Della straightens her dress. Looking up in the mirror, she smiles at her reflection. Today was her day. She could feel it. Father was about to win an award for his new invention, a bird-less contraption that would surely revolutionize how people travel.
Looking out her window, Della observes the people walking by in their finest clothes. Merryville is bustling with activity from the local gossips at a coffee shop to the peddler selling copper-colored train toys. Della took a deep breath in and sighed in happiness. The smell of her oil, copper, and fumes filled her lungs with delight. Della had grown up in Merryville and could imagine no other place she rather live.
"Della! Are you coming? Your father is waiting on us!" Della's mother called from behind the closed door.
"Coming mother!" Della replied. She takes one final glance at her reflection. The dress she chose hugged her curves fashionably. The bow tied around her waist was the finest indigo she could find. She placed her new hat on top of her red curls, tying the ribbon ends below her chin.
Perfect she thinks to herself.
She steps outside of her room into a mahogany hallway adorned with coming-of-age photographs. Her family was quite modern supporting artists who lived in the destitute areas of Merryville. Why some paintings on the wall were created by women!
"Della! Come!" Mother holds her hand out. Della internally rolls her eyes at her mother's impatience grabbing the older woman's hand.
"Is Henry coming?" Della looks around for her older brother.
"No, darling. He is calling on Miss Caroline. Perhaps a wedding is on the horizon!" Della's mother begins to chatter about her son's imaginary wedding, not noticing that her daughter had become lost in her own fantasies.
Her mother continues her incessant prattling as they enter the street. Steam rises out of the road reminding the residents of the power of the cogs that are the primary source of energy for Merryville. Della gets caught up again in the snapshot of her beloved city.
"Della! It is un lady like to stare. Come on we mustn't be late." Della's mother, Catherine yells from across the street.
"Coming mother." Della begins to move quickly and doesn't notice the man crouched in the middle of the road until her foot catches on his leg. She stumbles into the cobblestone streets, catching herself with her hands.
She shoots a glare to the man behind her. "Watch where you sit, peasant." She growls.
The man smirks and stands up. Della can't help but admire how tall he is and how blue his eyes are. His face looks like it was carved by the angels above. That was the only thing attractive about him. He was covered in soot from head to toe and smelled like he hadn't taken a proper bath in months.
"Oi, princess, apologies! Didn't realize that royalty was coming." He mock bows. "Maybe you should watch where you walk next time huh, curves?" his eyes shamelessly drink her in.
"Excuse me! Who are you to talk so uncouth like to my daughter! We are above you in class, you must apologize at once!" Catherine helps her daughter off the floor.
"Sorry miss that you're daughter doesn't know how to walk. Good day ladies." The man tips his cap at them before smugly walking away.
"The nerve of some peasants!" Catherine roared. "Come Della we mustn't be late. Watch your feet dear! You don't want to get your dress dusty from the road!"
With Catherine hurrying her daughter along the streets, it's not long before the two women end up at the stadium where the inventor awards are to be held. Della peers through the forming crowd, trying to get a quick peak of her father. Her efforts prove to be fruitless as the M.C comes on and begins the ceremony.
"Father! Congratulations!" Della squeals as she runs into her father's outstretched arms. Laughing, he lifts her off his feet and twirls her around. "There's my best girl!" he gently places Della back on feet.
"Really Charles!" Catherine scolds him. "Is that a proper way to greet a lady?"
"Mother!" Della chides.
"Really, Della! You must behave like a lady in the public. Everyone is looking for the next scandal to gossip about!" Catherine looks down at Della.
"Come now Cathy! Della was just giving her Papa a hug." Charles tries to be the peacekeeper between the two women.
Catherine throws her hands up in surrender. "There is no reasoning with you both!"
Della giggles and throws her arms around her mother, bringing her face down to kiss. "Mother, I love you as well."
Catherine's cheeks turn red at the display of affection. She looks around the crowd. "Really Della..."she moans, hiding a delighted smile behind her hat.
"Papa, show me how the flying machine works again." Della claps her hands in delight.
"Come along then!" Charles gestures to his machine in the corner. "I wouldn't have been able to design it without your assistance Della."
Della's eyes drink in the beauty before her. She can hardly believe that her ideas had materialized to life. Yes, she had a part in the creation of the flying machine. She sketched out the dimensions and size of each part while her father built it. Charles insisted on sharing credit with his daughter, but Della declined, knowing that in today's society a woman would never be accepted as an engineer or architect.
"Papa, she is a beaut!" Della pours over each bolt, metal, and copper used in the construction of the flying machine.
"That she is! There is one thing she is missing: a name. Since you were a large part of her creation, I give you the honors, daughter."
Della turns toward her parents with a smile. "The Catherine." What better way to honor her mother?
Catherine clears her throat and pulls a hanky out of her bags. She wipes the corner of her eyes with it. "Yes, well. I quite like the name."
"Sir Delacroix?" A man in a top hat approached the family. "Hello, my name is David Tanner and I represent the Fushion Company." Mr. Tanner produces a card from his pocket.
"May I just say Mr. Delacroix of how marvelous your presentation was today? Your flying contraption is the talk of the town!" Mr. Tanner waved his arm in excitement.
"The Fushion Company? No way! Father, they are a technology advanced company that has purchased many of our modern amenities!" Della gushes.
"Yes, you're right, miss." Mr. Tanner eyes her with warning. "Perhaps you should leave the business to the men, eh?"
"I'll have you know sir, that chauvinism has gone out of style. Perhaps you heard about its fall from grace over one hundred years ago?" Della snaps.
"Della!" Catherine covers her daughter's mouth with her hand. "Excuse her, Mr. Tanner. She is quite cranky when she hasn't eaten all day. Let's take care of that for you darling!" Catherine drags Della away from the two men. Charles shoots his daughter an apologetic look as they disappear around the corner.
"Della, you mustn't sass people so! That man is important to your father's work. I know we let you run about the house all willy-nilly, but you're a grown woman of twenty-two. Have I not been lenient with you in finding a husband? Why if any other mother heard you say you wish to be a maid, they would throw themselves out the window!" Catherine pulls out a chair for her daughter and pushes her down. "Now let's celebrate your father's success and order pastries."
Della folds her arms and pouts. How could she be treated as a thing? "Don't pout Della, it's unbecoming." Her mother chides as she sets a plate down of delectable pastries. "Why isn't this a pleasant surprise! Your brother Henry is passing by. Henry!"
A tall man with green eyes and brown hair smiles and waves at Catherine. On his arm is a fashionable lady in the finest of fashion with a lace parasol. "Ladies! I was about to see father's exposition."
"It ended." Della says simply.
"I see. Well forgive our tardiness." Henry tips his hat at his family.
"Yes, I take quite a while to get ready. Apologies." Miss Caroline titters. Della stares at her brother's date in disgust. Caroline was the nicest girl in town and Della hated her for it. How could a woman be so likeable?
"Miss Caroline! Will you join us? My daughter and I were partaking in some celebratory pastries." Catherine motions to two empty seats.
"Don't mind if we do! Then Della and I can have a proper catch-up." Henry laughs as he pulls Caroline's chair out for her. "My dear."
"Why thank you kind sir." Caroline innocently flirted with him. Henry winks at her before sitting down.
"Oh, gag me now." Della sticks her hand down her throat. Pain registers in Caroline's expression as Catherine shoots Della a death glare.
"Sister, don't be bitter towards Caroline since no man has come calling for you." Henry shot back at his sister.
"That's where you're wrong dear brother. I don't want any gentlemen callers." Della takes a triumphant bite from her e-claire.
"Della, I haven't seen you in ages. Do we really want to spend what limited time we have together throwing jabs at each other?" Henry leans forward to steal a pastry off Della's plate.
"If you want to spend time with me, send her away." Della glares at Caroline. Caroline looks toward the streets, trying to hide her emerging tears.
"Della! I raised you better! How dare you insult Miss Catherine! I don't recognize you." Catherine words shoot an arrow through Della's heart.
"I don't either." Henry shakes his head as he stands. "Mother we are going to greet father before I take Caroline home." He leans down to kiss Catherine's cheek and walks past Della. If the imaginary arrow in her heart didn't wound her enough, her brother's rejection twisted it in.
Caroline comes around to say goodbye to Della. "I hope you have a fantastic day, Miss Della. I do hope we can be good friends one day."
Before Della acknowledges Caroline's word a loud explosion cracks near the table. Della is thrown out of her seat into the cobblestone road.
