No More Civilization
I awoke as the train came to a halt. I looked out the window to see a platform with a bench, and nothing else.
Oh great not only had she sent us away, but she has sent us to the middle of nowhere.
We collected our bags and exited. As the train rumbled away I thought, "There goes civilization."
Just then an automobile drove up and Lucy ran to meet it. We followed close behind it only honked and drove past. If I had not followed her I would have laughed.
"The Professor Knew we were coming!?" Said Susan (though it sounded more like a question than a confirmation).
"Maybe we were incorrectly labeled," I said not realizing how stupid that sounded until after they all looked at me like I was crazy.
Just then a carriage or should I say a small cart came over the hill. A rather grouchy looking lady was driving it.
"Mrs. Macready?" asked Peter uncertainly.
"Will we be plowing fields then," I asked innocently. As Peter elbowed me and Susan frowned. I was just trying to be funny. I guess nothing would make them cheer up so I decided to keep my mouth shut. We all climbed into the cart and were soon in sight of the biggest house I ever saw.
"Wow it looks almost like a castle! Do you have any dungeons?" I asked forgetting about keeping my mouth shut.
She didn't answer just gave me funny look.
Once inside she began a whole list of things we were not to do. I only caught the last few things on the list like there will be no shouting and no running because I was too busy thinking about dungeons.
Just then Susan reached up to touch an old looking statue and Mrs. Macready yelled, "and no touching of the historical artifacts!" I could see Susan flinch as Peter and I shared a smile. He was actually acting pretty decent to me ever since we got off the train since he hasn't talked to me.
We finish our tour and she led us to and older looking hall. "These will be your rooms, this one is the boys room," she said leading us into a not to small not to large room. I plopped my suite case down on the bed closest to the door, and threw myself down next to it. I heard Mrs. Macready in the next room getting the girls settled, as I dosed off.
Peter shook me awake (rather roughly) saying it was time for dinner, and that I needed to wash up. I got up, not willingly, and rummaged around in my trunk for my soap I headed to the toilet to wash up. After that I felt very much refreshed I headed to the girls room where I thought that everyone was waiting for me, but it was empty.
So, swallowing my anger and annoyance I took off alone.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Of course it would be raining," I groaned as I took a glance out the window.
"Oh Cheer up Ed we have a wireless and lots of books," said Susan.
"A wireless and lots of books! I wanted to go exploring today," could this morning get any worse.
"Shut up Ed, Susan's only trying to help." Said Peter.
Now I knew it was going to be a long day I thought as I pulled out my pen knife and started to carve on the bottom of chair that looked to be a hundred years old.
"Well do you have any other suggestions then?" asked Susan picking up a very large book, opening it, and starting to scan down the page.
(30 minutes later)
"Gastro vascular," said Susan.
"Come on Peter gastro vascular," she repeated, fishing for an answer.
"Is it Latin?" He asked rolling his eyes.
"Is it Latin for the worst game ever invented?" I asked with a sarcastically smirk. "Whoops!" I thought as she slammed the book shut with a thud.
Lucy who had been looking out the window walked over and asked, "We could play hid and seek?"
"But we're already having so much fun," Peter said as Susan glared at him. "Come on Peter please!" she pleaded in her most pathetic voices.
Peter sighed, "1...2," He started to count.
"What!?" He had to be joking. I got up and slammed my knife on the table and ran out of the room franticly looking for a hiding spot maybe this would be fun after all we had not played this game in ages. I just couldn't tell that to Peter.
I ran through passages and up stairs until I saw Lucy was about to go it to some curtains. I pushed my way in and pushed her out of the spot.
"I was here first," I said knowing that she would be to good natured about it to argue about it, besides she could find a good hiding any where it was not so easy when you got bigger and could not fit into small places.
She gave me an annoyed look but kept looking. It had only been a few moments when, she ran back shouting "I'm back, I'm all right."
"Shut up he'll hear you," but it was too late. He had all ready found us.
"I don't think you two have quite got the idea of this game," He said.
"Haven't you all been wondering where I was?" she asked.
"That's why he was seeking you," well there's a dummy for you.
Just then Susan came and asked, "Does this mean I win?"
"I don't think Lucy wants to play anymore," said Peter looking worried.
"But I've been gone for hours," she started, "There is a wood in the wardrobe, and I met a faun, and we had tea, and everything."
Peter looked puzzled, and Susan looked worried, and I just thought she had lost it.
"What do you mean Lu?" asked Peter, "What is this about a faun, and tea, and a wood?"
"Come and see," she cried disappearing down the hall.
"Balmy!" I shook my head, "just Balmy!"
"Shut up Ed there might be something wrong with Lucy," said Peter giving me his death glare.
"Well, if there is a wood inside a wardrobe it isn't my fault so you needn't go on so about it," I snapped as we headed in Lucy's direction.
When we reached her she was climbing into a very old looking wardrobe. "Wait Lu," said Peter, "let Susan look."
Susan gave him her thanks a lot glare and went into the wardrobe. Trying to act smart I went around to the back, and started knocking on it.
"Lucy the only wood is the back of the wardrobe," said Susan.
"One game at a time Lu we don't all have your imagination," Peter said.
We turn to leave when Lucy cried, "I wouldn't lie about this!"
"That's enough Lucy," said Susan looking very stern, like mother when we've done something very naughty.
"Well I believe you," I said thinking this would be a good joke.
"You do?"Asked Lucy looking puzzled.
"Didn't I tell you about the football field in the bathroom cupboard?" A sneaky smile crept up on my face.
"Oh won't you just shut up," Peter ordered with a glare.
"It was just a joke," I said.
"When will you learn to grow up?" He said as if I was some kid little kid at school annoying him.
He could just make me so mad at times!
"Shut up, you think your dad but you're not," I shouted. Then I ran out of the room. I had to get away...but there was no were to go. I ran to the room Peter and I shared and grabbed the picture of dad from the trunk under my bed. I heard someone coming and not wanting to be caught with the picture again. I stuck it in my pocket and took off down the maze of hallways. Running down one and then down another. Turning this way and that way hoping that no one would find me.
I heard someone call my name, but I didn't turn around. Where could I hide where would no one look for me? I turned down a hallway and came to a dead end. I could hear footsteps as someone drew nearer.
I opened the closest door since there was no were to hide. Frantically I looked around as the footsteps where growing closer and there wasn't even at lock on the door. In desperation I opened the window and thankfully there was a tree growing next to the house there. I climbed out closing the window behind me.
As I watched from my leafy hiding place Susan entered the room I had just climbed out off and looked around. When I was no were in sight she left still calling my name.
I took dad's picture out of my pocket looked at it. It was taken the day he left. He was wearing his uniform and looking really smart in it.
Why did this war have to happen anyways? Why couldn't have things just stayed the same? Everything used to be perfect now it was all so jumbled up that I didn't know what to do! Dad would have known how I should deal with Peter and he could talk to mum and make her feel better. He is the only one who could joke with Susan and get her to laugh. He could always cuddle Lucy and make feel so much better whether she was upset about school or a scrapped knee. I sat there wishing so much that he was here! I wanted to talk to him so badly—to joke with him and play chess.
Figuring it was safe to come out of hiding now stuck the picture back in my pocket and climbed back through the window. Once inside again I headed toward the bedroom. I peeked inside hoping that I would not to find there Peter. To my relief he was no were in sight.
Hiding the picture in my trunk again; I lay on my bed wondering what to do next. I noticed that it was sunny outside now. The others probably went outside to explore after all. Not wanting to run into them again quite yet. I grabbed my book and headed toward the library.