I walked with Percy and Annabeth to the sword arena. When we got there we heard a horn blow, and Annabeth rushed off to teach archery.
"Looks like it's just us," Percy said. "Ok, so what do you know about sword play?"
"What's sword play?" I asked.
Percy's expression deflated somewhat. "Ok, so we'll start from the very beginning.
Percy handed me a sword. It weighed a ton. We tried another. It was way too long and awkward. We tried dozens more but either they were too heavy, or not heavy enough, or just didn't feel right. Percy finally gave up after a while and gave me one that I knew was too big.
"It's gonna be hard to get one that will suit you perfectly," Percy said. "It's just…well, you're so…"
"Small?" I asked. It was true. I barely reached five foot two even though I was fifteen, and I was very skinny and petite. Many people assumed at first glance that I would be an easy target. I smiled at the memory of making each and every one of them remember not to judge a book by its cover.
"Yeah," Percy said. "But I'm sure we'll figure something out. Maybe someone from the Hephaestus cabin can make you a custom fit one, or maybe you'll use a different weapon". Percy lifted his sword. "But anyways, the most important thing about sword play is stance. Without the right stance, you could get knocked down easily. Spread your feet out, like this".
I mimicked Percy's stance.
"Good. Now raise your sword".
I did so, but only for a few seconds before the sword became too heavy and clattered to the ground.
Percy scratched his head. "Ok, um, good job. Uh, I guess swords are not your thing".
I deflated.
"Don't feel bad," Percy said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "We all have things we're just not good at. Like me: I really stink at archery".
I looked at him.
"No, seriously, I do. I've only managed to hit the target, like, five times in my life".
I chuckled.
Suddenly Annabeth came running over. "Are you guys done?"
"Yeah, sort of," Percy said. "But, uh, I don't think we'll be able to train her until we get equipment that suits her".
Annabeth looked at me, realizing my size problem. "Ok, I'll tell cabin nine. In the mean time, Jo, would you like to help harvest the strawberries with Percy and I?"
I smiled. "Would I?"
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"Percy, we won't be able to sell the strawberries if you keep eating them," Annabeth said, trying not to laugh.
"I can't help it," Percy said with a mouth full of berries. "They taste so good. And I'm starving".
Annabeth rolled her eyes.
"So how long have you guys been friends?" I asked.
"Since we were twelve," Percy and Annabeth said in unision.
I couldn't imagine having a best friend for that long. For me, having a friend for a week was a fantasy.
"So Jo," Annabeth said.
Percy laughed.
"What?" Annabeth asked.
"It rhymes," Percy chuckled.
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Anyways, tell us about yourself".
"Me?" I asked. Someone wanted to know about me? "Um, well, there's really not much to tell. Why?"
"Because then we won't be strangers," Annabeth said, "also, if we know more about you, we might be able to predict who your mother is for when she claims you".
"Claims me?"
"Oh, it's nothing to worry about," Annabeth laughed at my expression. "It's just a sign sent by you godly parent to claim you as their own".
"Oh," I said. "Well, I'm not exactly what you'd call a 'good kid'".
Percy nodded. "Most demigods are like that. It's the ADHD".
My eyes widened. "You have ADHD too?"
"All demigods do," Annabeth said. "That's your battle reflexes. We all also have dyslexia, because our natural language for reading and writing is Ancient Greek, not English".
"Oh. Well," I told them my story, starting after my father died. I was just too painful to talk about it. When I was finished, Percy burst out laughing.
"You must have drove everyone crazy with those pranks," he said.
"Yeah," I said, swelling with pride, "I did".
"I admire you're cleverness," Annabeth said. "I wish I had thought of that when my father got remarried.
"Yeah," I said, "But it got me into a lot of trouble. I went through so many boarding schools and tutors over the last five years".
"How many schools have you gotten kicked out of?" Annabeth asked.
I thought about that. How many schools had I gotten kicked out of. Let's see…
"I'd have to say…sixty two in my whole life. And fifty one tutors".
Percy's jaw dropped. Annabeth's eyes got as wide as dinner plates.
"How is that possible?"
"I don't know," I said. "I had an average of five schools per year since kindergarden even though I didn't start attending boarding schools until I was ten, plus a few that I distinctly remember. Then the tutors; Holly had only started hiring tutors a year ago. They only lasted about a week each; fifty two weeks in a year, minus one because I had one tutor that lasted two weeks. So…yes sixty two schools and fifty one tutors".
"Percy, I didn't think anyone could beat your record," Annabeth said.
"Me neither," Percy replied in awe.
Suddenly I heard a horn blow in the distance.
"That's the signal for dinner" Percy said. He looked at me. "You'll have to sit at the Hermes table until you're claimed. Hopefully that will be tonight".
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When I got to the dining pavilion, I let out a gasp. I had no idea there were this many campers. Almost all the tables were crowded, and I noticed the kids at each table shared similar features. The Athena cabin all had grey eyes and that analyzing stare, the Aphrodite cabin all looked like supermodels even though each sibling looked different from one another, the Apollo cabin had the same nimble features that would be perfect for the art of the bow. I looked around and was able to spot Hermes, cabin twelve. That table was the fullest, so much that there were actually two tables.
Timidly I walked up to the table. I stood there awkwardly, waiting to be noticed, and finally I was. A boy with a mop of brown hair and a mischievous face that made me a little edgy walked round the table. He looked me up and down.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm supposed to sit at table twelve until I'm claimed," I said.
"Oh," he said, "Well, you're welcome to sit with me and my brother". He gestured to a small empty space by another boy of exact features, though he was slightly shorter and had a rounder face.
When I sat down with my food, the boy who'd greeted me said, "My name's Connor, and this is Travis".
"Jo," I said.
"So who do you think your parent is?" asked Travis.
"I don't know," I said, "I thought it might be Hermes, being the god of thieves and all, but my dad's mortal".
"Hermes huh?" Connor said. "for thievery? Why?"
"Well, thievery and…mischief," I said. I smiled with pride. "I consider myself an expert in the art of mischief".
The Stoll brothers got very serious expressions. "Expert huh?" Connor said. He leaned in close and said with a smile. "Trust me, my brother and I are the experts in that".
I gritted my teeth. No one insulted my pranking. "And why do you think that?"
Connor and Travis laughed. "You're a girl. There's nothing else that needs to be said".
I crinkled my nose. "I dare you to laugh, I just dare you. But no one insults my pranking".
The brothers cocked their heads. "Oh, really?" Travis said.
"Trust us," Connor said, "Leave the pranks to Hermes, princess".
I didn't speak to them for that meal. Oh, I'd show them. Tonight, I was going to prepare for war.
So there you have it! The inevitable battle of the pranks. Jo will probably be claimed next chapter, just to let you know so you can be at ease. I wrote this chapter last night. I'm sick today though, so I might write today, I might not.
Please review!