The Distance Between

by Blair Cousins

  J-Kolson called Ester to the front to re-organize the vegetables. She was grateful that she could still watch the woman from her side of the booth as she worked. Ester moved some ears of corn, when she noticed the woman was heading her way. Ester averted her eyes, only stealing glances at her to not appear creepy. The woman walked over and looked at the vegetables as if she had never seen them before. Others moved around her, pushing her out of the way with quick grabby hands. The woman retracted her hands every time someone reached in front of her. It would be amusing to Ester if it wasn’t so sad. Ester finished restocking some corn and walked over to the woman.

  “Do you need any help?” Ester offered as she rubbed her hands off with a rag.

  The woman looked up and that’s when Ester noticed her silvery blue eyes. She had never seen someone with that type of eye color before. Ester pulled herself from her gaze, trying not to make things anymore awkward than it already was. The woman said nothing as she scanned the vegetables, as if she were in deep thought.

  “It’s okay, I know it’s a lot to pick from. Are you from around here?”

  The woman flinched.

  “I don’t mean to pry, but you look a little lost,” Ester said. “These vegetables are imported from Cha-la, and a lot of them have similar counterparts to vegetables grown in other nation states. For example, this orange potato here may look a little weird if you’re from Huma-ko, because Huma-ko potatoes are black, but this one is pretty much the same. It just has a little tartness in it that can be cooked out and sweetened if you want. The beans are the same way.”

  The woman poured over the vegetables, reaching out to them, then retracting her hands. Another customer pushed into her and Ester started to say something, but the woman shoved them away. The customer grunted and looked at the woman, but her glare extinguished any reaction they were thinking of having. Ester smirked watching the customer walk over to the other side of the booth.

  “Vegetables?” The woman mumbled. Ester could barely understand her from her thick accent.

  “Um, yes, all of these on this side are vegetables, on the other side is fruit.”

  “Fruit?”

  “Yup, we have a pretty good stock of fruits as well, they’re from Cha-la, but—”

  “Green leaves, I would like to trade for green leaves.” The woman said more assertively.

  “Um, okay,” Ester looked around. She didn’t have many green leaves, but she had purple leaves. “These purple ones are like green spinach. They’re just purple, but they taste the same.”

  “Same?”

  “Yes,” Ester nodded.

  The woman stood there for a second. Ester could hear a few of the staffers call for her in the back. Ester looked around for another order staff. She couldn’t take orders, but she really wanted to help this woman.

  “I will have the purple leaf greens.” The woman pointed to the spinach.

  “Great, let me get you an order staff member,” Ester turned and called one of the money takers to her side.

  They came and finished up the woman’s order. Ester watched from the back. The woman barely said a word and paid and walked away disappearing into the crowd. Ester scanned the crowd, but she couldn’t find her again and returned to work. She hoped this wasn’t the last time because she wouldn’t mind getting to know her better.

  ***

  For the rest of the week, Ester noticed an increase in energy. She was starting to regain the stamina she had back in Adum and this change didn’t go unnoticed. Her boss was impressed at how fast she picked up the work and promoted her to taking orders. Ester felt honored. She was thriving in a place she thought she would die in, and it felt good to feel normal again. Ester ended her work day a hundred tones richer and was able to buy herself two sets of nice dark brown blinds. With a pantry full of veggies, she headed home with the idea of roasting vegetables for dinner.

  She walked down the street with her coat huddled around her. It was the middle of winter now, and it was much colder after sunset. As she walked home, she started to notice how this placed had changed. The people who rushed by didn’t seem like distant figures anymore. She spotted a man taking a drag off his cigarette next to a building. She had seen him before. He lived in that building with his girlfriend and child. In alleyways, once a place Ester dare not look, she saw sewer workers huddling around a fire lit trashcan. When they saw her approach, they smiled and she smiled back. Those were the men who offered extra food to the less fortunate. In the streets, she saw children and couples young and old, warmth covered their faces as they huddled close in the cold. This was a different city now, or rather it felt like her eyes had finally been opened.

  Ester arrived home and sat her groceries on the counter. She tossed her coat on the couch and turned on the telescreen before washing her hands. While she prepped her vegetables, she thought about calling Angel. She hadn’t spoken to him in a while, but she was sure he was busy in class or studying, so she would call him later tonight. The telescreen changed from a commercial to a program about a research station close to Labadora.

  “Well, I can tell’ya first hand that these stones are from Verlin’s Belt.”

  A dark skinned man said as he eyed the rock with glee.

  “Now how it got all the way out here is the real mystery.”

  Ester watched the crew marvel over the specimen as she ran her vegetables under the water.

  “But I’ll tell ya, I’d give anything to visit the planet below.”

  “You’re joking right?”

  A woman laughed at the man’s comment, but the man didn’t seem bothered by it.

  “No really, I can only imagine what wonders lie below.”

  Another man in the crew, wearing a blue suit, patted the man holding the rock on his back. The man in the blue suit shook his head.

  “Trust me man,” the man in the blue suit said. “Ain’t nothing down there but chaos and headache.”

  The crew on the show continued to joke as Ester carried on with cooking. Were things really that hectic on Labadora? Ester paused as the screen panned to a beautiful shot of the large green planet. She couldn’t imagine how such a beautiful planet could be all bad.

  Later that night, Ester phoned Angel, using the device he bought her on his last visit. She rarely got to speak to him because he was so busy at school, but that didn’t stop her from trying. It was twenty hundred hours; he should be finished with classes by now. Ester turned on the holograph phone; the device was pretty easy to use. They had something similar to this back at school. She found Angel’s name under the contacts tab and tapped it. She waited a little as the icon on the screen pulsed in and out. She hoped she wasn’t calling him at a bad time. The screen changed, prompting her to leave a message. Ester sighed; she guessed leaving a massage would have to do.

  “Hey, it’s Ester, call me back when you get this. I’ll be up till zero one hundred hours,” Ester said.

  She guessed that she would have to wait. She wasn’t mad about it, but she missed talking to her friends. She sat back on the couch and relaxed, watching the tele. There was a good drama on. This was quickly becoming her favorite thing to do. Just as she was starting to get into the show, her hologram phone sprang back to life, showing a goofy picture of Angel. Ester smiled and hit the green button.

  “About damn time,” she said with no real bite.

  “About time? I’m the one who calls you!” Angel huffed.

  It really had been awhile since they talked face to face. Because of Angel’s school schedule, they only could talk in quick burst over text messages or whenever Angel called.

  “How is everything?” Ester said.

  Angel sat up and readjusted himself on his bed. “It’s going.”

  Loud chatter could be heard in the background, and Angel looked away from the screen and smiled then turned back to Ester.

  “It’s super busy around here.” Angel said.

  “I bet,” Ester said as she pulled her blanket over her.


  “No, I mean, it’s crazy busy. Even my parents are working, and you know it’s busy if my parents are actually working.”

  Ester nodded. “Wow.” She faked a smile and laughed.

  Angel stuck out his tongue. “How’s work? You need some extra tones?”

  “Not bad, actually. I think I’ve finally got the swing of things. And no, I’m good on tones, so next time you come and visit I can take you out to lunch.”

  “Yes girl, I would love that, then we can go shopping because I have to get that everyday wear perfume volume two of Something Symple. I just got my sample in the mail, and it’s really nice. They have a line in women’s too. Be Remembered, I think it was called, but I would totally recommend it.”

  Ester could listen to Angel ramble on about cosmetics for hours. Even though she didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. He was truly like the best friend she never had. On his next visit, they would have to go out and shop. She couldn’t wait to show him South Mall.

  “So when can I expect you?” Ester smiled.

  “Huh?” Angel squinted at the screen. The picture was fading in and out. “Hold on.” Ester heard some rattling noises and the screen showed his bedsheets then Angel picked up his tablet again. “The servers are slow today. Um, let’s see.” Angel swiped his fingers above the screen. “How about in two weeks?”

  “That’s perfect! Festival season will be winding down by then,” Ester said in relief.

  “That’s right, I’m missing All’s Day,” Angel pouted.

  “All’s Day?”

  “The festival of continuation; it’s a festival about trains.”

  “Trains?” Ester said with a weird look.

  Angel nodded. “Don’t underestimate it. The instillation of the state train system revolutionized Ans-on. That’s what we are famous for: our technology. Now the whole continent is connected because of it.”

  “Yay trains,” Ester said unenthusiastically.

  Angel stuck out his tongue again. “Whatever, I think it’s cool.”

  “Lights out!”

  Ester heard in the background.

  “Okay, gotta go,” Angel said.

  “Okay, tell everyone I said hi and see you in two weeks.”

  Angel nodded as he made kissy faces on his tablet. “Will do! See you in two weeks. It’s a date!”

  Ester laughed and waved goodbye. The device turned off, and Ester stretched and resettled on the couch. Tomorrow was her day off. She would go to South Mall and explore the area for good places to shop and eat for when Angel arrived in town.

  ***

  Finally, on her day off, Ester got to enjoy the full extent of her new blinds. She slept the entire morning, waking up at eleven hundred hours. It was the best sleep she’d had in weeks. She washed up and set out for her trip to the mall. It was cold and windy today, but that didn’t bother her, especially since she could treat herself to some Fried Tuzan. Bundled up in a thick ride suit and coat, Ester headed to the train station. On her way there, she saw a shopkeeper wave a group of young kids out of his store. He yelled and shouted as the kids took off in different directions.

  “Help! Thieves!” The man yelled in vein.

  One of the children Ester recognized. It was the boy who lived in her apartment. She glared at him and took off after him. She was really getting tired of that kid. She ran after him down the street. He was fast but lacked the stamina. She chased him through the alley as he jumped over trashcans and side-stepped people. He was almost in the clear when he tripped on a pothole and fell to the ground, spilling his stolen goods on the concrete. Ester caught up to him, blocking him from escaping.

  “Hey kid, cool it!” Ester shouted, towering over the glaring kid. He didn’t look a day past ten. “What’s your deal?” Ester stared him down.

  “Piss off,” Gar shouted and flung puddle water at her.

  “Gross.” Ester wiped her face, but by then the kid had regained traction and was off down the road again. She growled as the electricity coursed through her veins. She really hated that kid.

  Despite her rocky morning, she had a fun time exploring South Mall. She saw very little of this area in her rush to and from work. The shopping locale was much bigger than she thought, and there were lots of shops dotted in and around the mall. She got to enjoy her lunch at Fried Tuzans, which was very busy today. Apparently, the owner was making a speech somewhere down the street. She only caught a glimpse of him, but it was his bluish gray skin that caught her eye. She watched the crowd move towards him and was about to turn away when she heard a beautiful voice over a microphone. She stopped and listened and swore it sounded familiar. The sound was deep and soulful, just like Galaxia’s. She turned around to get a better look, but the crowd was thick. By the time she reached the front the singing had stopped.

  “Thank you for that sample, Miss. Don’t miss your chance to see her preform live this evening at The Noir,” The man on the stage said as the crowd clapped. “Now a word from our President and CEO, Dell Inspread.”

  Ester watched the strange man take the stage in disappointment as she searched for the singer. She was less interested in hearing his speech and turned around to see if she could find out more information about what was happening at The Noir. She remembered that café from the directory. She was told they had amazing teas but never visited there herself. She pushed through the cheering crowd again that was now at a standstill. When she finally found herself back on the street, she was relieved to see that The Noir was just across the street. She walked to the café and looked around outside. She hoped there would be a flyer on the window or something that could tell her more about the concert.

  “Ester?” A familiar voice called her name from outside a shop next door.

  Ester looked up and gasped. “Samay?” Ester said. She couldn’t believe her eyes and ran over to hug her. “What are you doing out here?”

  “I was about to ask you the same thing,” she said with a smile. “Do you live around here? I thought you went back home.”

  Ester nodded. “Sort of, I live in the Kahlizard Locale now. So only a few stops from here.”

  “Oh neat.” Samay looked beyond Ester at the crowd outside. “Hey, you wanna get something sweet?”

  “Heck yes,” Ester said.

  Samay took her to a small café just a few blocks away. Ester had never been there before. She would have to make note of this place if it was any good for when Angel was coming to visit. The café was a small bakery and smelled of freshly baked cakes and pies. It looked antique, but modern at the same time—like a proper tea shop with wood furnishing, and polished figurines.

  “I am so excited I get to try their new flavor of fried dough,” Samay said as they stood in line.

  Ester admired her tan lappa, a poncho like dress with big gapping sleeves that made it look like it was swallowing her up hole. Lappas weren’t common in Ans-on, but they were big fashion in Cha-la, which was where Samay was from. Ester watched as Samay ordered two chocolate treats, then the two grabbed a table near the back to catch up.

  “So, what’s been up with you, besides academy stuff?” Ester said as she picked up her treat and took a big bite. Samay half smiled and avoided eye contact, causing Ester to put down her treat and look at her. “What?”

  “Huh? Oh,” Samay jumped. “Ester, I, uh, I quit the academy. Shortly after you left,” Samay said poking at her fried dough.

  There was silence between the two for a while, but then Ester shook herself out of it.

  “What? why?” Ester gaped at her.

  Samay looked away. “It wasn’t for me. It was what my parents wanted. Being a ranger is a prestigious thing back home, but after what happened…well, my heart wasn’t in it.” Samay looked up at Ester. “I’m so sorry, Ester. I feel so bad after what happened.”

  “It’s okay,” Ester said.

  “I know, but—”

  “Samay, you’re really smart. The Rangers could have used a badass like you, but if it’
s not what you want to do then I get that.” Ester couldn’t be mad at Samay for quitting. Ester was the one who let Murk get to her.

  Samay broke out into a huge smile. “Ester, I swear you are too kind, but I am not a badass, at least not at that.”

  “Well, you can’t change my mind,” Ester said with a laugh. “So, what are you up to now?”

  “Well, um, I sing now.”

  Ester stopped finger licking her plate. “Wait, were you the one singing back at the Fried Tuzan’s?”

  Samay nodded as she shied away.

  “Oh my gosh! So you’re playing at The Noir this evening?”

  Samay nodded.

  “Wow, you have some serious talent, girl!”

  “You’re too kind, but really I owe everything to my uncle. Remember when back at ranger academy over the break I met up with my uncle? I was scared at first, but I told him how I felt about the academy, and he told me that we all have our own lives to live and we should follow the strings of our heart.” Samay smiled. “After the final exam, I knew then that I wasn’t on the right path. Oh, Ester I’m so sorry things ended the way they did.”

  “Samay, it’s okay, I’m fine really. Besides, at least they kicked that loser out as well.”

  Samay started to smile again. “It was a sight to see Murk a crying mess on the floor when he got permanently banned.”