Mr Chapman’s offer

The meal was itself absolutely delicious, and when it was offered you accepted seconds with gusto. There was a moment of awkwardness when you wanted to compliment the cooking but had to remind yourself that the meal was actually prepared by the house maid. It struck you just how rich the family was, how removed they were from the regular day to day goings on of life.

“So tell me,” Mr Chapman started, skewering the last piece of chicken with his fork, “what are your plans once school is over?”

Stacey rolled her eyes. “Daaad.”

Mrs Chapman tutted playfully. “Don’t interrogate the boy, Eric.”

“ What?” He laughed, “I’m genuinely curious.”

You hesitated a moment, because the truth was that you hadn’t really given it a lot of thought. A gap year was probably what you were going to do, to figure things out, but something told you that the mayor wouldn’t like that. So you responded with the first thing that came to mind. “I’m really into history, so I’d like to study that.”

Mayor Eric Chapman’s brows rose in delight and he graced everyone with his pearly whites. “Ahh, a scholarly mind! Just your like Grandpa!”

“I guess,” you laughed uneasily.

Something crossed his face, and for a long moment Chapman seemed to ponder an idea. He finished his meal, sat his utensils down, then leaned forward and made a pyramid with his fingers. “How would you feel about coming to work for me, part time down at town hall?”

“Sir?”

“As I’m sure you know, the historical society is adjoined with where I work and they’ve been in dire need of an extra pair of hands to help for a few hours here and there,” he grinned playfully. “I could get you the job, if you like. It’d look great on college applications and I could introduce you to some important people. People who knew your grandfather.”

You hesitated, because to be honest you didn’t really want to take the time screwing about in some stuffy library/museum mash up. But you recognised the opportunity for what it was. Not the networking like Chapman was saying, but a way to snoop around and keep a closer eye on him and the cult. Lives could be saved. You **** a smile.

“That’d be great Sir!”