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"The Arolan Book Club" by VoyGirl
I can barely hear how they greet me. ‘Good morning, Llea,’ ‘How are you?’. Those phrases does not interest me. I nod a little. Smile. I am bursting with desire to tell them. Tell them my story, mine and no one else’s. Unfortunately, I have to wait until Ho’na (the chairman of the club, you know), has declared the meeting opened. I sit on needles on my tey’ha cushion. Hope he’s finished soon. I bet neither of the others will have a story quite like mine. And if they had, they’d only destroy it by blabbering too much. Who cares about the meeting next week, or the annual trip to the shore? Why won’t they let me tell my story? Now. Immediately! I want to! I have the best story this time, oh yes, I do. No one will be able to surpass me this time. Oh, no... Not this time. ”Today is a very special day,” Ho’na drawls. I bolt upright on my cushion, place my hands between my knees to stop them from shivering. I am so excited. ”Because today, Llea herself has requested to go first. Yes, you heard me. Llea.” Some are polite enough to clap. I glance over at Mye, and she gives me one of her trademark smiles, one of those who belittles people. Snooty and stupid, that’s what she is. She may have eyes which are a darker purple than mine, but I think we both know that I have both the longer and the thinner hair. And this time, I have the better story, too. ”Llea, you can start telling us your story now.” ”Of course”, I say, tossing my hair back over a shoulder. I know that Mye’s looking. A few people push their cushions closer to me in the circle. All eyes are on me. It feels all too good. ”Chairman Ho’na, honored members of the Arolan book club,” I begin. ”As you all know, this club is for all who enjoys a decent love story. And, like you, I go through the weeks hoping to witness something interesting, that I can share with all of you in the club. And, as you know, I have not been all that successful since I joined sixteen weeks ago.” Chuckles, laughter. Finally, they’re laughing with me. I’m taking my time. ”But during the past three days, I have had the great fortune to witness a sort of saga, that, I know, I will only see once.” They have to let me have this. It is, after all, finally my time. ”It all began, three days ago, when a group of aliens entered the grocery shop, you know, the one I work in. There’s a special offer on sanki now, by the way. But back to the story. There were five of them, and they looked real funny. They did have two eyes, like us, but above each eye, there was a thin wad of hair. Yes, I know. Hair! One of them looked so strange! It was a he, but he had orange hair and the same color on his clothes. Not one of them was any purple at all. Their skin had different colors, from light to dark, and their hair was different too. They were all wearing the same type of clothes, except the orange man, and they all had a shining little something fastened on their chests.” They are listening to me! All of them! Even Mye! This is my day! My lucky day. I will call this day ‘Llea’s best day’. ”The people my story is about, are two of those aliens from the group. I thought I heard their names. The woman, I think, was called Katherine. No wait, it wasn’t that long. Kathryn. That was it. Kathryn. And the man had a strange name like that, too. Chakotay. I can barely pronounce it. Can you hear?” Very interesting people, really. I kind of wish I knew them for real. ”They talked to me. Both of them did. Wanted to know things about the town, about the stuff I sell. I got a good look at both of them then, too. The woman had an even more peculiar color of the hair than what I first thought when I saw her for the first time. It was more complicated up close, you know. Kind of berries mixed with soil, that kind of color. Peculiar, the color of that hair. But she had pretty eyes. At least they were light, like ours, but not the same color. I’ve never seen that color eyes before. And she was short. Couldn’t have been taller than what my daughter is now. You know who my daughter is? Good, I’m sure you do. Well, anyway, she couldn’t have been taller than her. I guess she had fine features, but I’m not her species, so I can’t really tell. But I can guess, and I guess she had. A little (rugged) though. The features. Sharp. Hard things sticking out every here and there. Above the eyes, where that strange (wad) of hair was, there was something sticking out. Well, there was something hard on each side of the nose too. And below the mouth, there was something pointing a little out, but still down, you know? I don’t know what that was for. Very strange if you ask me. And he, that man, looked about the same, but his colors were more dull. Eyes like soil, dark. And the hair was even darker. Darker then any soil you’ve ever seen, I tell you that. And he had something strange above one eye, like a crawler or something passing over his face. I don’t even know how to describe that.” They are still listening to me! Not a single yawn. I don’t think Ho’na has blinked yet. This is my luckiest and best day ever. ”Well, they all came in, talked to me, and then they bought a few things, but when I saw that they were about to leave, I asked my boss if I could take my lunch, and I could. But I didn’t have my lunch, instead, I hurried after those aliens. And guess what happened? They split up! The group, I mean. Three of them went in one direction, heading for the market, and two took the other way, towards the lake. It was them, Chakotay and Kathryn, if you haven’t understood that already. They were walking really slow, and they moved their arms in a funny way when they walked. Their hands almost touched. I think they were talking about something, because they were gesturing and laughing. They really looked good together. I wondered if they were a couple, but somehow I knew that they weren’t. Not really. But they wanted to. That I’m sure of. Anyway, they reached the lake, and it was blowing real hard. Chakotay waved around a little with an arm, until he let it rest on her shoulder. It was like he was afraid to put it there. And she didn’t seem to mind at all, instead, she moved a little closer to him, and they stood there and watched the water for a while. The whole thing was really sweet, romantic even, tough they both looked a little stiff. I wondered if he wasn’t going to place the entire arm around both her shoulders, but he never did. I think he was a little scared.” Oh, they sigh. For the sake of Kathryn and Chakotay. That’s so sweet. But they don’t have to... They haven’t heard the ending yet. ”And that was pretty much what I saw the first day. They just turned around after several minutes, and while they walked back, they did that funny thing again. Moving their arms so that the hands almost touched while they walked. The next morning, I hurried to work, hoping they would come in. But I never got to work. Because, guess what? I saw that funny orange fellow, and decided to follow him, thinking he’d lead me back to his friends. The interesting ones, Chakotay and Kathryn, I mean, the others didn’t seem all that interesting. I followed him for quite some time, until he met up with the alien with the darkest skin. That one really looked funny. You should have seen the hair above the eyes! I though Kathryn and Chakotay had funny wads, but that one... That really was something. Oh, perhaps I should get back to the scared couple. I was about to give up and get to work as fast as I could, when they both suddenly appeared from some direction, talking to the other two. Kathryn placed her hand of the orange man’s shoulder, but that did not look half as stiff as it had done when it was Chakotay’s hand on her shoulder. That was really interesting. That was a sign. I leaned against the wall of a house, pretending to wait for someone. But the whole time, I really just studied them without being noticed. It was like the perfect cover, and it wasn’t hard at all. Just exciting. Suddenly, as I stood there, a man came running towards the group. He was dressed like them, and yelled something about a shuttle being stolen. It was probably that gang, you know, the ones who steal anything that can make noise. And their shuttle was stolen! They all, the two funniest, my secret couple, and the man who had come running, hurried through the streets. I actually had to run to be able to keep up. You should have been there! It was so exciting! I even got lactic acid in my legs, and you can not believe how stiff I was this morning!” See what I went through, for your sake, for your acceptance? I can’t believe I’m already halfway through the story, and no one has said anything! No one has interrupted me, laughed at me. This time, I think I finally will be able to walk home content, and with some self-esteem left. I’ll never forget the time Mye laughed so hard that she literally sprayed me with her spit. Well, she can laugh her stupid head off, for all I care. This lump of gold is mine! Maybe that was going overboard, about her losing her head, but she should learn some manners. I have never laughed at her. Her stories are usually so good, that I can’t understand where she finds them. There are times when I think she’s just making it all up? How often do soul mates meet over a weed in the street, anyway? ”So, when they stopped, I stopped too. And believe me, I wished I actually had joined that running exercise club my daughter was bugging me about the whole summer. I was surprised, because they did not seem all that tired, not at all. Perhaps they are more fit than I am. Anyway, they gathered around the spot where the shuttle had been, I guess. Kathryn hit herself in the head with a palm. I really wondered why she did that. She paced around in circles, looking frustrated and hitting herself on the chest. I don’t know why she did that either. The other looked more calm, especially the one with the funniest wads above his eyes. He just stood there. But Kathryn looked so frustrated. I wished I could have walked up to her and consoled her, calming her down, but I decided to leave that to Chakotay. I hoped he would step in and help her, and guess what? He did. He watched her pace for a moment, then simply walked up to her, grabbed her wrists and forced her to stop. He said something to her, I could see the lips move. But she didn’t answer. At least she stopped, and she didn’t draw her hands back, just let him hold her wrists firmly. It looked quite awkward, but yet sweet. But she suffered. I could see that. I wanted her to let him console her, but she kept standing stiff and straight in front of her. I don’t know why she took the loss of the shuttle so hard. perhaps it was her personal shuttle. And you can never guess what happened next! I was standing there, waiting for my legs to stop shaking, when someone places a hand on my shoulder. It was my boss! And it suddenly didn’t feel all that good anymore. He was not happy. So I had to follow him back to the shop, and skip my lunch. But it was worth it. If she’d only allowed herself to be consoled, I would have worked all through the night, if that would have happened.” Mye’s looking at me. Oh, how I will remember and adore that look. She does not look mad, nor jealous, as I expected her to. Instead, she looks interested. Genuinely interested! Maybe I have been a little indifferent regarding her stories through the weeks, but at least I haven’t been smooth-talking and false, like too many of the others have. I wouldn’t stoop that low. I was certain I’d find a good story some time too, and I did. I definitely did. ”The next morning I was free from work, and decided to go look for them. And I was lucky; I found them, where the shuttle apparently had been the day before. The spot was as empty that morning as the one before. I wondered what they had been up to for all those hours I hadn’t been there to watch. They were all there, all five, four men and the woman. I still wonder why they all seemed to have such respect for her. I guess they could have been traveling through space, with her as a higher ranking officer, but I don’t think that’s all that likely. Just imagine having different ranks you have to follow! But if that really is the case, I can understand why she is so stiff towards him. If would be a real pity if that was true.” When I think about it, we do have a sort of ranking system inside this club too. And I fear I have had the lowest rank ever since I joined, with Mye, for example, too high up for me to reach. Maybe that is why they’ve never paid mush attention to me before? Well, if that’s true, I’m really ashamed to be a part of this. If they let me join, knowing that I probably wouldn’t have a chance at all. Perhaps I should leave the club when I’m finished with this. Leave with style and grace, you know. Stop when you’re at the top. I just have to face the fact that I probably never will witness a story quite like that again. Perhaps I should leave. Perhaps. ”And that was a cold morning, perhaps you noticed that. Not it’s evening, and much warmer, but it really was cold. Seriously, didn’t you notice? There was frost in the trees. So, I was standing there, when Chakotay and Kathryn separated themselves form the group and started walking again. And, of course, I followed them. It was so cold. I was wearing my daughter’s cap. They were walking, and walking, and talked the whole time. Just walking and talking. And I walked after, and I did wish for someone who I could talk to. You know, exchange ideas and theories and such. Anyway, they were walking up and down streets to the left and right, and it was so cold. And finally, they ended up at the lake again, just standing there and watching the water move slowly. I wished I had known what they were talking about. They were wearing some sort of sweaters, but they were open in the front. And as dark as Chakotay’s hair. Perhaps even darker. And they were standing there, really close, talking. I moved as close as I could, until I could hears their voices. They were whispering, and I could not hear a word. But I could see everything very clearly. She was cold, I could even see how she shivered. And so could he. As soon as he noticed, he hurried to free himself of that strange sweater. He was wearing that red and dark shirt under. Well, he held it, and without that Kathryn noticed it, he placed his, probably warm, sweater over hers. So she had two and he had none. I think that was really sweet. And guess what he did then? He finally placed that arm around both her shoulders. I could almost feel how warm she became, and I... wished I had someone who could do that for me. Oh, well, back to them! He was standing behind her, sort of, and she could lean into him. I could see how relaxed she was. The stiff pose was all gone. Once again, I wondered what they had been talking about. They were standing like that, in the cold, with the water in front of them. She had two sweaters and he had none, but he didn’t seem to freeze at all. I moved a little, so I could see them from the side, and she was leanind her head against his chest. They looked so content, so serene. That was when I decided to leave them. That was the whole story. I don’t know if they are still here, or if they got their shuttle back. But I do know, that they have something they can nourish no matter where they are. The end.” Ho’na’s standing up, and he extends his hands towards me. Can he really want to shake my hand? Oh my, he’s going to speak! To me! In front of everyone! ”Llea, that was a really good story. Very different from the other’s you’ve told... Not so intense, more timid. But you brought it to us the way it was, I’m sure of it. And I think I speak on behalf of the others, when I appoint it ‘story of the month’.” He’s shaking my hand! Oh, I’m so happy. I would like to thank that Chakotay, that Kathryn, if I only knew how to find them, who they are, where they are from. I’m so glad I didn’t exaggerate this time. I didn’t have to! But I could have if I wanted to. I heard this rumor, about a ship that’s lost, from another galaxy. If I would have taken my (winning) plot and mixed it with that rumor... Now that would have been a story. How is it that saying goes? ‘The fiction is always stranger than the truth.’ Index
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