Prologue:
"Thank you for coming to the assembly." Rodger says to the orphans and teachers, that are really there to make sure the kids are good, who have gathered in the common room. "I have an announcement and it is important."
Near is leaning against the door frame already knowing what it's about so he is just there to observe reactions.
"We are going on a trip. All of us." Rodger states. "We will be going to a small town for a special festival they'll be holding soon along with a re-enactment. Classes are cancelled since we will be going on the trip tomorrow. Sorry for the short notice of this sudden trip but it'll be a very good experience. Everyone is to pack today and be ready to go tomorrow at eleven am. Please act responsible as you represent the orphanage."
The kids start to mummer but quickly shush each other as Rodger is going to say something more… he really hates being talked over by others.
"We will be spending two nights there so please don't forget that as well. Now then. On the posting board there will be room signup sheets. Girls and boys will not room together just like in this orphanage. So with that in mind you are free to go." Rodger closes the assembly.
The kids leave talking about the trip and Near leaves heading to his room.
Rodger leaves the common room and glances around to see if he can find Near but no luck. He lets it be and heads to his office.
"What kind of festival do you think we'll be going to on this trip?" Matt asks Mello though Matt has his eyes on his D.S.
"Heck if I knew. I haven't heard about any celebration this soon." Mello says interested in learning about this new thing. "But it's got me curious."
"Guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see." Matt shrugs.
Mello sighs. "Yeah but doesn't the curiosity bug you? You have to be at least be a little curious about it."
"Yeah but whatever. Tomorrow will be the big reveal." Matt shrugs again as he continues to play his game.
The kids talked excitedly about it for the rest of the day and everyone was ready to go by the time specified… well before the time specified but either way they were all ready.
"Alright now please put your luggage in these compartments you see open on the bottom of the bus." Rodger instructs.
Everyone puts their luggage, except what they'll carry on the bus, into the compartments on the bottom part of the bus. Then they load the bus with Rodger taking attendance as they load onto the bus.
Mello and Matt sit in the back while Near stays in the front of the bus.
Once everyone was on the bus starts driving.
Near is one of the two or three people in the front that have a whole seat to himself. He is looking over some stapled together papers sometimes whispering something's to himself under his breath.
Mello stares out the window thinking about what the trip could be about.
Matt is too busy with his D.S.
Linda is sitting with some fellow art friends and they are talking about what guy in the orphanage they like.
While the other students are just chatting amongst themselves with their buddies that of course are sitting by them.
The adults talk to Rodger and each other as well as making sure the kids keep behaving.
As time passes on some kids take a nap as they continue to head to the small town.
Mello is even passed out from lack of sleep last night too curious about what the festival is about since it's a new subject that if he can find out more than Near then he'll win that…. However as he stayed up all night trying to figure it out he couldn't, it really didn't help that the only computers are in the orphanages library with the library being closed at night.
Matt's D.S. dies and he becomes really bored. He looks to Mello who is sleeping leaning against the glass window. He then looks towards the front seeing the top of Near's head as he seems to focus on something he has. He sighs in boredom with nothing to do now because his D.S. died.
Lucky for him he twiddled his thumbs for not too long cause just as Mello woke up they arrived.
Everyone but Near, and obviously the driver, look out the windows to see people getting ready for the festival like putting up decorations, setting up stands and things needed for the festival.
"There's no vehicles." Matt observes and the bus comes to a halt outside the hotel.
"That's kind of strange." Mello agrees.
Rodger stands from his seat. "Alright everyone we are at the hotel. Remember to act appropriately and because this town has no motorized vehicles we will be walking from place to place. A bus will come to pick us up when it's time to go home. Now please make sure you have everything and load off the bus. Grab your luggage then follow me into the hotel." He then takes the lead loading off the bus.
Everyone else gets off and Near goes over to Rodger after getting off, he carried everything he needed in a small bag that he kept with him on the bus.
The two talk for a moment then Rodger nods and Near gives a small wave only to leave heading somewhere else.
"Um excuse me Rodger where is Near going?" Linda asks making everyone look to see Near is in fact heading to somewhere else in the town.
"No reason to worry. This is actually Near's home town." He assures Linda and the rest. "He'll be helping his siblings as well as whoever else will be taking part with an important re-enactment at the festival."
The others are shocked to hear this.
"A re-enactment?" Mello tilts his head questioningly.
Rodger nods. "Actually I don't know what it'll be about but it's of something very important around here. The reason it was short noticed was because Near had explained he needed to come back to his home town for this. He didn't explain what it's about though so we'll have to wait and see. I thought it would be a nice new experience for you all. The festival starts tomorrow so for right now let's go into the hotel to get settled in the rooms." He takes the lead into the hotel and everyone gets settled in their rooms as the sun starts to set.
No one can shake the curiosity of what the festival is all about… though Matt feels depressed upon finding out that this town has no modern technology.
Meanwhile…
"Alright are we all set?" Rai asks her brothers and the others that are taking a part of the re-enactment.
They all nod.
"Ok. Since it's late we'll do a quick practice for tomorrow." She and everyone else with the group are holding stapled together papers. "Make sure you memorize your lines as well as your timing for the real thing."
They begin their practice not in their costumes yet but they had made sure the costumes fit once Near joined them.
They all nod and begin their practice. By the time they are done its night so with a wish to sleep well they depart to go home, Near is staying with his siblings of course, to rest.
"We will make our mother proud wherever she is this year as three of us together do the re-enactment with others this year." Silver says lounging on a brown tinted red couch in the living room.
"Yes." Near nods in agreement lying on his side on the red rug on the floor using one of elbows and hands as a stand to support his head on.
"Father will probably be also proud." Rai nods as she settles into the tan love seat.
"Do you need anything young masters?" Two maids walk into the living room looking at the three getting the response for a snack with pleases and thank yous. "Very well young masters." The maids bow then head off to get what the three kindly asked for.
