Afterland by Masha Leyfer Read Free Book Online

the curly haired one. She just produces a reserved but sincere smile. They continue their chatter and I understand that the two young men are brothers. The curly girl leans over to the one apparently named Mike and whispers something. I can’t help thinking that she’s whispering about me. Has fifteen minutes in the limelight really made me that conceited? She hasn’t even looked in my direction or done anything to suggest any reason to show interest in me. Mike nods slowly and says,
                  “You’re probably right. We shall see.”
    See what? I wonder. Their voices become hushed for a moment as they continue discussing.
                  “Mike, listen, are you sure about this? It’s a pretty big leap of faith,” the blonde one says. Mike shrugs.
                  “Anna says it should be fine. I think we could benefit a lot from something new. Why? Are you afraid?”
                  “Well, I can’t help but be nervous. You are planning to put your trust in a stranger. You never know how that will end up.”
    “You’re right. But I think we should take the chance. You guys want whiskey this time?” Mike asks. They all nod. “Hey, sir,” Mike says addressing the bartender. “A round of whiskey, please.”
                  The bartender, an old, bent-over man with one clouded eye, responds with a nod. He too has been watching them the entire time, absentmindedly washing the same glass the whole while. His rag moves around the inside of the glass creating a strange swishing sound that seems oddly appropriate to the situation.
    Swish, swish, swish.
    While pouring the Rebellion their whiskey, I can hear him muttering to himself.
                  “Sir? To hell with being a sir.” He hands them all the drinks.
                  “To new chances,” they toast.
                  “To new chances.” They continue ordering alcohol and making toasts until the curly haired one speaks for the first time. Her voice is quiet and musical.
                  “You’re all drunk. Let’s go.” They are all drunk, except for her, although she drank as much. Surprisingly, this delicate-looking young woman can hold her liquor better than the rest of them.
                  “But, Anna, this is so much fun.” I recognize the familiar slur of drunk syllables. Who knew that the Rebellion could have something in common with the people of Hopetown? Although I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me that much. We are all human, after all.
    Anna smiles at her drunk companions.
                  “We’ll have more fun back at camp. Besides, we have to decide, and you should be sober for that. Let’s go.”
    They go up the stairs where I assume they rented rooms. Decide what? What are they talking about? Why are they here? I wish I hadn’t told them to leave the next day. I am jealous of everything, every small detail of their life. What I envy the most isn’t even the fact that they are changing the world and I am serving liquor. I am jealous of their snowmobiles and their sleek-looking helmets. I am jealous of how close they all seem to each other and how they all have their own unique personalities that are so different from the type of person Hopetown has made all of us into. I am jealous of the fact that they get to drink alcohol instead of serving it. I am jealous of Mike and Nathan for knowing what it is like to have siblings. I am jealous of the air they breathe and the sky they see and the sun they wake up to, because the fact that it is theirs makes it different somehow. I am jealous of wherever their home is, because anywhere is better than here, but I’ll never get out.
    I sigh.
    I suppose I’m destined to stay here forever.
     
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