Out There (14 page)

Katelyn giggled. “Oh Ava.”

“
Watch them demonstrate nappy folding, bathing and feeding right before your very eyes!
”

Katelyn clutched her stomach in laughter saying, “Don't make me laugh!”

I began to tickle her and she was laughing so hard the nurse had to come and tell me to stop. We sat perfectly still, stifling giggles.

“How're the girls?” she asked.

“Didn't they come in?”

“Yeah, but that was almost a week ago.”

“Everyone misses you. I'm actually seeing them tomorrow, as it's Saturday.”

“Oh, I wish I could join you.”

“We could come here.”

“No, I have to do a lot of tests tomorrow anyway. You have fun though.”

“It won't be any fun without you, obviously, but I'll try.”

The next day the four of us were all sitting around Lexi's kitchen table eating lunch, as planned.

“So how is she?” Lexi asked.

“She's resting. Yesterday they told her that her pregnancy is official. You should've seen her face, it was amazing,” I said.

“Yeah, your mother told us all on the intercom.”

“She sounded so happy I think she was tearing up,” Bri added.

“Donna Hart cry?” I raised my eyebrows. “Never!”

“My intercom won't stop beeping these days. We get a message from the Council with updates like twice a day,” Jade munched on her sandwich as she spoke.

“Why is everyone so happy all the time?” Bri asked.

“Yeah, today on the tram some woman asked me if I knew Katelyn Rose. When I told her I did, she hugged me.” Lexi took another bite of her sandwich. “A perfect stranger.”

“That happened to me too,” Jade nodded.

“I think people are so happy because they never thought it would be possible,” I said as I walked over to the cupboard to get another sandwich.

“She's become Emiscyra's sweetheart.”

“I think people are just happy that she's OK,” Bri said.

“No, I think they're all excited that there are going to be more people in the community, otherwise they're out of women to do the jobs,” Jade remarked, picking at her crust.

“Well, I think Jade's almost right,” I said turning to grab a pre-made sandwich from the cupboard and walked back to the table. “The whole point of the city was to prevent the human race from going extinct and I mean I think everyone thought that without men they wouldn't be able to keep the generations cycling. So Katelyn is like their hope, or their proof that they can do it without men.” I sat back in my chair. “I mean Katelyn is basically fulfilling their original goal for the city, she's making kids.”

“Clever,” said Lexi, wagging her finger at me.

“I miss her though,” Bri sighed forlornly.

“We all miss her,” said Lexi, reaching over and wrapping her arms around Bri. “But think, we'll all be doing the same thing soon.”

“We're going to be mothers!” Bri exclaimed.

“Yeah, my sister is so jealous that I'll get kids and she won't. She asked me if I could give her one,” Lexi chuckled.

“Yeah, but Tatiana has her own house, I'll forever have to live with my mother,” Jade scowled.

“Come on Jade, it won't be so bad,” I said and nudged her.

“It's not the living with my mother that's annoying, it's the

fact that I'll be stuck with the same creaky bed for the rest of

my life.”

“Why don't you take it in for repairs?”

“I'm too lazy.”

We all laughed and Lexi said, “That's Jade for you.”

“Don't worry, you have the rest of your life to take it in,” I teased.

Jade groaned and ripped off a piece of sandwich.

Then there was a beep from the intercom.

“Hello, this is Donna Hart.”

“Here we go again,” said Jade and put her head in her hands. “Katelyn Rose is doing well. She just completed a round of tests which all showed superb results. If you have time, do try to go and pay her a visit. It need not be long, but she does love hearing from you all. Thank you to everyone that has visited already or sent lovely gifts. Katelyn told me personally to tell everyone that they really brightened her day. And thank you also for leaving your kind wishes with some of her friends and family, they are much appreciated.”

“You should see her room,” I said, turning back to the table, “it's completely full of flowers and stuff.”

“Yeah, and I was passing her house recently and there were all sorts of notes taped to her door,” Lexi said.

Then the intercom continued, “I also wanted to inform everyone that the order for the rest of the girls has been sent to every family intercom. We will notify you a week before you are due to come in. Thank you.”

We all looked at each other. Then we bolted towards the intercom, shoving each other out of the way.

“It's my intercom! Let me read it!”

“No Lexi, move over!”

Lexi opened the new message on the intercom and a list popped up. It had the names of every girl and their birthdays followed by the estimated date for surgery.

“Where are we, Lex?”

She scanned the list. “I'm number twelve!” She jumped up.

“That's so soon!” Bri exclaimed.

“I know!”

Jade shoved her out of the way and scrolled through the list. “Bri, I found you!”

“What am I?”

“You're fifty-one.”

“That's almost last.”

“That means you have plenty of time to prepare,” I reassured her.

“I can't find my name,” Jade said. “Oh wait, here it is. I'm thirty-five.”

“Congrats Jade.”

“My turn,” I said as I moved to the front of the pack.

The list was in small print so I had to look through it several times.

“I can't find it.”

Lexi came over. “Let me look.”

She held her finger over the list, scanning the whole length of it twice then she pressed her finger to the screen and gasped, “Ava!”

“What? What am I? Is it good?”

“Oh my…”

“Lexi, just tell me what it is.” I looked to where her finger was pointing.

I gasped and threw my hand to my mouth.

“Ava… you're number two.”

Chapter Seven

Ava, Four Months Later

“Good morning Ava,” the receptionist greeted me as I strolled in through the glass doors.

“Same to you, Louise. How's my girl today?”

“Good, she's waiting for you.”

“Thanks Louise,” I said and made my way up the flight of stairs and down the hall to Katelyn's room.

On the way I saw Mother, Jennifer and some Council members chatting in the sitting area outside her room.

“Hello Mother,” I said as I hugged her briefly.

“Hello darling, would you like some coffee?”

“No, I already got some.” I lifted my flask.

“Oh good. You can go in, she just finished her tests.”

“Thanks. Oh, hi everyone,” I said, waving to the Council members.

Some of them returned the gesture and I turned to go into Katelyn's room.

“Hi Ava.”

She was sitting in bed rubbing the tiny bump that had formed on her stomach.

“How's the kid?”

“She keeps giving me a hard time.”

“And to think she'll only get bigger!”

“Not funny.”

I laughed and took a sip of coffee. “Remember that time when you told me that baby bumps were like camel humps? Hey, that rhymes!”

“When was that?”

“It was when they told us about the Repopulation Phase, remember?”

She thought for a moment. “Wait, so like four months ago?'

“Wow, I can't believe it's been that long.”

“Almost halfway there.”

I squeezed her hand. “You're doing great. So how were your tests?”

“Fine,” she replied and turned her head and stared out of the window.

For the past few weeks, every time I came her window was set to regular and she would always be staring out at the street, watching the people walk by.

“Hey Katelyn, you're looking a little pale. You all right?”

She looked over at me. “Yeah, of course. So how was school?” “I haven't gone yet, silly, but yesterday we learnt about the importance of changing nappies on a regular basis.”

“I thought you already did that stuff.”

“Well, apparently not in enough detail.”

“It's better than what I have. The nurse comes in and teaches me everything personally, so there's no way to doze off in nappy training.”

“Speaking of dozing off, you look tired.”

“I'm fine.”

“Kay, are you sure?”

“Yes Ava, I'm sure.”

“Well, is there anything I can get you?”

“No Ava, I told you I'm fine,” she snapped.

I sat there for a second looking at her then she rolled over to look out of the window again. Holding my coffee cup up to my mouth, I realised it was empty.

“I'm going to get a refill. Want some?”

She shook her head.

“OK…”

I stood and went outside to the coffee machine. Jennifer walked in as I left. After selecting my order I looked over and saw Mother and the Council members intense in discussion.

“Of course it will,” Mother said firmly.

“These tests results don't show a positive sign, Donna.”

“She's having an off day.”

“Wouldn't that put her at a total of twelve off days?”

Mother chewed on her lip.

“You do realise what would happen if this procedure were to fail, right Donna?”

“Of course I know, and I completely assure you that will not happen.”

“Well, what if it does?” another member asked.

“We have no back-ups,” another replied. “It's this or bust.”

“Sylvia can figure something out,” Mother said confidently.

“I'm sure she can, but not in the small window of time we have.”

The coffee machine beeped, but I continued listening.

“Margaret's right, Donna, soon all the girls will be too old to have children.”

“And Sylvia may be a genius, but some things not even someone like her can do.”

“Well, what do you suppose we do about it?” Mother asked challengingly.

“Do about what?” asked Jennifer, walking over to them from Katelyn's room. “Is Katelyn OK?”

“Of course she is, Jenny.”

“It's just that she's barely eating or sleeping, she just stares out of that window. I'm worried about her.”

Mother put her arm around Jennifer's shoulders and said reassuringly, “I promise you, Jenny, as your best friend, Katelyn is doing perfectly. We couldn't have asked for a better first girl.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“And I know that if anyone is up for this job it's Katelyn. This phase is completely normal, give it time.”

“OK D, I mean she is showing good tests results, right?” asked Jennifer.

Mother flinched for a second then replied, “Of course.” “Well, that's good to know.”

That confused me; didn't the Council members just say the test results were bad? Had my mother lied?

“I don't know about you all, but I feel like some coffee,” said Mother.

“Oh that sounds lovely, Donna.”

They started to walk over to where I was standing so I quickly turned and ran towards the room, ducking behind the sofa so as not to be seen.

“I thought you went to get coffee,” Katelyn said as I rushed through the door.

“What?” I spun round in a circle then looked down at my empty hands. “Oh right, changed my mind.”

“Then what took you so long?”

“I had to pee.”

“Oh.”

I walked over to her bedside and snuggled up next to her. The two of us just stared around the room for a while. The walls opposite her bed were decorated with drawings of flowers and swirls of colour. The ceiling was littered with tiny lights that at night created a beautiful pattern. She had all sorts of remotes by her bed to call for the nurse, doctor, Jennifer, or whomever else she needed. She also once told me that she could ask for anything and they'd bring it: her guitar, tablets to draw on, electronic documents to read.

“Ava I'm sorry I snapped, maybe I am a little tired.” “Katelyn, it's totally fine.”

“No it's not, I shouldn't make excuses but I just haven't been able to sleep much and it's pretty boring in here.”

“Boring? But they bring you anything you want.”

“But you know how often I go outside?”

“How often?”

“Maybe once a week.”

“I'm sorry Kay, you can come with me if you want.”

“Oh no, but that would be disturbing my schedule,” she said sarcastically.

“You don't like it here?”

She sighed, “I do and you don't know how honoured and proud I am to be doing this. It's just…”