I Just Want To Be Average

No one spoke until we drove past the billboards welcoming us to the Karsworp province. And Jerry was first.

"Rus, it's actually Rus like in rooster, is the mayor elected to a second term. And Rus loves the public eye. He loves basking in the attention. And he's a whore for publicity. Pardon my language. But that damn a.s.s shows no remorse, no matter how much anyone tries to show him to mend his ways."

"He's a successful mayor," Pratt commented. "Well loved. Definitely going to have a third term. So, clearly, the people of the province don't see the need for him to change."

"They're sheep. All of them. They're happy seeing through the wool Rus has bandaged their eyes under."

"Childhood rivalry," Dia explained to me.

"Just that makes Rus as good as Jerry makes him," I replied.

The twins kept silent, probably from surprise. Jerry threw a punch overhead, screaming in victory. Then fell silent as he realised the thinly veiled insult. He stared at me, stunned. And the twins burst out laughing.

"We'll definitely meet him," Dia said.

"Rus," Pratt added. "So, be prepared."

I shrugged. Didn't concern me. My nonchalance spurred the twins back toward the question they never could let go. They didn't need to ask. I didn't need to answer. The universe did the talking, and we heard it clearly.

"Turn west, as we enter Sapphire city," Jerry directed. "We're not going to the site tonight. Rus is home. Came over for a break. Invited us for the night. We'll leave in the morning."

Jerry was looking at me as he spoke. The twins showed no reaction. It wasn't difficult to deduce the plan was made while I was asleep.

"Can't we stay at a hotel?" I asked.

Jerry wasn't surprised. The twins, very much were. I ignored their questioning looks, and looked at Jerry. He shook his head lightly. He heard me ask why through my eyes. He shrugged, and I understood. I would understand, he was saying. I sincerely hoped I would.

Just outside the city, Dia passed the steering back to Pratt.

"City roads are tiring," she said.

Pratt sighed in sorrow and in complaint. Unfortunately, no one cared. He didn't need directions, as if he'd been to Rus' house before. Sapphire city wasn't a very big city, but it was an important city in the province. If only because it was the home of the most beloved mayor. The traffic wasn't terrible. Rus was resting in the garden, not far from the gate, as we drove in. He rushed over, a skip in his step, a broad grin on his face, and oozing exuberance.

"Jerry my dear friend, welcome back," he greeted with a big hug, as if Jerry was his long lost brother returning home after many, many years.

"Will you stop it," Jerry said sharply. "There's no cameras."

"You never know who's looking."

Rus said it like he meant it. I was convinced. Looking at Jerry's face, I decided I liked Rus just enough.

"And hello to you, my dear little friends. It's been far too long. I've missed you," Rus said, greeting the twins with the same hugs.

Finally, he looked at me. He studied me, for a whole minute, before saying hello. Very carefully choosing his words.

"You must be the newest student. Dean, isn't it? Yeah, Dean. Hello. I'm Rus. I'm an old friend of your professor's."

He seemed conflicted over whether or not to give me a hug. I helped him out by offering my hand. We shook, and he beamed.

"So, Dean. It's your first time. You deserve a tour. Let me send these three away first. Jerry, Maya and the children are waiting inside. They're not happy you took so long. Pratt, the kitchen's prepared and waiting. And Dia, Maya's waiting. She's got a few photographs. Don't tell her I spilled the surprise."

The three grinned at Rus, stared at me, and left. It was just Rus and me. And that made me curious. What was Rus' intention?

He was a really good politician, for sure. He read my mind. He waved his hands in the space between us, as he explained.

"I don't mean anything, really. It's just, they're all friends. And they might get overwhelming. You don't seem the kind of person who'd enjoy such noise. Wouldn't it be much more comfortable slowly easing in? Which is why I thought of a tour of the house."

I almost believed him. He was that good.

I smiled. As if in acceptance. This time, he couldn't read my mind.

"I like the idea. But let's just walk the garden, shall we? A tour feels like I'm intruding."

He looked like he was searching for words to answer with. In the end, he couldn't find any. And gave up. Although I said walk the garden, we only walked to the middle of the garden, where there was a small table and a few chairs around it. As we sat across the table, Rus told the story of the house.

"My great grandfather built the house. Actually, for my great grandmother. Our ancestral house was a little further in. It was getting old. Needed repairs. My great grandfather was in love with a local girl. To impress her, he built a new house. This house. He moved the family here, after having the old ancestral house pulled within the boundary wall of the grounds. The old house stands even today. We can go, if you are feeling curious. Anyway, my great grandfather had this table put in the middle of the large garden because the girl loved gardens. He invited her over, and proposed to her, right here. It's one reason why the table is still here, the same as it was back then."

I was impressed. Such love wasn't common. Rus was fortunate. Before I could express my appreciation, Jerry and Dia led the family over. There weren't enough chairs. But then I saw some of them dragging along chairs.

"We're having dinner outside," Jerry explained.

He then introduced the family and me. Maya was Rus' wife. They'd been married fifteen years when they finally had children. Which was why, the couple was in their fifties, but their children were between the ages of fifteen and twenty three. It was a really nice family. I felt welcomed.

As we settled comfortably around the table, Pratt screamed for Dia. The food was ready. He needed help carrying it over.

We had dinner under the moonlight. Even though Pratt hadn't prepared too much and none of us were light eaters, we all felt quite full at the end of dinner. Much too full to go back in.

"We should just sleep here. On the soft grass. Under the beautiful open sky. Breathing fresh air. Sleep under the stars that would come to us in our dreams too. It'll be like camping."

That seemed to be a joke everyone knew. They all burst out laughing. I smiled as a show of being present. They continued talking. I shut them out.

The grass was truly soft. The air delightfully fresh. The sky enchantingly clear. I finally understood what camping was, and why everyone was so fond of it. I made a mental note to tell Denise. She would love to know. Would she burn with jealousy? I smiled at the thought, and closed my eyes. I never realised when I drifted off to sleep.