The Selection

Chapter 3: Application

My mother came home in the late evening but they kept Caroline after my father promised to have money coming in the near future. It was a broken promise. We all knew that wouldn't happen.

I had known the Selection was coming soon. There had been rumors around Carolina for the past couple of months but I never gave it a second thought. I had Madden.

Madden and I had been friends since we were younger. Our mothers had given birth to us on the same day and were placed in the same room. They had always been best friends so that led to us becoming best friends. They grew apart by the time we both entered school but as young children Madden and I grew inseparable. In school we were placed in different classes because of the difference of our castes. He had to learn business and I had to learn people skills and instruments. No matter what classes we were in though, we always spent our free time together even when he began meeting guys that enjoyed his own hobbies, he always made time for me. Two years ago, Madden had told me he had fallen in love with me. I realized I had too. Who better to fall in love with then Madden? His beach blonde hair fell over his brow and his hazel were branded in my memory, filled with love and intensity. I dreamed of marrying Madden and becoming a four. We could move far from Carolina. We could move to the ocean in which I had only seen once. It was the only beautiful memory I had with my dad, it's where happiness and mystery were. We could watch our children play on the beach and grow and have their own children. We could love each other for a lifetime. 

"Ember, you're not going too. Are you?" Madden asked as he walked me to my front door. I turned and avoided eye contact, but took his hand in mine.

"I don't think I have any other choice," I told him.

"Really? You're really going to do this to us?"

"I'm not doing it to win Prince Gabriel's heart. It's merely to save my sister," I assured him while rubbing circles on the back of his hand with my thumb.

He ran his strong hand through his tousled hair. Is he actually jealous? Does he think I'll fall for the Prince? There's no possible way that I would ever want anyone but Madden. Then again, if the situation was reversed I would burn with jealousy. I reached up and kissed his cheek, then turned to the door and closed it behind me. I guessed I would see him in my room tonight.

I had stayed back at the hospital a long time after my mother and father had left. I had eventually ventured out to ask a nurse if I could see my sister. She had been sweet and led me through halls to a maternity ward. I remember my dad saying we were saving up so my mom could give birth here.

Caroline had laid in a small incubator type bed. Tubes fled out of her body. She had the smallest little diaper on and her chest would rise and fall in perfect synchronization.

"What are her chances?" I had asked a nurse that let us know visiting hours were over.

"Not bad," she smiled, but her smile didn't touch her eyes so I knew the real answer was just the opposite of what she gave me.

My dad eyed me from the small table in the kitchen, welcoming me by sliding a paper towards my direction. I sighed and stepped forward looking it over.

"How did you get an application already? Aren't they supposed to be mailed?" I asked, snatching the paper off of the table.

"I stopped by City Hall and begged," he shrugged. Not possible but I wasn't willing to press. My father slid a pen across the table. He obviously was way too up for this and I shuddered. It was a skeptical situation wanting to marry off your daughter to royalty. Most fathers would want their daughters to stick around.

Skimming the application, I read over the rules. The contestant must be at least 16 and under 19. She must be healthy and free of any infection or disease. It also made sure to state that the young women should be particularly clean of any sexual activity. That's absurd to state. Any young girl should be smart enough to steer clear of that unless they wanted to be imprisoned.

My father scooted his chair back with a sigh. "I wish this wasn't an option," he told me but his voice was so monotone, I felt like he was hiding that he didn't care if this was an option or not.

I looked up at him. My dad had wrinkles around his eyes from what seemed like he aged over night. His coal encrusted hands slid his chair back under the table and he turned to walk through the hall under the stairs, no doubt checking on mom.

I sat down engaged in the application, writing in my best hand writing.

Full name: Ember Rose Eckerson
Age: 17
Cast: 5

I had answered questions about my parents, siblings and my medical history. Then, it proceeded to ask for my hobbies and talents.
I wrote two things. Singing and delivering babies. I smiled and laughed at my own little joke.

I wondered slightly if a princess was supposed to have a sense of humor. Madden and I often joked that they're all well oiled machines, programmed to rules, etiquette and more then likely conceited.

I shrugged and stuffed my application in an envelope.