TIME MACHINE CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

A/N: For Sweeet-as-Honey: Sorry if I made you think the end of the story was coming. Not quite yet, it's just that this is probably the longest era the travellers stay in… and anything beyond that would be a spoiler! I can't tell you how pleased I am you like the 'diary' format. That'll continue for a while. Thanks for all your support!

WEDNESDAY 5TH NOVEMBER

Oh, magical day! And tonight we are allowed to go to the village to watch the firework display – and darling Caleb, Ethan, Benjamin and Dylan will be our escorts. Though Ethan will be caring for his sweet Jess most of the time. They are very close indeed. I think Jess would be beautiful indeed if she wore tighter clothes but she prefers flowing garments that don't flatter her figure. Maybe she is shy.

But I digress. The miracles first began when I was sitting on a grassy bank in the school grounds, trying to rack my brains about Ancient Rome, when up comes little Lucius, playing with a ball. Bless him, he is so careful not to get in our way with his games. He smiled at me and said "Hello Miss Miller. How are you?" So polite!

I did not want to send him away but had to tell him that I had to write an essay about Ancient Rome by Friday. He sat beside me and said "And will you write about the poor children swimming in the Tiber? And how, when a baby was born to a poor family, and it was a girl, it was taken into the wilderness to die, because that is very sad, and people should know?"

I made a mental note to write all this.

"And the cruel shows in the Arena with Gladiators sent to fight lions, or criminals put in the arena for the lions to destroy?"

His little face fell here.

"I did not like that, with the lions" he said, "They only killed to defend themselves… and sometimes they could not. I love all animals, Miss Miller."

Then he sighed and changed the subject.

"Ah, another thing you should put in your essay is the great procession through Rome when Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was the guest of Julius Caesar."

And gradually the little sweet told me enough for my essay, and more! I must buy him a gift next time we are in the village.

"How do you know all this?" I asked him.

"I love to read about Ancient Rome" he confessed.

He looked a little shy after that. I believe Lucius is a child genius and is too humble to say so.

THURSDAY 6TH OF NOVEMBER

Yesterday evening was as magical as the day. After our dinner we formed two crocodiles, one behind lovely Benjamin and one behind scrumptious Caleb. I was in Caleb's line! Honey Wrong would not come with us. She said fireworks were the devil's invention. Caleb smiled and told her they were man-made. Oh the mean look she gave him!

Now normally my set and I love the loud bangs and pretty lights but we had a plot. Every time a firework exploded we jumped and grabbed at either Benjamin, Caleb, Ethan or Dylan.

Dylan said to us somewhat drily that we should face our fears instead of jumping. Lily went all maidenly and said she tried but her fears were bigger.

"You should come to my office after hours to discuss this" he said. Lily got all excited until he said "I'll ask Miss Harrison to take some notes during the session."

But a little while later he let slip the loveliest news!

"I hope the bloody fireworks – pardon me, ladies! – don't scare my new dog next year."

Lucius beamed and said:

"Can I tell now, please?"

Dylan nodded and Lucius babbled:

"We might stay here for some time, and Mr De Silva at the General Emporium cannot afford to keep his dog any more. Miss Bateman says my d- my guardian can have her and keep her at the school. She's a Lurcher dog and her name's Dervla!"

Oh how the little mite's eyes shone!

I would have thought that nothing could be nicer than that evening, but today, ah, today, we have begun to read Romeo and Juliet with Mr Hardy. Ah, what a sweet Romeo he would be, with Dylan as his sharp-tongued friend Mercutio. Benjamin could be Benvolio, for that is very like his own name, and lovely Caleb as the hot-headed Tybalt. Oh I love that play now.

And I received a gold star from Mr Fairhead for my essay about Ancient Rome. Honey Wrong gave me such a glare as if I'd cheated, but what can she prove?

Village Day is tomorrow. We are to walk behind Benjamin. I heard Dylan saying to him "Count them all before you set out, don't lose any." Ah how he teases poor Benjamin.

Then later he casually announced that he would be coming on the walk too, along with Dervla and Lucius. Dervla is a big dog; I hope she doesn't bite.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7TH

Dervla is as gentle as a lamb and as affectionate as a kitten! Benjamin is besotted with her. But not quite as besotted as Dylan seems to be.

We are back from the walk and have had afternoon lessons. Miss Bateman has made a wonderful announcement. We are to perform a pantomime in the village hall before we break up for Christmas! Benjamin is in charge of the music, Ethan the script, Caleb the dancing, and dear Dylan will play the piano. I'm sure he also muttered something like:

"And hand out the Valium." What on earth is Valium? I think I must have misheard him. The pantomime we are to do is called Goody Two Shoes. Miss Bateman says it's a fine moral story. Goody, the kindest and prettiest girl in the village, is given a pair of magic shoes by a good fairy. The shoes help make wishes come true. Alas, our kind heroine runs out of wishes because of her kind heart, and now she and her Granny Mollie are to be homeless unless she marries the evil squire. But the Prince who has visited the village once and fallen in love with her comes back at just the right moment!

Goody Two Shoes would suit Honey Wrong because that's who she thinks she is. She said to Benjamin that pantomimes were frivolous and we would be better doing a play with a religious theme. Benjamin smiled and said "Ah Miss Wright, maybe somebody will one day write a musical drama about a story from the Bible, but who that man would be, I just don't know." She glared at him, the old sour face.

I wonder who shall have what part?

SATURDAY THE 8TH NOVEMBER

You will note, dear reader, that this is written on plain paper and is spotted with my weeping. And why? That poisonous Honey has taken my journal and handed it to Caleb, saying that it concerns him and other teachers. My set have been hugging me all day and Dervla has come along to lick my face, but I cannot be consoled.

I know I shall be expelled!

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