Chapter 3
1174 Words
CHAPTER THREE:
Penny's point of view
I have worked here for a week, and I must say this is one of the best weeks of my life! My boss is an understanding woman- whom I think has got the hots for my dad! She's a very endearing, a bit awkward but altogether a fair and loving soul. Remembering when I first met her, I actually thought she was a little weird!
“Hello, good morning, I'm Penny and I'm here to see Dr Santiago” I spoke to the middle aged woman I found acting ditzy in Dr Santiago’s office. Imagine my shock when she introduced herself as Dr Maria Santiago: she was dressed as a hippie from the sixties! I was amazed when I saw all the degrees hanging on the wall! She had graduated summa c*m laude from Yale and Oxford. She further asked me to call her Maria, as she hated standing in formalities. She showed me my working desk - her office seemed to have a lot of plants in different stages of dying - following my gaze she assured me that they were all gifts from her students- that's how she addresses her patients here at the youth center - who felt she needed companionship in private life. Next we took a tour around: I was briskly introduced to everyone present.
As we moved along, she informed me that this center was heavily funded by The De la Souza family, but it was free for all from the ages of 5 - 20; with those from 15 working as paid volunteers - this is a decision that is done with the support of their parents. These volunteers had special colors that seem to show what age group they belonged to. The facilities here include: Recreational facilities such as Basketball courts, soccer field, gymnasium, indoor board games. They also had a massive Library said to hold 10,000 books or more! Career counseling units, home tutoring units.
Further along, Maria showed me The Health and wellness facilities, The Arts and Culture Unit, community and social spaces for hangouts, gardens, parks, and a huge courtyard. Finally we came to my favorite place; The Technology and Media facilities. I was issued a smartwatch that would be useful in carrying out my duties.
Startled
I gaze around, trying to pinpoint what jostled me from my thoughts. Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I turned around to see everyone staring at me with their mouths agape!
Spinning around, I found myself gazing into the eyes of …Antonio?
How….? Where….? What is doing here? Is my imagination getting the best of me?
“ Everyone, this is Antonio Sebastian Mendoza de la Souza- he is the man and brains behind this center “ Maria gushed.
I can't seem to take my eyes off him- I've never seen eyes that color of gray, it's like staring into molten gunmetal!
“Wait.. Is he walking towards me?”
“Look away!” My befuddled brain conveys to my mind, but my legs, eyes remain fixated on him!
“Oh my! This is so embarrassing! I wish the floor would open up and swallow me”
“I don't think we have been introduced “ . Opening my eyes I find he has snuck up on me, and is too close, overwhelming my senses and setting them in a frenzy.
“I'm Penny Lane, secretary to Dr Santiago” I say feeling flustered. It's a pleasure to meet you, thank you for making this center of world class standards.
“Thank you, be prepared to flatter me more, as I would be more involved in the day to day running of this center” saying this,He turns around and continues on with
Maria; this is after he slowly undresses me with his gaze!
Why did that sound as if he was talking to me,and no one else? Still feeling flustered, I quickly head to the ladies.
Who is this woman, with the windswept hair, glittering eyes, flushed cheeks,and erratic pulse staring back at me! This is the second time I feel myself getting wet and slick , just from gazing into his eyes!
Oh my Goodness! I believe I need to really be careful around him! He kept staring at me like I was the main course and he was ready to devour me!
Splashing water on my face, hopefully I drown out these thoughts, while trying to get in shape for sitting in with Maria on her weekly interactive session with the 17 year olds.
“ He is here”!
Feeling sudden warmth flooding my body, I turn to see him staring intensely at me. Not breaking gaze, he comes to stop in front of Maria - he talks to her- I can't hear what they are saying, but I sense I'm the topic.
“Penny, do you mind going with Antonio to the archives?” Maria asks in her sweet innocent way.
There's no way I want to be caught alone with him! It has ‘Red riding hood and the wolf ‘ written all over it. The hallways linking the archives gives the ‘ whole alone in the woods on a narrow path feel!’
“Of course! It would be my pleasure,” I say through gritted teeth , while clenching my fists.
This way , Sir. I proceed down the hallway, ready to jump out of my skin at the slightest provocation. These hallways give off this eerie sensation of spiders crawling all over the skin, and one can hear the echoes of activities from the courts and the fields; the occasional ‘thw4ack’, ‘thump’ and sometimes ‘grunts’ all in synchrony with the whirling of the ventilators. Reaching the door as fast as I can- without making it obvious that I was half running and walking- I draw in a much needed air in my starved lungs. Not sensing his presence I turn to see him leaning on the adjacent wall with a look of mischief lurking in his eyes- retrospectively, it gives him this boyish, appealing look, letting me into unwanted glimpses of what kind of child he would have been.
Clearing my throat, I look away.
Inserting the key in the keyhole, I give it a little jiggle- as I was told too, the door opens noiseless like the jaws of an ancient monster waiting to devour us whole! I have noticed that I am getting more into theatrics, being more whimsical in my thoughts. I think this is due to excessive exposure to Eunice!
Taking the lead, he brushes so close past me, that I feel the heat coming off his skin and his scent is all I can smell and taste , this sends all my thoughts into a frenzy.
“ A penny for your thoughts, Penny”
Pulling out my stiff British upper lip, I continued briskly after him. “ What exactly do you need?
“ I would like all the records from the last debutante ball”
- Writer
