Chapter 8 - Part A
[Author's Notes] Okay, I'm not sure about the Chapter break, but here goes. Oh those of you wondering, I'm sick today which is why I'm here instead of playing with a 5 month old baby. While I'm having fun here, I wish I was with that 5 month old baby. There's only so much time to enjoy the pre-crawling, post-sack phase. Of course the post-crawling, pre-walking/running stage is fun too but not enough time!
What a fascinating school. I must have someone investigate it further. Someone whom I can trust, who will blend in seamlessly, who will look the part. Or should I just befriend one of your newly acquired friendships? Hmm, so many possiblities. And who's to say whether I won't examine them all. After all, savoring one's eventual victory is paramount to one's ultimate enjoyment, isn't it?
********
Donna slipped away to finish up her chores and Tristan stood near the doorway of the kitchen taking then entire site in. To her right was the gates and past that were the stables. Almost directly across from her, just off center rose one of the stairwells up into the sky, only this one was larger than the other two. In between all the arches, a triangular platform, the first of six, rose a few feet above the ground. Five steps leading up to the platform surrounded it and on the platform, about two dozen girls were practicing with long sticks.
Agatha emerged from the kitchen and headed towards the large arch. "Don't let Miss Donna talk you into anything that you're unsure about. That ol' Donna, she's a charmer and well, just don't let her okay?" Tristan nodded quickly then asked, "Why is that one larger?" She pointed at the approaching arch. "Patience. That's something you should learn, then teach Donna."
[Author's Notes] Every story should have a scoundrel and yes, Donna's it. Some would say that I'm the scoundrel in their lives, so there's going to be a lot of me in Donna. She's already proving fun to write.
"Ah, Cece's finally arrived." Agatha waved to Cece who looked tired. Clucking, Agatha took the cloak off Cece's sweating back, "Next time Remy and I want to drag you hiking, you'd better go. Look at you." Panting too hard to reply, all Cece did was glare at Agatha. Without a further word, she led the way into the large arch.
Tristan blinked hard when she entered. She had expected it to be dark inside since no sunlight seemed to penetrate the walls but it was quite bright. Cece noticed her astonishment and pointed to slits along the walls. She went over to take a look. The walls were about a foot deep and the slits were about six inches wide. There were enough of them to let sunlight pour in and since the walls and floor were made of marble, the reflection illuminated the shadows.
They had walked into a small receiving area where muddied boots lined up one wall, clean ones lined another. In the corners were stands for umbrellas and raincoats. Agatha explained. "Each arch has a room like this. It rains quite often but usually only one third of the student body are outside. So, on rainy days, the ones slated to be outside grab the clean ones, then assigned students take the muddy ones and clean them putting up on the clean shelves. That way, the ones who couldn't afford boots could still have them during rainy days."
They walked through the reception area into a landing where a large staircase rose around the center, following the perimeter. Tristan stood in the center of the landing and looked up at the semi-spiraling staircase rising up above her and she twirled around, dizzying herself. "Wheeeee! Hey! One side leans into the opposite!" She peered up trying to steady her gaze. Cece finally caught her breath and said, "This is an arch, remember? At a point up there where the arch curves steeply, it becomes just one long stairs instead of four along the edges." "OH!"
What a fascinating school. I must have someone investigate it further. Someone whom I can trust, who will blend in seamlessly, who will look the part. Or should I just befriend one of your newly acquired friendships? Hmm, so many possiblities. And who's to say whether I won't examine them all. After all, savoring one's eventual victory is paramount to one's ultimate enjoyment, isn't it?
Donna slipped away to finish up her chores and Tristan stood near the doorway of the kitchen taking then entire site in. To her right was the gates and past that were the stables. Almost directly across from her, just off center rose one of the stairwells up into the sky, only this one was larger than the other two. In between all the arches, a triangular platform, the first of six, rose a few feet above the ground. Five steps leading up to the platform surrounded it and on the platform, about two dozen girls were practicing with long sticks.
Agatha emerged from the kitchen and headed towards the large arch. "Don't let Miss Donna talk you into anything that you're unsure about. That ol' Donna, she's a charmer and well, just don't let her okay?" Tristan nodded quickly then asked, "Why is that one larger?" She pointed at the approaching arch. "Patience. That's something you should learn, then teach Donna."
[Author's Notes] Every story should have a scoundrel and yes, Donna's it. Some would say that I'm the scoundrel in their lives, so there's going to be a lot of me in Donna. She's already proving fun to write.
"Ah, Cece's finally arrived." Agatha waved to Cece who looked tired. Clucking, Agatha took the cloak off Cece's sweating back, "Next time Remy and I want to drag you hiking, you'd better go. Look at you." Panting too hard to reply, all Cece did was glare at Agatha. Without a further word, she led the way into the large arch.
Tristan blinked hard when she entered. She had expected it to be dark inside since no sunlight seemed to penetrate the walls but it was quite bright. Cece noticed her astonishment and pointed to slits along the walls. She went over to take a look. The walls were about a foot deep and the slits were about six inches wide. There were enough of them to let sunlight pour in and since the walls and floor were made of marble, the reflection illuminated the shadows.
They had walked into a small receiving area where muddied boots lined up one wall, clean ones lined another. In the corners were stands for umbrellas and raincoats. Agatha explained. "Each arch has a room like this. It rains quite often but usually only one third of the student body are outside. So, on rainy days, the ones slated to be outside grab the clean ones, then assigned students take the muddy ones and clean them putting up on the clean shelves. That way, the ones who couldn't afford boots could still have them during rainy days."
They walked through the reception area into a landing where a large staircase rose around the center, following the perimeter. Tristan stood in the center of the landing and looked up at the semi-spiraling staircase rising up above her and she twirled around, dizzying herself. "Wheeeee! Hey! One side leans into the opposite!" She peered up trying to steady her gaze. Cece finally caught her breath and said, "This is an arch, remember? At a point up there where the arch curves steeply, it becomes just one long stairs instead of four along the edges." "OH!"
posted by resigned idealist @ 11/25/2004 02:24:00 PM
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