WWW 2 - Watch by Robert J. Sawyer

Author:Robert J. Sawyer [Sawyer, Robert J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2010-04-16T03:00:00+00:00

twenty-four

“You like who?” Bashira said, as they visited the girls’ restroom after English class.

“Matt,” Caitlin replied.

Bash feigned not having heard correctly. “I’m sorry. I thought you said Matt.”

They were standing by the row of sinks. “I did.”

“Guy you were helping in math? Matt—what is it? Matt Royce?”

“Reese, and, yes, that’s him—although he hardly needed my help. He knows almost as much as I do.”

“Um, Cait, babe, I know you’re new to this seeing thing, but . . .”

“Yes?”

“He’s not exactly good-looking.”

“He’s symmetrical.”

“Sure he is—that harelip bisects his face nicely.”

“I like the way he looks. I like his eyes.”

Another girl came into the room and headed for one of the stalls. Bashira lowered her voice. “I know when you fall off a horse, you’re supposed to get right back on—but they don’t mean an actual horse, you know. You can do so much better.”

“Better than someone who shares my interests? Someone who is kind?”

Bashira pointed at the long sheet-metal mirror above the sinks. “Cait, have you looked at yourself in the mirror?”

“From time to time.”

“You’ve got it going on, girl. You’re hot.”

“Well, that’s nice, I suppose, but—”

“You could have anyone.”

“Is that all anybody cares about? How people look?”

“Well, no, but . . .”

“Besides, my mother and I were talking about this earlier. I get to choose who I find attractive.”

“You can’t just choose that,” Bashira said.

“No? What are you going to do when you get married? Your parents are going to arrange a marriage for you, right?”

“Well, that’s what they want to do, yes,” said Bashira.

“So, what if it’s someone you don’t find attractive at first? Are you going to go through life thinking he’s ugly, or are you going to choose to find him good-looking?”

“I . . . I don’t know,” Bashira said. “I don’t think you can . . . can program yourself that way.”

“Oh, yes, you can,” said Caitlin. “You totally can.”

“But, anyway, it’s not just about what you think,” Bashira said. “It’s about what other people think about Matt’s looks. They’ll judge your stature by who you’re with.”

“It isn’t all about hierarchies,” said Caitlin. “We’re not apes, you know.”

“But, Cait, don’t you see? You could have Trevor.”

“I don’t want him. Not anymore. I want Matt.” And then she added, unkindly, “You can have Trevor.”

Another facial expression Caitlin had never seen before, but she imagined it was what books referred to as looking crestfallen. “No, I can’t,” Bashira said softly after a moment. “You know that. My parents would kill me. I—I have to live vicariously through you.”

Caitlin was startled when the words Join the club flashed across her vision.

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