Three Old Ladies Knit the Socks of Death
Hyperion: wow lamest title ever!
'Oceanus: be quiet brother
Poseidon: I hope he doesn't mean…..them
Zeus eyed Poseidon
Zeus:Read and lets find out
"
Campus seemed to be playing some kind of trick on me. The students acted as if they were completely and totally convinced that Mrs. Kerr - a perky blond woman whom I'd never seen in my life until she got on our bus at the end of the field trip - had been our pre-algebra teacher since Christmas.
Athena: still letting Mist affect him
Apollo: well how would you be if you saw what happened, and people were trying to convince you otherwise
Athena: well first of all I wouldn't know, second of all it wouldn't affect me that long.
Apollo: okay if you say soEvery so often I would spring a Mrs. Dodds reference on somebody, just to see if I could trip them up, but they would stare at me like I was psycho.It got so I almost believed them - Mrs. Dodds had never existed.Almost.
Almost every one GroanedBut Grover couldn't fool me. When I mentioned the name Dodds to him, he would hesitate, then claim she didn't exist. But I knew he was lying.
Zeus: I knew that Satyr was good for nothing
Hera: sweety, give him a chance
Zeus: fine
Kronos looked at the two children King and Queen
Kronos whispered to the Titans: reminds me of me and Rhea
The Titans snickered
Something was going on. Something had happened at the museum.I didn't have much time to think about it during the days, but at night, visions of Mrs. Dodds with talons and leathery wings would wake me up in a cold sweat.The freak weather continued, which didn't help my mood. One night, a thunderstorm blew out thewindows inmy dorm room. A few days later, the biggest tornado ever spotted in the HudsonValley touched down only fifty miles from YancyAcademy. One of the current events we studied in social studies class was the unusual number of small planes that had gone down in sudden squalls in the Atlantic that year.
"What in Hades….*said god glare* heck is going on with you two" Hermes asked
Zeus and Poseidon looked at eachother
I started feeling cranky and irritable most of the time. My grades slipped from Ds to Fs. I got into more fights with Nancy Bobofit and her friends. I was sent out into the hallway in almost every class.Finally, when our English teacher, Mr. Nicoll, asked me for the millionth time why I was too lazy to study for spelling tests, I snapped. I called him an old sot. I wasn't even sure what it meant, but it sounded good.The headmaster sent my mom a letter the following week, making it official: I would not be invited back next year to Yancy Academy.Fine, I told myself. Just fine.I was homesick.
"Awww" The Goddesses cooed
Hera: he misses his mother
'Maybe this boy isn't bad' Artemis thought
I wanted to be with my mom in our little apartment on the Upper East Side, even if I had to go to public school and put up with my obnoxious stepfather and his stupid poker parties.And yet... there were things I'd miss at Yancy. The view of the woods out my dorm window, the Hudson River in the distance, the smell of pine trees. I'd miss Grover, who'd been a good friend, even if he was a little strange. I worried how he'd survive next year without me.
Zeus: stupid Satyr wouldn't be there if you weren't
Hera rolled her eyes
I'd miss Latin class, too - Mr. Brunner's crazy tournament days and his faith that I could do well.As exam week got closer, Latin was the only test I studied for. I hadn't forgotten what Mr. Brunner had told me about this subject being life-and-death for me. I wasn't sure why, but I'd started to believe him.
"That's a good" Demeter said
Hades rolled his eyes at her
The evening before my final, I got so frustrated I threw the Cambridge Guide to Greek Mythology across my dorm room. Words had started swimming off the page, circling my head, the letters doing one-eighties as if they were riding skateboards. There was no way I was going to remember the difference between Chiron and Charon, or Polydictes and Polydeuces. And conjugating those Latin verbs? Forget it.
Athena: that's so easy I could-
Ares: yes yes you could get it , you're the freaking GODDESS OF WISDOM OF COURSE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT NOW SHUT UP!
Athena glared at Ares
While everyone was hiding their snickers
Zeus:ENOUGH! READ!
I paced the room, feeling like ants were crawling around inside my shirt.I remembered Mr. Brunner's serious expression, his thousand-year-old eyes. I will accept only the best from you, Percy Jackson.I took a deep breath. I picked up the mythology book.I'd never asked a teacher for help before. Maybe if I talked to Mr. Brunner, he could give me some pointers. At least I could apologize for the big fat F I was about to score on his exam. I didn't want to leave YancyAcademy with him thinking I hadn't tried.I walked downstairs to the faculty offices. Most of them were dark and empty, but Mr. Brunner's door was ajar, light from his window stretching across the hallway floor.I was three steps from the door handle when I heard voices inside the office.
Apollo:500 Drachies he eavesdrops
Hermes: I will weigh in to that
Apollo and Hermes bet putting their Wagers in a pile, waiting for the outcome.
Mr. Brunner asked a question. A voice that was definitely Grover's said "... worried about Percy, sir."I froze.I'm not usually an eavesdropper, but I dare you to try not listening if you hear your best friend talking about you to an adult.
Apollo:HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! PAY UP SUCKER!
Hermes groaned as Apollo collected his money
I inched closer."... alone this summer," Grover was saying. "I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now that we know for sure, and they know too - ""We would only make matters worse by rushing him," Mr. Brunner said. "We need the boy to mature more.""But he may not have time. The summer solstice deadline - "
"Whats gonna happen at the Solstice? Artemis asked
I don't know, let me read and we will find out"
"Will have to be resolved without him, Grover. Let him enjoy his ignorance while he still can.""Sir, he saw her... .""His imagination," Mr. Brunner insisted. "The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that.""Sir, I ... I can't fail in my duties again." Grover's voice was choked with emotion. "You know what that would mean.""You haven't failed, Grover," Mr. Brunner said kindly. "I should have seen her for what she was. Now let's just worry about keeping Percy alive until next fall - "The mythology book dropped out of my hand and hit the floor with a thud.
Hermes cried out: Awwwww you never give your position away
Zeus: Shut up Hermes!
Mr. Brunner went silent.My heart hammering, I picked up the book and backed down the hall.A shadow slid across the lighted glass of Brunner's office door, the shadow of something much taller than my wheelchair-bound teacher, holding something that looked suspiciously like an archer's bow.
Poseidon: Why is he in his Centaur form?
No reply
I opened the nearest door and slipped inside.
Hermes: good get to safety one of the most important things after giving yourself away
A few seconds later I heard a slow clop-clop-clop, like muffled wood blocks, then a sound like an animal snuffling right outside my door. A large, dark shape paused in front of the glass, then moved on.A bead of sweat trickled down my neck.Somewhere in the hallway, Mr. Brunner spoke. "Nothing," he murmured. "My nerves haven't been right since the winter solstice."
Athena: I wonder what happened at the Solstice?
Demeter: must have been bad
Hades: what Solstices have you been to that haven't been bad?
Demeter glared
Demeter: im just saying that maybe its different this time!"Mine neither," Grover said. "But I could have sworn ...""Go back to the dorm," Mr. Brunner told him. "You've got a long day of exams tomorrow."
Coeus: Exams?
Athena: a Future thing, don't worry about it
The Olympians Snickered
"Don't remind me."
Everybody snortedThe lights went out in Mr. Brunner's office.I waited in the dark for what seemed like forever.Finally, I slipped out into the hallway and made my way back up to the dorm.Grover was lying on his bed, studying his Latin exam notes like he'd been there all night.
"Hey," he said, bleary-eyed. "You going to be ready for this test?"I didn't answer."You look awful." He frowned. "Is everything okay?""Just... tired."I turned so he couldn't read my expression,
Dionysus: Not gonna work, Satyrs can read expressions
Zeus: How did you get out of there!
Dionysus: im the God of Wine and The Grapevine
Zeus rolled his eyes
and started getting ready for bed.I didn't understand what I'd heard downstairs. I wanted to believe I'd imagined the whole thing.But one thing was clear: Grover and Mr. Brunner were talking about me behind my back. They thought I was in some kind of danger.The next afternoon, as I was leaving the three-hour Latin exam, my eyes swimming with all the Greek and Roman names I'd misspelled, Mr. Brunner called me back inside.
For a moment, I was worried he'd found out about my eavesdropping the night before, but that didn't seem to be the problem."Percy," he said. "Don't be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It's ... it's for the best."His tone was kind, but the words still embarrassed me. Even though he was speaking quietly, the other kids finishing the test could hear. Nancy Bobofit smirked at me and made sarcastic little kissing motions with her lips.
Demeter: That Nasty little girl sickens me
Apollo: especially since she has liquid cheetos on her face ahahahahah
I mumbled, "Okay, sir.""I mean ..." Mr. Brunner wheeled his chair back and forth, like he wasn't sure what to say. "This isn't the right place for you. It was only a matter of time."
My eyes stung.
The Goddesses Cooed sadly and the gods were snickering sliently
Here was my favorite teacher, in front of the class, telling me I couldn't handle it. After saying he believed in me all year, now he was telling me I was destined to get kicked out."Right," I said, trembling."No, no," Mr. Brunner said. "Oh, confound it all. What I'm trying to say ... you're not normal, Percy. That's nothing to be - ""Thanks," I blurted. "Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding me.""Percy - "But I was already gone.
"DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUN!" Apollo and Hermes shouted, scaring everyone
On the last day of the term, I shoved my clothes into my suitcase.The other guys were joking around, talking about their vacation plans. One of them was going on a hiking trip to Switzerland. Another was cruising the Caribbean for a month. They were juvenile delinquents, like me, but they were rich juvenile delinquents. Their daddies were executives, or ambassadors, or celebrities. I was a nobody, from a family of nobodies.
Everybody was offended
Zeus: WE ARE NOT NOBODIES!
Ares: I WILL CREAM THAT PUNK
Artemis: Boys!
Kronos: well were their grandfathers and Uncles so it has less affect on us
Hestia: calm down, he doesn't know about us yet
Everyone obeyed Hestia, she was truly the peacekeeper of Olympus
They asked me what I'd be doing this summer and I told them I was going back to the city.What I didn't tell them was that I'd have to get a summer job walking dogs or selling magazine subscriptions, and spend my free time worrying about where I'd go to school in the fall."Oh," one of the guys said. "That's cool."They went back to their conversation as if I'd never existed.
Aphrodite: Rude! …..RUDE!
The only person I dreaded saying good-bye to was Grover, but as it turned out, I didn't have to. He'd booked a ticket to Manhattan on the same Greyhound as I had, so there we were, together again, heading into the city.
Dionysus: Coincedence much
Zeus glared just because Dionysus got out of his Prison vine
During the whole bus ride, Grover kept glancing nervously down the aisle, watching the other passengers. It occurred to me that he'd always acted nervous and fidgety when we left Yancy, as if he expected something bad to happen. Before, I'd always assumed he was worried about getting teased. But there was nobody to tease him on the Greyhound.Finally I couldn't stand it anymore.I said, "Looking for Kindly Ones?"
Hyperion said :Probably scared the crap out him
Grover nearly jumped out of his seat. "Wha - what do you mean?"
Hyperion: Boosh! Told you suckers!* he said smiling victoriously:
Kronos:No one disagreed with you
I confessed about eavesdropping on him and Mr. Brunner the night before the exam.Grover's eye twitched. "How much did you hear?""Oh ... not much. What's the summer solstice dead-line?"He winced. "Look, Percy ... I was just worried for you, see? I mean, hallucinating about demon math teachers ...""Grover - ""And I was telling Mr. Brunner that maybe you were overstressed or something, because there was no such person as Mrs. Dodds, and ...""Grover, you're a really, really bad liar."
Zeus: ill say
Hera whacked him in the back of his head, Kronos snickered
His ears turned pink.From his shirt pocket, he fished out a grubby business card. "Just take this, okay? In case you need me this summer.The card was in fancy script, which was murder on my dyslexic eyes, but I finally made out something like:Grover UnderwoodKeeperHalf-Blood HillLong Island, New York(800) 009-0009
Zeus: You better change those Dionysus
Dionysus: fine I will
Zeus eyed Dionysus suspiciously"What's Half - ""Don't say it aloud!" he yelped. "That's my, um ... summer address."My heart sank. Grover had a summer home. I'd never considered that his family might be as rich as the others at Yancy.
"Okay," I said glumly. "So, like, if I want to come visit your mansion."He nodded. "Or ... or if you need me.""Why would I need you?"
Hermes: OUCH! HAHAHAHHA
Athena smacked his head and then glared
It came out harsher than I meant it to.Grover blushed right down to his Adam's apple. "Look, Percy, the truth is, I - I kind of have to protect you."I stared at him.All year long, I'd gotten in fights, keeping bullies away from him. I'd lost sleep worrying that he'd get beaten up next year without me. And here he was acting like he was the one who defended me."Grover," I said, "what exactly are you protecting me from?"
Zeus:Every living thing that was around before us
Kronos: Me,Hyperion,Atlas,Crius,Coeus,Oceanus* if he gets his lazy ass out of bed* Epimetheus-
Coeus:wait what about Prometheus
Kronos growled
Kronos: that man is the worst fucking excuse for a titan I have ever seen!
Everybody sat quietly and scared except for Zeus and the other big three gods.
Kronos: now as I was saying, Hellhounds, Dracaenae, My large Colassal Serpent * hermes and Apollo snickered at that* that my brother Oceanus locked away Millenia ago waiting to fight the enemy.
Oceanus: also Keto, Pontus, Hydros,Aigios-
Kronos: so this boy has a huge wave of hurt coming his way if he thinks were gonna back down
All the Titans laughed, until thunder boomed in the Throne room
Zeus: LETS CONTINUE!
There was a huge grinding noise under our feet. Black smoke poured from the dashboard and the whole bus filled with a smell like rotten eggs.
Everyone of the Deities in the room frowned in disgust, except the Titans who didn't know what Rotten Eggs were
The driver cursed and limped the Greyhound over to the side of the highway.After a few minutes clanking around in the engine compartment, the driver announced that we'd all have to get off. Grover and I filed outside with everybody else.We were on a stretch of country road - no place you'd notice if you didn't break down there. On our side of the highway was nothing but maple trees and litter from passing cars. On the other side, across four lanes of asphalt shimmering with afternoon heat, was an old-fashioned fruit stand.
Demeter yelped with glee, while Hades rolled his eyesThe stuff on sale looked really good: heaping boxes of bloodred cherries and apples, walnuts and apricots, jugs of cider in a claw-foot tub full of ice. There were no customers, just three old ladies sitting in rocking chairs in the shade of a maple tree, knitting the biggest pair of socks I'd ever seen.
Everyone's eye were widened
"how is he still alive" many people said stunned like everyone else
Kronos:The fates , that boy saw the fates, well so much for living
He laughed, until a huge icicle hit his face, in which he bellowed in anger looking toward Poseidon who's body was glowing blueish green as a warning.
I mean these socks were the size of sweaters, but they were clearly socks. The lady on the right knitted one of them. The lady on the left knitted the other. The lady in the middle held an enormous basket of electric-blue yarn.
Gasps were heard all around the roomAll three women looked ancient, with pale faces wrinkled like fruit leather, silver hair tied back in white bandannas, bony arms sticking out of bleached cotton dresses.
The Titans looked confused 'That's not what the fates look like'The weirdest thing was, they seemed to be looking right at me.I looked over at Grover to say something about this and saw that the blood had drained from his face. His nose was twitching."Grover?" I said. "Hey, man - ""Tell me they're not looking at you. They are, aren't they?""Yeah. Weird, huh? You think those socks would fit me?""Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all."The old lady in the middle took out a huge pair of scissors - gold and silver, long-bladed, like shears. I heard Grover catch his breath."We're getting on the bus," he told me. "Come on.""What?" I said. "It's a thousand degrees in there."
Kronos" as much as I hate to say this, and by barely knowing this boy, he should listen to the friend.
The Olympians were shocked
While the Titans who knew him, knew he had a soft spot depending on the gravity and mettle of the situation, while The Olympians just looked at him
Zeus: since when did this helpful side come to you father?
Hades: yeah, as long as weve know you, you've been totally Aggressive,power hungry, and selfish.
The Titans just smirked
Hyperion: Aggressive you say *smirking
Coeus: Power hungry huh? *smiling evily*
Iapetus: Selfish our we? *almost bursting out laughing
The Olympians: YES!
Kronos: well then it seems that whatever the Olympians say goes…Oh wait No it doesn't
Kronos and the Titans laughed hysterically
The Olympians rolled their eyes
"Come on!'" He pried open the door and climbed inside, but I stayed back.Across the road, the old ladies were still watching me. The middle one cut the yarn, and I swear I could hear that snip across four lanes of traffic. Her two friends balled up the electric-blue socks, leaving me wondering who they could possibly be for - Sasquatch or Godzilla.At the rear of the bus, the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment. The bus shuddered, and the engine roared back to life.
Everyone let out breaths, especially PoseidonThe passengers cheered."Darn right!" yelled the driver. He slapped the bus with his hat. "Everybody back on board!"Once we got going, I started feeling feverish, as if I'd caught the flu.Grover didn't look much better. He was shivering and his teeth were chattering."Grover?""Yeah?""What are you not telling me?"
Hyperion: EVERYTHING!
Poseidon: SHUT IT!
He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve. "Percy, what did you see back at the fruit stand?""You mean the old ladies? What is it about them, man? They're not like ... Mrs. Dodds, are they?"
Kronos" oh no they are far worse, believe me I know
Hyperion: I thought it was funny
Kronos glared at his brother
His expression was hard to read, but I got the feeling that the fruit-stand ladies were something much, much worse than Mrs. Dodds. He said, "Just tell me what you saw.""The middle one took out her scissors, and she cut the yarn."
Poseidon took a deep breath for 12 seconds then released it, please let him be okay.
He closed his eyes and made a gesture with his fingers that might've been crossing himself, but it wasn't. It was something else, something almost - older.He said, "You saw her snip the cord.""Yeah. So?" But even as I said it, I knew it was a big deal.
Kronos: it's a HUGE DEAL!
Zeus glared at his father
Kronos: tell me im wrong boy!
Zeus signaled to read, while Kronos smirked triumphant
"This is not happening," Grover mumbled. He started chewing at his thumb. "I don't want this to be like the last time.""What last time?""Always sixth grade. They never get past sixth.""Grover," I said, because he was really starting to scare me. "What are you talking about?""Let me walk you home from the bus station. Promise me."This seemed like a strangerequestto me, but I promised he could."Is this like a superstition or something?" I asked.No answer."Grover - that snipping of the yarn. Does that mean somebody is going to die?"He looked at me mournfully, like he was already picking the kind of flowers I'd like best on my coffin.
Done whos next
Demeter: ME ME ME ME GIMME GIMME GIMME * she snatched the booked
And read.
