Chapter Text
“Congratulations on winning first place, sweetheart! Would you like to share anything with us about your project?”
One of the Aperture Science Self-Esteem Team counselors kneeled down, smiling at a young girl who simply blinked and stared at her with surprised, wide eyed. The girl blushed, and opened her mouth to speak –
“Ah-“
- and then quickly turned, hiding behind her mother’s leg, prompting a few laughs.
“She’s shy, my Chell, please excuse her-“ her mother said, wrapping an arm awkwardly around her daughter. “You can talk to Mr. Poulton about your idea, honey, its okay”.
But the girl shook her head, and buried her face in her mother’s leg, making both adults laugh again.
“ You've got a brilliant daughter there, Mel. Maybe she’ll work for us someday, yeah?” Mr. Poulton said, grinning like a cat that suddenly came across an empty saucer of milk. But Mel simply smiled, and shrugged.
“Perhaps, Mark. We’ll see.”
With that, Mark moved to the next display to give the next child the second place award. Under her breath, Melanie sighed.
“But I sure as hell hope not.”
Chell gasped at her mother using a bad word, and looked up at her in confusion at that, but remained silent.