for herself. But the thought of Dr. Cable made her wince. “You should have seen these people. The ones investigating Shay? They look like…”
Sol laughed. “I guess it would be a bit of a shock at your age, Tally. But of course we old folks know all about Special Circumstances. They may be tough, but they’re just doing their jobs, you know. It’s a tough world out there.”
Tally sighed. Maybe her reluctance was just because the cruel pretties had scared her so much. “Have you ever met them? I couldn’t believe the way they looked.”
Ellie furrowed her brow. “Well, I can’t say I’ve actually met one.”
Sol frowned, then broke into a laugh. “Well, you wouldn’t want to meet one, Ellie. And Tally, if you do the right thing now, you probably won’t ever meet one again. That sort of business is something we can all do without.”
Tally looked at her father, and for a moment she saw something other than wisdom and confidence in his expression. It was almost too easy the way Sol laughed off Special Circumstances, dismissing everything that went on outside the city.
For the first time in her life, Tally found herself listening to a middle pretty without being completely reassured, a realization that made her dizzy. And she couldn’t shake the thought that Sol knew nothing about the outside world Shay had fled to.
Maybe most people just didn’t want to know. Tally had been taught all about the Rusties and early history, but at school they never said a single thing about people living outside the cities right now, people like David. Until she’d met Shay, Tally had never thought about it either.
But she couldn’t dismiss the whole thing the way her father had.
And she had made Shay a solemn promise. Even if she was just an ugly, a promise was a promise.
“Guys, I’m going to have to think about this.”
For a moment, an awkward silence filled the room. She’d said something they hadn’t expected.
Then Ellie laughed and patted her hand. “Well, of course you do, Tally.”
Sol nodded, back in command. “We know you’ll do the right thing.”
“Sure. But in the meantime,” Tally said, “maybe I could come home with you?”
Her parents shared another look of surprise.
“I mean, it’s really weird being here now. Everyone knows that I…I’m not scheduled for classes anymore, so it would just be like coming home for autumn break, but a little early.”
Sol recovered first, and patted her shoulder. “Now, Tally, don’t you think it would be even stranger for you out in Crumblyville? I mean, there’s no other kids out there this time of year.”
“You’re much better off here with the other children, darling,” Ellie added. “You’re only a few months older than some of them. And goodness, we don’t have your room ready at all!”
“I don’t care. Nothing could be worse than this,” Tally said.
“Oh, just order up some more clothes, and get that wallscreen back the way you want it,” Sol said.
“I didn’t mean the room—”
“In any case,” Ellie interrupted, “why make a fuss? This’ll all be over in no time. Just have a nice chat with Special Circumstances, tell them everything, and you’ll be headed where you really want to be.”
They all looked out the window at the towers of New Pretty Town.
“I guess so.”
“Sweetheart,” Ellie said, patting her leg, “what other choice do you have?”
Peris
During the daytime, she hid in her room.
Going anywhere else was pure torture. The uglies in her own dorm treated her like a walking disease, and anyone else who recognized her sooner or later asked, “Why aren’t you pretty yet?”
It was strange. She’d been an ugly for four years, but a few extra days had brought home to her exactly what the word really meant. Tally peered into her mirror all day, noting every flaw, every deformity. Her thin lips pursed with unhappiness. Her hair grew even frizzier because she kept running her hands through
Sol laughed. “I guess it would be a bit of a shock at your age, Tally. But of course we old folks know all about Special Circumstances. They may be tough, but they’re just doing their jobs, you know. It’s a tough world out there.”
Tally sighed. Maybe her reluctance was just because the cruel pretties had scared her so much. “Have you ever met them? I couldn’t believe the way they looked.”
Ellie furrowed her brow. “Well, I can’t say I’ve actually met one.”
Sol frowned, then broke into a laugh. “Well, you wouldn’t want to meet one, Ellie. And Tally, if you do the right thing now, you probably won’t ever meet one again. That sort of business is something we can all do without.”
Tally looked at her father, and for a moment she saw something other than wisdom and confidence in his expression. It was almost too easy the way Sol laughed off Special Circumstances, dismissing everything that went on outside the city.
For the first time in her life, Tally found herself listening to a middle pretty without being completely reassured, a realization that made her dizzy. And she couldn’t shake the thought that Sol knew nothing about the outside world Shay had fled to.
Maybe most people just didn’t want to know. Tally had been taught all about the Rusties and early history, but at school they never said a single thing about people living outside the cities right now, people like David. Until she’d met Shay, Tally had never thought about it either.
But she couldn’t dismiss the whole thing the way her father had.
And she had made Shay a solemn promise. Even if she was just an ugly, a promise was a promise.
“Guys, I’m going to have to think about this.”
For a moment, an awkward silence filled the room. She’d said something they hadn’t expected.
Then Ellie laughed and patted her hand. “Well, of course you do, Tally.”
Sol nodded, back in command. “We know you’ll do the right thing.”
“Sure. But in the meantime,” Tally said, “maybe I could come home with you?”
Her parents shared another look of surprise.
“I mean, it’s really weird being here now. Everyone knows that I…I’m not scheduled for classes anymore, so it would just be like coming home for autumn break, but a little early.”
Sol recovered first, and patted her shoulder. “Now, Tally, don’t you think it would be even stranger for you out in Crumblyville? I mean, there’s no other kids out there this time of year.”
“You’re much better off here with the other children, darling,” Ellie added. “You’re only a few months older than some of them. And goodness, we don’t have your room ready at all!”
“I don’t care. Nothing could be worse than this,” Tally said.
“Oh, just order up some more clothes, and get that wallscreen back the way you want it,” Sol said.
“I didn’t mean the room—”
“In any case,” Ellie interrupted, “why make a fuss? This’ll all be over in no time. Just have a nice chat with Special Circumstances, tell them everything, and you’ll be headed where you really want to be.”
They all looked out the window at the towers of New Pretty Town.
“I guess so.”
“Sweetheart,” Ellie said, patting her leg, “what other choice do you have?”
Peris
During the daytime, she hid in her room.
Going anywhere else was pure torture. The uglies in her own dorm treated her like a walking disease, and anyone else who recognized her sooner or later asked, “Why aren’t you pretty yet?”
It was strange. She’d been an ugly for four years, but a few extra days had brought home to her exactly what the word really meant. Tally peered into her mirror all day, noting every flaw, every deformity. Her thin lips pursed with unhappiness. Her hair grew even frizzier because she kept running her hands through
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