Pleasing

Date/Timing: 14 October 2006
Setting: a Berlin public library; Berlin, Germany
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At the happy noise, Sabine looks up from her book.
Little Anaïs perches on her chair across the library worktable, focused intently on her notebook, pencil gliding across the page. She notices Sabine and cringes.
„Sorry, sweetie. Didn't mean to surprise you.“
„I-it's alright, Miss Sabine. I should be studying.“
„But you and Bastien finished your homework an hour ago?“
„I need to work hard to get good marks and keep my parents happy with me so they don't send me back to Grandfather.“
Sabine's shoulders tighten. „They threaten you with that?“
„No, they always say they love me, but ....“ Anaïs picks at a jumper cuff, takes a deep breath, says quietly, „It's what always happens when we disappoint our parents: we're sent back.“
Sabine sets her book aside without bothering to mark the page. „Did your Grandfather hurt you?“
„No!“ squeaks Anaïs. „It's—it's just very important we make him happy.“
Sabine stifles a frown. „Well, if your parents love you—and if they say they do, they do—you don't have to worry about your Grandfather.“
Anaïs doubts, but says nothing.
„What were you drawing?“
„A diagram.“
„May I see it?“
Anaïs ducks her head, but pushes the pad over.
An intricate pattern of lines and symbols, some of which are vaguely familiar.
Sabine points to one. „What does this one mean?“
Anaïs glows. „That's a capacitor. It stores up electricity so this light—“ Points. „—stays on even if you unplug the circuit.“
„That's awesome! Did you design this?“
Anaïs nods.
„Wow! You like electronics?“
She bobs her head more enthusiastically. „I like telling power where to go.“
Sabine laughs.
Anaïs pales. „I mean—I don't—“
Sabine waves off the apology. „That's an /excellent attitude to have.“ Leans forward conspiratorially. „It's always worked for me.“
Anaïs replies with a watery smile and a trembling voice, „Girls should be quiet and gentle and good wives and mothers.“
„Someone had you memorize that speech, huh?“
„It's one of the first things I learned at the crèche.“
„That's a little old-fashioned. Nowadays a woman can choose a different career if she wants one.“ Smiles reassurance. „I'm a—“ Puffs up. „—chief laboratory technician. You want to be ...?“
„An electronics engineer, but—“
„Then an electronics engineer you shall be!“
„But all I know how to do are lady-things like history and languages and painting.“
„You're already designing circuits and you have /plenty of time to learn everything else you'll need to know.“
„I guess ....“
„I didn't know how to culture cells and sequence DNA when I was ten and now I do it every day and better than anyone at my firm. Even better than the men.“
Anaïs brightens. „The most important Doctor at the crèche /was a woman.“
„See? I'll bet you anything that doctor's parents expected her to be a wife and mother and not a scientist, too, but she did what she wanted and they were proud of her for it.“
Anaïs chews her lip.
„When I was your age, my parents told me I'd be married by twenty and have three or four daughters by thirty. I'm twenty-four now and they brag to all their friends about how smart I am and my fancy job.“ Snickers. „They /do still ask about when they're getting grandbabies, though.“
„Do you want babies, Miss Sabine?“
„Someday, I do.“ Grins. „I'll have them when /I'm ready for them.“ Pokes Anaïs' arm. „When I do, I hope they're smart and sweet as you.“
Anaïs ducks her head, murmurs, „Thank you, Miss Sabine.“
„Now ... should we find out what's taking those silly boys so long?“
„We shall!“ Anaïs closes her notepad, slips it into her rucksack, hops from her chair, settles the bag over her shoulders.
Sabine tucks her book under her arm, slides to her feet, offers her hand.
Anaïs takes it and they set of in search of Hermann and Bastien.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Berlin (setting)
Category:Sabine
Category:Sabine's POV
Category:Sabine (ficlet)
Category:Anais
Category:Anais (ficlet)
Category:Bastien (mention)
Category:Langlais (mention)
Category:Birgit (mention)
Category:Hermann (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Pages with comments
Category:L'organisation Langlais (mention)
Category:Celestial Mechanics
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