asked, probingly.
�Mom,� Delia said, somewhat annoyed.
�No, I will answer the question, dear. Of course I love your daughter. She has been a wonderful friend and girlfriend to me in my time here at the Imperial School. She has stuck up for me when the rest of the class was making fun of me, she has taught me how to kiss, and she has been wonderfully kind to me in public and private. We study together, eat together, and enjoy spending as much time as possible around each other. Yes, I love your daughter,� Daniel replied.
�You are the first guy who has ever loved my daughter,� Baroness Sanchez said.
�She was the first girl who has ever loved me,� Daniel replied.
�Well, I hope you enjoy your time here,� Baroness Sanchez said.
�I hope you enjoy your time as well. It must have been hard raising your daughter alone,� Daniel said.
Taken aback, Baroness Sanchez said, �You are a perceptive young man.�
�I did not get where I am being blind,� Daniel answered.
�Well, goodbye,� Baroness Sanchez said.
�Goodbye to you,� Daniel said as Baroness Sanchez walked away.
After the guard let them in, Daniel and Delia walked into the palace and dumped the luggage in Daniel�s room. Then they went out to the courtyard to chat. Delia was very impressed with the answers that Daniel had given.
�I think that went well,� Delia said.
�I hope so,� Daniel replied.
�My mom is nosy, but I think she liked your honesty and directness,� Delia said. �I know I did.� She kissed him and unbuttoned her blouse.
�Well, then that is good for me then,� Daniel said, smiling as he held her close to him and gave her chest a kiss.
�You are such a sweet guy,� Delia said, taking his hand and putting it on her chest.
�Why do you say that?� Daniel said, his chest thumping.
�Because you have loved me without possessing me, so you will love me after you possess me,� Delia said.
�Yes, that is true,� Daniel said. Hearing a sound, Delia buttoned up her blouse and they both went back to their rooms, waving goodbye at each other.
�We will continue this later,� Delia said, smiling.
�I look forward to it,� Daniel said, also smiling.
[ Chapter 2 ]
| Jump to: |
Quick Links: Bobby's Stories | Nathan's Stories | Government | Map | Main