The Fruits of Earth - Part 11
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
After about ten minutes, I am again bored and decide to go back to the Rands. While I was away, their group was joined by a young man. I instantly feel revigorated and I put back my best smile. Missis Rands sees me and reaches over.
“Come dear, meet Jull,” she says. “He is our most beloved son. Jull, this is Mya, the girl I’ve told you about.”
Jull seizes my hand and kisses it, looking me straight in the eyes. He is a very sharp and handsome young man, with an electrifying gaze.
“Hello,” he says and his voice is rasp.
My cheeks start burning and I look away. I can barely say a “Hello” myself and retrieve my hand from his. Thank goodness the conversation starts again and it’s not about me. I get the pause I need to recompose myself, but my heart is bumping in my chest.
The evening moves on with idle discussions and furtive looks towards Jull. I am blushing every time I encounter his gaze upon me. We have yet to move past that first hello we’ve said, but I can’t muster the courage to open my mouth. I try not to look in his direction, especially since I can feel he’s looking at me intently.
Then the music is interrupted and everyone pays attention. This is the moment of the event. Madam will announce the first girl that is invited to spend time with a family. She is up in the balcony and looking down on the audience.
“I praise Mya,” she says, pointing in my direction, “for being the first seed from her season, ready to blossom.”
Her last words are almost covered by the swarm of applause. I can only hear and see people around me through a cloud of haze and tears of joy. My heart is racing. I can’t believe it: I’m the Queen on the night!
*
After the announcement and all the clatter, Madame makes her way towards our little happy group. She congratulates the Rands for the good choice they have made in picking me as their seasonal seed. Then she continues the dialogue with them in a more hushed voice so that other people can’t hear.
In the meantime, two fruit-servants bring plates with glasses filled with some amber liquid. Madame invites me to be the first to take a glass. I sip the liquid and it is sweet and flavored, and also a little spicy. Everybody is looking at me, smiling with affection, and when I put down my empty glass, my gesture is met with applause.
After that, Madame comes to me and takes me aside. She explains to me that it is customary for the girl which was first chosen to spend some time alone with a member of the family. The Rands have designated Jull for this honor.
“You will get to know each other in a special way,” she says, “and there is a room that was specially prepared for you for this occasion.” While she tells me all this, she walks me to a side entrance and into an adjacent room.
The room is not very spacious, but it is nicely decorated. It has two entries but no window. The lights are emitting a misty yellow glow, just enough so that the room is not in total darkness. There is a large bed in the center of the room and also a sofa by the side. The room has a cozy air and seems comfortable.
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