As she heard the scritch of the travel lock sliding along the floor Melody glanced up from
her oversized purse. Who else? She shrugged and then went back to
searching for her mailbox key. Maybe today's mail would bring the news she had been waiting
for, the news that would confirm her dream of a way out of the trap of expectations.
The young man strolled casually into the tiny studio, removing the lock from the doorknob
and tossing it on the battered sofa-bed. "That thing's only good for doors that open in.
You might use it to keep the furball out of the bathroom."
Grasping the key-ring at last, she detours around him towards the door. "I'm busy. Do you mind!"
"Here's your mail, Melody."
"Tony, I've told you, owning the building doesn't give you the right to go into my mailbox."
"Aw, c'mon, once we're married, we'll just have the one, anyhow, so what's the difference?"
"Oh, forget it." Snapping shut her bag she extended her hand, "Just give me the mail."
"You got any coffee?"
"On the stove. Go ahead and heat it up."
He turns on the gas burner and puts the coffee pot on. "Hey, did you see the news? The Governor signed that cold storage bill. No more jails, he says, once they get it set up."
"Bills, bills, bills -- " A brief moment of hope lasts until she reads the address on the next envelope. "This one's not mine." She hands him the grey, oversized envelope.
"Forgot I had that one. It's nothing important."
"What do you mean, not important? Isn't that from the Institute?"
"Yeah."
"Well?"
"So I already read it. They turned us down."
"Us? Just because they turned you down doesn't mean they won't take me."
"I told you. They're just looking for couples now. They'll get all the research done on the convicts with that cold storage thing passing. We'd've had a better chance if we'd gotten married first and applied as a couple. That's what they want for colonists."
"Does the letter say that?"
"Where's the coffee mug?"
"In the sink strainer where it always is."
"What does the letter say?"
"That's a woman for you. You don't want me to even touch your mail, but you want to know everything about mine!"
"You said they want couples. I want to know how you know."
"Besides, you really don't realize just how dangerous it is. I heard that they haven't gotten anybody rated higher than 80%."
"Never mind that. What does the letter say?"
"That I didn't make the 70% minimum survival potential they require. Happy now?"
"I'm sorry. But, that doesn't -- Do they suggest you might do better if you were married?"
"Look, let's just drop the whole thing, huh?" He shoves the corner of the envelope into the gas flame under the coffeepot.
"Are you crazy?" She tries to grab the letter away from him. "You'll set off the smoke alarm!"
"Nah. I've done this lots of times." As the flames approach his fingers he moves over to the sink and drops it in.
"Antonio Madrigal, I've just about had it with you!"
"C'mon, Melody, use your head. We're better off here. At least we're both alive."
"Tony, I told you. I. Am. Going. Period."
"Melody, think about it. You let them freeze you and maybe you're one of the ones who doesn't make it. 80% survival rate means out of every five people they freeze one isn't going to make it!"
"I'm not going to argue with you about it. I'll just wait until I hear from the Institute."
"You already have. They turned you down."
"What! You _opened_ my mail?"
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
"I burned it."
"Get out! I don't want to ever see you again."
"Now calm down, it's not the end of the world."
"I said get out of my apartment. NOW!"
"You won't get rid of me that easily."
"If you won't get out, I will!"
"Don't be silly, Melody, this's your place. You can't leave!
"Melody! Come back!"
Slam!
He stares at the door for a minute, then walks over to the sink and gets a mug. He fills the mug with coffee and puts the coffee pot on a back burner. He glances over toward the door, hesitates, then pulls a grey, oversized envelope out of his pocket. He starts to slide his thumbnail under the flap then pulls it back and shakes his head. He looks over at the door again, and then ignites the envelope in the gas flame.
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