Weeds - Joy Barnes (good books to read for adults txt) 📗

I say.
“Very descriptive.” He responds, making that strange noise. To my surprise a similar noise comes from my own throat, without my permission. He smiles widely. “So the city girl can laugh, that's good. Laughter's good for you.” Laughter, so that's what it's called. I think he's right, because it makes me feel really happy.
“Well, it had four legs,” I begin again, describing the creature better, “lots of black and brown hair, big teeth, pointy ears and a long tongue. I think somebody said the noise it was making was called barking.” He nods his head.
“It was a dog.” He says.
“A dog?”
“Yeah, I didn't know there were any in the city...” He trails off, obviously thinking about something.
“I've never seen one before. And it was with these two men, who were talking to my employers and teachers and a lot of important looking people.” His head snaps up when I said this.
“What did the two men look like?” He asks.
“I didn't see their faces, but they were wearing a bunch of weird colors, kind of like you.” I say. He smiles again.
“I can't believe you don't even know the primary colors.” He looks at me with a strange expression I don't recognize, but it seems sad. I just return his gaze. We are silent for a while.
All at once the silence is broken by loud voices. I turn to look through the hole in the wall and see Miss Parim and several other people rushing towards us.
“Who are you!” Miss Parim demands as she reaches my side.
“Shannon!” One of the men from earlier yells, as he joins us. “What are you doing here?”
“Nothin', really, what's it to you?” Shannon says, folding his arms across his chest. The two men stare at each other as a third man jogs over. It is the man who let the “dog” attack me. He has put the rope back around the beast's neck. He smiles at me again, that strange smile of his that makes an unusual chill run up and down my spine. I am overcome by the urge to get away. I can't help it, I take two shuffling steps backwards, towards Shannon.
“What's with you, honey?” The man leans towards me, his strange smile widening. “I jus' wanna get ta know ya.” He says. I back up another step, and he steps forward again. I want to run.
Before I get a chance, a hand wraps around my wrist. Shannon pulls me closer and places me behind him. There is a really dark look on his face.
“Let her be.” He says. The dog makes a low rumbling noise, it makes me want to run.
“What do you care, sir? You are but a humble weed, what gives you the right to care about a graceful flower like Dayna?” Miss Parim's voice is filled with an odd note, and as she says the word “weed” I see Shannon frown and cast his eyes downward.
“What is a weed, Miss Parim?” I ask. She smiles.
“He is a weed, Dayna. A man not suited to exist on this planet, he shouldn't even have been allowed to live.” She says.
“Did he do something wrong?” I ask. Shannon doesn't seem like a bad person.
“Yeah,” Shannon speaks up before Miss Parim can. “I wasn't uniform.” Was that really so terrible an offense to deserve death? Couldn't he become uniform?
“Just get away from that weed, Dayna, come on now.” Miss Parim holds out her hand to me. By all means I should go to her. Instead I move closer to Shannon. I don't know why. This makes him smile for some reason.
“Look, I don't want trouble. So I'm leaving.” He says, climbing back on to the “horse's” back. I look up at him, why is he leaving? He returns my look.
“The choice is yours,” Shannon says, “You can stay with them, or come with me.” So saying he reaches down his hand to me, offering to help me onto the “horse's” back. I look at Miss Parim.
“You have no right to offer her that choice!” She says. Do I want to go with him? There are so many things that I want to know, and I think he can teach them to me. I look back at Shannon. He's smiling. That smile fills me with a strange sensation. For some reason, I can't stand the thought of not knowing more about him. I can't imagine not knowing more about this strange new world I've run headlong into. I take his hand.
“DAYNA!” Miss Parim shouts. But it's too late. Shannon hoists me up onto Fay's back, and gives him a gentle kick. The “horse” moves forward in an awkward rocking gait. I have to wrap my arms around Shannon to keep from falling. I like this sensation. We disappear into the distance as Miss Parim shouts and chases after us. She will not catch us.


Part Two:

It's hard to believe a week has passed already. It seems like it's been shorter than that, much shorter. In some ways, it also seems like it's been longer than that. We're going to what Shannon calls the “market” today. I can't wait. We're going to trade my old uniform for clothes like he wears. He says I'll get a lot for my uniform, because it's made from such quality material. It'll be good to have clothes of my own. It was really nice of Shannon to let me wear some of his clothes, but they swallow me up.
I've learned a lot in just a week. Like all the colors. I think my favorite's orange, or maybe purple. But I like blue and green and red too. I guess I like all the colors. I've learned what grass is, and what clouds are, and about trees and plants and flowers. I've learned about movies and all types of animals. I just love animals. The best thing I've learned about is music. Shannon gave me something amazing. It's a portable music player. I just put “ear buds” into my ears and this little box plays music for me. I like music. The only music I don't like Shannon calls “rap”. He says he doesn't like rap much either.
I've also learned about all sorts of new feelings. Like love, and sadness. I've always been aware of sadness, but I've never felt it. I also learned about jealousy, hatred, angry and a lot of other feelings. Shannon's a good teacher.
“Dayna!” Shannon is calling me. I guess it's time to go. I walk around the side of the house to where he's waiting.
“You ready?” He asks. I nod my head and we start walking. We walk in silence for a while.
“Did they ever teach you about the apocalypse?” Shannon asks me suddenly. I look up at him and shake my head.
“No, they never mentioned it.” I say.
“It's a really important part of our history.” He explains, “The apocalypse is the reason we have the towns. They were built in every country. It was a way to stop the constant riots that brought about the end of the world.”
“Riots?” I ask.
“Yes. People were upset because of the way the governments were ruled. Almost as one, they revolted against their governments. That is why the towns were created. Perfect cities full of perfect people that would never again revolt. And those of us who are not uniform are called “weeds”. We are exiled out of the fear that we will corrupt those who are perfect.” He sighs. It seems to be a touchy subject for him.
“So, what am I...” I wonder out loud.
“Well, for so long as you are with me, I suppose you are a weed too. Sorry. I'm sure you can go back and say I forced you to come with me, and that what happened at the edge of the forest was just an act. I'm sure they'd welcome you back.” He answers.
“I don't want to.” I state simply. He smiles at me and ruffles my hair. I laugh. We continue down the forested path talking about one topic or another, me badgering him with questions, him answering them dutifully.

The market is a busy place, full of lots of people and colors. Shannon leads me to a stand run by an older looking woman with dark skin.
“Hey Shiphra!” He greets her. She smiles at him. “The young lady here is in need of clothes.”
“Hello, dear.” She smiles at me next and looks me over. “You must have come from the city.” She says. I nod. “Well, I assume you've brought your uniform to trade me. I like getting these, because the city pays good money for them. They're made out of some of the most expensive cloth there is, you know.” She examines the uniform I have handed her and smiles.
“The city pays you for uniforms? How do you get them?” Shannon asks.
“Well, when weeds are sent out from the city, they are sent out in their uniforms and they trade them to me for other clothes.” She explains as she leads me and Shannon into another room of the shop. “I feel really bad for new ones like her, their entire memory's been erased, they do that using some sort of drug. Anyway, they say they do it to make the transition smoother, but I think they just don't want us normal people knowin' what terrible deeds go on in there!” She seems to be talking mostly to Shannon as she hands me three pairs of pants, three shirts, a dress, a skirt, underclothes, shoes, a coat and pajamas.
“I never said she was a weed.” Shannon says. Shiphra looks up in shock.
“She isn't?” Shannon shakes his head. “Then how'd she get here?” She demands.
“Well, someone shot a big hole in one of the walls. A couple of men were in there, probably collecting weeds, and sicked one of their dogs on her. Probably for fun. She tried hiding behind the wall, and I found her there. She decided to come with me. The first escapee ever.” Shannon answers. Shiphra stares at him, and then at me.
“You mean...you still remember...?” She keeps staring. I nod. “Well, why did you leave? Won't your mother miss you? Don't you miss home?” She has a lot of questions.
“I left because I was curious about Shannon, and this new world outside of the city, I don't miss the city, either.