Catalina:(reading reviews) Hey, Clara, get over here.
Clara: We're not supposed to read those, remember?
Catalina: Eika's trying to get good grades. She won't look up unless a bomb hits her roof.
Clara: True. I can't believe her parents didn't set a limit on her computer time.
Catalina: You don't call having to do every single bit of homework, getting it checked over, having her dad correct it, practicing her instrument, and doing all her chores before she's allowed on a limit?
Clara: No I don't, Cat.
Catalina: Call me that again, and I'll tell everyone what the second half of your first name is.
Clara: You can't.
Catalina: Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuttt. if I tell Eika she'll figure out some way to tell everyone else what it is, no?
Clara: . What did you want me to look at?
Catalina (whispering): TomyGurlAngel123 wants to be in our story.
Clara (whispering): Hey. isn't that Eika's best friend? (non-internet, anyway)
Catalina (evil grin): Yup.
Clara: We'll just tell her some girl named Tomy wants to be in her story. That way she won't favor her over other people.
Catalina: First things first: YO!!! TOMYGURLANGEL123!!! WHICH 1 OF US DO YOU LIKE BETTER?!
Clara: So she'll be put where she can drive her favorite character mad?
Catalina: Yup.
Eika: DONE!!! FINALLY!! What are you looking at?
Clara: Oh, nothing.
Eika (suspicious, but doesn't care much): Let's get started!
Catalina & Clara: Got it! ~*~ ~*~
I sit down on the soft rectangle and formulate a plan. I then jump up and walk into the small area used for body waste. I close the door and a light comes on. Long ago I learned how to recycle bodily waste, but they don't know that. I don't plan on letting them find out.
"Come on, Clara, think a moment. How can you get out of here and get a lead so large they can't catch up? Is it possible to do this without endangering Catalina? THINK!" I yell at myself in frustration, sitting on the. chair. with a hole in it. I can't escape now, with them so wary, unless I have Catalina's help. But if I get Catalina's help, there's a good chance they'll catch her. I'll have to convince them to trust me somehow. Then, when they lower the guard, I'll escape. I'll make sure Catalina's nearby first, then tell her not to interfere.
That accomplished, I go out and lie down on the soft rectangle. Hunger has begun to gnaw at me faintly, a sort of dull background ache. It shall continue until they pull the heavy cloth down over the cage bars, and I can eat without suspicion. But it is a far-off ache, one I don't notice. I walk over to the water bin, cup my hands, and dip them into the water. I take a sip and nearly spit it out; it's lukewarm. I manage to swallow it and yearn for my home. It's hard to go for days without seeing a friendly face. . . that's not right. It's hard to see friendly faces daily and know they're just masks.
I lean against the bars of my cage and close my eyes, listening. This is a skill I learned many years ago. I cast my mind out freely, breathing slowly and softly. To all appearances I could be asleep. First I cast my mind down below and around me; I hear the whispering of a knight spreading a rumor, "- and she was just barely subdued. Can you believe that?"
"No, but it must be true. I know some of the people who were there. But she looks so innocent!" I immediately grow bored with this conversation and cast my mind out further. I listen to the rusty knight shouting out training orders to his knights; his knights are beginning to complain. Apparently this is the twenty-fifth time they've been ordered to run a mile. I nearly laugh; they can barely handle twenty-five miles? I was able to run fifty with ease years ago. I cast my ears out; listening further, and suddenly I find myself listening to what must be a meeting of the royalty clique. Interested, I settle down, straining to hear the conversation.
"Let's pick up the discussion where we left off last time." Interesting. They have discussions, and the king is in charge of the meeting. What were they discussing last time?
"Please, let us not. If we are to talk to the brat soon it will not do for me to have a temper from remembering that horrid lesson." Oh. THAT'S what they were talking about. Guess I wasn't the nicest teacher.
"Sorry, Freya, but we gotta. We're supposed to think of ways to get it through her abnormally thick skull we're trying to help. That we won't hurt her. You're the only one so far who's gone one-on-one with her. Maybe she acts more like herself in smaller groups." That kings good. He's right; I was acting a bit more like I used to. When I was with Catalina. Though I never acted the same way around Uncle as I did around Catalina. The only person I completely trusted ever was Catalina. Perhaps that means in some distant, instinctual corner of my mind I consider Uncle more of an enemy than these people?
Nah.
"If that is the case, may I please skip out on this evenings conference with her?" I am now struggling not to laugh. This is too much! Miss rattail nearly begging to get out of meeting with a nine-year-old. I oh-so-wish I could see her face. It must be hilarious. I struggle to keep from laughing as I imagine it.
"Why are you acting like such a big baby? She's just a kid! She's less annoying then I was when I was six, and you put up with me!" Wrongola, princess of the hot place below.
"She's more annoying, Eiko. A kid who won't shut up is to be expected. A kid who won't say anything when you actually want them to talk is annoying." Untrue. I'm not annoying. I'm merely ignoring them and when I do answer I answer in a way that is so indirect the people who ask the question forget what the question is in the first place and why they wanted to know it anyway. That's not annoying.
" . . . Fine. She is annoying. But I still insist that she can't be any more annoying than I was." I'm not at all annoying! I'm just doing as I was trained to do. I wasn't trained to be annoying. was I?
"Well, anyway, Freya, did you notice anything different about her behavior with just you than with all of us?" Why would they want to know that?
"She came out of her cell immediately. That a start?" Mistake 1: In not waiting until she threatened me to come out, I as much as told her I was beginning to trust and feel friendly with her.
"Anything else?" No.
"Lots." I didn't do anything else! "She immediately greeted with that word as she was walking out, no hesitation." Shit. Mistake 2: I immediately started without the slightest bit of intimidation shown by such an imposing figure. I as much as told her I was happy to teach her. That won't do. "She instantaneously started correcting me and explaining. I felt like I should be saying 'Yes Miss. Turner' or something. It was like grade school." Oopsie. Mistake 3: I distinctly showed I thought I was superior to her. You can't let your underlings know you know you're better than them.
"Grade school? That girl doesn't have a confident bone in her body." Just keep believing that, rooster boy, and I'll do fine.
". She seemed pretty confident while taking us on," Whispers the queen of brain numbness.
"Any other differences, Freya?" No.
"Yes," She claims. What? "She insulted me. I expected her to swear at me if anything, not call me insane insults. I didn't even know it was possible for a kid to be so sarcastic. She also seemed frustrated." Oops. Too many mistakes. I think I'd better work on that. With a sigh and a yawn I come out of my listening pose.-
Just as the chain begins to draw me into the room for a meeting. ~*~ ~*~ Catalina: No fair. I wasn't mentioned at all.
Eika: You were too. I said your names a few times. By the way.
Clara: Yes?
Eika: What were you talking about earlier?
Catalina: Nothing that would interest you.
Eika (pulls out hidden tape recorder): Wanna bet?
Clara: Oh shit.
Catalina: Yes.
Eika plays back the tape recorder. Nothing. She presses another button. Nothing. Catalina holds out batteries.
Catalina: Looking for these?
Eika: Hey! You weren't supposed to know about the tape!
Catalina (takes out a tape): You might want this too. It's completely blank.
Clara: (starts clapping)
Eika: Hmph.
Clara: We're not supposed to read those, remember?
Catalina: Eika's trying to get good grades. She won't look up unless a bomb hits her roof.
Clara: True. I can't believe her parents didn't set a limit on her computer time.
Catalina: You don't call having to do every single bit of homework, getting it checked over, having her dad correct it, practicing her instrument, and doing all her chores before she's allowed on a limit?
Clara: No I don't, Cat.
Catalina: Call me that again, and I'll tell everyone what the second half of your first name is.
Clara: You can't.
Catalina: Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuttt. if I tell Eika she'll figure out some way to tell everyone else what it is, no?
Clara: . What did you want me to look at?
Catalina (whispering): TomyGurlAngel123 wants to be in our story.
Clara (whispering): Hey. isn't that Eika's best friend? (non-internet, anyway)
Catalina (evil grin): Yup.
Clara: We'll just tell her some girl named Tomy wants to be in her story. That way she won't favor her over other people.
Catalina: First things first: YO!!! TOMYGURLANGEL123!!! WHICH 1 OF US DO YOU LIKE BETTER?!
Clara: So she'll be put where she can drive her favorite character mad?
Catalina: Yup.
Eika: DONE!!! FINALLY!! What are you looking at?
Clara: Oh, nothing.
Eika (suspicious, but doesn't care much): Let's get started!
Catalina & Clara: Got it! ~*~ ~*~
I sit down on the soft rectangle and formulate a plan. I then jump up and walk into the small area used for body waste. I close the door and a light comes on. Long ago I learned how to recycle bodily waste, but they don't know that. I don't plan on letting them find out.
"Come on, Clara, think a moment. How can you get out of here and get a lead so large they can't catch up? Is it possible to do this without endangering Catalina? THINK!" I yell at myself in frustration, sitting on the. chair. with a hole in it. I can't escape now, with them so wary, unless I have Catalina's help. But if I get Catalina's help, there's a good chance they'll catch her. I'll have to convince them to trust me somehow. Then, when they lower the guard, I'll escape. I'll make sure Catalina's nearby first, then tell her not to interfere.
That accomplished, I go out and lie down on the soft rectangle. Hunger has begun to gnaw at me faintly, a sort of dull background ache. It shall continue until they pull the heavy cloth down over the cage bars, and I can eat without suspicion. But it is a far-off ache, one I don't notice. I walk over to the water bin, cup my hands, and dip them into the water. I take a sip and nearly spit it out; it's lukewarm. I manage to swallow it and yearn for my home. It's hard to go for days without seeing a friendly face. . . that's not right. It's hard to see friendly faces daily and know they're just masks.
I lean against the bars of my cage and close my eyes, listening. This is a skill I learned many years ago. I cast my mind out freely, breathing slowly and softly. To all appearances I could be asleep. First I cast my mind down below and around me; I hear the whispering of a knight spreading a rumor, "- and she was just barely subdued. Can you believe that?"
"No, but it must be true. I know some of the people who were there. But she looks so innocent!" I immediately grow bored with this conversation and cast my mind out further. I listen to the rusty knight shouting out training orders to his knights; his knights are beginning to complain. Apparently this is the twenty-fifth time they've been ordered to run a mile. I nearly laugh; they can barely handle twenty-five miles? I was able to run fifty with ease years ago. I cast my ears out; listening further, and suddenly I find myself listening to what must be a meeting of the royalty clique. Interested, I settle down, straining to hear the conversation.
"Let's pick up the discussion where we left off last time." Interesting. They have discussions, and the king is in charge of the meeting. What were they discussing last time?
"Please, let us not. If we are to talk to the brat soon it will not do for me to have a temper from remembering that horrid lesson." Oh. THAT'S what they were talking about. Guess I wasn't the nicest teacher.
"Sorry, Freya, but we gotta. We're supposed to think of ways to get it through her abnormally thick skull we're trying to help. That we won't hurt her. You're the only one so far who's gone one-on-one with her. Maybe she acts more like herself in smaller groups." That kings good. He's right; I was acting a bit more like I used to. When I was with Catalina. Though I never acted the same way around Uncle as I did around Catalina. The only person I completely trusted ever was Catalina. Perhaps that means in some distant, instinctual corner of my mind I consider Uncle more of an enemy than these people?
Nah.
"If that is the case, may I please skip out on this evenings conference with her?" I am now struggling not to laugh. This is too much! Miss rattail nearly begging to get out of meeting with a nine-year-old. I oh-so-wish I could see her face. It must be hilarious. I struggle to keep from laughing as I imagine it.
"Why are you acting like such a big baby? She's just a kid! She's less annoying then I was when I was six, and you put up with me!" Wrongola, princess of the hot place below.
"She's more annoying, Eiko. A kid who won't shut up is to be expected. A kid who won't say anything when you actually want them to talk is annoying." Untrue. I'm not annoying. I'm merely ignoring them and when I do answer I answer in a way that is so indirect the people who ask the question forget what the question is in the first place and why they wanted to know it anyway. That's not annoying.
" . . . Fine. She is annoying. But I still insist that she can't be any more annoying than I was." I'm not at all annoying! I'm just doing as I was trained to do. I wasn't trained to be annoying. was I?
"Well, anyway, Freya, did you notice anything different about her behavior with just you than with all of us?" Why would they want to know that?
"She came out of her cell immediately. That a start?" Mistake 1: In not waiting until she threatened me to come out, I as much as told her I was beginning to trust and feel friendly with her.
"Anything else?" No.
"Lots." I didn't do anything else! "She immediately greeted with that word as she was walking out, no hesitation." Shit. Mistake 2: I immediately started without the slightest bit of intimidation shown by such an imposing figure. I as much as told her I was happy to teach her. That won't do. "She instantaneously started correcting me and explaining. I felt like I should be saying 'Yes Miss. Turner' or something. It was like grade school." Oopsie. Mistake 3: I distinctly showed I thought I was superior to her. You can't let your underlings know you know you're better than them.
"Grade school? That girl doesn't have a confident bone in her body." Just keep believing that, rooster boy, and I'll do fine.
". She seemed pretty confident while taking us on," Whispers the queen of brain numbness.
"Any other differences, Freya?" No.
"Yes," She claims. What? "She insulted me. I expected her to swear at me if anything, not call me insane insults. I didn't even know it was possible for a kid to be so sarcastic. She also seemed frustrated." Oops. Too many mistakes. I think I'd better work on that. With a sigh and a yawn I come out of my listening pose.-
Just as the chain begins to draw me into the room for a meeting. ~*~ ~*~ Catalina: No fair. I wasn't mentioned at all.
Eika: You were too. I said your names a few times. By the way.
Clara: Yes?
Eika: What were you talking about earlier?
Catalina: Nothing that would interest you.
Eika (pulls out hidden tape recorder): Wanna bet?
Clara: Oh shit.
Catalina: Yes.
Eika plays back the tape recorder. Nothing. She presses another button. Nothing. Catalina holds out batteries.
Catalina: Looking for these?
Eika: Hey! You weren't supposed to know about the tape!
Catalina (takes out a tape): You might want this too. It's completely blank.
Clara: (starts clapping)
Eika: Hmph.
