7
(Majanday, cont.)
Back in the Complex, Tle-sun lifted a piece of plywood for the partition wall. He used a power nailer to tack it all together around the electrical bits that still protruded ungracefully from the wall. The last nail in place, he went to grab the next sheet, when he saw Yewan and Tirry look in.
“It’s looking good, Tle-sun!” Yewan complimented.
Tirry nodded her head in agreement. “It’s coming along nicely,” she said.
Then, they continued on their way, Yewan chatting to Tirry as they did.
Apparently Jenna wasn’t with them, Tle-sun realized. He chuckled to himself and shook his head as he put up the next sheet of plywood. He wondered whether Yewan had even remembered to talk to Jenna – or whether his focus had been so completely on Tirry.
“I hope you don’t mind me bringing you up here. I thought that maybe it would refresh you a bit,” Yewan said as he led her up the stairs to the rooftop.
“I don’t mind at all,” Tirry said maybe too hastily. “You were right that I need some time to destress. Elections are always a bit chaotic at my end and this one has so much pressure to get it perfect. I feel the eyes of the world on us this time!”
“I understand,” Yewan said quietly as they reached the door. “I hope that a little bit of dreaming will help. Take a look around at your canvas. Tell me what you envision.”
Tirry looked around. There were two buildings on the rooftop, the one she’d just come out of and another one. There was also the gaping hole in the middle where the roof had caved in years ago. Yewan’s atrium, she remembered as she looked at it. She also remembered where he had put himself downstairs.
“First of all, I think the abári needs an apartment up here, on the top – just so that he can have constant access to nature and fresh air – perfect to hone his connection to the leya if I understand the needs of the A’mara correctly,” Tirry began. “He will be stressed with the needs of the A’mara on this island, but also the needs of the people in general. Like Sandy’s job, but more permanent.”
“If it were me,” she continued, mentally putting on the burgundy abári cloak. “I’d want to be able to step outside my door onto the green grass and loveliness that this rooftop is going to be when I’m done with it.” Tirry looked around some more, seeing her dream. “You want raised beds to be able to house small trees to serve as a wind break, other raised beds to grow vegetables and things. You want water features to encourage relaxation. Honestly, it’s not all that different from the atrium you were describing previously, but larger and outside.”
“I like the way you think,” he complimented, sitting on an old crate. He looked at her again, and Tirry bravely met his gaze. “What do you think about the family housing?”
“In the Complex or in the Project?” she asked.
“Let’s start with the Complex,” he said.
“Flexible is the key. No one should have to worry about whether they will fit in the Complex. I think other places do it so that rooms can be added on or closed off as needed. That’s the only thing that makes long-term sense. Tle-sun and Jenna have their first little one here anytime now. Maybe that’s all they’ll have, or maybe they’ll have half a dozen more. No matter what, we need to be able to accommodate their needs.”
Yewan nodded. “And for the Project?”
“Again I think flexibility is key,” Tirry started, sitting near Yewan on another crate. “Families of all types of configurations will come here… one parent, two parent, grandparents, small families, large families… You need to be able to take each situation as it comes, separately. You need to be able to gently lift up each family, as they need. One-size-fits-all doesn’t work here.”
“You speak with familiarity,” he observed.
“My mother occasionally had to take us into shelters for one reason or another. It’s not something I like to talk about,” Tirry replied, the memories invading her mind for a moment. She looked away for a minute trying to blink back the tears.
“I’m sorry,” he said, grasping her hand.
She took comfort in that touch, but that comfort also came with the emotions she was fighting. She swallowed them away again as she looked at the man who was holding her hand.
“Anyway, I know something of how homeless families are treated now, and what could be done better,” Tirry said brightening with determination.
“You could be our director for that section of our project,” he offered.
“That’s a big task, and you don’t really know me,” Tirry replied thinking about everything that could go wrong. “You only met me two days ago!”
“Yes it is a huge task, that’s why I know I need help – from someone who understands. And I think I know you enough to know that I can trust you with anything important,” Yewan said. He took his hand from hers. “Don’t forget that I can sense a lot about you that you do not speak aloud. It sorta comes with being A’mara.”
Tirry didn’t speak for a moment. She worried about all the uncontrolled feelings she’d been having recently. She didn’t know whether he hadn’t felt them, had misinterpreted them, or wasn’t afraid of them. It took all her will-power to not turn her tail and run away. She swallowed again – trying to drive away the fears. Her heart and stomach were tied up in knots – and he probably knew it. It was frightening.
“I know it seems scary,” Yewan said in a way that made Tirry wonder again whether he was answering her thoughts rather than her words. She found herself fighting a blush again.
“Just give it some thought for now,” he continued. “We have a lot to get done before those decisions need to be made. I wish I could show you the greenhouses in Towani, with all the variety of plants and animals – or even Irola so you could see what can be done with a rooftop.”
“Doesn’t holonet have virtual tours of some of them?” Tirry asked.
“Yes, I suppose it does. We can look together as soon as this election is done with,” he promised.
It started misting and Tirry shivered, despite her warm winter coat. “Let’s get back inside,” she suggested. As she got up, she looked at the other building. “How big is that? Is it just a shed?”
“Actually, it would make a decent penthouse,” he admitted. “I never thought to use it for myself though – I thought more of having it be a place for the Complex children.”
“If I lived in a place like this, that’s where I’d want to be – so that I could reach nature often and quickly,” Tirry said. “But that’s just me. Your idea is great too… the children will love it very much. Maybe I’m not much more than a child in many ways.” Again, her mind dwelt on her runaway emotions with a slight blush.
“Nothing wrong with that,” Yewan said gently.
“I’d better get back to work,” Tirry said. She was thinking equally of all that still needed to be done as well as her need to stop blushing for awhile.
“Maybe there is something I can do to help you guys get ready,” Yewan offered.
“We’d like that,” Tirry said with a smile.
Other Chapters of this set
Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Building on Promise - Chapter 1
Maps and Guides
- continents of Alacantis and Kranisis (five maps)
- continent of Almara (five maps)
- countries of Kri'enden and Yezi'im (four maps plus "other places")
- characters, pronunciation and glossary
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Brighid's Blood 2006 and 1200 B.T.C.E. Katja and Rachel are so desperate for love that they cast two love spells one night. But the Guardians do not consider spells "fun", but rather as cries for help from the very depths of your soul. Certainly Katja and Rachel could not have possibly imagined where these spells would take them! |
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Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. |
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Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
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Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
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