After a large bite, Nora handed one over. “Yes. They’re a bit old now; we’ve been rationing them.”
He inspected the label, his fingers feeling the wrapper. “Was this from here or Mars?”
Tilly answered, “Mars, yep. In one of the drops.”
Simon examined the bar closer. The label had nutrients printed on the side, a quick glance confirming it was enough to be a complete meal replacement. “They must have manufacturing there to make this. It is processed and the outside is sealed in a synthetic plastic.”
Nora said more, in between bites. “Yeah, I don’t know what they do there. But these are the best when they drop. I would trade for extras if we could.”
“How many do you have?”
Nora resumed mending. “Enough for around two months if we watch it.”
He frowned at her thin frame.She’s indeed watching it.After observing Nora mend for a few more moments, in between eating, Simon finished sorting the socks.
He pulled some of the fabric to himself to cut some additional socks.This is not difficult. Just cumbersome.It was good practice for his fingers, which were still stiff, to handle the finer movement needed to use a needle and a thread.
Nora’s eyes lit up, but she didn’t say anything as she pushed the sewing kit closer to him.
They worked together, not entirely silent, but Simon was consumed by his thoughts while they tried to make sense of the pieces of information they’d shared with each other. He thought hard about the future, which was really the present.
The rain didn’t let up, and he watched Nora empty the buckets collecting the leaks outside in a large holding drum by the front door several times.
After sitting back down, Nora gestured to him. “Let’s get you a shirt made next.”
“Alright.”
“We can also go back to scavenge at the mall soon. I’ll show you where I found you then too.” She pointed to the window outside, and Simon followed the direction of her finger. “Although probably not tomorrow. It’s gonna be wet after all this rain for a few days. Harder to find things when spots are flooded.”
“I would appreciate seeing where I was found.”
She held up a length of a basic green color in a synthetic material and pushed it toward his chest. “This will go good with your eyes. Unless you want a flower pattern.” She shook a muted yellow fabric with little white flowers she was using to make pajamas for Tilly and herself before chuckling at her joke.
The fabric was quickly measured and cut, her hand stitching so fast she’d completed it before dusk had even begun. Simon inspected it after.I doubt I could have done better.
With a smile, Nora watched him inspect the shirt. “Does match your eyes just fine.”
“Yes. Thank you.” He fingered the fabric, then was surprised that it fit almost perfectly after trying it on.
As the afternoon turned to night, Simon sat huddled with the two of them, three if he counted the cat, in front of the radio listening to Tilly’s program with her.
The day ended with yet another ration bar for both Nora and Tilly. The cat even got one mashed up and mixed with water.
Simon felt odd as he sat in the living room petting the cat that was back on his lap, purring.This day was peaceful. And simple.But his processors had a hard time feeling calm. He felt restless, though he tried to not show it.
There was nothing that he needed to do beyond sit and pet the cat and observe.After the rain ends and I see the state of the world more, I can decide what to do.The cat’s face tilted upward on his lap, leaning into his touch.I can decide for myself. What a novelty.And that thought, with the plan attached to it, was enough for him to finally feel a bit less restless as night fell.There’s no danger here.
“It’s time for the lottery!” Tilly gushed as the chime sounded on her program.
Lottery?His hand hovered over the cat, mid pet, listening hard to make sense of her words. Simon watched as Nora frowned but didn’t say anything. The ending music toPrincess Pearl and the Dastardly Threeplayed and Tilly scooted closer to the radio.
Nora said softly. "They call numbers for people to go to Mars."
“Shhh,” Tilly whispered loudly to them, even though they were already sitting quietly.
The radio’s jubilant voice rang out, loud over the raindrops still falling on the roof. Drumroll music played. “And now the monthly lottery drawings. Who will be the lucky ones chosen to fulfill the quota and take their place on Mars?”
Despite Nora’s jaded outlook on Mars, Simon watched her put down her sewing and listen closely as numbers were rattled out. He took from her expression a second later that they weren’t called as Simon watched Nora look back down. He did the same soon after, not wanting to see Tilly’s closed expression as she stared at the radio, disappointed.
