Sam put on a friendly smile as Marco's parents ran up to them. They seemed worried and had a deep frown set on their face. Rui stepped up beside me and spoke up.
"Mister and Missus Pacheco, how can I help you this afternoon?"
Marco's mother was red in the face and stood up straight with her fist clenched. "Mr. Kim, we have been searching for Marco high and low. How come no one thought to tell us that Marco would be on the boundary? It's dangerous here."
Marco's hand never let go of mine and he shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Neither parent looked at him or me and were too busy staring daggers at Rui. Rui looked more defensive than usual as well. His mouth was set in a thin line and he had taken a step forward and in front of Sam and Marco.
"We had discussed it among the council and had informed you that Sam would be taking Marco to see his dog," Rui said with a firm tone.
With that, both parents turned their attention to Sam and she felt herself wanting to turn into the sand around her to blow away. Rui shifted his weight to put himself back in their eyesight, "If there was a miscommunication. I apologize for that."
Mrs. Pacheco waved him off with her hand and both of them kept staring at Sam till Marco's father spoke up for the first time.
"Samantha Green correct?"
Sam nodded her head, "It's nice to finally meet you two." She said politely.
Both parents scrutinized her up and down. "We haven't properly thanked you for bringing Marco back to us." Mr. Pacheco spoke. "Thank you, we had missed our boy terribly. And we apologize for all the trouble he has caused you."
Sam flinched at the underlining tone of sarcasm, "No, he wasn't any trouble. I know what's like to lose your family, so I was happy to help him get back him back to his."
Something isn't right here, it's almost as if they're acting
Mrs. Pacheco spoke up, "We are glad to have our family whole again. So you must understand how important it is for us to know where our boy is at all times."
"Yes, I can understand that." Feeling like she was scolded like a child.
"Good, so Samantha, will you be joining us for our festival next week?"
Sam glanced at Rui who met her eyes before answering for her, "We have not cleared it yet through the council but I imagine she will be. "
"Hm, I'll see if I can have a word with Elizabeth and get that issue moving along in the right direction." Mrs.Pacheco said before continuing, "Well Marco, you've been out here long enough. Come home and do your studies."
Marco's hand squeezed Sam's before giving up and letting go. "Yes Mom," he said in the voice barely above a whisper.
Samantha felt a pull in her heart and didn't want to end things on this note, "Marco," she said so he would look at her. "I'll see you again soon OK."
He gave a small nod with a half-hearted grin. Sam caught the frowns of both parents from her peripheral vision. His mother grabbed his hand roughly and they both led him away quickly. Waiting till they were out of earshot Sam turned to Rui.
"Why is Marco so scared of his parents?" She asked bluntly.
Rui let out a heavy said and responded "They expect a lot from the boy."
"No, there is something else going on. I've only seen him that scared when I first met him." Sam urged.
Rui shrugged, "They are good people, I don't know what you want me to say. A little strict and condescending at times but fair."
Sam let it go reluctantly and moved to her next question, "This festival? What is it about?"
"Ah that I'll answer as I walk you home." He said with a smile.
"You don't have to do that..."
"Nope, besides a break from up here is nice."
Sam looked around again at rocks. they seemed to glow various colors of red in the sun. "I think it's gorgeous here."
Rui let out a chuckle, "This is nothing compared to what you'll see at the festival." He said as he started to walk again towards the cave.
Sam walked next to him and waited for him to continue.
"So when we think of Sulla and the people there, they all have the same purpose. To serve the tower, and anything that hinders that progress is removed. Such as different languages or cultural differences."
Sam stayed quiet and listened, it was true, everyone in the tower spoke the same language, we all had the same culture, we didn't celebrate holidays or have festivals.
Rui continued, "The people there have lost anything that makes them an individual, anything that connects them to their past and our home planet Earth. We don't want that to happen to us, so we celebrate our difference. Especially on one particular day of the year where we all gather and share our history, passions, hobbies, culture, language. Our past is extremely important to us as are our differences."
Sam was mirroring Rui's excitement, and as he got more excited, so did she. By the end of his speech, she was grinning ear to ear. "Sounds amazing."
"It is, and the location we hold it at is as unique as everyone here."
Sam tilted her head, "How so."
Rui faced her and smirk, "You'll have to see for yourself."
"But what if I'm not allowed."
"You've done a lot to prove yourself since being here, I see no reason why you wouldn't be."
Yet people still glare at me and call me an outsider, the only friends I have are Marco, Juda, and You.
Sam kept her thoughts to herself and they spoke about random topics all the way to her house. By then, she was happy to not be on the surface any longer as the second sun was up and she did not miss the heat up there. Walking up her to her little shack in the middle of farmland Rui commented how much better it looked since she took over.
"Thanks, Jamir has actually been helping me fix it up and I'm very pleased with how it's come along."
"That grouchy asshole? I'm surprised he's done anything to help you."
Sam shrugged with a small smile, "I don't understand it much myself, we don't speak very often but he's much nicer than when I first met him."
"Huh, well I won't question it."
Sam let out a smile, "Neither do I, thank you again for everything you did for Marco today. I hope he and Rosa can see each other again in the future."
"It was no problem, It was nice seeing the boy so happy and I think that's the happiest I've seen that dog too."
Both let out a chuckle and said their goodbyes. Sam went back inside her home and took care of her plants. Her once lone Aloe plant has now grown into a collection of potted plants of mysterious origins. She didn't know what most of them were and only her aloe and mint plants she could trace back to earth. She had gotten most of the seeds or offshoots from Juda, but Jamir also contributed some of the more temperamental plants.
The second sun had fallen and the first was on its way out when Sam heard a knock on her door. Sam had gotten up from her bed and walked over to the door. Opening it up she was surprised to see Miles there with a book in his hands.
"Miles." She said mildly surprised. "What can I help you with?"
Miles stood confidently and rolled his shoulders back. "I passed by Marco awhile back and he told me that you loved books, you used to collect them at home. I heard what you did for him today and it reminded me that I had a gift for you." He said with a smile.
He handed out the book and Sam looked at the cover "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. Sam smiled brightly and took the book. "Thank you, this is one I have not read before."
"Keep it, it's an old classic that I've read before."
Speaking of Marco Sam decided to ask Miles what he thought of his parents. Maybe he sees what I do.
"I don't like them, they're hiding something but I haven't been able to place it. Call it a gut feeling."
Sam tried to press him more about the matter, "'Hasi' I don't indulge in gossip among my own family."
Or not.
"Well, if you see Marco please keep an eye out on him."
Miles gave a gentle smile, "That I can do. Now, I won't keep you much longer and I must be going. See you tomorrow morning for work hours?"
"It was nice to have a day off but I'm ready to go back to the fields," Sam responded.
Miles gave a small wave as goodbye as he walked off and Sam closed the door. She quickly got ready for bed and curled up on her mattress with her book. She was quickly starting to like this home more than the tower and that feeling was equally met with a sense of guilt about Robin. God I miss her.
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