25 – Rally in Redding (1)

 

Stellaluna laid in bed next to Yannick in their secret cottage, after another afternoon of pleasure. That man sure knew his way around a woman’s body.

“We should do something together,” Yannick said.

“What? Like a date?” Stellaluna stared at Yannick. “We can’t be seen together in public. I might be recognized.”

“We go where you not be will. Will be not?” Lately, Yannick had been making an effort to get his words in the right order.

“Will not be,” Stellaluna corrected. “Though most people say ‘won’t be.’”

“We go where you won’t be.” Yannick smiled. “What you think?”

Stellaluna would love to go out somewhere with Yannick, instead of hiding in an abandoned cottage. “What did you have in mind?”

“Dinner out,” Yannick said. “Will Redding know you?”

Only her last name. She doubted the average person there would know her face. But she did know people who lived there. However, chances of coming across them were slim, especially if Yannick was picking the restaurant. “There’s risk, but not much.”

“Good.” Yannick leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Tomorrow evening?”

Barry often spent Saturday evenings with Waylon. “Shouldn’t be a problem. Where should we meet?”

Stellaluna met Yannick in a secluded area somewhere between the mansion and the nearest neighborhood. Yannick was waiting in his car. His very old car. Stellaluna knew next to nothing about cars, but was fairly certain this particular brand and model was common among lowers.

She climbed in. Yannick leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Where like you eat?”

Every restaurant in Redding she’d been to with would be well outside Yannick’s price range. Not only that, but she sometimes wondered how much different cheaper restaurants were. Or the lives of the lower-class in general. “Wherever you normally go.”

“Really?”

“Of course.” Stellaluna placed her hand over Yannick’s. “I want to know all about your life.”

“No you don’t. My life is boring.”

“Maybe to you.”

Yannick shrugged and typed something into the GPS. Then, they were off.

 

~~~~~

 

Sebastian, Axel, and Jake ended up in Redding. It all started when Sebastian got in an argument with Jake over buying clothes. Jake would not shut up about how it was ridiculous that people had to pay for clothes, rambling on about how they were expensive while wondering what poor people were supposed to do. Sebastian, backed up occasionally by Axel, answered that question. He started with explaining donations, and ended with thrift shopping. “It’s really not as big of an issue as you think.”

“I’ve seen none of that in Gilran,” Jake had said, doubt in his tone.

“Have you ever even left Gilran since you got here?” Sebastian asked.

It turned out Jake had not, there was a thrift store in Redding Axel sometimes shopped at, and so they all took a trip there.

The thrift shop was decent-sized, but had a musty scent. Axel lead the way towards the clothing area, and showed Jake the low prices. Some as low as 200 ameros! Sebastian knew they were cheap, but didn’t know they were that cheap.

Jake still griped about how they should be free, then moved on to criticizing all the decorative objects. They were apparently bad for the environment.

When they left the store, Jake pointed out a large crowd down the street. “What’s going on there?”

Axel shrugged. “Let’s go find out.”

They walked over to a large, open field of grass. People crowded around a podium – some standing, others sitting – while a man spoke into a microphone behind it. Sebastian caught the words “labor protections” and “unions.”

As the three got closer, Sebastian noticed a small stand off to the side selling merchandise of some kind. A few people wore shirts that said things like “vote for Clark” and “Black’s got your back.”

“What’s going on?” Jake asked the nearest person.

“Clark Black rally.”

So that was the infamous Clark Black. He had short, dark hair slicked back and wore a suit.

“A 426 amero wage is not enough for anyone to live on,” Black went on. “If you elect me, I will raise it to 600!”

“Only 600?” Jake scoffed. But everyone else cheered over that. Axel took a few steps forward into the crowd, to get closer. Sebastian did the same. He, too, was interested in what his father’s opponent had to say.

“Now, I want to talk about blacklisting.”

The cheering died down. A few people exchanged uncomfortable looks.

“It’s a good system for violent criminals. But it’s life-ruining for people who make one mistake. One mistake. A college student gets caught trying weed for the first time, they get branded as a drug addict. As they enter the workforce, they struggle to find employment, or even a roof over their head. For five years. Their future is ruined before it even begins.”

Clark Black went on. “And someone who kisses someone of the same gender one time? Maybe they were drunk. Maybe they were tricked. But now their life is ruined for 8 years.”

Sebastian leaned forward at that, drinking in every word.

“Now, I know this isn’t the most popular opinion. But I don’t think people who tried drugs or like the same gender should be denied work and housing. They didn’t harm anyone, so why should they get punished? If elected, I will rework the blacklisting system. At the very least, I will reduce the number of years people of nonviolent crimes stay on that list. But my goal is to eliminate it.”

Only a few people cheered and applauded at that. Axel and Sebastian joined in. Even a reduction years would be an improvement.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jake muttered.

 

~~~~~

 

Stellaluna and Yannick arrived at a restaurant in Redding Stellaluna had heard of, but never would have ever stepped foot in. Not a single person in her social circle would have stepped foot in it. Just her being near the building would have landed her in the local Gilran news.

“Denny’s?!” Stellaluna gasped at the bright, yellow sign.

“You wanted to know what being low-class is like.”

“I said your life.”

“I am low-class. This is my life.” Yannick got out of the car. Stellaluna did the same. Head down, she followed Yannick through the parking lot, and into the building itself.

The smells of various types of food filled the air, along with laughter and chattering. Despite its reputation, the restaurant had a decent amount of customers. But there were plenty of open tables. Stellaluna sat across from Yannick in a booth. Looking at all the other patrons, she realized she had overdressed. Yes, she had picked out one of her casual dresses, because she didn’t expect a formal night out. But even her casual dresses were nicer than the dresses all the other women wore.

“You look amazing,” Yannick said.

“You too.” Stellaluna wasn’t used to seeing him in anything other than his servant uniform, and it was nice seeing him in a proper outfit. He wore a blue button-up shirt with black trousers. Casual wear for someone like Barry, but they were probably the best clothes Yannick owned. He, too, was slightly overdressed. But not noticeably so. Not like Stellaluna.

Yannick handed her the tablet. “Can you it read?”

There was no need to, because pictures of every entree filled the screen. Stellaluna scrolled through, squinting at the fine print. Some words looked difficult to pronounce. Others were easy. “Much better than before. What should I get?”

“Whatever you want.”

Prices were actually listed out. This really was a place for lowers. Stellaluna was curious about the steaks– how did a steak at a place like this compare to a high-end place? But they were the most expensive items on the menu.

Yannick would probably insist on paying for her, so she went through the cheaper options instead. Burgers, sandwiches, and… breakfast? Why did it show breakfast options at dinnertime?

There was a sentence written at the top of the menu. Stellaluna stared at the letters, sounding them all out in her head until they made sense. “Breakfast is served all day?”

“Yes. They have good breakfast.”

“But for dinner?”

“Yes.” Yannick tilted his head to the side. “You never breakfast for dinner?”

“No! Why would anyone have breakfast for dinner?”

“Breakfast cheap. Dinner expensive.”

What a way to save money. Stellaluna never would have thought of that. She didn’t even know breakfast foods cost less than dinner.

“Breakfast sounds good,” Yannick said. “Now that you say it.”

Stellaluna perused the breakfast list. Eggs, pancakes, waffles, french toast. She was impressed with the amount of options. And they were the same items Barry offered at the mansion’s restaurant. Maybe she should see how their pancakes compared. And they were one of the cheapest options. “Maybe I’ll get pancakes.”

“Just pancakes? Or a combo?”

“What’s a combo?”

Yannick tilted his head to the side. “You know. More food. But you save money.”

Did Yannick translate the words in his head correctly? “More food saves you money?”

“It is a better deal.” Yannick took the tablet from her hand, and scrolled to a picture of pancakes with eggs, toast, and bacon. “That is only 200 ameros more. And you get everything.”

“What?!” Stellaluna stared at the picture. All of that? “How do they not lose money?”

Yannick shrugged, clearly unfamiliar with how businesses worked.

“I could never even finish it all!”

“I can get that, and give you the pancakes?”

“Okay.” Stellaluna watched Yannick order on the tablet, mind reeling over the concept of combos. “Do all lower places have combos?”

“Some, yes. The low price has us come.”

People took price into consideration when choosing where to eat? Stellaluna picked based off her mood. When she had the choice, anyway. Usually they went for whatever Barry wanted. “Interesting. Do you eat here often.”

Yannick shook his head. “Too far. I go to the cafe. Also cheap, and I save gas.”

Stellaluna nodded. Barry sometimes complained about gas prices, so she understood that much.

“But not often,” Yannick said. “My mom cooks. It is cheaper, and lasts longer.”

“Lasts longer?”

“More food. Can recook.”

Was he referring to the concept of leftovers? Stellaluna had heard of that. Eating food you couldn’t finish by throwing it in a microwave. It sounded disgusting, but she kept her opinion to herself. “Fascinating.”

“Maybe can she a day for you cook.”

“Huh?”

Yannick showed a sudden interest in a salt shaker on the table. Did he mean he wanted to take her to meet his parents?

Before Stellaluna could further question that bizarre sentence, a waitress brought over their food. Humans bringing food instead of robots? Stellaluna was surprised. She thought robots were cheaper and easier. She pulled the plate of pancakes towards herself, and poured syrup on it.

When the waitress left, Stellaluna leaned in. “They have human staff?”

“Yes. It is also strange for us.” Yannick took a bite of egg.

Stellaluna picked up a fork and knife, and cut into her pancake. It wasn’t much different than the pancakes at Barry’s restaurant. She took her first bite, enjoying the sweet taste. They weren’t amazing, but they were still good. About as good as the ones Barry served, and at more than half the price. In her opinion, he was ripping people off. “It’s good.”

“Good. Want a sausage?”

Stellaluna took one off his plate. It, too, was good for the price. She could see why people came here.

 

After their dinner (or breakfast?), Stellaluna and Yannick left the building. It was still light out, despite being 6 pm.

Across the street, a large gathering had formed out on a field. Stellaluna squinted. “What’s going on there?”

Yannick shrugged. “We can go see.”

The pair walked over to investigate. A stand had been set up near the sidewalk, but everyone’s attention was on a man standing in front of a podium in the center of the field.

“It’s Clark Black,” Yannick said.

“Waylon’s opponent?” Stellaluna had overheard Barry complaining about him. Apparently his policies would harm businesses.

“Yes. I want to see. Is that okay?”

Despite her strong disinterest in politics, Stellaluna agreed. The alternative was the date ending. Clark Black talked about raising the minimum wage. His words had Yannick locked in. Her eyes wandered the crowd as Black moved onto blacklisting, and landed on three people she had seen before. She wasn’t the least bit surprised to find Jake and his Hispanic friend there. (Axel, was it?) Black sounded exactly like the kind of candidate Jake would support. But she gasped at the third person.

Sebastian!

What was he doing, listening to his father’s opponent? Cheering along with the crowd? Not only that, but what would he do if he saw her? Would he tell his father? Tell Barry? He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Because then he’d have to explain why he was at the rally. And with Jake, of all people. She thought they hated each other.

“Women are people too.”

Stellaluna snapped her head towards Black.

“Their husbands shouldn’t be allowed to hit them. They’re not animals. So what if they talk back every now and then? Sometimes they’re right.”

He most certainly was correct on that, though only a few women applauded. Stellaluna did too. Yannick slipped his arm around her waist, smiling, while Black asked for everyone’s vote, promising to do all he was proposing if elected.

The crowd began to disperse as Clark Black left the podium to speak to a group of uniformed men.

“What do you think?”

Stellaluna blinked at Yannick, startled at not only the question about her opinion, but the fact he had the word order right the first time, and included “do.”

“Well?” Yannick tilted his head to the side.

“You didn’t say, ’what think you,” Stellaluna said. “You said it right the first time.”

“I hoped so.” Yannick kept his arm around her waist, wrapping it tighter. “All the reading helped. You still not answered the question.”

Stellaluna leaned against his chest, and kissed his jawline. Yannick’s body tensed. She pulled away, and saw why.

Sebastian, along with his friends, had stopped to stare. He appeared as frozen as Yannick. Jake had an eyebrow raised, while Axel gave Yannick a sly grin.

An awkward silence filled the air. Stellaluna made direct eye contact with Sebastian. His eyes communicated the same thing as hers. A silent, please don’t tell anyone about this.

Sebastian gave her a polite nod, and walked away with his group. Stellaluna let out a breath. Yannick laced his fingers with hers. “He will not tell. I trust him.”