Morning sunlight brightened the sky and gave a soft glow to the place. Considering the time of year, it would be another hour before any sunbeams streamed into the room. Such a clear sky made her pause. A beautiful day deserves a smile. Her gravelly voice traveled throughout the room. The children continued with their usual routines, though a few awaited her morning announcements.
"Everyone has classes today, so no morning chores."
Several of the dibbuns cheered the news. A few had a furrowed brow as they tried deciding which they preferred. One grey squirrel, Flashfoot, popped his head from a cloth cell as he struggled with his privacy curtain. His befuddled look had Tassel smile and she almost laughed when he tilted his head in her direction.
"No school for me. I'm too little."
"Alright, Flashfoot, I'll see what chore I can find for you. Maybe you can help out in the laundry room folding whatever those good ladies iron today."
She waited for his reaction. The other dibbuns laughed at the poor squirrel. Then it finally dawned on Flashfoot that the Badgermom had tricked him into volunteering for whatever chore she assigned. Several of the other dibbuns suggested chores that required great strength, which they knew the poor squirrel could never do.
While everyone prepared for breakfast, Tassel wandered down the aisle. What she saw in the first two cubicles surprised her. The hedgehog Shortspike and the mouse Kurella had returned without her knowing it. As she approached, she heard each of them snoring, sound asleep and dead to the world about them. Tassel stepped between the two beds so she could view either or both dibbuns.
Yesterday, they had chores that kept them busy until curfew. No doubt having their sleep interrupted has left them even more tired. Too bad. It's about time these two learned that being a Healer means many restless nights followed by even longer days.
She reached over and grabbed an edge of a sheet lying under each child. Straightening up, she yanked the blankets, spilling two slumbering beasts out of their beds and onto the floor. Both children jumped up, disoriented by their fall. After a short time, they focused bleary eyes on their Badgermom, no doubt wondering why such rough treatment. Tassel gave neither one a chance to speak.
"You have five minutes to get washed and ready for breakfast. Miss that meal and the only thing you'll be eating today are the scrapings from this evening's collection of pots and pans."
When the time ended, Tassel gave a loud bark. By ones and twos, the dibbuns followed Tassel down a narrow hallway to the dormitory's main door. Tassel moved to the side, slipped her mask over her head, and with practiced fingers, drew the fabric taut. A flick of her fingers freed her ears and she felt ready to face the new day.
One thing Tassel insisted on whenever they traveled as a group, proper decorum. She did not allow any of the children to run about when moving from the dormitory to the dining area in Cavern Hole. Tassel kept her young charges close together. A light cough or cleared throat reminded any who acted improperly. Her youngest charge, Flashfoot, she kept within reach as his behavior needed the most guidance.
Flashfoot has been behaving himself this last day or two and I know it must be taking some real effort on his part. It just isn't fair yelling at so young a child for being energetic. Sooner or later, he is going to run amok and I would prefer he do it under adult supervision. Perhaps I'll see if he can follow some of the other squirrels outside the wall when they pick acorns this morning. He'll be doing something useful and zipping through the branches should give the boy a good chance at releasing all that pent-up energy.
A stiff arm opened the door. Tassel led everyone inside Cavern Hole. Two rows down from the Father Abbot's place, she spotted an open table. Once Tassel pointed to the table she selected, everyone raced for a seat. There was some jockeying for position as the children grumbled, pushed, and shoved each other.
The only children not joining in this morning ritual were the two that attended the otter's birth late last night. They shuffled over to the table and took seats opposite each other at the far end, not even joining in the usual gabfest. Even from where she stood at the head, Tassel heard the moaning grunt each gave as they plopped onto the bench. Both girls rested their heads on the table.
Kita, a younger version of Shortspike, had not joined today's battle for a seat. She had gone into the kitchen while Tassel took her place at the head of the table. Tassel rapped her knuckles on the hewed wood just as Kita exited the kitchen. The hedgehog pushed the food laden trolley to the table and began distributing the meal. With everything in place, the girl received the seat of honor next to the badger.
Tassel's eyes roamed the room while she listened to the babble at her own table. Her eyes locked onto the elders sitting with their families at other tables, remembering some of their snide remarks. She had nothing more than contempt for several who had openly suggested that a more respectable elder care for the children. Their inadvertent comments around the Father Abbot had, for the time being, been ignored.
Go ahead and try telling me these children aren't happy. You all complain about me caring for these orphans, but I am yet to see any of you rescue even one of these children by adopting them.
A tap on her shoulder caused Tassel to turn. The Father Abbot had left his seat and now stood behind her. The Father Abbot was an old woodchuck that had served as the chief cook when Tassel first arrived. Today, he no longer served meals, now he provided guidance to the many residents of the Abbey. Though the old fellow usually supported her decisions, having them subject to his constant review made her nervous whenever he approached.
"Good morning, Father Hughnaught. I see we have another beautiful day." And I'm betting the first thing your going to say is something about yesterday's incident with the rain barrel. Children love playing in water, no matter where it's found, especially on a hot day. My punishment of having the child that toppled the barrel help in the kitchen seemed reasonable.
"Just wanted to tell you, that otter lady had a baby girl and the Healer was pleased with the help he got from Shortspike and Kurella." With that, the Father Abbot returned to his place of honor at the head table.
His comment made Tassel look down at the far end of the table. Both girls cradled their head in the palm of their paw while poking at their breakfast. Maybe I'm being too rough on them. If the Healer wanted to make this birth an object lesson on lost sleep, maybe he would prefer doing it himself. The sound of the school bell ringing stopped her musing and like every school morning, Tassel gave her parting instructions.
"Alright everyone, hurry off for classes. I want each of you doing your very best today."
As the children rose, Tassel caught their attention when she ordered them to wait. "Shortspike, Kurella, you two look like the walking dead. Go back to bed and I'll tell your teachers what happened last night. I'm sure they will let your classes go for the morning." Their grateful smiles told Tassel she made the right decision, though neither child expressed their appreciation.
The children had just cleared the room when she heard the altercation. Voices rose to a near shout while the elders focused their attention on the side door. Tassel moved rapidly toward the disturbance, but kept her movements as dignified as the circumstances allowed. She hoped that if she gave the youngsters sufficient time, maybe there would be no need for her intervention.
Such good fortune eluded her. As she stepped outside Cavern Hole, she heard the vole Amaris growling at another dibbun. One look confirmed the other combatant's identity as another vole girl named Mitteenna. Over the last few weeks, Mitteenna considered it her personal mission to make the life of every young dibbun under her authority as unpleasant as possible. Her snide remarks had sent a few of the younger children running to her lap for comfort and had others crying in private. The Father Abbot saw no reason to take corrective action.
Her favorite tactic, she exploited their lack of a family. Every chance she got, Mitteenna would harp on her good fortunes. She never failed to mention how her mother and stepfather sent her to Abbey school. She flaunted the wonders of her loving family, inferring by tone of voice that each child living with the Badgermom somehow caused their orphaned status.
It took one quick glance and Tassel guessed what happened. Amaris stood over the other girl, her paws balled into fists, shaking with indignation, her hackles showing. Holding a kerchief against her lips, Mitteenna daubed a spot of blood off her chin. Nearby elders rose from their seats when the Badgermom ploughed into the scrum of dibbuns, scattering them like leaves before a strong wind. Her voice overrode the catcalls bantered back and forth.
"That's enough you two. Good girl, Amaris, you did what none will let me do. There will be no more of this brawling nonsense. Now what happened?"
From every direction, voices shouted. The youngsters she cared for came to the support of their friend, claiming Mitteenna started it when she insulted Amaris. Several of the children that didn't live with the Badgermom said they saw Amaris strike the other girl, but had no idea what caused the dispute. When one or two nearby elders hinted that Tassel's tyke started the whole thing, there was a loud cry of liar from several of her brood.
"If there is no apology coming from each of you for back talking your elders, I'll have to decide which would be better, the crack of a switch on your furry rump, or your paws elbow deep in a washtub full of dirty pots and pans for the next full week."
One by one the children muttered their apologies and Tassel waved them out the door. A low growl from the badger had the other children beat a hasty retreat, not wanting to risk her wrath. She grabbed the two combatants by their blouses, and holding them as far apart as possible marched them into the hallway and out of sight of those elders still dining in Cavern Hole.
Mitteenna yanked at the collar of her dress and freed herself. She took a step back, the girl called Amaris a name best not spoken in public. Tassel felt shocked that any child would use such language, but had a more pressing problem. Amaris now acted more like a spitting wildcat ready and willing for battle than the well-behaved dibbun she remembered from yesterday.
Tassel lifted the girl by the scruff of her neck and gave a hard shake before turning her loose. Amaris had changed from a miniature hellion to a befuddled child. "After school, young lady, you will report to my room. You can decide then which punishment you prefer."
The sound of mocking laughter almost made Amaris forget that her Badgermom stood between her and her target. With no chance at reaching Mitteenna, the vole turned away and raced down the hall.
Now that her young charge had been properly chastised, Tassel turned her attention onto the other vole. Tassel's experience as Badgermom let her know Mitteenna had yet to decide on a course of action. The vole's hesitation allowed her paws to grasp the girl's blouse for the second time. The vole tried digging her heels into the unyielding marble floor as Tassel dragged the girl closer to her masked face.
"You, young lady, have gone too far once too often with your insolence. I may not have any power over you now, but let's see what the Father Abbot has to say about your less than ladylike behavior."