Puppet Without Strings

Chapter 4: Dinner

Suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

- Edgar Allen Poe The Raven

Both me and Trinity looked up at the same time.  She quickly brushed me off.  

"You look gorgeous!  Just be polite, always address everyone as 'sir' and 'ma'am', and don't eat until Mr. Kinley starts to eat."  She patted me on the back, as if sending me off.

"And don't forget to smile.  It's just a dinner."

"Thanks for everything!" I said.

"No problem." Trinity winked.

I sighed and opened to the door.  Joseph was standing outside.

"May I escort you down to the dining room?" he asked, holding out his arm.

I drew an exaggerated sigh. "I don't see why I must be escorted.  But if I must I'm glad it's you," I whine, taking his arm.

Joseph laughed.  "Well I must ask, what do you think of your room?"

"Oh, it's so big!  It's, like, the size of a house!  And Trinity is so nice, she helped me get ready.  And there's a huge book collection and-" I bit my tongue, realizing that I was rambling.  He probably knew what was in almost every room in this mansion, him being a butler and all.

He gave a another one of his movie star smiles.  "I'm glad you're impressed.  May I add that you look absolutely stunning?"

I was almost positive a blush was making a grand entrance on my face.  "Thank you."

We rounded another corner into this huge room.  "Goodbye, Racheal," he said.

"Goodbye Joseph," I said.

There was a crystal chandelier over a long table.  Most of the seats were already full.  A man in a tuxedo, who I presumed to be another butler, walked up to me.

"Welcome ma'am.  What's your name?" he asked.

"Racheal Clark.  I'm the ambassador," I said.

"Ah yes!  Please follow me," he said.  I did as I was told, and he led me to the far side of the table.  He pulled out a seat for me.

"Thank you," I said.  He smiled, and walked back toward the front of the room.

I found myself sitting next to three people.  A red headed girl in a loose off-white dress sat to my right.  To my left sat a lady who looked to be in her late twenties.  She had brown hair cut off in a bob, and was wearing a bright blue blouse.  And across from me sat a middle-aged man wearing a maroon polo.

I just sat there while everyone else chatted.  Red head was talking to Mr.Maroon shirt, so I decided to eves drop.  

"Papa always talks about you.  He says that you helped end the X Virus outbreak," she said.

"That's right!  I always get pointed out for fame and honor, but really any scientist could've figured that out," he said in a thick foreign accent.

"Is that so?  Well, at least you saved millions of lives," Red Head said.

Mr. Maroon Shirt smiled.  "Well I'm glad to be recognized."

Red Head opened her mouth to say something, when we heard the tinkling noise of a fork tapping on glass.

We all looked toward the head of the table.  There, the Governor stood.

"Attention, everyone!  I would like to make a few announcements!  We have a few guests in attendance today.  First off, I would like to recognize Dr. Paul Guatama, who, as you all know, ended the horrific X Virus outbreak." 

He motioned toward Maroon Shirt, and he stood.  He waved and said "Thank you for having me."  There were a few smiles and 'hellos' and Dr. Guatama sat.

"We also have the pleasure of being with Tina Stykes, my first officer of the army.  She's finally come back home after 6 years of deployment."

A woman stood at the far end of the table, and saluted Mr. Kinley. After she sat, the Governor continued.

"And, may I introduce to you the newest addition to our staff, Racheal Clark,  ambassador."

I was startled, but assumed I should stand like Mr. Guatama and Tina did.  I did a little wave.  "Hello," I squeaked.

Mr. Kinley nodded in approval, and I sat.  There was little murmur and I suddenly felt uncomfortable.

The Governor finally sat, and butlers whisked out plates.  The same butler who seated me set a large salad in front of me.  Since everyone else was already digging in, I decided it was OK.

"So, you're the ambassador we've all hear so much about," the woman to my left asked me.  I finished chewing before I answered.  

"I guess so," I awkwardly replied.

The lady must have realized that I had no idea who she was, because she said "Well then hi!  My name is Ms. McCarn.  I'm Savanna's tutor.    I guess I'll also be yours from now on."

I smiled.  "Thank you.  But um, who's Savanna?"

"Mr. Kinley's daughter," she gestures to Red Head.

I nodded, taking another bite of my salad.  I turned to my right.

"Hi Savanna!  I'm Racheal," I said.  She turned to me, flipping her hair.  She looked at me with a quite obviously fake smile.

"Hi.  And I know what your name is.  My dad just announced it to everyone," her smart brown eyes are trained on me.

"Ok," I said, not exactly sure what to say.

Suddenly, butlers carried the salad off, and put large plates in front of us.  On them, there was salmon covered in some kind of white sauce, boiled kale, and some kind of yellow soup.

I take a sip of the soup.  It was delicious!  

I turn my attention back towards Savanna.  "Well, I just thought that since I'll be living with you, we might want to get to know each other."  Whao, I thought.  Where did that sass come from? 

"Sweetie," she said.  " You live in the same house as me, not with me."  She enunciated each word slowly.

I just shook my head and went back to my food.  I didn't say a word to anyone the whole rest of the meal, which consisted of four more courses.  Since I couldn't find Joseph anywhere, I had to try to find my way back to my room alone.

After wandering around for about half and hour, I found my room.