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First Day of School

The next morning while he sat in English class, Lance thought about what Rikki had said. The day he met her, she said she wasn't much of a swimmer, but last night she said she had gone for an evening swim as well… They contradicted each other, but on the other hand if she truly did go for swims in that manner, it wasn't something she would say in public.

All throughout silent reading, Lance thought it over. Putting down his book for a moment, he looked over at Rikki, reading "With the Old Breed". He then looked at what everyone else was reading: Emma was reading "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame", Cleo was reading "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", Lewis was reading "Gulliver's Travels", Zane was reading "The Beast Master" and Miriam was reading… Some magazine. Lance could only wonder how many of his classmates were reading these stories out of a genuine interest or because their parents had gotten them the books for silent reading. He then looked at what he was reading: "Candide" by Voltaire. He was reading it because it was on is to-read list and he had bought it himself, genuinely interested, though just because he had an interest in the classics didn't mean all of his classmates did.

Once more Lance's eyes fell upon Rikki, her desk next to a window and the sunlight falling down on her, her hair shining like a red flame. He then returned to his book, but while his mismatched eyes stared at the words upon the page, they did not read. His mind was on the night before, he had walked Rikki home, as a gentleman should, and he asked about what her father and stepmother's wedding. Rikki merely said she'd tell him about it another time, maybe show him some pictures too. Truly curious about how pink her bridesmaid dress was, Lance said to her: "Pictures would be nice."

When silent reading was called to an end, the teacher turned their attention to what they would be reading for class. They were to be reading "Ivanhoe" and almost every student had been assigned a character to be reading. Rikki had been assigned the role of Rebecca, Cleo the role of Rowena, Miriam the role of Ulrica, Zane the role of Lucas de Beaumanoir, Lewis the role of Ivanhoe, Lance the role of Wamba, some guy named Byron the role of Rebecca's father Isaac of York and countless other people, whom Lance could not remember the names of reading for the others.

Confused, Zane asked: "Who is Lucas de Beaumanoir?" The English teacher explained that Lucas Beaumanoir was the grand-master of the Knights Templar. Turning to look at his classmate, Lance saw Zane grow confused and exclaim: "I still don't know who he is!"

"Have you any familiarity with this story, Zane?" inquired the English Teacher.

"Of course, I do!" Zane answered. "I'm a fan of old movies, I've seen the version with Elizabeth Taylor and I have no idea who this character is!"

Lance could only nod. Zane's confusion was understandable. He had seen that movie at home on television. He couldn't remember a character named Lucas de Beaumanoir in that film. He couldn't remember a character in the version with Sam Neill either, but if he was the grand-master of the Knights Templar, then that meant he was never referred to by name.

He knew most of the characters. He had seen four screen adaptations after all and when it all came down to it, the only names he did not recognize besides Lucas de Beaumanoir were Prior Aymer, Oswald and Albert Malvoisin. Who were these other three and surely there were more, rather minor characters than anyone could read the lines of, but more nonetheless!

Thus, began what would be the next forty-four days of English class. The first thing on Lance's mind was how he wished he was reading a different character's lines. Lewis, Rikki and Zane were lucky. They had all gotten major characters, according to the English teacher at least, even if Lucas de Beaumanoir didn't appear for most the story. Wamba had his role to play too, but he was not exactly Lance's first choice. If only he had gotten the role of King Richard or Prince John. He quite enjoyed Julian Glover's performance as Richard.

Thus did the reading of the first chapter begin and with Wamba being one of the first characters introduced, that meant Lance was one of the readers of the hour. If only he hadn't been tripping over his words.

Wamba's first word of "Truly" had been easy for him to say, but when it came to the rest of the sentence, Lance found himself stuttering and stammering.

Sighing, the English teacher asked: "Bendis, can you take over for Lance?"

Bendis did as asked and Lance could do naught but slump in his seat. Sighing, he just waited for class to be over while he read along with everyone else. When class was finished, Lance heard Zane say: "Good job with reading, Lance. Maybe you should become a public speaker!"

Narrowing his eyes and furrowing his brow, Lance collected his things and made his way to his next class. He wasn't exactly looking forward to it, but math class would be welcome after that. This sort of thing never happened at his old school, maybe things would have been different if he had gotten someone other than Wamba someone like Ivanhoe, Richard, John, Bois-Guilbert or Beaumanoir. Even Robin Hood or Friar Tuck would have been better.

Robin Hood and Friar Tuck… Now weren't those characters he was well familiar with, even outside of the Robin Hood books he had read. "The Adventures of Robin Hood" by Roger Lancelyn Greene had been the book to introduce them to their actual names: Robert Fitzooth and Michael Tuck. The name "Fitzooth" he had heard before, having heard it in some film he had watched at his grandparents', but he couldn't remember Robin Hood being referred to any other given name other than "Robin" and as for "Michael Tuck", Lance hadn't any idea that the character had ever had a first name!

Upon seeing a note on the classroom door telling the class to report to the cafeteria for study hall, Lance wondered what exactly he was going to do. Just sit there and read "Candide"? There was an idea. Who was even in his math class? Anyone he knew? Anyone he could talk to? After how he stumbled over the words he had been reading, he wasn't exactly sure if he wanted to talk to anyone.

Turning, he saw Cleo, Emma and Rikki approaching with Lewis not far behind. Were they in his math class too or was their respective classes simply past this specific room? When they all stopped to look at the note informing students to report to the cafeteria for study hall, Lance knew they were his classmates in math as well.

"I heard what Zane said to you, Lance." Said Cleo. "Don't let him get to you. It could have happened to anyone."

Sighing, Lance commented: "I guess."

"Yeah, it could have happened to Brian!" Lewis assured him. "Besides, tomorrow will probably be better. You'll be reading Wamba's lines again and Bendis will be back to reading Oswald, whenever he appears."

"I don't even know who that is!" Lance exclaimed. "I've seen four screen adaptations and have no idea who this Oswald person even is!"

"That is still a better understanding of the story than I have." Said Rikki, turning around and making her way to the cafeteria with everyone else, Lance specifically following the rest. "I've never heard of this book and the only thing I know about Robin Hood I learned about from that movie with Russell Crowe!"

"Well, I've met people who have never heard of Robin Hood at all, so I would say you still have something over them." Commented Lance, scratching the back of his neck as he spoke and made his way to the cafeteria.

NOTES

The books that were being read during silent reading was inspired by pieces of filmography of the actors and actresses, be them from the original show or "Mermaid" Adventures". Cariba Heine appeared in an episode of "The Pacific", which was adapted from "With the Old Breed", Eleanor Noble voiced Esmeralda in "The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo", a loose adaptation of the Hugo novel that goes for an "Adventures of" style, Sonja Ball voiced Jane Watson in the English version of a 1976 anime adaptation of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", Daniel Brochu voiced Rafel in the 1992 animated series of "Gulliver's Travels" and Burgess Abernethy appeared in an episode of the show "BeastMaster". Even Rikki reading Rebecca's lines in "Ivanhoe" comes from Holly Gauthier-Frankel having voiced the character in "Ivanhoe: The King's Knight".

Zane being a fan of old movies is derived from the "The Mysterious Seaweed" where a picture of Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster was seen in his locker. He was also supposed to be either reading "Frankenstein" or a book on Boris Karloff, but I might save that for another story if I do one after this.

Bendis and Brian were two of the contestants in "Robot Duel". I needed some characters, so I felt someone we never heard speak would work.

Lance having met people who have never heard of Robin Hood and Rikki having never heard of "Ivanhoe" are based on experiences I've had. The former I found more surprising than the latter, as some pieces of classical literature are more well known than others.