Chapter One
"I'll take Missie," Jessica Landers said.
It was ten o'clock and the fourth form girls of St.Catherrines Academy for Young Ladies were about to play a game of rounders. Most of the girls had been divided into teams except for Lucy Pevensie and Hannah Edelton; they were the misfits of the fourth form girls.
Lucy was because she didn't seem to fit in with the other girls; she seemed too grown-up and after Narnia she was different ("Princess Lucy" they sneered behind her back). And Hannah Edelton was terribly awkward and clumsy.
Jessica looked at the two of them and then asked, "Do you know how to play rounders?"
Lucy snorted. "Everyone does, it's quite easy," she said.
Jessica raised an eyebrow "Oh, fine. You're both on my team, I'm two short." She acted as if she was doing them a generous favour.
They all ran out to the playing field. Ten minutes later, Jessica threw down her bat.
"You clumsy fool!" she shrieked at Hannah, as she let another ball get past her, "we're going to lose and it's all your fault!"
Hannah ducked her head "I'm awfully sorry, I am trying, really I am" she whispered, near tears.
Lucy came over. "Oh, leave her alone, Jessica," she said, putting an arm around the girl, "anyway ,you're just standing about."
The two of them left the playing field and headed back toward the school.
"I wish we didn't have to take etiquette class - I know I'll spill!"Hannah moaned as she and Lucy walked down the stairs to their etiquette class which was taught by Miss Mason; all the girls were required to take it.
"You mustn't think about spilling," Lucy advised.
"But I know I will, I always do, and then Miss Mattwisteyek will be cross and I'll get a bad mark,"Hannah stressed. "It's easy for you - you're a natural, but I'm just Clumsy Hannah, who can't walk without falling or tripping over something."
Lucy looked thoughtful. "Perhaps this time you won't spill," she tried to assure her.
"Clumsy Hannah not spill? An elephant is more graceful than she is," Jessica giggled as she and the other girls passed by to enter the class.
"Pay them no mind," Lucy said as they took their seats. The door opened, and to their surprise the headmistress came in. Lucy raised her hand
"Please, Miss, where's Miss Mason?"
She rather liked the etiquette teacher.
Miss Mattwisteyek frowned, peering at Lucy over the top of her glasses.
"What are the rules of any class, Miss Pevensie?" she asked sternly.
The other girls with the exception of Hannah giggled quietly behind their hands ,Lucy blushed and stood up.
"Not to talk without permission," she said.
The Headmistress nodded.
"Fifty lines after class: "I will not talk out of order" to be completed before dinner tonight."
She turned to the rest of the class.
"Today, young ladies, we will be learning the proper way to pour tea."
Jessica shot her hand up.
"Yes, Jessica?" she asked.
Jessica stood up "Please, Miss, I know the proper way to pour tea, I had private lessons," she looked so smug that Lucy wanted to shout out that she too had lessons taught by a dyrad, but she bit her tongue.
She sat back down and Miss Mattwisteyek cleared her throat.
"We will divide into groups, the hostess and the guest. Remember, no spilling." She looked pointedly at Hannah, who paled under her stare.
"Don't worry," Lucy whispered, "I'll be the hostess and you can be -" but before she could finish the sentence Miss Mattwisteyek came over.
"Lucy, you will be paired with Lisa Arnolds and Hannah, you will be paired with Jessica," she said.
Lucy headed over to where Lisa was sitting. Lisa was as big a snob as Jessica and very bossy.
"I'll be the guest, you be the hostess " she ordered Lucy. Lucy fought the urge to pour the hot tea in her lap as she picked up the pot and poured out the tea.
"Would you like sugar, Miss Arnold?" she asked with mock-politeness.
A shriek caused her to nearly upset the sugar bowl. Everyone twisted about in their seats to see who shrieked. Jessica was covered in cream.
"You clumsy fool! You ruined my best dress! You did that on purpose!" she screamed at Hannah, who was red with embarrassment as she tried to mop Jessica's dress off
"Don't touch me!' Jessica shrieked, and Hannah backed up.
"It was an accident, you moved your hand!" she bit her lip. Miss Mattwisteyek came over.
"Perhaps, Hannah, you'd do better taking etiquette class with the first formers and then maybe you'll learn to pour without spilling. Go up to your room and stay there until lunchtime. Jessica, go change your dress. Back to the lesson, young ladies, class is not over yet," she ordered.
As soon as class was over Lucy ran upstairs to the dorm room. Hannah was lying on her bed sobbing. Lucy came over and sat down.
"I'm sure she won't make you go in with the first formers," she said.
Hannah sat up, wiping her eyes.
"But she will - this is the third time I've spilled. I can't be graceful - you see me, I'm a klutz" she said.
Lucy's eyes lit up and she gave a little bounce.
"I know I can ask Susan to teach you to be more graceful, I'm sure she won't mind." She clapped her hands, but Hannah looked dubious.
"But she's fourth year - will she do it?"
Lucy nodded. "Let's go ask her now, before lunch."
She pulled Hannah up.
"Wash your face first," Lucy suggested.
After a quick stop to the lavatory, they headed off toward the older girls' wing, where the East and West dormitories were located. First years through seventh years slept in those dormitories and first formers through sixth formers had the North and South dormitories.
Lucy knocked on the door of Susan's dorm room. Susan answered the door.
"Lucy! You'll get in trouble if Miss Mattwistyek catches you in the older girls wing!" she pulled her inside.
Lucy beckoned Hannah in and Susan shut the door.
"Susan could you help Hannah with her etiquette? She's going to have to go back with the first formers if she spills again," Lucy blurted.
"All right, meet under the oak tree after lunch - now you two better go before we're all in trouble," Susan said.
They left the room and made it back to their wing without being spotted by the other girls or teachers.
A/N forgot to mention I don't own Lucy or Susan ,only the school girls.Thank heavens for movies like " A Little Princess" and "The Worst Witch" because they take place in a girls boarding school in England.