The Hubby Hold (IQ Testing Book 2) (20 page)

The mayor shouts. “Quite, please quiet! I have one more golden colored schooler. She answered the question in 2.9 seconds. Congratulations, Duchie!”

Duchie stands, dashing around the other me-chee chairs then runs into the mayor, literally. She back steps, giggling with embarrassment. “Sorry, Ms. Mayor, I’m just excited and thrilled to be here, with you and my new friends, and the schoolers, and my parents, and here, within the Cubby Hole. And, I wanna be a me-chee technician, too, living, here, in Colfax, too.” She stands, nodding, smiling, and bouncing side to side with happiness.

The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, and boot stomp with annoyance.

The mayor raises her hands. “The Cubby Hole has completed for the graduating schoolers. You are officially graduated, permanently assigned to your work job, and honestly earned your citizenship to your respective color, which is represented by one of the outer townships. Good bye, new citizens!”

The hand slaps Ketona on the collar bone then says in female fury. “What have you done, Ketona?”

I swing with a smile to my mama, saying. “What has been done? I’m living and working with Buffo, my boyfriend, who will be my husband, soon. I guess, you could come to the wedding. I guess, ya need to get permission from the mayor, or something…”

Buffo cuddles Ketona, snarling at her parents for his love and protection.

Ketona’s mama exhales then frowns with worry. “You made it into the golden color tone, after your struggles through each color tone. Then, you…you select a permanent job as a farmer. What is wrong with you, dear?”

I sneer at my parents out of angry. “You made me study math formulas, geometric equations, and calculus theorems for decades, without warning me, of the horrible and dangerous park places. I almost got killed…”

Ketona’s daddy frowns with annoyance. “The park places, overall, represent a mental and psychology conditioning of your mental mind. The park place will never harm a teen…”

I slap my face with the knife cut then show my hand with the first knife cut. “I bleed. I hurt. I am mad…”

Ketona’s daddy frowns with annoyance. “You passed, like we did, also. I am so disappointed in you, Ketona. Now, we are going to train Rincon, instead of you, as a medical technician.”

I frown with disgust. “Rincon beat me, fair and square, first with the final answer. He selected the medical technician, first, for his job. He will be a great medical technician, too. Please, show him the respect you would have shown me.”

Ketona’s mama frowns with worry. “How are you planning to survive the country farm life, with the cows, the corn, the cotton, the clothes, and the cooking? I don’t think you fully understand the consequences of your impromptu decision, here, within the Cubby Hole. We can’t send your clothes, or any type of personal items, from Colfax into any of the outer townships. You are, literally, leaving Colfax with the clothes on your back, the cat suit of orange color.”

I gasp then fake a smile. “I…can make do, until I can purchase more clothes…”

Ketona’s mama shakes her curls. “You should do not comprehensive your impromptu decision. You are living on a farm. There are not any fashion shops, or flower shops, or candy stores, like here, within Colfax. I really don’t know what types of stores exist in the outer townships…”

I sneer. “I…we will make do, living like the rest of the farmers, too.”

Ketona’s mama exhales. “You are not educated, or trained to work on a crop field…”

I smile, nodding to Buffo. “We, both, will be learning about farm life. We, both, will be living a farm life. We, both, are staying there, forever. I guess, you can come and visit, one day, but ya gotta call me, first,” she giggles, hugging on Buffo.

Ketona’s mama frowns with annoyance, exhaling. “Yes, I await that one day, too. Good luck, daughter.” She hugs her daughter.

Ketona’s daddy hugs his daughter then says. “Good luck, Ketona. We can’t help you, with anything, living out in the country. You are truly on your own…”

“I am with Buffo. He loves and protects me.”

Buffo nods. “Yes, dear,” smiling.

Her parents frown then swing around, exiting through the individual labeled locked rooms, which is the only pathway in and out of the Cubby Hole.

I exhale, frowning with disgust and defiance then swing to Buffo. I smile and giggle. “I love you, Buffo.”

The hand slaps Ketona on the collar bone, when Duchie giggles. “We, both, got our dreams come true. I’m proud of you, darling.” She slaps Buffo on the chest, “Take good care of my best friend, sweetheart. Me and her went through hell to get into the golden circle. Well, I gotta go and say good bye to my…BPs. They’re waving at me. Well, I guess, this is good bye, Ketona and Buffo. Based on the rules of the Establishment, which you, both, will learn about, inside Burrville, I will never, ever see your smiling faces, again. Good luck, ya’ll!” She hugs Ketona then Buffo then back steps, tossing a salute, smiling. Duchie spins around, dashing to her parents.

Rincon steps into Duchie’s spot, nodding and smiling. He pulls Ketona from Buffo, hugging her then says to Buffo. He extends his hand, when Buffo shakes it. Rincon smiles. “I wish you and Buffo, the best of everything. I do understand the rules of Establishment, very well. I will never see, either one of you, again.” He whispers to Ketona, smiling. “I am sorry that we didn’t work out, but I am your friend, forever. If you need anything, please, contact me, Ketona.”

I nod, hugging Rincon, holding back the sobs for my former schooler and street neighbor.

Buffo shoves Rincon from Ketona then pulls her into his chest. He says. “We, too, wish ya the best in everything. Ya got your dream job, as a medical tech. Good luck, Rincon! Maybe, one day, you can visit us on our farm, since I know the rules of Establishment, too,” he smirks and nods to Rincon.

Rincon smiles and nods, back stepping from the teen couple. He spins, surveying the room for his BPs.

Nephella slides into Rincon’s place, extending her hand. Buffo grabs it then he pulls them into a huddle. They part and giggle at each other.

Nephella smiles and nods, bouncing her body piercings. “Nice to meet, some descent folks, within Colfax. I plan to visit ya’ll, especially, for my invite to your wedding ceremony. I got some special connections,” she giggles and thumbs her mama, who talks with Rincon’s parents. She exhales, nodding. “I can’t say, I’ll lunch with ya’ll, soon, since I, too, have learned the nasty few rules of the Establishment. So, good bye, good luck, and good going!” she nods and smiles, back stepping then spins to her mama.

I hug Buffo, grinning up at his face, being shorter.

The hand gently touches my bicep, when Buffo’s mama says and smiles. “Hi, honey! We enjoyed the academic drama.”

Ketona back steps for his mama to hug her son.

Buffo’s mama smiles and nods, hugging her son. “We’re so proud of you, Buffo, and you, too, Ketona. Based on your sudden decision to live on a farm, instead of in the city, we welcome you to our little family, Ketona.” She hugs Ketona then says. “Buffo, your grandfather is going to be thrilled and happy that he can teach you the farming life. Don’t worry, Ketona! Farming is long hours, but very rewarding, living in the fresh air and plenty of sunshine. Buffo’s grandfather has everything all prepared. Just to update both of ya’ll, you will be leaving for the farm, immediately. Once Citizenship Day has finished, each teen is transported to their respective color tone, matching the outer township. So, well, this is good bye, Buffo. We will come and visit during the holidays, as allowed by the Establishment rules. I love ya, son! Good luck with your new job!” She hugs her son then releases him, two-stepping for her husband.

Buffo’s daddy smiles and nods, then hugs his son, too. He releases his son, saying. “Your mama, as usual, has taken my prepared speech. So, this is it. This is good luck, not good bye. We got a couple of connections at the mayor’s office, too, so we might be able to sneak in a visit, soon. I love you, Buffo. And, welcome to our family, Ketona. Even thou, you have been a daughter to us for many, many years, tagging along with Buffo into our home.” He hugs Ketona then releases her. “Good luck, kids! Enjoy your live, together. That is the secret of life, your happy togetherness. We’ll be outside, killing the manicured grass, while ya’ll say some ‘good byes’ to your other neighborhood friends. The transport ships are outside, too.”

His parents smile and nod, back stepping then split up, moving into the separate locker room to exit the Cubby Hole.

I watch Buffo’s mama disappear into the girl’s locker room. “What transport ships, like air traveling ships? I’m never been on an airship, before? What are they talking about, Buffo?”

The female says, standing behind Ketona’s back. “The barrier walls are never lowered between the outer townships. Therefore travel is by air, rough and scary, too.”

I swing around, dropping my mouth, staring at the mayor.

The mayor smiles as the cheekbone piercing twinkles and wrinkles her flabby cheek, saying. “I have never had a golden schooler reject their dream job, within Colfax, under me. You are the first teen to an…annotate that quick decision. I was stunned, at first,” she views Buffo then Ketona. “Then, I quickly understood. Your decision was based on love, so sweet and innocent. I would to remind you, even though, you did complete and compete, within the golden circle, with the other golden colored schoolers, you are not eligible for the other two vacant dream jobs, in Colfax.”

I nod and grin. “I know that. I have chosen my dream covered with both sprinkles and twinkles…”

The mayor sneers. “I want you to completely understand me, being that no other teen has ever sm…”

“Some more queries, Mama!? I can’t answer them. Marsilla’s parents are asking me tons of questions. Please, join my huddle, over yonder.” Nephella slides into her mother, winking at Ketona then shoves her mama towards another huddle.

I extend my arms, smiling and seeing Lamis.

Lamis stands off to the side of Buffo’s me-chee chair, wiping her tears then bounces to Ketona.

They hug.

Lamis releases Ketona, nodding and smiling. “Thank you, darling, for being my friend and encouraging me. You really helped me reach, here, into the golden circle. Yeah, I don’t answer the final question, advancing into the golden circle, but I’m going to be living and working in Montag…”

I nod and smile. “Doing some painting and drawing with your talents, I hope.

Lamis nods and smiles. “You’re remembered, also. Something like that. I met and talked with some of the other teens inside the blue color tone, going to Montag with me. Some of them are from Montage, always. They told me that there are lots of different shop owners, who intern with the young teens, like me, wanting to share and teach them maker skills. There are thousands of makers of shoes, clothing, jewelry, purses, and other artists, too many, to name.”

I giggle and nod. “You’ll be a maker of clothing, maybe, then I’ll purchase of your creation, also.”

Lamis frowns with puzzlement. “I might be a maker of clothing, within Montag, I haven’t decided, yet. I will make with the different shop owners and see which one, like best, but you can’t purchase my creation…”

I nod and smile.  “Yes, I can. I can buy it from…”

“Ketona, you can never, ever leave Burrville, where you are a permanent citizen, unlike me.” Lamis smiles. “If I make a new creation with my talents of drawing or painting, then I can come, during the daylight hours, here, into Colfax to sell all my creations. But, you’re a farmer living in Burrville, you don’t go anywhere to sell the cotton, or the corn, or the cows. Instead, the big trucks and trailers come to you and your farm then pick of all the livestock or food stuffs. I mean, your parents can visit ya, once or twice per year, but you didn’t ever leave the confines of the barrier wall, ever.”

Buffo gently touches Ketona on the collar bone.

I exhale, faking a smile, nodding. “O! Well, then, maybe, my mama can purchase your maker creation, here, in Colfax, and then bring it to me, inside Burrville.”

Lamis nods. “Yeah, I guess she can do that at holiday time, about six months from, now. I plan to make some dresses and hats. I don’t know if you’re allowed to wear dresses while ya farm the dusty field crops.”

I gasp then exhale, faking another smile. “Well, I can always start a new fashion trend or something. I’m young and smart, too.”

Buffo pats Ketona on the collar bone, nodding behind her hair roots.

Lamis nods, smiling. “I guess. Well, thanks for assisting me, here, inside the Cubby Hole. I wanna wish both of ya’ll a good life. Since, I’ll never see ya’ll, again. Good luck, Ketona and Buffo! Good bye!” She back steps then swing around, walking towards the girls’ locker to meet her parents, killing the grass on the manicured lawn.

I fake a smile, watching the other teens say good-byes then invade the locker room.

Buffo says, standing behind Ketona, patting her collar bone. He says. “Well, we should think about finding our air ship. It will zoom across the skyline of Colfax, over the barrier wall then land inside the town of Burrville. My grandfather will be there, sitting inside his old pickup truck then ya meet my grandma…”

“I like that,” I fake a smile, exhaling.

Buffo scans the auditorium, seeing their friends in the wall corner, frowning with sadness. “I see Java and Hatch. They wear prisoner suits of yellow, representing Dookie Town. I don’t understand. They should’ve exhibited better sense to stay and play inside the yellow park place.”