MERRY CHOTTER AND THE DRUM MAJOR'S STONE (title due to change if I feel so
inspired)
By Cassie the Crazy Band Child
Chapter Four
Summary: The moment everyone's been waiting for: Merry heads off to school.
Disclaimer: The usual. It's not mine, it's not mine, it's not mine, except for the following: Merry Chotter, the Ürsleys, Polades, etc. If you have any doubts, here's the most probable answer: it's not mine. If you really want to make a big stink out of it, email me (schroeder023@juno.com / frothychocolateshake@angelfire.com) or IM me (ThatLilBandChild) and we'll chat.
CHAPTER FOUR
The bad news was obvious: it's a long, long drive from central Maryland to Green Bay, Wisconsin. It got even worse for our heroine, Merry Chotter. This long, long drive was to be spent in an ugly old station wagon with a cousin who hated her, an aunt who hated her AND felt the need to file her toenails the entire trip, and an uncle who hated her, bit his fingernails the whole way, AND, being a football coach, made the entire vehicle smell perfectly putrid.
The good news was there too, despite the seemingly complete desolacy of the situation: Merry Chotter, for the first time in her life, wasn't stuffed in the trunk of said station wagon. The seats were not exactly as comfortable as she had imagined, but her position was definitely beneficial to those she had held before.
Several hours after leaving their home in Polades, Maryland, Merry Chotter and the Ürsley family arrived in Green Bay with only the clothes on their backs and a small suitcase for the four of them. Uncle Harnon's time-share property was a lovely little place with plenty of trees. The only problem? It was being used.
"I knew I should have called ahead," he muttered angrily. "I'm sure there will be a hotel nearby that's even better," was his reassurance to his wife, daughter, and niece. The three nodded dutifully and waited as he pulled out his cell phone. After twenty-seven calls and forty-nine whispered curses, he flashed a falsely bright smile. "I've got us a room right nearby for the night."
"That's lovely, Daddy. Where?" asked Adley with hope of something five- star shining in her perfectly Aryan blue eyes.
Harnon stalled for a moment. "It's. a lovely place quite near to here. It'll be a surprise."
"I love surprises!" exclaimed his wife, Melunia, with child-like rapture. She was, after all, the cheerleading coach.
Harnon just smiled then squealed out of the time-share parking lot. Ritzy hotel after ritzy hotel was passed with hopeful glances. Finally, Adley and Melunia accepted that the rich part of town was behind them and set their sights on places that held a slightly lower standard. Their expectations kept sinking farther and farther towards their feet.
Even the worst residence they could have ever imagined could not have compared to Uncle Harnon's residence of choice. As he pulled up to the main office, the three women in the car all prayed quite earnestly that he only be asking for directions or something of the sort.
Five minutes later, he came back to the car with an incredibly forced- looking smile on his face. "All right, I've got our room key. The woman who checked us in gave me fairly clear directions. It looks as if our room is fairly. remote."
Aunt Melunia forced herself to act cheerful as well - for the sake of the children, if not her marriage. "Well, that's nice, Harnie. That way we can't be bothered by horrid little hooligans in the middle of the night. Girls, thank my beloved husband for working so hard to make us happy."
"Thank you, Uncle Harnon," Merry acknowledged.
Adley just pouted. Of course, her mother noticed without even turning around. "Now, Addums, what's the matter wif my widdle baby?"
The child in question sniffled miserably. "Mummy, I have a championship rugby match tomorrow and I'm not going to be there all because of HER!" Adley's slim, perfectly-manicured-despite-her-earlier-hockey-game finger pointed accusingly at her cousin.
"Now, Adley, I'll just have a chat with the referees tonight and have them reschedule it for you. You know I'll do anything for you, baby. Thank you for being so understanding about our. situation. with Merry right now. Your kindness will be rewarded." Melunia was trying her hardest to keep Adley from throwing a tantrum.
Adley gave one last pathetic sniffle. "Okay, Mum. Thank you for understanding."
Melunia smiled back as the station wagon's brakes squealed. "Well, this is it!" Harnon exclaimed.
"It" was a Motel Eight room second-from-the-end of the block. The rooms above it and to either side and diagonal were all marked with signs that simply read "CONDEMNED." The room in which our wandering travelers were to stay was marked "ONE WEEK NOTICE." All ready, Merry was feeling sick to her stomach.
As Uncle Harnon inserted the key and opened the door, five or six cockroaches skittered out. Adley screamed and Aunt Melunia instantly grabbed her daughter. After Uncle Harnon had cleaned the room of spiderwebs, the quartet entered. Harnon and Melunia claimed one bed for themselves and Adley was gifted with the other. Merry, of course, had to sleep on the dirty floor.
Time passed quickly with delivered pizza and bad TV. Before long, the three Ürsleys were asleep and Merry was alone again - naturally. (Sorry, that song was on the radio today and now it's stuck in my head.) It was her 11th birthday and no one had even cared to remember. Usually she'd get a bacon grease candle or some old socks or something, but this year. nothing. Using only the dim light from the fireflies that were abundant in the dingy motel room, Merry drew herself an envelope in the dust on the floor. It was as identical as those Uncle Harnon had destroyed as Merry could make it. If only she could know what those letters had said. If only she could know why they threatened her adopted family so. If only -
Her train of thought had barely left the station when the rickety door fell down only inches from her right ear. Merry looked up and saw a silhouette in the doorway. Before she could ask questions, something flitted down to the floor in front of her. She didn't even have to look to know what it was - a letter just like the one she had so crudely drawn.
A/N: Okay, I lied. She didn't quite get to school in this chapter. I really was trying, though, and as you can tell, I'm awfully close. It's just getting late and I'm getting tired, okay? Now, thanks to those of you who reviewed Chapter Three:
Elvenking: All right then. Glad to know you love me :)
Someone: Here ya go.
Anonymous: I won't, I promise. Unless he's, like, evil or something. But no one in this story needs to schircle any wagons.
Ben: Well, call me a band nerd then. So-orry.
A Flutist You Know: Actually, I haven't picked a section yet. But I think it's going to be brass.
Madam X: I'm hurrying! I'm hurrying!
Sirk: Okey dokey then.
Bookworm12357: Interesting. that's what I do!
Sara: It's coming, it's coming!
Rannchan: Glad you're still reading it. Will send you an email as soon as I finish this.
Rosaline: Band and ANYTHING makes a wonderful combination.
By Cassie the Crazy Band Child
Chapter Four
Summary: The moment everyone's been waiting for: Merry heads off to school.
Disclaimer: The usual. It's not mine, it's not mine, it's not mine, except for the following: Merry Chotter, the Ürsleys, Polades, etc. If you have any doubts, here's the most probable answer: it's not mine. If you really want to make a big stink out of it, email me (schroeder023@juno.com / frothychocolateshake@angelfire.com) or IM me (ThatLilBandChild) and we'll chat.
CHAPTER FOUR
The bad news was obvious: it's a long, long drive from central Maryland to Green Bay, Wisconsin. It got even worse for our heroine, Merry Chotter. This long, long drive was to be spent in an ugly old station wagon with a cousin who hated her, an aunt who hated her AND felt the need to file her toenails the entire trip, and an uncle who hated her, bit his fingernails the whole way, AND, being a football coach, made the entire vehicle smell perfectly putrid.
The good news was there too, despite the seemingly complete desolacy of the situation: Merry Chotter, for the first time in her life, wasn't stuffed in the trunk of said station wagon. The seats were not exactly as comfortable as she had imagined, but her position was definitely beneficial to those she had held before.
Several hours after leaving their home in Polades, Maryland, Merry Chotter and the Ürsley family arrived in Green Bay with only the clothes on their backs and a small suitcase for the four of them. Uncle Harnon's time-share property was a lovely little place with plenty of trees. The only problem? It was being used.
"I knew I should have called ahead," he muttered angrily. "I'm sure there will be a hotel nearby that's even better," was his reassurance to his wife, daughter, and niece. The three nodded dutifully and waited as he pulled out his cell phone. After twenty-seven calls and forty-nine whispered curses, he flashed a falsely bright smile. "I've got us a room right nearby for the night."
"That's lovely, Daddy. Where?" asked Adley with hope of something five- star shining in her perfectly Aryan blue eyes.
Harnon stalled for a moment. "It's. a lovely place quite near to here. It'll be a surprise."
"I love surprises!" exclaimed his wife, Melunia, with child-like rapture. She was, after all, the cheerleading coach.
Harnon just smiled then squealed out of the time-share parking lot. Ritzy hotel after ritzy hotel was passed with hopeful glances. Finally, Adley and Melunia accepted that the rich part of town was behind them and set their sights on places that held a slightly lower standard. Their expectations kept sinking farther and farther towards their feet.
Even the worst residence they could have ever imagined could not have compared to Uncle Harnon's residence of choice. As he pulled up to the main office, the three women in the car all prayed quite earnestly that he only be asking for directions or something of the sort.
Five minutes later, he came back to the car with an incredibly forced- looking smile on his face. "All right, I've got our room key. The woman who checked us in gave me fairly clear directions. It looks as if our room is fairly. remote."
Aunt Melunia forced herself to act cheerful as well - for the sake of the children, if not her marriage. "Well, that's nice, Harnie. That way we can't be bothered by horrid little hooligans in the middle of the night. Girls, thank my beloved husband for working so hard to make us happy."
"Thank you, Uncle Harnon," Merry acknowledged.
Adley just pouted. Of course, her mother noticed without even turning around. "Now, Addums, what's the matter wif my widdle baby?"
The child in question sniffled miserably. "Mummy, I have a championship rugby match tomorrow and I'm not going to be there all because of HER!" Adley's slim, perfectly-manicured-despite-her-earlier-hockey-game finger pointed accusingly at her cousin.
"Now, Adley, I'll just have a chat with the referees tonight and have them reschedule it for you. You know I'll do anything for you, baby. Thank you for being so understanding about our. situation. with Merry right now. Your kindness will be rewarded." Melunia was trying her hardest to keep Adley from throwing a tantrum.
Adley gave one last pathetic sniffle. "Okay, Mum. Thank you for understanding."
Melunia smiled back as the station wagon's brakes squealed. "Well, this is it!" Harnon exclaimed.
"It" was a Motel Eight room second-from-the-end of the block. The rooms above it and to either side and diagonal were all marked with signs that simply read "CONDEMNED." The room in which our wandering travelers were to stay was marked "ONE WEEK NOTICE." All ready, Merry was feeling sick to her stomach.
As Uncle Harnon inserted the key and opened the door, five or six cockroaches skittered out. Adley screamed and Aunt Melunia instantly grabbed her daughter. After Uncle Harnon had cleaned the room of spiderwebs, the quartet entered. Harnon and Melunia claimed one bed for themselves and Adley was gifted with the other. Merry, of course, had to sleep on the dirty floor.
Time passed quickly with delivered pizza and bad TV. Before long, the three Ürsleys were asleep and Merry was alone again - naturally. (Sorry, that song was on the radio today and now it's stuck in my head.) It was her 11th birthday and no one had even cared to remember. Usually she'd get a bacon grease candle or some old socks or something, but this year. nothing. Using only the dim light from the fireflies that were abundant in the dingy motel room, Merry drew herself an envelope in the dust on the floor. It was as identical as those Uncle Harnon had destroyed as Merry could make it. If only she could know what those letters had said. If only she could know why they threatened her adopted family so. If only -
Her train of thought had barely left the station when the rickety door fell down only inches from her right ear. Merry looked up and saw a silhouette in the doorway. Before she could ask questions, something flitted down to the floor in front of her. She didn't even have to look to know what it was - a letter just like the one she had so crudely drawn.
A/N: Okay, I lied. She didn't quite get to school in this chapter. I really was trying, though, and as you can tell, I'm awfully close. It's just getting late and I'm getting tired, okay? Now, thanks to those of you who reviewed Chapter Three:
Elvenking: All right then. Glad to know you love me :)
Someone: Here ya go.
Anonymous: I won't, I promise. Unless he's, like, evil or something. But no one in this story needs to schircle any wagons.
Ben: Well, call me a band nerd then. So-orry.
A Flutist You Know: Actually, I haven't picked a section yet. But I think it's going to be brass.
Madam X: I'm hurrying! I'm hurrying!
Sirk: Okey dokey then.
Bookworm12357: Interesting. that's what I do!
Sara: It's coming, it's coming!
Rannchan: Glad you're still reading it. Will send you an email as soon as I finish this.
Rosaline: Band and ANYTHING makes a wonderful combination.