The Hubby Hold (IQ Testing Book 2) Read online

  I exhale, frowning with disgust and defiance then swing to Buffo. I smile and giggle. “I love you, Buffo.”

  The hand slaps Ketona on the collar bone, when Duchie giggles. “We, both, got our dreams come true. I’m proud of you, darling.” She slaps Buffo on the chest, “Take good care of my best friend, sweetheart. Me and her went through hell to get into the golden circle. Well, I gotta go and say good bye to my…BPs. They’re waving at me. Well, I guess, this is good bye, Ketona and Buffo. Based on the rules of the Establishment, which you, both, will learn about, inside Burrville, I will never, ever see your smiling faces, again. Good luck, ya’ll!” She hugs Ketona then Buffo then back steps, tossing a salute, smiling. Duchie spins around, dashing to her parents.

  Rincon steps into Duchie’s spot, nodding and smiling. He pulls Ketona from Buffo, hugging her then says to Buffo. He extends his hand, when Buffo shakes it. Rincon smiles. “I wish you and Buffo, the best of everything. I do understand the rules of Establishment, very well. I will never see, either one of you, again.” He whispers to Ketona, smiling. “I am sorry that we didn’t work out, but I am your friend, forever. If you need anything, please, contact me, Ketona.”

  I nod, hugging Rincon, holding back the sobs for my former schooler and street neighbor.

  Buffo shoves Rincon from Ketona then pulls her into his chest. He says. “We, too, wish ya the best in everything. Ya got your dream job, as a medical tech. Good luck, Rincon! Maybe, one day, you can visit us on our farm, since I know the rules of Establishment, too,” he smirks and nods to Rincon.

  Rincon smiles and nods, back stepping from the teen couple. He spins, surveying the room for his BPs.

  Nephella slides into Rincon’s place, extending her hand. Buffo grabs it then he pulls them into a huddle. They part and giggle at each other.

  Nephella smiles and nods, bouncing her body piercings. “Nice to meet, some descent folks, within Colfax. I plan to visit ya’ll, especially, for my invite to your wedding ceremony. I got some special connections,” she giggles and thumbs her mama, who talks with Rincon’s parents. She exhales, nodding. “I can’t say, I’ll lunch with ya’ll, soon, since I, too, have learned the nasty few rules of the Establishment. So, good bye, good luck, and good going!” she nods and smiles, back stepping then spins to her mama.

  I hug Buffo, grinning up at his face, being shorter.

  The hand gently touches my bicep, when Buffo’s mama says and smiles. “Hi, honey! We enjoyed the academic drama.”

  Ketona back steps for his mama to hug her son.

  Buffo’s mama smiles and nods, hugging her son. “We’re so proud of you, Buffo, and you, too, Ketona. Based on your sudden decision to live on a farm, instead of in the city, we welcome you to our little family, Ketona.” She hugs Ketona then says. “Buffo, your grandfather is going to be thrilled and happy that he can teach you the farming life. Don’t worry, Ketona! Farming is long hours, but very rewarding, living in the fresh air and plenty of sunshine. Buffo’s grandfather has everything all prepared. Just to update both of ya’ll, you will be leaving for the farm, immediately. Once Citizenship Day has finished, each teen is transported to their respective color tone, matching the outer township. So, well, this is good bye, Buffo. We will come and visit during the holidays, as allowed by the Establishment rules. I love ya, son! Good luck with your new job!” She hugs her son then releases him, two-stepping for her husband.

  Buffo’s daddy smiles and nods, then hugs his son, too. He releases his son, saying. “Your mama, as usual, has taken my prepared speech. So, this is it. This is good luck, not good bye. We got a couple of connections at the mayor’s office, too, so we might be able to sneak in a visit, soon. I love you, Buffo. And, welcome to our family, Ketona. Even thou, you have been a daughter to us for many, many years, tagging along with Buffo into our home.” He hugs Ketona then releases her. “Good luck, kids! Enjoy your live, together. That is the secret of life, your happy togetherness. We’ll be outside, killing the manicured grass, while ya’ll say some ‘good byes’ to your other neighborhood friends. The transport ships are outside, too.”

  His parents smile and nod, back stepping then split up, moving into the separate locker room to exit the Cubby Hole.

  I watch Buffo’s mama disappear into the girl’s locker room. “What transport ships, like air traveling ships? I’m never been on an airship, before? What are they talking about, Buffo?”

  The female says, standing behind Ketona’s back. “The barrier walls are never lowered between the outer townships. Therefore travel is by air, rough and scary, too.”

  I swing around, dropping my mouth, staring at the mayor.

  The mayor smiles as the cheekbone piercing twinkles and wrinkles her flabby cheek, saying. “I have never had a golden schooler reject their dream job, within Colfax, under me. You are the first teen to an…annotate that quick decision. I was stunned, at first,” she views Buffo then Ketona. “Then, I quickly understood. Your decision was based on love, so sweet and innocent. I would to remind you, even though, you did complete and compete, within the golden circle, with the other golden colored schoolers, you are not eligible for the other two vacant dream jobs, in Colfax.”

  I nod and grin. “I know that. I have chosen my dream covered with both sprinkles and twinkles…”

  The mayor sneers. “I want you to completely understand me, being that no other teen has ever sm…”

  “Some more queries, Mama!? I can’t answer them. Marsilla’s parents are asking me tons of questions. Please, join my huddle, over yonder.” Nephella slides into her mother, winking at Ketona then shoves her mama towards another huddle.

  I extend my arms, smiling and seeing Lamis.

  Lamis stands off to the side of Buffo’s me-chee chair, wiping her tears then bounces to Ketona.

  They hug.

  Lamis releases Ketona, nodding and smiling. “Thank you, darling, for being my friend and encouraging me. You really helped me reach, here, into the golden circle. Yeah, I don’t answer the final question, advancing into the golden circle, but I’m going to be living and working in Montag…”

  I nod and smile. “Doing some painting and drawing with your talents, I hope.

  Lamis nods and smiles. “You’re remembered, also. Something like that. I met and talked with some of the other teens inside the blue color tone, going to Montag with me. Some of them are from Montage, always. They told me that there are lots of different shop owners, who intern with the young teens, like me, wanting to share and teach them maker skills. There are thousands of makers of shoes, clothing, jewelry, purses, and other artists, too many, to name.”

  I giggle and nod. “You’ll be a maker of clothing, maybe, then I’ll purchase of your creation, also.”

  Lamis frowns with puzzlement. “I might be a maker of clothing, within Montag, I haven’t decided, yet. I will make with the different shop owners and see which one, like best, but you can’t purchase my creation…”

  I nod and smile. “Yes, I can. I can buy it from…”

  “Ketona, you can never, ever leave Burrville, where you are a permanent citizen, unlike me.” Lamis smiles. “If I make a new creation with my talents of drawing or painting, then I can come, during the daylight hours, here, into Colfax to sell all my creations. But, you’re a farmer living in Burrville, you don’t go anywhere to sell the cotton, or the corn, or the cows. Instead, the big trucks and trailers come to you and your farm then pick of all the livestock or food stuffs. I mean, your parents can visit ya, once or twice per year, but you didn’t ever leave the confines of the barrier wall, ever.”

  Buffo gently touches Ketona on the collar bone.

  I exhale, faking a smile, nodding. “O! Well, then, maybe, my mama can purchase your maker creation, here, in Colfax, and then bring it to me, inside Burrville.”

  Lamis nods. “Yeah, I guess she can do that at holiday time, about six months from, now. I plan to make some dresses and hats. I don’t know if you’re allowed to wear dresses while ya far
m the dusty field crops.”

  I gasp then exhale, faking another smile. “Well, I can always start a new fashion trend or something. I’m young and smart, too.”

  Buffo pats Ketona on the collar bone, nodding behind her hair roots.

  Lamis nods, smiling. “I guess. Well, thanks for assisting me, here, inside the Cubby Hole. I wanna wish both of ya’ll a good life. Since, I’ll never see ya’ll, again. Good luck, Ketona and Buffo! Good bye!” She back steps then swing around, walking towards the girls’ locker to meet her parents, killing the grass on the manicured lawn.

  I fake a smile, watching the other teens say good-byes then invade the locker room.

  Buffo says, standing behind Ketona, patting her collar bone. He says. “Well, we should think about finding our air ship. It will zoom across the skyline of Colfax, over the barrier wall then land inside the town of Burrville. My grandfather will be there, sitting inside his old pickup truck then ya meet my grandma…”

  “I like that,” I fake a smile, exhaling.

  Buffo scans the auditorium, seeing their friends in the wall corner, frowning with sadness. “I see Java and Hatch. They wear prisoner suits of yellow, representing Dookie Town. I don’t understand. They should’ve exhibited better sense to stay and play inside the yellow park place.”

  I scan the room then spot them.

  Java cries inside Hatch’s chest. She wipes her tears then cries, again, hugging his chest. She doesn’t want to live and work in Dandine. She doesn’t understand her color status and how she ended up, here, in Dookie Town. She was having fun inside the same park place, then it all ended. Then she was zoomed back into the Cubby Hole, wearing the yellow cat suit, clashing with her red high heel sandals.

  Hatch hugs her, whispering into her face.

  I say. “We should go over and say something.”

  Buffo studies Java and Hatch, shaking his skull. “I don’t think so. They didn’t look happy. They didn’t look social, either. I don’t know what to say to them. And, I just don’t understand. They were explained the strict rules of the Cubby Hole from their BPs, too. They knew better, also, at the end of Citizenship Day, whatever color you wear, represents your permanent citizenship. I just don’t understand.” He hugs then drags Ketona towards the girl’s locker. “We need to leave and start our new live. We can’t help Java and Hatch, either. They picked their destiny.” He hugs her, walking. “And, you made my destiny, honey. I love you, Ketona.”

  I smile and say, cuddling him. “I love you, Buffo.”

  Buffo smiles and stops near the opening of the girl’s locker room, turning to her smile. “I’ll see ya on the other side,” he chuckles. “I mean the outside on the lawn. We say one more goodbye to our…my parents then load onto the transport for our new adventure, our new life and our new home.”

  I nod and smile. “Yeah, I exit the Cubby Hole then enter the Hubby Hold.”

  Buffo chuckles then hugs Ketona.

  They kiss.

  The Wally Hole…is the final e-novel of the trilogy.