S3 Ep. 9 | ELLA IN AMSTERDAM Let Them Eat Cake
or something like that
As the election gets closer, a mere day or two away, things for me have become beyond weird.
Another day without any “signs” I notice my sense of smell shifts between smelling freshly baked bread and… rubbing alcohol? A super clean smell almost like hand sanitizer? At this point I want to see a doctor about all my weird symptoms but with the election so close I figured its something I can do after. Now is not the time, because even IF something was wrong with me I don’t want to know.
In other shocking news, I see from the morning articles that corrupt Bogdan Brown was arrested
“This just in, former disgraced DA Bogdan Brown was arrested this morning by Federal officers on suspicion of money laundering and accepting political gifts while in office.” You can hear Bodgan in the background in handcuffs “This is all Mary Poros. Look into her, she’s a murderer! She”
The camera cuts the sound off. He’s seen being scurried into an unmarked car by two plain-clothed officers.
I call Chelsea because the gossip is too good to wait
Me: Did you see that? Omg this is wild
Chelsea: Yeah I mean it was only a matter of time. Bogdan broke so many laws, I’m sure whatever they have on him there is more
Me: Election vote counting stops in 48 hours… are we still meeting at the office? Or do you think the election is done?
Chelsea: My internal sources tell me the mail-in ballots are slow or missing. There’s still about 2,000-6,000 that normally would be mailed in by now that aren’t
Me: Okay boss woman. So what am I doing then?
Chelsea: Honestly I just want to sleep. I did a big deployment at work all night because some asshole updated the wrong fork in GitLab… anyway sorry I’m cranky and dating this new girl. We’ll discuss later
Me: Oh la la, a new kitty kat to play with eh?
Chelsea: Something like that. If you wanted to go to the office you can, Kelly is going to come into the city to take you to lunch and give you any remainder of printer items from her cousin printer shop
Thinking about all the weirdness of the last few weeks the idea of staying in and going for a run before lunch with Kelly sounded more appealing to me than the office
Me: Would it be cool if I work from home and do lunch with Kelly? Can you tell her to pick me up at my apartment?
Chelsea: Sure thing. Just remember you also have that Chamber of Commerce bingo night later tonight. Wear something for old people and make sure to see if you can drum up some more mail-in ballots
Me: Got it
Chelsea: Okay I’m tired as fuck I need a nap. Talk to you later
Me: laterz
As the election gets closer I start to feel weirder not just emotionally or mentally but also physically. It's hard to explain and I don’t want to explain it to anyone. I keep hoping it’s some kind of bizarre election jitters and will be gone once the election results are announced? Sven seems to be running a solid campaign although he sticks to himself and is a polite competitor candidate if I ever were to have one. What if Sven wins city council? At this point I think things would be okay either way. The girls and I have given it our best shot.
Instead of changing into professional clothes and doing my normal downtown walk, I change into a colorful running outfit, thinking to myself, this might be one of my last runs as a “normal civilian.” As I run up and down the hills of Los Hellas I feel a sense of inner peace. Today I only smell hand sanitizer but for whatever reasons the Italian songs in my head have stopped and now its Motown classics? I shake my head while running and put in ear-sets with music linked to my iPhone only I hear both songs at the same time so I have to take out whatever music I try to listen to and deal with the Motown hits.
I hear “My girl” and then the song keeps repeating like an ear worm.
The Price of Winning
Getting as sweaty as I can I finally wrap up my run and do a cool down walk to the apartment despite it being a hilly part of Los Hellas, as I get to the victorian house my apartment is located in and see a real estate car in front and someone putting a sign in the small grass area in front of the house.
As I get closer to the house and after checking my mailbox for mail (there is no personal mail) the real estate car drives away. Because I’m nosey I look closer at the sign and its a FOR SALE and for my unit, what the fuck. I type the real estate agent’s phone number into my phone and call it as I go inside and start to undress as I’m a little behind schedule to shower and meet Kelly who is coming soon. She is always on time because her life is dictated by her kids pickup schedules
“Hello, this is King’s real estate”
Me: Hello, hi. Yes. I was calling about 414 Alta Way in Los Hellas
real estate lady: Ah yes such a great apartment. It’s being listed with an affordable price, did you want to take a viewing?
Me: See well, that’s why I was calling. Its not actually for sale…
RE lady: Excuse me?
Me: That’s my apartment. I know for a fact its not for sale
RE lady: I’m sorry are you a renter we don’t know about? We have documents here signed by a Mr. Chibuzo… oh wait that’s the first name… the last name is
Me: Hold on, Chibuzo put it up for sale?
RE lady: I’m sorry, but, we don’t have any notes here about a renter or tenant. Did you have a lease or rental agreement?
I take a minute to process what is going on, Chibuzo would never do this to me.
Me: Hold on a minute
Still sweaty in running clothes I dash across the apartment to a pile of cards and mail to find the card from Chibuzo we got at the office that says I can be rent free to re-read it:
“Dear Ms. Chelsea, You are already a winner in my heart. You really helped me with the Ella situation and my office. Use this check to help pay for anything you need.
I’m sorry I could not give this in person as its time I say goodbye to you and retire to Africa. Best, Chibuzo”
I wipe my eyes. Chibuzo gave me this apartment to me, he promised. How else would I have keys to it? Also this card only a few weeks ago said for sure prayers to me and I could be rent free. How could the ink change?! Is my mind going haywire again?
RE lady: Hello? hello? Are you still there?
Me: Hi, I’m sorry uh I need to go
I abruptly end the call, completely freaking out. I start to have a panic attack only to look at the clock to see it say 11:11 which means in nineteen minutes Kelly will be here to pick me up. I strip my clothes off almost tripping on them and head to the shower. The shower now smells like a bread bakery again, I start to become angry and throw my shampoo across the shower.
What, the fuck, is happening?
The Family That Eats Together
Feeling confused and furious at the same time I try to keep it together. How could Chibuzo sell the apartment he’s letting me stay in without notice? Or did I imagine that he gave it to me? Reality has beyond start to blur and besides being confusing it’s beginning to make me rattled. Keep it together, Ella, I tell myself.
I put a comfortable outfit on of jeans and a sweater since it’s not cold yet and the fog always has a way of taking the day to burn off. Kelly texts me “On my way girlie!”
I stand outside on the sidewalk fixing my clothes to look calm, check to make sure my cell phone is fully charged. I keep my back to the for sale sign in front of the building, hoping and praying that Kelly doesn’t notice. The election ends tomorrow and the last thing I need is more questions I can’t answer.
I hear a minivan screeching around the corner, there she is. Kelly pulls up, she’s got one kid in the back row and opens my door from the drivers seat
Kelly: Hey homie step in. Ignore the offspring in the back, she wanted to call in sick for school even though she knows Wednesdays we have no nannies
She turns around to give a side eye to her young daughter in the back
Kelly: I also have the last of printed items from my cousins shop. Damn you nearly bankrupted him with all the ink and posters. He says its works out though because he ended up getting a ton of business and new clients from those small QR codes you told us to put on the back with his printer company’s info
I stand still shook, I’m actually starting to feel like I’m losing my physical ability to coordinate my body
Kelly: Hello, bitch get in. I only have 3 hours before I have to pickup my middle child from school in the burbs. Snap snap
I get into the front passenger seat of the minivan realizing that I am not hungry. It is however soothing to be around Kelly. She still drives like a mad teenager.
The three of us get to a waterfront cafe not too far from my apartment before Kelly breaks the news to me
Kelly: Ella, this has been awesome helping you find your way. Really. But after today I have to say I’m done with political campaign stuff. My husband is about to kill me. Not that there’s anything wrong about today, I just mean AFTER today I can’t offer help anymore.
At any rate I think you got this. We did our best. Whatever happens will happen. You know I love you right?
Our lunch food finally arrives and the waitress doesn’t say a word. She puts a plate of chicken nuggets in front of Kelly’s youngest daughter, a plate for Kelly and my lunch even though I am not hungry.
Me: I know this was a lot to ask of you. I’m grateful. And whatever happens you know I love you right?
Kelly: Of course girl! We gotta take a little break after this though, my husband is going to literally strangle me and my kids have tons of school shit
She looks over at her daughter “Hey, you aren’t supposed to be here. Don’t tell dad”
Not feeling well and everything smelling like hand sanitizer or freshly baked bread, and with the prospect of soon being homeless I look at my watch to see it’s already 1:11pm. Time is flying by before my own eyes. In 24 hours the political journey and campaign of my life will be done. We are here.
I attempt to take a bite of my sandwich
Me: Thank you Kelly. I love you more than you will ever know
Kelly: Oh, I know. I know don’t worry hun