Vanilla Bean #27, Creamsicle #17 and Rocky Road # 24
Author: Lynn Stillwood
Flavors: Vanilla Bean #27 - “Position,” Creamsicle #17 - “Acceptance,” & Rocky Road #24 - “On the roof”
Toppings/Extras: None
Rating: G
Wordcount: 2,330
Story: Untitled
Summary: Zora’s office gets a bit more play here in this chapter
Notes: Again I'm sorry about the length of time between posts. I'm trying to employ a suggestion from The Writer's Idea book, by Jack Heffron, a gift for Christmas, which says to try writing or nothing for just five minutes. I don't have to write, but I can't do anything else.
Zora shuffled quietly alongside Adam and Wendy, who were anxiously whispering their speculations of why they were being called up on the roof of Arethusa Industries.
“Madam only calls people up on the roof to tell them really important things,” Adam gossiped. Wendy always told Zora that the administrative assistants were always the best source for company information and she was evidently making use of this. Zora was not necessarily one to notice Wendy’s other, rather more obvious reason for chatting up the handsome administrative assistant, or the way some of the other girls from their division peered on with either jealousy or curiosity.
“Ohhhh I wonder what it could be!” squeaked Wendy. “Zora, what do you guess the announcement is about?”
“I hypothesize it is for the purpose of informing us of a new implementation of some kind that replaces an old one,” Zora responded dutifully, not understanding, or really even observing, Wendy’s disappointment at her simple response. “Though I for one cannot fathom why the location for the delivery of this or any message has to be the roof.” She wrinkled her nose distastefully, even though going up there was an expectation of the employees and she would follow it as necessary. It still seemed a waste of valuable time, trudging up all those flights of stairs or crowding the elevators to get to the top of the very tall Arethusa Industries building.
“I agree,” Adam admitted shamefully. He elaborated his reasoning at Wendy’s shocked glance, though he seemed to gain confidence from Zora’s calm nodding in agreement. “I’m rather afraid of heights, you see. I’m glad they have Robert taking the meeting minutes today because I’m afraid my hand would shake too much for it to be legible!”
“Oh dear, how horrid for you,” Wendy offered her sympathy. “You can hold onto my shoulder if you wish. Surely the delivery of such exciting information would excuse any male for hanging onto someone for support!”
“Thank you,” Adam replied, with a bit of flush to his cheeks. He lowered his eyes to the floor.
“Oh!” gasped Wendy. She lowered her voice and looked around them wildly, finding no one listening besides Zora and Adam. “What if Madam’s declaration is that she is going to step down and name a successor!?”
“That would be terrible!” breathed Adam in horror. “I don’t know if anyone could fill those shoes! I hope that’s not what it is.”
“But what an opportunity it would be!” Wendy went on, desperate to qualm Adam’s fearful head shaking. “After all, she’s worked long and hard all her life. She deserves a proper retirement one day to reward her for a job well done. Surely she’s grooming someone for the job!”
“If I were her, I wouldn’t retire,” Zora offered up her opinion into the mix. “I would work until my dying days.” There was always something to keep thinking about, to keep one’s mind sharp. Why retire? Why ever stop?
They had reached the top floor and that quieted all of them. Adam and Wendy stood frozen and uncertain of how to proceed. Zora merely reached out to grab the large golden handles of the great glass doorway leading to the rooftop. “Let’s get this over with,” she told them without enthusiasm. Quickly they crowded against her to follow behind.
The three Arethusa Industries employees joined dozens of other “privileged invitees” up on the roof. The entire upper-level and some middle management staff of Arethusa were there; along with Robert the administrative assistant, preparing to take meeting minutes, a few members from sales and accounting Zora recognized from meetings and of course, CEO Madam. None of those invitees were a large surprise to Zora.
What was a surprise, but yet also an explanation as to why she, Adam, Wendy and certain members of sales and accounting were there, was the inclusion of some key members of the Robotics League. Their Head Chair, their representative who attended most of the meetings and the inventor of robots himself! The last was the greatest honor to be in the presence of, in Zora’s humble opinion.
Robert alerted Madam that the hour had struck, and she began to make her announcement. Everyone quieted to hear her speak in her alternating commanding and then soothing tones.
“Many of our employees at Arethusa know the significance of gathering on the rooftop of this building,” Madam began in a hushed tone, as though letting the crowd in on a little secret. With a small smile in the direction of their guests from the Robotics League, she went on, “but I shall share it anyway, for the sake of our friends from the Robotics League, who graciously traveled to gather with us here today.”
The three Robotics League members nodded and smiled back, appearing to be proud to witness this significant event.
“Whenever we at Arethusa gather on the rooftop, it is because we are looking out over our city. With this eagle eye view, nothing and no one can escape us. We at Arethusa capture the minds, the hearts, the bodies and the souls of the people of Zephyr City. We at Arethusa provide those in Zephyr City with the tools, the products and the services to modify and enhance themselves, their environment and their way of life. Standing on this rooftop and gazing downward not only reminds us of our target and keeps our goals tangible, but it also celebrates our place here in this city. It has for many years, during my tenure and those who came before me.”
Here Wendy began to shift nervously at the mention of Madam’s tenure at Arethusa. Adam, who was white knuckle gripping her shoulder began to shift back and forth as well, though Zora, who was nearest to the edge, remained still. As the time wore on, many others moved back and forth on their feet to find comfortable positions, or brushed at their uniforms, or let their eyes drift downward, across the rooftop and back to their feet. Zora stood solid, almost at attention like a soldier, and kept her gazed trained steadily on Madam.
Madam took a deep breath, her short, gray hair lifted slightly in the wind, and then she continued as this gust past by them. “It is with great pleasure that today, I end this tradition!” She paused grandly, allowing the audience their gasps. It was a toss-up as to whether or not Adam or Wendy looked more likely to faint. Zora did not alter her stance, though she may have blinked imperceptibly.
“And begin anew!” Madam rushed to continue. Wrinkled, hands of experience were thrown in the air with delight. “Our target has broadened; our goals have grown, thanks to our partnership with the Robotics League. Together, we can look beyond Zephyr City to new horizons. Head Chairwoman Angelberg, I ask you to please show us all how we will do that.”
The Head Chair of the Robotics League stepped forward proudly and climbed the stairs to a platform. On top of the platform stood something tall and hidden behind a navy blue curtain. Without any further comment, she grasped the plush velvet curtain and with a flourish, revealing a red velvet underside to the curtain and more importantly, a large telescope.
“Behold, the road to our future lies before us, within our sight,” the Head Chair shouted. Her voice was more dark and choppy in comparison to Madam’s flowing speeches. Without any sort of forewarning, the Head Chair barked out names from the crowd. “Zora and Joval, will you look inside the telescope?”
Though she was, admittedly, startled, Zora took a deep breath and moved forward, following the command of the Head Chair of the Robotics League. Debbie, from management, looked ready to strangle someone. Meanwhile, Wendy and Adam found themselves not only having just recovered from the shock Madam gave them only to nearly fall over again at the sound of Zora’s name and also finding themselves no longer shielded from the edge of the Arethusa Industries building. Zora allowed herself the small hope that someone in front might happen to step backward, if only to give those two some little bit of calm.
This small hope was soon forgotten when she found herself upon the platform with Joval, the inventor of robots himself. He was a bookish sort, with large spectacles, ashen skin and wildly curly brown hair, but Zora appreciated him for his mind and his focus on his work. To have invented such an intricate device and to still be so young, with so many opportunities ahead to make improvements was such a profound achievement.
“Please allow me,” Joval said to Zora, his hands trembling as he adjusted the focus on the telescope. Zora waited patiently for him to finish his task. Together they bent to peer together through the lens, then one by one to get a sharper picture and confirm what it was they were viewing. Meanwhile, the crowd on the roof was getting more and more impatient and edgy.
“What do you see!?” they cried out. “Tell us!” Robert, the administrative assistant doing the minutes, looked impatient at this delay in his note taking, with no spoken information to record.
“The sign at the edge of the city, that says ‘Now Leaving Zephyr City. Farewell.’” Zora responded in a firm voice that silenced the crowd some, although her response started them buzzing with curiousity again.
“The road to Narayana!” Joval elaborated, though this sounded mechanical and rehearsed from him and with Zora having stated the first bit, they weren’t exactly putting on the sort of show stopped demonstration Madam would have usually employed. Still, Madam beamed proudly at the two scientists, clapping happily as she added, “The road to the rest of the world!”
Madam signaled a perky girl from sales, who unveiled yet another curtain, red velvet on one side and navy blue on the other. “Our new Arethusa logo!” she chirped, wafting her hands out delicately to display it, while she read it aloud, “Arethusa Industries, Modifying and Enhancing You, Your Life...that’s where we used to end it before, but now we add.....The World!! We plan to unleash this logo with Robotics League robot models in Narayana in only a few weeks time!”
The audience burst into applause. Zora found she was more interested in the telescope than in the logo, but forced herself to be a dutiful employee and pay attention to Madam’s demonstration.
“And we will need someone to lead us there, together, to make both of our companies known,” Head Chairwoman Angelberg shouted, cutting the attention away from the sales girl and the logo abruptly, before the applause had even died out. The Robotics League representative nodded her head firmly and Zora felt Joval step aside and turn to face her, clapping his large, awkward and still trembling hands.
It was a bit too rushed, a bit too soon for Madam’s polished presentation skills and grand pauses, but she went with the flow smoothly as always. “Keep your applause coming,” she announced, “for I would like to welcome our latest addition to the Arethusa Industries management staff.” Another crowd gasp blended in with increased applause.
“Zora, will you accept the position of Management and lead the Robotics League project of integration into Narayana?” asked Madam, as the applause slowed to silence in anticipation of Zora’s response.
Management? I have not yet accomplished anything yet, only tests, only studies...and yet, it appears I am being asked to take on more work and lead this project, so I simply must comply, Zora’s thoughts flashed through her mind. Her pause had grown to a longer than socially appropriate length and everyone leaned forward impatiently awaiting her response.
“Of course, I accept. I thank you Madam,” she replied graciously, lowering her head in deference to the CEO. Applause burst forth again.
Debbie stepped forward, grinding her teeth as she stomped up the platform steps and shoved the golden management pin at Zora. Her back to the crowd, she saved her icy glare for Zora for that very moment. Only Joval might’ve seen, but he appeared blinded by happiness. “Thank you Zora, Thank you!” he kept saying, over and over, tears in his eyes.
The crowd quieted again at Debbie’s abrupt about face. She managed to stand directly in front of Zora, blocking her from the view of the crowd, though Zora took the moment to breathe calmly and stare straight ahead into the folds of Debbie’s navy blue uniform. “From the last welcomed member of management to the newest member,” Debbie announced, “I welcome you, Zora, to our team at Arethusa Industries. Thank you.” She bit off the word as she exited the platform.
Joval rushed to place the pin on Zora’s lapel, keeping the ceremony going since it appeared that Debbie wasn’t planning on doing so. His fumbling hands ended up piercing Zora with the pin and he jumped back in alarm. “I’m sorry Miss! Are you bleeding?”
Zora hadn’t jumped or yelped, she had barely reacted to Joval coming at her with his awkward hands, much less being jabbed. “It’s nothing,” she said calmly, though everyone peered anxiously at her white blouse as though waiting for a red stain to blossom. Nothing came and soon the crowd steadied themselves. She reached up and adjusted the pin herself, with a small nod to Joval.
Concerned murmurs continued until Madam regained their attention. “This concludes our presentation! Look down upon the city below, yes, as we always have, but don’t forget to look beyond the horizon as far as the eye can see! Zora, come join us!”
Zora followed the command obediently while Wendy and Adam watched, frozen in awe.