As a partial reward for coming up with the new proposal, I was given the next day off. Though it was a difficult decision to accept the day, part of me wanted to be there when the hearing was over. I was curious to know if The Alliance accepted our proposal. The other part of me wanted to spend time with my family. They all had previously taken this day off to spend together. I did not have the luxury of choosing my days off. Yet.
The surprise on my mother's face when I came home in the morning was affirmation enough.
"Calypso is home." My mother called to the others in our dwelling.
"Where are the elders?"
I took a look around at my uncles, aunts, cousins, and siblings all doing their own thing. All unfazed by my mother's declaration of my presence.
"In the kitchen. They are in charge of the cooking for our day together." She smiled at me broadly.
My mother's dark hair sat on the top of her head like a bun. Her eyes had wrinkles in the corner when she smiled.
"What can I do to help?"
"Inventory." I groaned. "Today is a day of work and play."
She had said the same thing to me every year on this day. I do not know why they chose this day, but every family had their own. One where they all spent time together.
"Start with the elders and work your way down." My mom patted my shoulder. "It is your first joining in 3 years."
"I understand." I patted her shoulder back and went to get my auto recorder.
The auto recorder took what people said and wrote it in the system under a labeled document. Then I could share it with my family members. It was used to record what needed to be purchased, the necessary items, or making repairs.
Our dwelling was simple. Two sets of elders. My father and mother. My father's two brothers and they each have a wife. My two cousins. My two siblings and I. We grow our own crops and have livestock. Our family is very traditional.
One by one, I talked to everyone in our family. A stuck window. Leaky roof. Broken shower head. The house was in shambles.
"What a mess..." I thought.
Just as I was about to catalog and share the document, the speaker in our dwelling airs an announcement.
ALERT: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR CALYPSO. REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. END ALERT.
The Alliance must have made their ruling. Immediately I feel nervous and intrigued. My mother gives me a hug and takes the audio recorder from me.
"Be well." She smiles softly, empathy is conveyed in her bright eyes.
"Stay safe." I reply. Since the invasion these words have become our typical parting phrases. They linger between us only for a moment before I turn to change clothes then return to work.