Rainbows from the Attic
Chapter I
The air was heavy with humidity and falling droplets of sweet rain. It splattered on the pavement and streamed down the road to a sewer grate where it disappeared with a rhythmic trickling. A darkly dressed figure pattered down the road, water splashing up at her feet as she ran across the street towards a building on the other side.
The heavy door swung open and momentarily, the din of the summer storm echoed and boomed into the fluorescent lit front foyer. The figure stepped in purposefully, lowered her hood and shook out her glossy masses of rust colored hair. She squished quickly across the linoleum, not pausing as she yawned, obviously uninterested with everything in general. Torrential base was pounding from her earphones and her wet boots squeaked noisily on the floor. And yet her delicate features adorably keen and sparked with two warm brown eyes and scornful, even brows gave her the appearance of a rather disgruntled and misplaced wood elf.
A young man sat in an empty classroom, shuffling papers and placing various items from his desk into a worn briefcase. Under his breath, he was singing softly to himself as he worked. He looked up abruptly when a small but impatient 'ahem' sounded from the doorway.
"Hey Astrid," he said "How's it going?"
A girl stepped in and took at seat at the first desk she came to, pulled off her earphones, folded her hands and rested her noble chin upon them; all in one fluid motion.
"Hi Mr. B," she said a little sarcastically
The man sat at the desk opposite her and gave her a look of unmistakable concern.
"What's up?" he asked
"Well it's about that assignment you're making me do," she admitted, looking up, "I don't think I'm gonna be able to do it."
"And why's that?"
"Well this great uncle of mine died and we gotta go down and clean out his place and sort through his things and stuff. Go to the funeral and everything." She stated with a distinctly bored tone
"I'm sorry Astrid, for you and your family." he sounded so genuine, it stung her a little
"S'okay, I've actually never met him in my entire life. He was my Mom's, Mom's brother. Just nobody else wants to go over and do it, so my dad thinks we should."
"And tell me again why you can't do the assignment?"
"Uhh...I just told you that. We gotta go over there and go through all his junk. We'll be in P.E.I. for most of the summer."
"So... Why can't you bring it with you?"
"Are you joking? As this isn't going to be bad enough," she leaned back and crossed her arms, then shot him a singeing look as the thunder grumbled and the steely sky lit up with white fire.
"You got yourself here Astrid, unless you want to go off to summer school next week, or face me again next year in 12U English, you're going to have to find a way to get it done." They glared at each other for a moment; then Astrid uncharacteristically gave in and looked away
"Oh for God's sake. You can't do this, it's not fair."
"Excuse me but I'm doing you a favor. I don't have to give you a second chance. You don't really deserve one. But take it or I'll be seeing you next year," He stood up and plodded back over to where he was clearing out his desk
"Why are you doing this?" she asked with a tone of bitter suspiciousness
He sighed and scratched the back of his head, thenabruptly turned towards her as a smile crawled onto his lips.
"Ever heard of Goethe?" he said quickly
"What?"
"'Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being.' He was a poet, from the romantic period."
"I'm not in the mood for this right-"
"'Who dreams of wider spheres revealed
Up higher near the sky
Within the valley's narrow field
Cannot contented lie.
Who longs for mountain breezes rare
Is restless down below
Like me for stronger purer air
Thou pinest, too, I know,'" He recited, his enthusiasm mounting with each word.
"I do not pinest. I have no idea what you are talking about."
"The Fringed Gentian my girl, by an unknown author."
"Oh puh-lease."
" Just one more 'I want to do my share of honest, real work in the world Anne... add a little to the sum of human knowledge that all the good men have been accumulating since it began. The folks who lived before me have done so much for me that I want to show my gratitude by doing something for the folks who will live after me' That's Lucy Maude Montgomery."
"Well I can see you've gone to a lot of trouble to put this presentation together Mr. B; but I still am not seeing what this has to do with my doing this stupid assignment!"
"Oh you will, you will, I know it. And if you don't then, fine, I'll never bother you again."
She looked towards the ceiling and screwed up her mouth, in serious contemplation.
"So how about it?" he asked once she had slumped back over the desk
"What do I have to do again?"
"Just write, every day for a month about what you did, how you felt and what you've discovered." The thunder rolled again, more faint this time.
Astrid went off into a peal of silvery laughter, reeking of cynicism and undertones of forcedness. The man looked truly hurt and a little apprehensive.
"Sorry. Okay fine. I'll do it," she stood up and walked towards the door, pulling her headphones back over her ears, "Thanks I guess."
A smile burst across the man's face, seemingly in spite of himself.
"You're welcome," he said, "You are very welcome."
"Whatever," she said, waltzing out the door and then squeaking down the hall as the rain drummed steadily on the window panes.