The alarm went off at precisley five o'clock. Hearing her cousin shut it out, Bea rolled over in
her bed and groaned. One of the downsides of sharing a room with her over zealous cousin was her insane
habit of waking two hours before it was necessary in order to help their live in maid make breakfast.
The two had been sharing a room for the past six months due to the delays their new house had had in construction.
Her cousin's room, they had been told would be ready in two weeks time. Bea had found it quite
amusing in an ironic sort of sense that they would also be returning to school in two weeks and that
she was doomed to have no sleeping in this summer. Though she knew her cousin, Rory, meant only to be helpful.
Bea had lived with her uncle Leonard and his daughter, Hero, or Rory as she was more commonly called,
since she was seven, when her parents along with her aunt, Rory's mother, were killed in a car crash. Her uncle had then
raised the girls with help from their maid Ursula. They had only moved to Messina four months ago just in time to catch the
end of their freshman year at Shakespeare High. Bea was still adjusting to the place, but her uncle had jumped in whole heartily. Even
now he was running for mayor of the town and was quite favored to win. As his running mate, Peter Arragon, was currently away, Bea had
been helping her uncle with his campaign. She had to admit she quite liked politics. It was a place her witty tongue came in great use.
For her tongue was legend as was her respective wit.
"Bea," came her cousin's voice from downstairs. "Do you want eggs and bacon or waffles?"
"I want to sleep," replied Bea drowsily.
I swear, she thought irritably. That girl is going to make me fat with all her cooking.
Rory however was not deterred. "Bea," she called again. "If you like all bring it up to you on a tray."
Hmmm now that sounded good. Before she could respond, however she heard the back door slam and her uncle
called to both girls that he needed to see them at once. Grumbling Bea threw on a robe and ran downstairs.
She found Rory, her uncle and Ursula all in the den, along with a tray of eggs, bacon and waffles set out for her.
Cursing calories in general, she dug in.
"What did you need us for, dad?" Rory asked.
"I just got a phone call for Peter," replied Leonard excitedly. "He arrived home from camp last night."
"I thought the camp wasn't over for another week," said Ursula with a slight frown. "Did something go wrong?"
"No," Leonard quickly. "Nothing like that, actually it was good news that brought them home."
"Oh," interjected Bea eagerly. "Did Ben brake a leg or something?"
"No indeed," replied her uncle.
"Ah, then I will continue to hope," sighed Bea.
"Why, I dare ask, do you constantly wish misfortune on that poor boy?" asked Ursula.
"Poor indeed."
"Oh, Ursula, Bea means it all in jest." consulted Rory.
"Do I?" inquired Bea with a raised eyebrow. "But pray uncle please continue with your news."
"Oh, of course," said Leonard. "Well from what I hear, Peter has a new player for the team."
"Oh! Who is he?" asked Rory slightly breathless with excitement.
"His name is Claude Florence," replied Leonard. "He just moved here."
"Oh joy," said Bea. "More testosterone to cloud the halls of Shakespeare."
"So why exactly did they come home from football camp early?" asked Ursula.
"To let the rest of the team get acquainted with Claude," replied Leonard. "He has high hopes for the boy."
"What sort of a boy is he, I wonder," mused Bea.
"A rich one to begin," answered her uncle. "He's suppose to be a very good football player as well."
"Oh I hope," returned Rory. "We need a better season than last year's."
" While this is all good and well," Bea cut in. "How does Peter's new player affect us exactly. I mean to say, why did you call me downstairs?"
"Because we are having all the team around for supper tonight as a favor to Peter."replied her uncle.
Bea choked on her coffee. "What?!?" she spluttered. "You're inviting him over here?"
"Yes, Beatrice," replied her uncle. "Benedick Padua is a member of SHS's football team, therefore he is invited."
"Oh this should be fun."