Page 46 of Carousel

He steps back to the door, and I side-step him awkwardly to make a start on mine.

I get the sheet straight fairly easily. But having Cosmer standing right behind me, watching me, throws off my concentration, and the first corner I make hangs a little slanted.

“You were rushing,” Cosmer says, calmly. “And you didn’t get it tight enough.”

“It doesn’t look that bad.”

“Take it out and do it again.”

I look at him, wide-eyed. “Are you serious?”

“Unfortunately, yes. That won’t pass Inspection – when the first officers come round checking all cabins.”

“So? What happens if it doesn’t pass?”

He bows his head in thought. “I suppose for you, your Integration would be affected. You might end up failing. For me, I’d be punished, in some way. I already don’t have food privileges, but they could demote me. And I’d rather not have that happen, if that’s all right with you. Took me long enough to get to second.”

I let my bewilderment show.

“They would demote you for this?” I shake the loose part of the corner angrily. “It’s a bed.”

He crosses his arms. Leans back slightly against the wall.

“Ara. It’s not the bed they’re inspecting. The bed tells them if they need to look harder at you. And for you, and your Integration, you don’t want them to notice you for the wrong reasons – or even at all. Okay?”

An exasperated noise leaves my throat as I undo my hard work and start again. But my fingers are shaking now.

Behind me, I hear Cosmer’s voice again.

“You need to pull.”

Great. He’s officially frustrated now.

And so am I.

“I am pulling.”

“Be in control. The sheet is not your senior.”

“The sheet is not my senior? What are you talking about?” I yell, with a yank so hard I lose my footing.

My body hits the floor.

I stay like that. Angry. Humiliated.

I keep my eyes down.

“This isn’t working, Cosmer,” I say, breathing. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it.”

I’m aware of movement. Cosmer is coming towards me.

Now in front of me, he bends down.

Quietly, he says, “You learned to fish when you didn’t know how to, right? You supported your family, after living in luxury. Stopped them from starving. If you did all that, you can make a damn bed, Ara.”

“Cosmer—”

His hand crawls over the floor towards mine. “May I?” he asks.