The Rise - Chapter 11

Leon had only heard about his grandmother from others, he had even read about her in political discourse textbooks at school, yet he had never met her himself. Which is why the prospect of meeting her felt less like he was meeting his grandmother, and felt more like he was meeting ‘the’ Hilda Cottonwood.

Leon was supposed to meet with Justin and Taylor that night to plan the campaign, but the emotional residue of the heart-wrenching conversation with his mother left him with no appetite for thinking about anything except his mother’s words and the meeting with his grandmother.

His mother was already out for work, when first thing in the morning a car arrived at the front of his mother’s house. He entered the large black luxury SUV. At the wheel was a stern faced driver with a muscular build and sitting at the back with Leon was a young man with perfectly combed short hair and a plain white shirt with a thin black tie.

“Hello Leon, I’m Trevor” said the young man reaching out for a handshake as Leon entered the car.

Leon shook his hand and nodded nervously.

Trevor smiled and then signaled the driver to start driving.

After a long silence Leon asked Trevor if he worked for his grandmother.

“Yes, but I don’t see it as a job.” Replied Trevor

“I had always thought she was retired” said Leon

“Yes, from populace politics. But, when you reach the height she did, it’s hard to retire from politics as a whole.” Explained Trevor

Leon took this to mean that his grandmother is no longer running for elections, hence populace politics, but he was confused as to what other politics she was involved in.

“What else is there besides populace politics?” asked Leon

The car stopped.

“Well you can ask her yourself – we’ve arrived.” said Trevor

Leon and Trevor came out of the car, and for this first time, Leon had finally seen his grandmother’s house. It was an estate like he has never seen before. It wasn’t too big, but it was clearly vast. It was a modestly luxurious home with a futuristic exterior that had him glaring at it mesmerized.

Trevor walked Leon into the home and had him sit at a rouge couch in the center of the spacious living room with a polished marble ground and glowing blue interior walls. Trevor told Leon to wait there and then left the house.

Leon had been sat stiff as a stick, afraid to damage anything. He had been waiting for a while, but it didn’t feel as long since there were enough pictures, awards and memorabilia in the living room alone to keep him busy as he scanned with his eyes every corner of the room.

After being alone with his thoughts for a while he finally heard footsteps from the spiral staircase. He immediately turned around and there she was in front of him. The woman he had only seen pictures of and heard myths about, she was walking down the staircase in a gracefully commanding manner. She had perfect posture. Her pure white hair came down her left shoulder reaching her chest; it started off straight and became wavy near the end. She had blue eyes and small nose with plump lips that were perfectly round. Though she had wrinkles it was as if they were hiding, and though you could tell she was an older lady, there was an undeniable youth about her.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Leon.” She said with a soothing voice that sounded like melted gold

If he had a shell, he would’ve retracted into it like a turtle in fear. His heart was pounding the moment she spoke and he was frozen in his seat unable to react then he suddenly stands up.

“It’s no problem” he said quickly staring at her without a single blink.

“Please, sit” she said as she sat on the couch facing Leon

In between them was a glass table with a tea pot and small glass tea cups. She leans forward and pours tea for the two of them. She pushes Leon’s cup towards him then picks up her cup and brings it towards her chest. She sat back comfortably on the couch with her legs crossed looking at Leon with an inquisitive look.

“How’s your father doing?” she asked

Leon was taken aback, the two had never met, yet she seemed to have no interest in asking about him, despite being her only grandson. She seemed to be a woman with no time to spare.

“He’s doing well.” Replied Leon holding his cup of tea awkwardly with both hands.

“He is, isn’t he? Almost too well – how do you feel about that?” she said

“It just means he didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m not too worried.”

“But you still ran for student council president. I’m sure you’ve realized by now that it was a consequence of your father’s arrest.” She said as she took a sip from her tea

“Mother told me this yesterday, and I spent all night thinking about it. It’s simply not true. I’m doing well in school and I can follow any profession I like. That’s why my father’s career will have no influence over mine.”

“You’re right. I don’t think you ran because you were afraid for your future. At first it may seem like you want to prove you’re in control of your own fate. If you can win the presidency despite the defamation of your father, it will prove that you can take matters into your own hands. But in reality, you’re just like me Leon. You after something else, aren’t you?”

“And what is that?” he asked

She calmly takes another sip from her tea as Leon waits in anticipation.

“It’s no fun reaching the top when you’re already so high up. Having the type of family that you have must’ve made the prospect of being the most powerful person in the country bore-some because it seemed easy. Which is why politics may have not interested you, but now that everything has changed with your father’s arrest; deep down you’re suddenly excited, because finally there’s a challenge. You see, you’re just like me. You seek the thrill of the rise.”