Chapter 6. Violation of space
Sarah dialed up the number of the RA in Donning Hall. "Margie? Margie Baker?… Hi, this is Sarah Williams in Bell Hall. I wanted to let you know that Riha McMannon is with me…we were working on some history stuff and lost track of time….Yes, she's going to spend the night so you don't have to worry. Goodnight."
Riha was changing into a tee shirt Sarah had loaned her. "Ye've ice in her veins… I'd never be able to do that!"
"Comes from having a lawyer for a Dad," Sarah joked as she hung up the line. "Thanks for this evening, Riha…I had a wonderful time."
Riha curled up on Sarah's couch. "Anytime you're not going home you can come with me to the coffee house. In fact, how about you planning on staying at school the weekend of Halloween…Tommy has this wonderful party and you'll have the time o yer life."
Sarah looked at her calendar. "If Daddy and Karen don't have plans, I'd love to." She yawned, "I'll call in the morning and ask." She slipped between the sheets, "Good night cousin."
"Good night cousin…sweetest dreams." Riha whispered.
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Lilith frowned. "That's your idea of introducing my son?"
"Too subtle for you, Oh Queen of the Night?" Gilgamesh teased.
"Yes." She said loudly. "I expected something a bit more…Well…flashy, not so…rough. Bikers… really." She lounged in the throne much the way her son would.
The Babylonian King smirked.
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Sarah dreamed, but it wasn't sweet. Something, she could not make out what was chasing her, clawing at her. She awoke with a start and cried out. Riha slept though the night peacefully, a smile on her lips.
When morning arrived they dressed and were on their way over to the Refectory for breakfast when the RA from Donning Hall came looking for Riha.
"I'm so sorry, Riha, there's been trouble in your room. You'd better come with me." Margie Baker's voice was serious.
Riha looked at Sarah with worried eyes. They both followed the RA as she led the way back to the building that housed Riha's room. When they arrived, Ellen Courtney was standing in the hall along with Mrs. Browning and Miss Parker and a police officer. Ellen's jaw clenched as Sarah and Riha entered the hall. Mrs. Browning moved toward the girls and shook her head.
"Miss McMannon, I'm dreadfully sorry… your room mate has vandalized your possessions." The Bursar sent a dark glare to the girl standing in the hall.
Margie was even more angry. "She tried to blame it on you, not knowing that I was aware you were with your cousin."
"Cousin?"Ellen looked confused. "They're cousins?"
Margie growled at her. "No one is talking to you." She looked at Riha, "you'd better come in and look."
Sarah followed Riha and grabbed the girl as she gasped. Her books were scattered, and there was red paint on her bed and over the little nightstand with its candles and personal items. Margie had the decency to look ashamed. Everything belonging to the Irish girl was strewn about. Riha turned to her room mate and asked. "Why?"
Ellen declined to answer.
Mrs. Browning was furious. "This means expulsion of course." She looked about the room. "For the time being we are going to have to move you… I believe Mrs. Janson has a free room…."
"She can stay with me." Sarah said quickly, not wishing the Janson house on anyone. "I've plenty of room, and she's family. Could we just move her bed to my room?"
"That's very decent of you, Miss Williams." Mrs. Browning said kindly. "I'll have maintenance come and dismantle the bed. Miss McMannon, would you like to pack your things up and move them?"
"I would." She sobbed. "Thank you, ma'am."
Ellen was in the door way. "If you think I'm leaving while she packs... You're nuts. I don't trust the dirty little foreigner."
Ellen's nasty outburst drew a surprised reaction from Mrs. Browning. She'd never heard such venom from one student toward another. Nor had she heard such a slur used by one of her young ladies before.
Margie looked at Mrs. Browning. "I'll be here to keep the peace."
Mrs. Browning looked at the Courtney girl disgustedly. "I've called your father already, young lady. He'll be here this afternoon to pick you up and make restitution. All of Miss McMannon's books will be bought again by your father. In addition he'll be paying for this mess to be cleaned up, as well as for anything Miss McMannon needs." Mrs. Browning turned to Sarah. "Will you be staying with your cousin?"
Sarah looked at Ellen; there was something dark and dangerous about her. "Yes, ma'am." There was no way Sarah was going to leave Riha alone with the wild eyed girl who had destroyed the Irish girl's belongings.
The woman exited as the Irish girl began to pack up her belongings. Almost everything was gong to have to be laundered or tossed out. She whispered to Sarah, "I'm glad the family album was in your rooms… so many of the photo's can't be replaced."
Sarah didn't like the way Ellen kept watching their movements. "I know." She whispered back. "Is everything ruined?"
"Most of my books that are here in the room, yes," she too was aware of the glares from the girl watching. "But I had some things hidden away." She whispered softly. "Important things."
Margie was helping pack, "Riha, I'm really sorry about this…If I'd the least idea that Ellen was stupid enough to pull a stunt like this…"
Riha nodded, "It's not your fault Margie… you've been grand, really you have."
Ellen was leaning on the door and muttering. Her eyes were glazed over with anger and hate. Megan and two of her friends came though the hall and began snickering at the Irish girl's dilemma. They were still there making taunting remarks when Mrs. Browning returned with Ellen's father in tow. "Miss Élan, do you have business here?"
Megan looked at the Bursar with disdain, as if the school official was not worthy of her time. "Ellen is going to lunch with us." She turned to Ellen, "Are you ready?"
"I'm afraid not." Mrs. Browning said. "Miss Courtney is leaving the school."
"What ever for?" Megan demanded.
Mr. Courtney was about to ask the same thing.
Mrs. Browning frowned, "Miss Élan, I suggest you move along."
Ellen looked at Megan. "Their kicking me out of school."
Megan placed a hand on the other girl's arm. "Don't fret pet, my dad is on the board of regents, I'll have you re-instated in a matter of hours."
Ellen looked triumphant. "Thank you Megan." She then turned to her father. "Refuse to pay the damages Daddy…it was all her fault, dirty little foreigner."
Mr. Courtney was now looking down his nose at the girl packing her belongings. "Was it, really? Well, then perhaps I won't pay a dime."
Sarah stepped in before Mrs. Browning could instigate a losing battle. "Mrs. Browning, if you'll give me Mr. Courtney's address, I'll have my father's office issue billing. He'll be most interested in how my cousin was treated."
The man looked at Sarah with amusement. "And who would your father be?"
"Robert Williams Attorney at Law." Sarah said in a sweet voice.
Ellen and Megan didn't look impressed, but Mr. Courtney looked worried. He turned to Mrs. Browning who nodded. Mr. Courtney cleared his throat, "Have a bill sent to my office." Ellen's mouth dropped, as did Megan's. When Ellen began to protest her father hushed her quickly.
Sarah, Riha and the RA picked up the boxes and the luggage as the maintenance men came in to disassemble the bed. Sarah looked at Mr. Courtney. "You'll be hearing from us."
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Margie set the box she was carrying down on the counter. "Is your father really a Lawyer?"
"Yes, and he's very well known." Sarah said placing the box in her hands down. "Daddy is something of a shark when it comes to the law."
The RA sighed, "You're going to need a shark on your side." She turned to Riha. "If Megan wants to make trouble she can….she's got powerful connections and gets away with murder. If she really wants Ellen reinstated, she will be. My advice to you is just stay clear of that crowd."
Riha nodded, "I don't have classes with any o them… I'll be most happy to keep it that way."
Margie heard the maintenance crew coming up the hall. "I'll get back to Donning… I'm going to miss you Riha…" she extended a hand to the Irish girl. "Take care."
"Thank you, Margie." Riha shook the extended hand, and then she began sorting things that had to be hand washed and things that hand to be cleaned professionally. Sarah saw Margie to the door and then let the maintenance men in to set up the bed.
Sarah looked at the bedding that was brought over from Donning Hall. There was no saving it. The men setting up the bed turned the mattress over so the red paint was on the bottom. "I'm sorry, miss, we don't have a spare mattress at this time."
Sarah nodded, understanding their problems. "We'll make do." She thanked the men and began to help her cousin sort. "Looks like we spend time in the laundry," She began to put soiled garments in a basket. "Riha, are you ok?"
The Celtic blue eyes were teary. "I will be… Thank you for taking me in." She looked at Sarah with unspoken reservation, slowly she ventured forward. "Sarah, I've a favor to ask of thee?"
"Ok," Sarah gave her full attention to the girl. "What?"
"Would ye be offended if I set up an altar?" Riha's eyes were searching Sarah's face for a reaction, negative or positive.
Sarah shrugged, "I'm not really religious, but if you want to sure…I'm sure we can get a cross in here for you…"
"Not…that kind … o Altar, Sarah." Riha whispered.
Sarah cocked her head to one side. "What kind of Altar are you thinking of?"
"A Pagan Altar." The Irish girl was still watching, carefully. "Sarah, darlin' I'm a Pagan."
"Oh." Sarah looked away, for a moment, turning to look at her cousin again she whispered. "I don't really know what that is. But it doesn't matter, if you'd like an altar, it's fine with me."
Riha felt peace fill the rooms. "Yer' a darlin' girl ye are!" Her cousin hugged her quickly. "I've kept all my altar things in a locked box… stored in the basement of the administration building. I didn't feel comfortable setting them up… I used just a candle and some gibberish in Donning Hall." She started looking the rooms over. "Over there, in that little alcove, would that be alright with ye?"
Sarah nodded, "I've only one request." She told her cousin who looked apprehensive for a moment. "I'd like you to teach me… If it's a Celtic thing, I think I should know about it."
Riha hugged Sarah quickly. "Oh Cousin!"
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Mr. Courtney stood in the office of the Headmaster, Mr. Gregory. "I'm sure you understand my position." He was saying. "I've spent a good deal of money on my daughter's education and to have her pushed out because of a stupid prank gone wrong…"
Mr. Gregory held up a hand. "This incident was a bit more than just a prank gone wrong."
The father of the girl nodded, "I'm not here to cast blame, nor to issue complaints."
The Headmaster frowned, "Cast blame? Are you suggesting that our exchange student had something to do with the violation of her own space? Surely you don't think me a fool, Mr. Courtney."
James Courtney sighed heavily. "No, you are no fool… but surely you knew that a foreigner was not going to be as easily accepted as a…"
Mr. Gregory stood up from behind his desk. "Please don't go any further."
"I should like to clear this mess up quickly and quietly." Courtney stated. "Ellen's mother and I will make restitution to the school and we will even pay for replacements of the …girl's belongings and books…" He began to tap his fingers on the Headmaster's desk. "I have powerful friends, Mr. Gregory… friends on your board of regents… They would not look kindly if my daughter was expelled."
Coldly the Headmaster addressed the parent. "You expect me to just turn a blind eye?"
"No… punishment should be dealt out, of course… within reason." Mr. Courtney ruminated.
Mr. Gregory was weary, and took his seat again. "What in your estimation is a reasonable punishment?"
"Something a little less drastic then expulsion." Courtney sighed pinching his nose with his fingers. "Take away her privileges of leaving the campus until Christmas break…"
The Headmaster had already heard from the Mr. Élan, Megan's father and perhaps the loudest voice on the board of regents. "Will your daughter abide by my ruling?" Mr. Courtney nodded. The Headmaster stood up and offered his hand to the parent. "Then the girl may stay, on probation…provided she gets into no more trouble…and she's restricted to the school grounds…all privileges revoked for now."
"Agreed," Courtney said, thinking he'd the best part of the bargain.