Peter lifted the heavy suitcase into the back of the taxi. Edmund and Lucy watched from an upstairs window as Susan hugged him and thanked him. Susan was moving into her own apartment. She had done nothing except talk about it for several weeks, and the younger children were tired of listening to her plans of parties and social gatherings. Lucy especially missed the days when they could all sit together and speak of the Battle of Beruna or of their coronation ceremony. Now, with Susan leaving, Lucy's heart sank as she realized that those days were long gone.
Edmund and Lucy went downstairs together to say goodbye to Susan. They tried to smile and be happy for her, but they were annoyed by the way Susan patted them on their heads and spoke to them as a teacher would to a student. Finally, Susan climbed into the taxi and left, never looking back. Peter, Edmund, and Lucy all stood together outside long after she was gone. They watched the taxi until it was out of sight, and then they simply stared in the direction it went. Peter finally turned to his siblings. "I think it's time that we stop fretting over Susan."
Edmund looked up in disbelief. "You mean we should just forget about her?"
Peter shook his head. "No, of course not. We can never forget about her. I'm just saying that nothing will be gained by fretting."
Lucy sighed. "I guess you're right. Only Aslan can save her now."
Nothing more needed to be said. They simply stood in silence, watching as the sun began to set and the stars began to appear.Peter cleared his throat. "Come along, you two. We must finish packing."
Edmund's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes! Won't it be wonderful to see Professor Kirke and Aunt Polly again?"
Lucy smiled. "Yes, and Eustace and Jill as well! I wonder if they have gone on any more adventures lately?"
"I guess we'll find out tomorrow. Come on." Peter led his siblings to the door, one under each arm. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. We musn't let worry ruin our visit."
"I cannot wait till tomorrow!" Lucy said. "Imagine...all the friends of Narnia together again!"
As Edmund and Lucy went inside, Peter turned back to the horizon. Not all…he thought as he looked once more at the fading sun.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It took Susan no time to get settled into her new apartment. She eagerly examined all aspects of it, trying to determine how many guests she could fit in it and how elegantly she could decorate it. She hardly gave her family a thought, until three days later, when she received a wire from Lucy. Lucy simply stated that they were having a wonderful time at the professor's house and that she wished Susan could be there. Susan smiled. Dear old Professor Kirke, she thought. To think that it was in his home that our imaginations ran wild.
Days later, she received another wire, this time from her parents. They were visiting relatives in another part of the country, and they would soon be taking a train to Bristol. Susan rolled her eyes at her mother's message. I do wish mother would stop babying me, she thought. As if I need to be reminded to do my laundry.
Susan was excited to receive a party invitation from her friend Karen. Karen was celebrating her engagement and throwing a party for everybody she knew (and some she didn't). Susan was delighted that Karen would consider her for her guest list. To think that this would be her first adult party since her trip to America thrilled Susan to no end. She began counting down the days till the party, and spent hours planning her outfit. She finally decided on a scarlet dress; she felt sure everybody would be impressed with her sense of style.
Susan was agitated with Lucy's next wire. "We had a nice time visiting with Professor Kirke, but we are coming home today. We are bringing a little surprise, too: the professor, Aunt Polly, Eustace, and Jill will all be visiting with us for a day or two! Short notice, I know, but mother and father said it was alright. Oh, and mother and father are riding on the same train as us! Quite a coincidence, isn't it?"
Susan was irritated. She enjoyed knowing things ahead of time, and this suddenly arranged visit was an inconvenience. They will want me to socialize with them, and Karen's party is tonight! she thought. She thought they had a lot of nerve to make plans like this without consulting her first. Finally, she had a plan: I will go to Karen's party anyway. After all, it is not my fault that I already have a previous commitment.
With that,she began preparing for the party. She put on her scarlet dress and stood in front of a mirror for hours, smoothing it out and making sure it was absolutely perfect. She then put on some black nylons and chose a black purse to bring with her.She spent another hour doing her makeup, occasionally frowning and making adjustments. The sun was setting as she curled her hair, and a smile played at her lips as the party time drew near. She was just slipping her shoes on when she was startled by a knock on the door. Who could that be? she thought. My family, no doubt.
She opened her door, smile in place, ready to deliver a cry of delight. She was surprised to see a police officer instead. He held a clipboard in his hands and a grim expression on his face. Susan was immediately worried. The officer looked down at the clipboard. "Susan Pevensie?" he asked.
"Why, yes. Is something wrong?"
The officer sighed. "I'm afraid there's been an accident."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's note: Again, sorry for the wait. Read and review, and be nice, please!