The elegance election

The elegance election

To the Kmashies and the Damans, my families.

*Waves and Shakes*

Emerald POV

It was six in the morning, someone was knocking on our bedroom. I looked around at my sister bed, she was fast asleep. I opened the door and found Adam stretching at the door.

“What is it, Adam?” I said yawning.

“Good morning,” he said beaming. “let’s go out in the fields.”

“But that’s too early, Adam.” I complained.

“I thought you were the good seeker,” he said.

“Alright,” I said sighing. “I’ll put on something, it’s cold outside.”

Adam nodded. “I’m waiting outside.”

“You are not going like this,” I said flatly. “it’s cold outside.”

“The good seeker – ”

“It’s not about good or bad, cowardice or courage,” I said. “it’s about health and illness.”

“Right,” he said. “I’ll go and put something and then we meet outside, good?”

“Better,” I said.

I put one of my raged coats and went outside, the air was chilly and it was demi-dark. I looked around and found Adam waving from the other side of the fence. I joined him and we walked up the hills.

We lived in the hills with some other neighbors, the hills were the poorest part of the town, but it was worth living in the town than the rural. We inherited the house from my grandpa, Avery. Seeing as dad is the only son between his sisters, grandpa written the house to my father.

The hills are the place where I always spend my time with my brother, Adam. Giving that he is older than me by one year, Adam is the most one I love in my family. Lavender is only thirteen and Ahmed is ten. Whereas Rose is twenty-four.

We reached the woods that has been out of order, and went to see if we are lucky today. I took out some spears and Adam did the same. I moved quietly between the meadow and spotted a wild rabbit, throwing the spear from the distance of four feet, I caught the rabbit in the neck, it squeaked and fall into the ground. I went towards it and placed it in my rucksack. I looked around and saw that Adam has caught one too. I looked around and saw some trees at the far distance, I went towards them and to my instance luck, I found apples. I collected about dozen of the apples and placed them in the rucksack. Adam was harvesting some roots and vegetables. I continued walking and found a chicken, I kept a safe distance and threw the spear, it caught her in the leg, and the chicken started to cackle. I caught her and peeled its head off, then her feathers, and placed it in the rucksack, Adam gave me the thumps up from the other side of the field and I smiled.

A chicken, vegetables and apples means a nice meal. We don’t get to eat meat easily, but thanks to us, dad and mom never worry what to have for meal. We finished hovering through the field and when we were finished, the sky has lightened. We went out of the field and made our way to the lake, where we always sit and eat after our hard effort. We sat on a big rock, and revealed our harvests. Adam has got two rabbits and four eggs, vegetables and some nuts and roots. I took out my chicken, apples and the rabbit. Adam ignited a fire and we roasted a rabbit, leaving two. We took an apple each and filled our cups with water from the lake. It was so delicious and we were so lucky this morning, we laid on the rock and watched the sun rising, I would never like to be anywhere than here, a seeker and a harvester with my dear brother.

“Delicious, eh?” said Adam, washing his hands in the lake.

“Yummy,” I said dreamily. “very nice.”

“Now we go back?” asked Adam.

“Yes,” I said. “they have probably woken.”

“Let’s go then.”

We took our rucksack and cleaned our cups. We made our way down the hill with a full stomach and happy spirits.

“I love collecting for breakfast.” Said Adam happily.

“Me too,” I said sunnily.

“Do you remember the first day we did it?” asked Adam grinning.

“Of course I do,” I said laughing. “wasn't that when Mr. Barry cut the head of the rabbit and I started wailing?”

“Yes,” said Adam laughing. “and I was too brave to comfort you.”

“Only you looked petrified,” I said smiling. “so you failed.”

“Yeah,” said Adam flatly. “that was the only thing you remember, I guess.”

“No,” I said. “I remember how you stopped that dog chasing me.”

“Oh, I forgot about it,” he said smiling. “how old were we?”

“Twelve,” I said uncertainly. “thirteen.”

“Yeah,” said Adam nodding. “something that kind.”

“And do you remember the first time you seek yourself?” asked Adam.

“I was very scared then,” I said nodding. “you were sick and I didn’t want to leave us without any harvest.”

“Not that dad is not going to go down the hill to bring us meal,” said Adam.

“Yeah,” I said. “but it was our job wasn’t it?”

“It is.” We approached our house and knocked on the door. Lavender answered.

“You’re back.” She said. Lavender was less than a head shorter than me. She had short brown hair and huge jade eyes. My siblings had their eyes green except me, I had them icy-blue. I had dark long sleek hair and blue eyes. I was different from everyone. Adam and Ahmed had a jet brown hair. Rose and Lavender had short sleek brown hair.

“Yes, we are,” said Adam waving his rucksack. He entered and I followed him. We found mom in the kitchen, looking in the fridge.

“Good morning, mom,” we said.

“Good morning.” She beamed.

“We got a knack,” said Adam, pouring what he got on the table.

She looked very pleased. “It mean eggs for breakfast and fried chicken for lunch. And rabbit soup for tomorrow!”

“Yes,” we said modestly.

“Thank you, darlings,” she said pulling us into one hug. I looked at Adam and he winked.

Mom was a tall, slim woman with brown hair and green eyes. Dad entered the kitchen looking happy.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Good morning,” we answered back. Dad had black hair and brown eyes, he had the building of a strong and well fed man.

“Look at what beautiful Mer and Domy got us!” said mom, showing dad what we’ve got this morning.

“Charming teenagers,” said dad. “just like always.”

“Thanks dad,” I said. I left the kitchen with Adam and went to his room. Ahmed was still sleeping. I sat on Adam’s bed and sighed.

I looked at his school bag. “Adam?”

“Yes?”

“Are you going to finish your education next year?” I asked. “I mean; this is your last year in high school.”

“No,” he said. “I don’t think so. I’ll work.”

“But why don’t you finish?”

“Needs too money, honey.” He said smiling.

“Public universities.” I said.

“Same goes for them.” He said shrugging.

“But you seek and harvest in summer,” I said. “what would you do in winter, in school days?”

“Seek and harvest,” he said simply. “and university takes even your summer.”

“But are you going to seek alone?” I asked. “I mean next year is my last year in high school.”

“I’ll wait for you,” he said. “we do it when you come back from school, don’t worry, you won’t miss the fun.”

But that was not my point. I want him to finish his education so he can work in the town and then get married. He is smart.

“You are smart,” I said quietly. “you have to finish your education.”

“And you?” he asked.

“I will do my best,” I said. “but you are more important, you are a boy, you need to work and if you finish your education, you can have a proper job down the town.”

“I’m not interested about it.” He said.

“So you can make a family then.”

“Nor I’m interested in that.” He said sitting beside me.

“You amaze me; you know?” I said resting my head on his shoulder.

“I know.” He said stroking my hair.

There was a knock on the door and I heard Lavender answering.

“This is the house of Malcolm Penraw?” said a tough voice. Adam stopped stroking my hair and I sat upright. We stayed silent to get in the intruder voice.

“Yes.” Answered Lavender.

“Shall I get in?”

“Um – yes.”

Adam stood up and I did the same. I looked at him and he shrugged. We went to the kitchen and found a bald man with a black leather suit, he should be from the city with the red tie. He seated himself beside dad. Mom looked uncertain and sat too.

“So,” said the man clearing his throat. “do you have a daughter or a son of the age sixteen or seventeen?”

“Er – yes.” Said dad. It was me, I am seventeen.

“Well,” said the man looking around. “my name is Ralph, I’m here for the one hundredth and fifty third elegance election.”

I gasped loudly. Mr Ralph looked at me sharply. I was still standing at the door by the side of Adam. The latter held my arm.

“The elegance election?” I said in a small voice.

“Yes,” said Mr Ralph. “are you the seventeen?”

“Yes,” said Adam. “she is the seventeen.”

“Then come and sit.” He said. I looked at Adam and he nodded, we joined them at the table. Lavender was standing by the oven looking afraid.

“So,” said Mr Ralph. “you know the elegance election?”

“Yes, I do.” I said.

“OK.” Said Mr Ralph turning to my parents. “After seven years, the elegance election is going to be held again. And as you know the rules are – sixteen or seventeen – girl or boy. This girl here can have the chance this year to submit.”

“Oh my god.” Squealed mom happily. “another opportunity!”

“You had one before?” asked Mr Ralph.

“Yes,” said mom. “the last election, my daughter Rose has participated but lost.”

“Rose Penraw,” said Mr Ralph. “I do remember.”

“I won’t participate.” I said.

“You will.” Said mom. “of course you will.”

“But – ”

“Look, my time is stressed so, I have to give a general explanation thing, I know you know it, but it’s a rule. I have to explain briefly.

“The elegance election is an election where thousands of girls and boys of the age sixteen or seventeen submit, they choose fifty of the thousands – twenty-five boys and twenty-five girls – they go to the election building at the city. They stay there and have elegance lessons and the election goes on as they work daily. When the election is narrowed– five boys and five girls – they are to be moved to The golden house of the queen and king of the country. Then the ten will narrow to the elect – one boy and one girl – and then it depends on which country the election will be held, this year here in England. So the five countries – Spain, Italy, France, Germany – will bring their elects to our royal house, The Golden house. The elects will compete and then the last two will win – a boy and a girl.”

“So it’s going to be here in England again!” said mom.

“Yes,” said Mr Ralph. “and the winners will be placed in the Royal site. With a nice fortune and a new level.”

“Now,” said Mr Ralph. “if you want to submit, you go to the local company and fill the file.”

“Thank you, Mr Ralph,” said Dad. They stood up and shook hands. Mr Ralph bowed to me.

“I wish you all luck.” And he left.

“Oh my god,” said mom faintly. “I can’t believe!”

“Mom, there’s no way I’d submit.”

“You’d place us in heaven,” said mom. “we’ll be in the Royal site; we will be rich!”

“But there’s no way I’d be chosen mom,” I said. “I’m not elegant by any means and I’m a seeker not a – a kind of princess.”

“You can be a wonderful elegant,” said mom. “just try.”

“But – ” Adam squeezed my hand and dad gave me a warm smile.

“I – I don’t like the idea,” I said.

“And if you win,” said mom. “It’d be from hundreds of years since England has won, it has been French mostly.”

I nodded and left the kitchen, I heard mom dialling Rose. I sighed and laid on my bed. I’m not elegant, I’d only make an embarrassment of myself. And once you’d be chosen, you work in The Golden house if you’d like with the Royal family. But I don’t want this. I want to be in the fields. At least I won’t embarrass myself in front of the foreign elects, I’d be kicked out, that if I had been even chosen, anyway. There are thousands of other girls and boys. There was a knock on my door and the door opened. Adam got in and sat on the edge of my bed.

“You’d participate?” he asked.

“What do you think”?” I asked.

“Nice opportunity,” he said. “you will be popular and make your future then.”

“Yeah, we are going to live in the Royal site,” I said.

“But I’d miss you so much,” he said. “and I’ll have to seek alone and…”

His voice tailed away.

“Me too,” I said. “I want to stay here, I’m afraid.”

“Just try,” said Adam. “you can do it.”

“I’m a mess,” I said. “I can’t be elegant.”

“You can,” he said. “and you were in Rose’s wedding.”

“Because it was a wedding.”

“Imagine it as a wedding then,” he said. “it’s another party you have to go to and attract everyone while you are there, then you go back home, simple?”

“Yeah,” I said smiling. “you make my life simple, Adam.”

“That’s the job of a brother,” he said patting my shoulder.

“I’ll do it, but one thing.” I said.

“Anything.”

“You finish your education.” I said. “I will submit if you agree, I will go and try my best, to place us in a better place and you can finish your education easily.”

“Agreed then.” Said Adam. I sat up and looked out of the window.

“He didn’t say when is the deadline.” I said.

“Who cares?” said Adam. “We will go today. It’s down the hill, so near.”

“OK,” I said.

“Change into something beautiful,” said Adam. “and come to me.”

“Right.” I said and he left. It is worth it; Adam can finish his education. If it hasn’t been for that reason, I would never budge. But my chance is so weak. Thousands will submit and I’m no elegant, there are the girls from the city. I changed into one of my dresses and combed my hair into a bun. I did some little make-up, and when I looked in the mirror, I looked nice. I joined Adam in his room.

“You look beautiful, Emerald,” he said. “like an elegant.”

I smiled. “I wish you are sixteen, so you can submit too.”

Adam laughed and we left together. Mom bombed into us in the corridor, holding the laundry.

“Where are you going?” she asked. “We have enough food; you have done a great job.”

Our house is beautiful with a small sized garden, we have a silk phone and dad got a portable phone and we have a television as well. But our problem is getting food easily. Food is very expensive down the town, so Adam and I dealt with this.

“Not food, mom,” he said quietly. “We will go to the local company, Gem is submitting!”

“You will?” asked mom looking very pleased.

“Yes,” I said smiling. “I will.”

“I don’t know what changed your mind, but thank you, Mer!”

She left hurriedly with the laundry at her clutch. I turned to Adam and smiled broadly.

“A deal has changed my mind.” I said. He smiled.

“Even if you won’t get picked,” he said. “I will continue my education, on your wish.”

I am not only submitting for his education, but for his future. Rose married a rich guy from the town called Cai Vincent. She met him at the elegance election. But, Adam cannot work if he did not study therefore, he cannot make his future. The only way to get enough money is the election. I know I have no chance to be the elegant, but at least if I got picked from the first fifty, my family will receive money while I am still on the pick. I do not know how they pick those fifty pupils at first, if it was randomly, I might have a chance, I am sometimes lucky, but this kind of pick needs big luck. We walked down the hill silently watching the town below us.

“Adam?”

“Mm-hmm” he said distractedly.

“How do they pick the first fifty?” I asked.

“They make interviews with each one of you and you fulfil some files,” he explained. “Then they pick the fifty depending on the data they got about you.”

“Why do they make interviews if we are filling files?” I asked.

“They examine your personality,” he said. “And fill their own point of view in your file, so then the queen will check the files and pick.”

“What?” I chocked. “The queen is the one who picks?”

“Of course,” he said indifferently, cutting of some branches of a nearby tree.

“She checks thousands of files,” I exclaimed. “and she picks the best fifty?"

“Well, that’s her job, isn’t it?” he said. “she picks the girls and the king picks the boys.”

“So the pick isn’t very fair,” I said. “they won’t compare carefully between thousands of files.”

“Of course not,” he said nodding. “but what difference does it make in picking if it was the queen or any person, still the files are thousands maybe millions.”

“I thought they were many people who picks,” I said imagining a big room full of people and files. “Or a big circular ball with names, they roll many times and get someone to pick the fifty, that would be ways easier.”

“Yeah,” he said. “but they want nice picks, and I think they won’t check very carefully, I mean they would choose the ones that attract the most.”

“Maybe,” I said. “odd bodkins, I never knew the queen is the one who picks.”

“And the king.” He corrected.

“Who cares?” I said. “he’s the one who chooses the boys, do I look like one?”

I stopped and pointed at myself, Adam looked at me.

“Well,” he said friskily. “no assault, but sometimes you do look like one.

I smiled. “I think if I sign as a boy I’d get chosen, they won’t notice until they find twenty-six girls and one missing boy.”

“They’d make you hell.” He said laughing.

I laughed. “But really, I never knew that the queen is the one who chooses.”

“Come on, Emerald,” said Adam irritably. “can’t you remember last election, when we waited for the results? She said she is the one who picks.”

“I think I was too excited for the names,” I said. “I neglected her speech.”

Adam shook his head and smiled. We stopped in the town and looked around, the whole town was crowded with people in gleaming suits and vehicles were everywhere. The town was colourful, distinct the hill.

“Do you know the way?” I asked him.

“Yes,” he said. Adam usually go down to the town in his free time.

We walked passing some glittering shops and stylish ladies holding bags, appearing in and out of shops.