Annie XCIX: Freedom Anxiety
(Chronological index: Lasting Changes, oh, about 4 and a half)
(Before the Amendment)
To: Amelia Anthony, care of The Sylph Center
From: Devon Corwin
Subject: Mai Crowe
Dear Miss Amelia,
I don't know if you remember me. You met my sylph and I in my puppet shop in Savannah. Mai remembers you and gets really excited when she sees someone she knows on TV. Especially a sylph. Especially especially when that sylph has become a deva.
She made me type 'especially' twice.
Anyway, as excited as she got when she saw you talking to Congress about the emancipation of all offsized human beings, she is also very, very, very, very frightened about the Amendment.
Not that it will fail, she has every faith in you and Miss Samantha. But she has a nameless dread about how life will change when it passes.
If you have any moment to spare, can you think of anything I can tell my worried sylph to put her mind at ease? I've tried everything I can think of.
Thanks,
Devon
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To: Devon Corwin
From: Amelia Office
Subject: Re: Mai Crowe
Dear Devon and Mai,
My name is Hearts. I am a sylph. I was recently hired by Miss Anthony to help process her emails. She's been getting quite a few since the appearance before Congress.
I have put your letter into her inbox, but I wanted to take the opportunity to reply sooner.
A number of sylphs have written to the Center with specific or general concerns about emancipation.
I can tell you, Mai, that no one is going to FORCE you to get a job, as long as your friend Devon is willing to take care of you. If he won't, you can still contact the Center and we will coordinate getting you someplace you can live.
There's always room for more sylphs in Uhuru, of course. And at the Center!
You won't be forced to register to vote. Many sylphs have ignored politics for many years and are anxious about trying to catch up on the topic. There's no need to worry about that.
There are some restrictions on how much traveling you can do. The US is one of the very few countries that acknowledge, or is about to acknowledge, the basic humanity of the offsized. We don't recommend you go to any country where you could still be sold on a black market.
I hope this helps. If you have any specific concerns, feel free to send them and I will try to address them.
At your service,
Hearts.
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To: Amelia Office
From: Devon Corwin
Subject: Re: Mai Crowe
Dear Hearts,
Thank you for your quick response. I read the message to Mai, but it didn't help. I honestly don't know if you just didn't address her personal concern, or if she doesn't know you personally and can't bring herself to trust you.
I guess we'll wait for Miss Anthony's reply.
Thanks anyway,
Devon.
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To: Devon Corwin, Amelia Office
From: Denise Foster
Subject: Re: Mai Crowe
Dear Devon,
This is Denise. I certainly remember you and Mai. I assume you're reading this to her? Well, give her a hug and a big kiss from me.
I just got your email. What was odd was that it was hand delivered in an envelope. What was odder was that we were flying home from Arizona at the time.
Mai would have gotten quite a laugh from the flight attendant's face as she handed me the envelope. "This, uh, just came for you, miss."
And there it was, to Denise Foster, Seat 27C.
It had your whole email chain with you and Hearts.
Let me say, I know Amelia remembers you, Mai. If nothing else, the wonderful love you showed Devon on that horrible night will stand in our memories for quite some time.
It's the memory of your love for him and his love for you that makes me pretty sure you won't mind being freed and joining the country as a citizen.
You get choices, Mai, that's all it means. You can choose to wear clothes or go naked. You can choose to vote or not. You can choose to get a job or not.
You remember Ray, don't you? He gave me all the choices he could quite a while ago. He did that for all his sylphs. Devon strikes me as someone that will support your choices in the new world, for your new status, and help you learn what you want to do, what choices you want to make.
You have nothing to fear, Mai,
Denise
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To: Amelia Office, Denise Foster
From: Devon Corwin
Subject: Re: Mai Crowe
Dear Denise,
Mai remembers you, and she really wants to trust you and believe you and she wants me to say she's happy you sound so happy and are so sure she'll be happy, but she's still more than a little anxious. She can't frame her fears in words, so I can't figure out how to help her, but thanks. You did help a bit.
Devon
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To: Devon Corwin, Denise Foster
From: Amelia Office
Subject: Re: Mai Crowe
Dear Devon,
My name is Butters. I'm one of Miss Amelia's direct reports. I am sorry to say that miss Hearts was not fully apprised of our policies here at the Center.
I do remember Miss Amelia talking about you and Mai and what she saw you two do and say to to each other.
I know she holds you both in high regard and wants to keep track of you. You are on the short list of people whose communications should be handled expeditiously.
Miss Amelia is in a strategy brainstorming session with several political and legal advisors. And Miss Samantha, of course. They are incommunicado, but your emails will be made available to her immediately upon the restoration of communications.
In the meantime, I'd like to reassure Mai that the concerns of all sylphs, efreets, gnomes and undines are important to the people behind the Amendment.
Mai wants things to stay the same, and to a large degree they can. Many sylphs have told Miss Amelia and Miss Samantha that they are comfortable as pampered pets. It's not the most popular view among the offsized, but it is that of a significant number.
Others are desperate for independence, not interdependence. Uhuru awaits them and their drive.
Mister Foster has also begun construction on many homes near Uhuru, where combined scale families can have the best of both worlds.
Tell Miss Mai to rest assured that no one is going to make Mai remake herself in anyone else's image.
Sincerely,
Butters.
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To: Denise Foster
From: Devon Corwin
Subject: Amelia Office
Dear Denise,
I see you were added to the conversation with Butters. Do you know Butters? I know he means well, but he didn't help Mai.
Now, in addition to the nameless fears and shapeless dread, Mai's worried that her concern is going to draw Amelia's attention away from the Sylph Freedom movement and ruin things for everyone.
I'm not sure what to do, now.
Help,
Devon
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To: Devon Corwin
From: Denise Foster
Subject: Amelia
Devon,
Wait for Amelia. Annie and I both feel she has the strongest shoulders we've ever cried on, and a brain as sharp as a molecular knife.
Fingers Crossed,
Denise.
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To: Devon Corwin, Denise, Butters, Hearts
From: Amelia Anthony
Subject: messages in my absence
Dear Denise, Butters and Hearts,
Y'all are idiots.
Sincerely,
Amelia.
Dear Mai,
I promise you, if you become a citizen, no one can make you leave Devon, or make Devon leave you. I don't think it can be accomplished by the 101st Airborne NOW, much less when you both get a vote.
Lots of love,
Your Friend, Amelia
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To: Amelia Anthony
From: Devon Corwin
Subject: Thanks
Dear Miss Anthony,
That was exactly what she was looking to hear. You pierced the bubble around her faceless fears and popped it.
Thank you so much!
Mai's so happy now, I think she is in danger of exploding. She wants me to send you eleventy zillion hugs and twice as many kisses.
Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks (ad infinity)
Devon and Mai
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