I'm in a reasonably pleasant mood on a Thursday afternoon.
I con Ben into letting me take Abner's tea to his study.
Careful not to drop the silver tea set (which I myself polished two weeks ago), I set off down the hallway.
I push the door to the study open and find Jones and Abner seated at a table, pouring over ancient looking pieces of paper written in some nonsense language that I'm glad I will never know.
"Ah, Marion." Abner says, beckoning me over. "Come and sit with us."
I sit awkwardly, feeling out of place with my jeans and shirt and them with their slacks and nice shirts. They serve themselves tea and I feel even more awkward.
"Tea, Marion?" Abner asks, offering me a full cup.
I feel there is something out of place about the way Abner glares at me as I accept the tea. The steeliness in his eye is more than usual.
"How is history class going?" He asks, turning back to the manuscripts.
"Umm...great!" I manage to squeak out, which is a total lie. I got a C- on the most recent pop quiz.
"Really? Because your teacher called today. You got a C minus on your latest quiz."
The tea cup slips out of my hand and clatters on the table, spilling hot liquid all over the manuscripts.
Both Jones and Abner give a cry of horror and leap upon the drenched papers, trying to restore them.
It is then that I realize that I am doomed.
"Marion Elena Ravenwood!"Abner splutters, nearing boiling point.
Not wanting to get more lectures on my never ending tendency to screw things up, I say, "Yeah, yeah, I'll go to my room and become a nun in the covenant. Shame on me."
I walk out of the room, my shoulders slumped.
Why do I have to always be the accidental one?