A Reason to Stay (drabble)
(A little thing I was inspired to write after my ongoing plot thread with @ask-anna-the-arstotzkan-citizen and @its-m-vonel. Lynn and Papa Lowell speak over the phone about Lynn’s reasons for staying in Arstotzka. If you have any comments, please leave them! I like feedback.)
It was now close to three in the morning. Lynn was trying her best to sleep off the stresses of today. But that was harder than it seemed. Every time she tried closing her eyes to rest, memories and anxious thoughts of the future kept her eyes wide open. What was to become of her newest friends here in Arstotzka? She wondered if they would be alright here. Part of her even wanted them to come back with her to United Fed, as impossible as it may be.
Lynn tried shutting her eyes again.
Just when she was going to drift off, the phone rang.
Lynn sleepily reached over to grab it, barely able to keep hold of the it as she spoke into it.
“Hello? This is Ms. Lynn Lowell speaking. Gustav, if this is about coming into work tomorrow…” She began.
“This isn't your boss, Lynn.” A familiar male voice said over the phone.
“Dad?” She asked in surprise, sitting upright. “What's going on? Did something happen back home?”
“You're the one I'm worried about! I saw news of a terrorist attack on TV when I got back from work! I've been trying to get a hold of you ever since, but you wouldn't pick up the phone! I even asked Mark where you were and he didn't know either!”
“I'm sorry, dad. I wasn't here to answer because I had someone to visit in the hospital. One of my friends got hurt, but she's going to be okay.” Lynn explained.
“For goodness sake, use a payphone if you can't go back to your room! Your mother was worried to tears!” Her father shouted.
“I didn't have any change, or I would have called home right away!” Lynn exclaimed. “But I'm fine! I just needed some rest after all that happened…”
“I understand. You don't have to say anymore. I'm just glad you’re able to answer like this.” James II said. “What about your friend? How is she?”
“The doctors say she’ll be out in a week.” Lynn said, with a sense of relief. “Then the both of us will be right back to work and touring East Grestin!”
“Lynn… listen.” James II’s tone grew even more grim and serious. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to be out and about. Not even after a week.”
“There’s nothing to worry about! Arstotzka will do something to make sure we’re all safe here. There will probably be a few more guards around, that’s all.” Lynn responded.
“I wouldn’t take this so lightly if I were you!” her father shouted. “Did a ‘few more guards’ stop this person from slipping through? There could be a lot more dangerous criminals in East Grestin than their news even lets us know about! Of course Arstotzka wants you to think it’s safe! Your business is good for them! But it’s not worth your life, Lynn. You have to come home, and so does your brother. With my savings back here, I could have you both back in Great Rapid within two days.”
“Dad, I can’t do that. I can’t go back.” Lynn replied.
“And why not?! Aren’t you scared?”
“Yes. I’m terrified, if you want the truth. And I’m sure Mark isn’t without his fears either.” Lynn answered. “But I know for sure we can’t leave.”
“You would rather risk life and limb for some job you can definitely get here?!” James II’s words became hasty as he spoke.
“It’s not just the job, dad. We’ve made a place here for ourselves. Mark’s been here for a few years and I’ve been here for just a few months.” Lynn said. “ And in that time, I’ve met wonderful people. I’ve connected with them. I couldn’t just leave them behind. If anything, I should support them all now.”
“You’re not obligated to stay just because you met a few of them!” James Lowell II said. “You will meet plenty of new friends back here!”
“That’s not what it means to be a Lowell, dad!” Lynn said, raising her voice at last. “When grandpa handed me the golden ankh, he told me that I should always stand up for what I thought was right. Because that’s what he did. For four months, he stayed in Bostan, he fought the Antegrian Royalist forces with just his tank and a handful of his mates. You know the story. You’re the one who used to tell me.”
“His story and yours are completely different!” her father argued. “He stayed and fought because he was a soldier! You’re a civilian!”
“He stayed back because it was the right thing to do.” Lynn replied, with a calm conviction. “You said Grandpa Lowell thought of running many times. It would have just been safer if he pulled back with the rest of our army. But he stayed. And it was because he stayed that Bostan is still standing today! Even Republia’s censorship can’t make anyone forget that! Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m not a soldier and I can’t really fight the terrorists. But I’ve seen what I can do. I can bring smiles back to people’s faces. I can bring back a sense of peace when they feel like they don’t have one! That’s what my fight is all about. That will be the reason I stay, as long as my business keeps me here.”
For a long time, there was silence. Lynn all but braced herself for a lecture that was just at least a half-hour, maybe more, about how Arstotzka (or her people) just weren’t worth the risk. Instead she heard her father’s sigh.
When he finally spoke, his voice was much quieter.
“You’ve grown up right before my eyes. You’re definitely not my little girl anymore, are you?” James II said sadly. “To stay with others, even when you’re afraid… it’s very selfless. You’ve always had a caring heart. It sounds like you don’t really need me fretting over you anymore.”
“That’s not true. You’re always my dad, no matter how much I’ve matured.” Lynn answered affectionately. “I’m glad you called. I don’t like it when you worry, but I know you still care.”
“I’ll never stop caring for you or your brother. Your mother and I miss you very much. I just have to have a little faith that everything will go well for you two.” said James II.
“It will be fine! I know it will.” Lynn answered hopefully. “I have you guys at home, and then I have Inspector Mikael, Mr. Vonel, and Anna all with me here. We’ll take care of each other.”
“I still don’t know a lot about them. You will have to tell me more sometime. For now, I need to sleep. I’ll tell your mother that we talked in the morning. For now I should let her rest. She’s gone through a lot, and so have you.” James II said calmly.
“Yeah, it sounds like we could all use some shuteye. Tomorrow is another day.” Lynn said positively. “Good night, dad. Sleep well, okay? And don’t worry so much. I can take care of myself and the people I care about.”
“It looks like I rubbed off on you quite a lot. I know you’ll do your best.” James II answered. “Good night, Lynn.”
They both hung up at the same time. The silence that came afterwards was somewhat of a relief. Everyone at home knew that Lynn was safe now. And she would keep doing her small part to make everyone happy here, even if she wasn’t going to stay forever.
She closed her eyes. At last, there were no interruptions.
In her dreams the front page of the newspaper showed a treaty everlasting peace between Arstotzka and Kolechia, and she was right there to cater the party.
Surely the dream would come true, one day.
