Mother Maris told the Girls to follow her. They were led into another building. She opened the door and she led them in. "You'll be staying here," she swayed her hand across the beds.
When the Girls entered, their eyes were captivated at the room. It was big, clean, and looked almost luxurious. It looked way better than the place that the girls lived in – not that it was bad or anything – but it was just something extraordinary. Truthfully, it was like they entered an expansive hotel.
"Wow!" Tahira gasped in disbelief as they walked in and savored the moment.
Later on, Mother Maris would tell them that she'll be heading back to the warehouse as she has some unfinished business she has yet to attend to. Before she closed the door she told them, most especially Tahira, that if they needed anything in particular, they know where to find her. Finished, she closed the door and went back to the warehouse.
Just as Mother Maris had found herself back into the warehouse interior, she coincidentally met john at the same time. "Oh, you're here," she exclaimed. "Y-you almost gave me a scare," she said as if frightened by John. His height of 6'2 and a figure of inexpressiveness.
Looking as confuse as Mother Maris was, he kindly gestured signs of apology. Both arms raised high with open hands and a tilted head to add extremism.
Calmed down, Mother Maris thought nothing of it. "It is alright. I just didn't know you'd be here." She also expressed herself as if she was also in the wrong.
As the tense atmosphere between them calmed down and faded away into obscurity, Mother Maris was eager to ask how it went with Doctor Elset. Since John was here by any means, it meant only that the doctor did the job well done.
"So. How did it go? – with Doctor Elset," She asked. "I'm sure he's left something with you?"
What was she asking for?Joh was confused. The Doctor Left me be and went the other way. No – wait. I think I know what she wants.
He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Mother Maris.
"Thank you," she happily accepted it with both arms.
Mother Maris turned the piece of paper over. When she saw the writings her eyebrows slightly furrowed and her eyes slightly dilated, she turned around, and walked the opposite direction. It wasn't far. She left momentarily to read the message in silence.
As she read the message, she felt a mixture of emotions. She felt anger but also happiness. She felt guilt but also acceptancy. Whatever it was it seemed that all of these emotions sprouted from the piece of paper she was reading, with both her hands in a tight grip. "You're something else aren't you Doctor," she whispered to herself while a small smile formed between her cheeks, not that it could be seen, but because when she realized she was smiling, she rubbed the expression from the face as she if she didn't want to show it.
Another thing that she realized is John. When she turned her back on him, she felt awkward and disappointed in herself.
"I'm so sorry that had to wait – John, right," she picked his name from the piece of paper, "Here, uhm, just take a seat and I'll serve you something to eat." She pointed at the tables.
John nodded, accepting her kindness and kindly sat at one of the tables.
The time it took to wait for the food was 10 minutes. Right after 10-minute cut, Mother Maris showed up and the plate of food in hand, she put down next to John.
"Here you, please, enjoy," she hesitated.
At the center of the table was a cup that held metal spoons. He picked a metal spoon and shoved the spoon into the rice like a shovel. He lifted a mouthful piece as the curry slipped past the rice, dripping in delight. The spoonful of rice and curry emitted heat. John took deep breathes and blew. With one last blow, the spoonful entered John's mouth, and he chewed. He chewed and chewed. He didn't swallow right away instead he reminiscence about the taste of the flavors circulating in his mouth, he loved every second of it until he swallowed. He exhaled. John then continued. He ate and ate with a satisfying expression.
Mother Maris, on the other hand, watched John. She smiled at him.
~~~~~~
The Sun set and the night is young. Mother Maris is just tidying up, sweeping the floor with her trusty broom stick. The floor, although not as unhygienic as it seemed, there was a fairly but faint spec of dust particles clogged on one side, and it proved that there was much needed to be done if she was to close the house. While she swept, someone knocked from the side of the wall.
"Excuse me, Mother Maris, are you there?" The person asked into the open as the inside was dark.
"Hello, who is it?" Mother Maris answered.
"It's me, Melina," Melina said with proof of her words.
Mother Maris stepped a close distance to Melina and revealed herselft. She then reached for the light switch and the house was lit again.
"Melina, why, w-what brings you here?" Mother Maris asked Melina curiously.
"I'm sorry if I'm disturbing your time, Mother Maris," she bowed, "BUT I was sent to tell you that there is going to be a meeting organised by the mayor."
"Oh!" Mother Maris exclaimed. "Thank you, Melina. I appreciate it."
"Alright, I'll be going now. Bye."
"Bye." Mother Maris said her goodbye waving her hand at her as Melina ran immediately after delivering her message.
'Hmmmm, I do wonder what's the mayor is up to now.'
The common area where meetings are held normally is the place where they give out rations to the unfortunate as well as hold special events. It is also the place where Mother Maris reserved the place for women's empowerment movement. It is a relatively large complex. A one story building. The interior is like the size of a basketball court. Floor decked in a fine polished wood, the walls combined with bricks and iron bars, and the roof stacked of old roof tiles. Although it is as old as time, the building stands strongly.
The night crawled in and deepened its fangs. It is a time for the lights to light up. The locals of the town swarmed inside of the building, moving tiddly in a friendly manner. While they moved in and took their seats. Others were welcomed. Others had long and short conversations. And the remaining lot waited for the meeting to commence. People from all over the town had come for the meeting. It wasn't normal. For the whole town to just suddenly walk all the way from the safety of their homes meant that the time was different and something more important was in play.
Mother Maris had company. She didn't want to leave them alone, instead, she asked them if they'd like to tag along, and without a doubt they followed through.
As everyone in the town had already made it into the venue, Mother Maris was the last person ever to enter as well as her company who trailed her from behind. When she entered, she was discovered by her female friend, a quite the familiar face to Mother Maris, as she greeted her as if she was expecting for her arrival.
"Maris, you're finally here," she walked over to Maris, her feet skipping once or twice. "You've made," she hugged Maris.
"Yes, Sarah, thank you, it's nice to see again." Maris still cling to Sarah embracing themselves. Then she let go.
It was then after releasing herself from Maris that Sarah noticed four individuals beside her. "And who are these, if I may ask?"
Noticing Sarah's change in behavior, Maris knew how well Sarah was the person to ask questions. The four individuals walked up.
"Sarah, this John, Tahira, Liney, and the little one is Sweetie," She said as she introduced them. She whispered to Sarah, "Letchad took them to the warehouse. Apparently, these four are newcomers from the outside."
"What? Are you sure?" Sarah asked.
Maris shook her head. "They'll be staying at my place. But because of tonight's meeting, I brought them over just in case, otherwise why not, I'm sure everyone's gathered here."
"Yes, it would seem so, and I'm not sure why the mayor wants to talk at this hour," Sarah said.
"But anyway, I'm sure everything will work out," Maris assured.
"Yes, I agree," Sarah agreed. "Oh, I think they're starting. We should get going. Come on, I'll guide you guys to your seats." She guided the youngsters. The seats in the front and middle were all occupied. So, they sat on the right side. At the rear.
Clusters of noise in the room created by the masses of people settled down as the Mayor entered the scene. He stepped up on the front stage, the wooden platform. It was now that everyone's focus and attention seemed pinned on his direction. It wasn't peculiar or weird (not at all frowned upon) for the people expected an answer. A reason. Why was a meeting called without prior knowledge? Mined boggling to comprehend, the mayor did have his reasons. Breathing in and out, he rested his hands on the podium and rehearsed his thoughts. He then spoke.
"Goodnight, everyone," he stated with an honest tone, "I thank you that everyone in the town has made it to the meeting, even though to my knowledge there was no notice to such an occasion. I deeply apology."
The mayor remained calm. The locals' questions were answered. Answered so that a teeming few began to spiral into a mutter of whispers, but it didn't last long enough as the mayor, who still had much to say, flipped over a sheet of papers on the podium before him, looked into the eyes of the people like a predator on the hunt. He continued.
"For the most part, I'd like to thank the majority of Lossiemouth Town, it has been a hard and gruelling time for us, to keep growing and living in the face of impending doom."
"....Although we were forgotten, as a town lost to time, we have come together, worked together. We thrive in the heart of adversity. We welcome it like warriors!" the mayor said, chanting his voice for all to hear.
The people of the town were ecstatic. They didn't expect the mayor to say these things. Words like these were usually reserved for other occasions. Whatever it was, it certainly had a number of effects on the people. Noises of small talk circulated. Talks of praise. And whispers of certainty.
However, the mayor had other plans for his choice of words. He didn't just say it out of goodwill. No. He needed ways not to anger the masses. He needed measures. But measures like these wouldn't hold. They'd break and crumble before he could even finish his other announcement, but he, at the very least, wanted to try and think of ways not to cause problems.
"BUT!" the mayor stated with one word. "As we near, somethings aren't just meant to be."
Then. The crowd fell silent.
"Starting as of tomorrow, all supplies and necessities will be moved to the food bank. This includes other forms such as medication, equipment and food. So I implore everyone from their shops and stores to take what they have and carry it there!"
Hearing what the mayor just said, some of the people were upset with his decision and the sudden change of character. An obese man stood up from his seat and questioned the mayor.
"What is the meaning of this?!" He said as he pointed his hand at him.
"Yeah, why do I have to?!" Another man added.
Then another. "This is outrageous!"
When these three-man got mad, everybody was involved. They conversed with each other. It really didn't make sense.
Confusion.
Anger.
Disgust.
Pity.
Disdain.
And other details of emotions converged in a heap pile of distortion.
The problem that the mayor wanted to avoid was inevitable.
The people faced each other. They were becoming untrustworthy with each other. They were disappointed and disagreeing in every corner they looked.
"Alright everyone, calm down. We can talk about it." He said. But no one listened.
He really did not have control - chaos ensued as the room was enveloped with utter madness. It was futile to even speak. What will he do to solve the issue?
"I see that you're mayor isn't the type for problem solving, isn't he?" A mysterious voice said. When the voice reached the room, people suddenly stopped, they focused their eyes on this mysterious person. The mayor was also awestruck. He didn't think he would show his face around these parts.
"If I may, I have the solution to everybody's problem. Only reason is that your mayor won't allow it...." he said as he wanted to go head to toe with the beast.
Finding the mysterious person's interests very familiar, the mayor shouted at him, "You have no business here!" He injected. The person in question wasn't unknown to the mayor; in fact, the mayor had his distaste for his character and the way he conducted himself. The mayor described it. Corrupt and power hungry.
"I know I don't but is it really your position to make decisions. Why not let the people vote? I am willing to help all the poor souls in Lossiemouth...so why? Why not?"
"Because you're nothing but a conniving liar." The mayor pointed at him. "You don't care! You don't even value others!"
"Guards, please escort our friend here out of the town."
The guards were about to take him by the shoulders, but he shrugged them off. "Get off me," he stated again, standing on his feet high, walking backwards, and his arms raised wide, "Just remember this, my offer still stands."
Finally, the person was out. The door closed soundly.
"Alright, back to where we left off," the mayor turned a page and looked at the people. "I know you have questions, and you want answers, yes, I can see that. So, I'll get straight to the point."
The mayor went on to tell the people why he came up with this decision, even if he knew it would worry the locals, he had made the tough decision and would take action. As the mayor kept up with his explanation, the ones who started a ruckus were slowly undoing their bad behaviour. One by one, each person sat down to hear the mayor out. He apologised; he really did. He told his part.
"....That is why I made the hardest decision. If anyone disagrees, then by all means, it is up to you to decide. I'm only thinking about the long term. What about our children, the elderly, and our future? Just hold on to that while you decide," he said and glared at them.
"If that's it, then you are all dismissed," the mayor said, leaving the podium as a chain of emotions spelt disaster in the people's heads. Now the people felt awful. The mayor was right; they had to do better. But not all of them agreed. Hiding between those ashamed, some disagree. He was one of those who stood up against the mayor. Why did he have to hand over his valuable? The mayor just wants the goods for himself, he thought. Whatever could he do? That guy, the CEO, maybe he'll do fine. They'll make a good deal.