I had a hard time sleeping. The bed I was provided with was comfy enough but there was a certain energy about Miss Avocet's that I just couldn't get used to. I had settled quickly in Miss Peregrine's but finding that same level of comfort somewhere else I bet was going to be impossible. Perhaps it was that I didn't want to feel that comfortable anywhere else.
The majority of the night I tossed and turned, and when sleep finally took me over, it was about four hours before wake-up time. Far as I knew I didn't dream, either.
When the clock above the fireplace in my sitting room chimed at six a.m., I sat up in bed and rubbed my tired eyes. It was much too early for me to even think of how tired my body possibly was, so I slid from the warmth of my bed and I exited the bedroom, crossed the sitting room and entered the washroom.
No matter what time period this loop was created, it had running water and electricity. But the mansion itself had architecture that, if I had to guess, was from the seventeenth century. It was a large, cobblestone structure with arched doorways and stone staircases. The place was something King Henry the eighth may have resided in at one point in time. Amazing thing about it was that one could not tell its authenticity by the internal decor. The washroom had a gigantic claw-foot bathtub, a porcelain toilet and a marbled-top bathroom sink. There was a full-length mirror on the backside of the door. What got me was that there was a light switch and there also was a candelabra placed on the back of the toilet, equipped with unused candles. There was a small window beside the bathtub.
I gazed out the window at the dark world, decided I wasn't in the mood for bright lighting, so I searched the drawers in the washroom until I located a book of matches. I lit the candles and the firelight danced to life and cast shadows on the walls. Although I was the only student living on the third floor, I still closed the washroom door and locked it tightly. Years of trying to avoid my big sister, Claire, from looking at me naked had gotten me into the habit of always locking the bathroom door.
Once the tub was steaming, I slid from my nightgown and submerged myself. Hot baths always helped me fight the early-morning grogginess.
I finished readying by quarter to seven and I made my way down the quiet halls to the dinning hall on the first floor. I was expecting everyone else to be lively and seated at the table, but only Mary Magpie was lounging at the table.
I slid into the chair in front of her and yawned.
"Well, good morning, sleepy head," she teased me.
"Good morning," I said.
"I take it you're not required to awake at a certain time in your ymbryne's loop?" she asked.
I shook my head. "Miss Peregrine serves breakfast between seven and nine. We don't have to actually wake up for breakfast if we don't desire to. There have been a few mornings I've slept in then made myself finger sandwiches while the children had class," I explained, remembering all the cups of tea and finger sandwiches I had eaten between the hours of ten and eleven a.m.
"She doesn't seem very strict at all, your ymbryne," Mary suggested.
I shook my head. "Not particularly. All she asks is that we stay clean and look out for each other."
The dinning room doors opened then and Toddy strode in. He was carrying an armful of addressed envelopes. He also had something tucked under his arm but I couldn't make it out.
"Mail time, ladies," he said cheerfully.
Mail? Really!?
We both watched excitedly as he placed the envelopes on the table surface and plucked a pale pink one from the pile. "This one is for you, Miss Magpie," he said as he handed it to her.
Mary beamed, took the envelope and began to tear it open with gusto.
Toddy then removed a small, rectangular box from under his arm. He held it up to his head, and adjusted his monocle with his claws.
"Ah, Miss Stonington, this one is for you."
Mary halted her tearing to beam at me. I accepted the slender box from Toddy. The only one who'd send me something was Miss Peregrine or one of the children. I came to the conclusion it was Miss Peregrine by the words 'Miss Stonington' scrawled on the front in fountain pen. My stomach filled with butterflies as I gingerly peeled back the packaging. Inside my fingers touched something cool. I smiled to myself as I slid it free of the packaging.
What I had before me was a beautiful black-and-white photograph of Miss Peregrine and the children posed in front of the house. Joy filled me immediately and I was sure a tear escaped my eye. The photo was framed in an elegant frame composed of a shiny silver, etched with little designs. I slowly turned it over to see the words 'We are always with you' penned neatly on the back in Miss Peregrine's handwriting.
"What did you get, Minnette?" Mary asked sweetly.
Smiling, I held the picture up proudly for her to see.
Her hazel eyes seemed to dance over the portrait. "Is this your loop family?" she asked.
I nodded.
She held a finger up to Miss Peregrine. "And that's your ymbryne?" she asked.
"Indeed, that is her. That's Miss Peregrine."
Eyeing the photograph closely, Mary nodded in approval. "Your ymbryne is beautiful," she observed. "And the children all look so happy to be around her."
Mary had spoken a true fact, all of us loved Miss Peregrine and the loop with all our hearts. Just to think that I wouldn't be here had it not been for Miss Peregrine. "Our loop is the most wonderful place in all time," I gushed. "I miss them all so much."
"You'll get to see them at Christmas," she informed me. She now had a letter open and she was reading over it.
I raised my brows. "Christmas?"
Mary nodded. "Yes. We are rewarded a two-week vacation from academy for Christmas. We are allowed to go home if we want."
To think that I had two different places I could go for Christmas was overwhelming. I could very easily return to Cairnholm, but I felt I owed my parents a visit, too. I supposed I could go to America for one week, and Cairnholm the other. I wasn't sure, but I was glad I had time to think it over.
"Is there a phone in your loop?" Mary asked.
"Yes."
"We are allowed to accept calls from our families on Saturdays."
I felt utterly confused. If our loop was only a day long, how was Miss Avocet able to keep track of the day of the week- and when Christmas was?
"Aren't loops only twenty-four hours?" I asked curiously.
Sighing, Mary folded her letter and pocketed it into the pale blue blouse she was wearing. "Loops are usually twenty-four hour intervals, yes. But, this one is special. I learned this from Miss Avocet herself, and I'm not suppose to tell anyone, but I feel I can trust you." She then stiffened her posture and cleared her throat. "A single ymbryne can only successfully upkeep a loop that's up to twenty-four hours. However, when it was established that ymbrynes were to attend academy before going out into the world and mothering peculiar children, the members of the ymbryne council band together to create this loop. Our loop is, in fact, a seven-day interval- a whole week, if you will. With the combined power of all the council members, they were able to preserve an entire week of time. Although, none of us are quite sure when this loop was created and Miss Avocet won't tell anyone."
That was amazing! But it seemed a little brash to assume that an ymbryne could preserve only a day's worth of time. Miss Peregrine was a determined woman, and I guaranteed she could upkeep as much time as she wished. Perhaps there are rules to follow?
Mary put her elbows on the table and rested her hands on the sides of her neck. She sighed. "There's a lot to learn about being an ymbryne. Sometimes I wonder if any of us will make it out there." She was gazing out the nearest window. Outside the sun was beginning to rise and I could make shapes out of things in the garden amongst the dawn darkness.
I was then taken aback to when I helped the children defeat some hollows to save Miss Peregrine. I guess every good thing in existence had to have its downs. Peculiardom was Eden and the wights and hollows were hell. But this Eden, in my eyes, was worth fighting for.
Soon I was sitting about all five other girls as they bustled on about their letters and as we ate the delicious casserole that was served to us. Just a short while after breakfast, I found myself walking beside Mary toward the classroom. The entire time I held the photograph to my chest. It gave me such a loved feeling that I would hate to have to put it down.
Miss Avocet was sitting at a big oak desk in front of a chalkboard that stretched the length of the room. It was very similar to the classroom in Miss Peregrine's house. She ushered us all into desks- unlike highs school, in ymbryne academy we didn't have assigned seating. I sat between Mary Magpie and Gretta Mocking.
"Welcome to Ymbryne Academy, ladies!" Miss Avocet said joyfully. "I see you all were prompt this morning. I have your schedule all set. Considering that our class is so small this year, you all have the same exact schedule." She then pranced about the room handing out papers with typed words on them.
Ymbryne Academy- First Quarter
Breakfast: 7:00-8:00
History of Peculiardom: 9:00-10:00
Time Manipulation: 10:00- 12:00
Midday Meal: 12:00- 1:00
Birding: 1:00- 3:00
Social Hour 3:00- 5:00
Dinner 5:00- 7:00
Lights out by 10:00 PM.
Before anyone had time to say anything, Miss Avocet went to her desk and cleared her throat.
"Our year is split into two quarters. The first quarter begins today- obviously- and shall end around Christmastime. For those of you who don't already know, you will be granted a two-week vacation during which you may return home if you do so please to celebrate the holiday with your families."
Behind me, Lovely Dove's face lit up and she muttered something under her breath. Mary and I already knew this so we just smiled at Miss Avocet.
"Our second quarter will begin upon your return and shall end in mid-May. Now, any questions?"
Annabelle Crane raised her hand from her desk in the leftmost corner.
"Yes, Miss Crane?"
"Miss Avocet, I find myself confused. How is it that you keep track of the time line in the Normal World?" she asked, curiously.
Miss Avocet pursed her lips. "That, my dear Miss Crane, is for me to know, and for you ladies to never find out. It is much better to enjoy this loop than question the reason for it's existence." Miss Avocet smiled then, and winked at Mary, who smiled and winked back at her. "Now, then, the History of Peculiardom. Can anyone tell me the name of the very first ymbryne?"
Mary raised her hand and answered, but for some reason beyond my knowledge, I didn't catch her answer. My mind was seeping back to Cairnholm. It was only mid-June and it was months before I would be able to see Miss Peregrine and the children again. I highly doubted they were allowed to visit, either. It would be hard for me to be away from the loop for such a long time. I had started to worry about my absence the very instant I stepped foot on the ship to cross to England. Caul and his band of wights and hollows were still out there. They would come looking for Miss Peregrine. Caul already knew where our house was, and it bothered me that he could just fight his way in and take her if he so pleased, and I was so far away that it'd take me hours to get there, even if I did fly on my own wings.
The mere hour History of Peculiardom class took place my imagination was twisting and turning around schemes and ideas of how I could get back to Cairnholm if I was needed. Surely Miss Avocet would allow me to flee if I had to. I was a ymbryne and I was meant to help other ymbrynes. In the midst of our loop getting attacked, there would be nothing anyone could do to stop me from leaving to defend the homestead.
I was so lost in my reverie, that the next thing I heard come out of Miss Avocet's mouth was: "All right, ladies, if you'd be so kind as to move to the greenhouse we will begin our Time Manipulation lesson shortly."
For some reason, Mary and I lingered at our desks while the other four girls left the classroom. In truth, I dearly hoped Miss Avocet hadn't noticed my haziness.
How wrong I was.
She came striding up to me.
"Are you all right, Miss Stonington?" she asked, a sense of wonder in her voice.
"Yes, Miss Avocet, I'm all right," I replied. Something told me she didn't belive me.
"You miss your loop family, don't you?" she asked quietly.
That was it. I couldn't hide it. The hour I spent in worry had softened me. "I do," I replied.
Miss Avocet eyed Mary, then turned her gaze back to me. "If you would like to come to my office during social hour, I would be happy to council you with anything you may need. Come on, dear, let's go dive into the world of Time Manipulation." She patted me on the shoulder.
I scooped up my photograph and Mary and I exited the room together.
"You okay?" Mary asked me. If only she knew.
"Yeah. It's just that my loop family and I experienced tragedy last summer and I've not quite gotten over it. I have to keep telling myself that Miss Peregrine held the loop down perfectly well before I came along and that she can do it just as well knowing I'm here in Blackpool. I feel like I need to be there to help mind the children." I stopped myself. It was only the first day of academy and there were many many more ahead to live through before Christmas vacation. Mary led me down a hallway underneath the main staircase that veered off to the left into a humongous greenhouse that was built right into the structure of the mansion. "Why is Time Manipulation in the greenhouse?"
Mary giggled. "You'll see."
But I didn't see. All Miss Avocet talked of was the importance of Time Manipulation and how crucial it was to create "perfect" loops to house peculiar children in. Before the end of the class she mentioned that we would begin actually practicing the following Monday- this very day was Friday. I was relieved to get a small taste of our classes and then have a weekend to settle in.
Before midday meal, I ran to my room and placed the photograph on my nightstand. I was sure everyone had noticed me carrying it around all morning but no one spoke a word. I ate midday meal next to Mary and we chatted and around once o'clock she led me to the courtyard.
We all gathered on the lush green lawn and waited patiently for Miss Avocet. A few muffled conversations broke out and we all just stood around chatting for a short while until-
"Kleeeeeeekkkk!"
A small, but very loud bird came swooshing in, sounding its call. It was black-and-white in color with a very long, skinny beak.
It was Miss Avocet!
She circled around us a few times, causing the other girls to giggle.
"Kleek! Kleek! Kleek!"
I wasn't sure if any of the other girls knew how to speak ymbryne.
"Raise your hand if you can understand me?" the Avocet asked aloud. I waited patiently for a few moments, then, slowly raised my palm. I looked around to discover that I was the only one with my hand raised and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Only Miss Stonington, eh? Looks like you're a step ahead of the others, Miss Stonington."
Miss Avocet then fluttered her wings to slow her speed. She ducked behind a thick bush nearby and, after a small coughing spell, she stepped out, fully clothed, in her human form.
Gasps were heard from all the other ladies.
I took pride in the fact that I was the only one in the group who could speak ymbryne, but it wasn't something I would flaunt. I would keep myself as level-headed as possible during academy.
"Welcome to Birding 101, ladies," announced Miss Avocet. "I must say it's a lovely day for a fly. Do tell me, how many have you can assume your alternate forms by will, rather than surprise?" she asked, clasping her hands together.
Mary and I glanced at each other, and we both shot out hands up. At least I wasn't alone on this one.
"My, my, my, what an ignorant group this year. No matter! Soon you all will be able to change as quickly as I drop a towel and before it hits the floor."
I came to find that Birding class was my favorite so far. On many occasions I had turned into my raven and went flying for practice purposes. Mary seemed well-educated on the whole of the academy process and as we listened to Miss Avocet discuss the vitality of remaining hidden from normals, I asked Mary about her knowledge.
"My parents sent me here for about a month at the end of the last quarter- or, well, what was suppose to be the last quarter. Circumstances weren't good and Miss Avocet agreed to take me in early."
"You mean there was no last quarter?" I whispered to her, to avoid interrupting Miss Avocet. She seemed to be talking mostly at the other four girls than us, anyway.
Mary shook her head and what little hair she had shook with it. "No. This is the first ymbryne class Miss Avocet has had in a couple decades. Ymbrynes just aren't being bred anymore, I'm afraid. In fact, Miss Avocet told me once that she fears the Ymbryne species might decline within the next century or so."
I gasped. No more ymbrynes to look after the peculiar children?! It was becoming clearer that Mary was Miss Avocet's pet. Although, she didn't know how to speak ymbryne yet, so she must not have gotten too much personal time with Miss Avocet.
I leaned in closer to her. "And the rise of wights and hollows can't be helping the ymbryne population, either."
She shook her head again. "Not at all. Nasty things," she muttered. "I'm glad I've never come in contact with any."
But I have, I thought, my mind going back to Cairnholm again.