Reiqua's only in this for the points...
Nov 1, 2016 6:03:34 GMT -5
Lizzie, Thorn, and 1 more like this
Post by Reiqua on Nov 1, 2016 6:03:34 GMT -5
As the title hints at, I will be trying to fulfill as many NaNo dares as I can this November!! Moni and Thorn may or may not be joining me (/challenging me) in this endeavour (:
I hope to be tying all the dares together in an Enid Blyton style school story. (Blyton-esque in plot/setting only, not writing style, because I want to work on developing my own style before branching out too much)
Another thing I might try and do if I don't get too side-tracked by dares is go for some character development =o
It's one thing to write a snapshot of a character and make that believable, but having that character actually grow or change in any way is not a thing I'm good at... so we'll see how I go!!
I have no particular plans to reach 50K words, but if I do, bonus!
So without further ado, here it is!!
Installment 1:
Installment 2:
Installment √5:
Installment 3:
Installment 4:
Installment 5:
Installment 6:
I hope to be tying all the dares together in an Enid Blyton style school story. (Blyton-esque in plot/setting only, not writing style, because I want to work on developing my own style before branching out too much)
Another thing I might try and do if I don't get too side-tracked by dares is go for some character development =o
It's one thing to write a snapshot of a character and make that believable, but having that character actually grow or change in any way is not a thing I'm good at... so we'll see how I go!!
I have no particular plans to reach 50K words, but if I do, bonus!
So without further ado, here it is!!
Installment 1:
“Ebony, you can’t. I won’t let you.”
Ebony looked imploringly up at her mother. She said nothing, but she was sure her message was clear enough: ‘Mum, I will die if you take this away from me’.
Evidently her mother was unimpressed by the display though. She reached out a hand as if to take Felicity’s handbag by force. Ebony gave a small squeal and held the bag further out of reach. Her mother was just being unreasonable today. She needed to keep that bag and its contents with her and she wasn’t planning to budge on the matter. Her mother just wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, though.
At Ebony's squeal, her mother cast a nervous glance down the hall. They were rather too close to the principal’s office to be having this argument right now. Her mother would just have to see sense and let the matter rest.
“Fine,” she whispered to Ebony at length, “you can keep it with you for now, but I’m warning you-” but she broke off at the sight of a lady who’d just stepped out of a door further down the hall. The lady made her way down the hall towards the lounge area where they were waiting.
“Mrs Walker, Miss Walker,” she addressed the pair of them, “Miss Thornton will see you now.”
Ebony and her mother stood and followed wordlessly, Ebony making sure to keep her handbag well out of reach on the way. Fortunately her mum seemed to have forgotten about the issue in light of their impending interview with the principal.
Indeed, Mrs Walker had been doing her best to drive all such thoughts from her mind, but just as they reached the door to the principal’s office and stepped inside, she caught sight of something that made her eyes narrow and her jaw clench. Protruding from the back of Ebony's handbag were several inches of something squashy, and dull green in colour. The tail of a stuffed toy alligator. This was not okay.
Ebony looked imploringly up at her mother. She said nothing, but she was sure her message was clear enough: ‘Mum, I will die if you take this away from me’.
Evidently her mother was unimpressed by the display though. She reached out a hand as if to take Felicity’s handbag by force. Ebony gave a small squeal and held the bag further out of reach. Her mother was just being unreasonable today. She needed to keep that bag and its contents with her and she wasn’t planning to budge on the matter. Her mother just wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, though.
At Ebony's squeal, her mother cast a nervous glance down the hall. They were rather too close to the principal’s office to be having this argument right now. Her mother would just have to see sense and let the matter rest.
“Fine,” she whispered to Ebony at length, “you can keep it with you for now, but I’m warning you-” but she broke off at the sight of a lady who’d just stepped out of a door further down the hall. The lady made her way down the hall towards the lounge area where they were waiting.
“Mrs Walker, Miss Walker,” she addressed the pair of them, “Miss Thornton will see you now.”
Ebony and her mother stood and followed wordlessly, Ebony making sure to keep her handbag well out of reach on the way. Fortunately her mum seemed to have forgotten about the issue in light of their impending interview with the principal.
Indeed, Mrs Walker had been doing her best to drive all such thoughts from her mind, but just as they reached the door to the principal’s office and stepped inside, she caught sight of something that made her eyes narrow and her jaw clench. Protruding from the back of Ebony's handbag were several inches of something squashy, and dull green in colour. The tail of a stuffed toy alligator. This was not okay.
Installment 2:
At a fancy wooden table in the middle of the room sat three ladies – the interview panel. Ebony guessed that the tall grey-haired lady in the middle must be the principal, Miss Thornton. To her principal’s right sat a short, plump lady whom Ebony recognised from her sister’s description must be Mrs Gordon, the deputy principal. On the left sat a far younger, more motherly looking lady, wreathed in smiles, whose name Felicity could not guess. Soon, however, her first two guesses were confirmed, and Miss Thornton introduced the mystery lady as Mrs Caldweller. She would be the year advisor for the incoming class of students.
Ebony and her mother took their seats opposite the panel. Ebony was painfully aware of the way her feet dangled a moderate distance from the floor and her shoulders barely came above the level of the table top.
Mrs Gordon looked curiously at the blank stretch of table in front of Ebony.
“Did you receive the list of interview questions we sent you?” she asked, not unkindly, “because you may use notes if you’d like to.”
Ebony's eyes grew wide with a horrible realisation. She had indeed made notes, but they were in the bottom of her handbag, underneath Alfred the Alligator... there was no way she could retrieve them now without revealing Alfred.
Doing her best to ignore the feel of her mother’s gaze boring into her, she looked Mrs Gordon in the eye as confidently as she could and said, “Thank you but I won’t look at my notes”.
Miss Thornton raised an eyebrow and exchanged an impressed look with Mrs Gordon. Here was a very confident young lady evidently. Mrs Caldweller just smiled glowingly at Ebony. She seemed to do a lot of that.
“Very well Ebony, I think we can begin,” said Miss Thornton, making a small note on her page, “the first question is mine: ‘What are three reasons you would like to attend Hamletton School for Girls next year?’”
Ebony drew a deep breath, visualised the page of notes she would’ve had in front of her, and then began to answer.
Overall, the girl did well. Even her mother had to admit it, unimpressed as she was by the presence of Alfred and absence of Ebony’s notes. Certainly she stumbled over what she was trying to say a few times, but the panel of interviewers were well aware that they were interviewing eleven year old girls. They were looking for character, not elocution. Elocution was something Hamletton School would make sure to instill in all its students over the course of their time there, but it wasn’t a prerequisite for admission.
It was a short half hour later that the interview was concluded, though it had felt much longer to Ebony. The girl and her mother had already taken their leave and were part way to the office door when Miss Thornton called them back.
“Ebony, I almost forgot, did you have your character reference with you?” she asked.
Ebony cast a fearful glance at her mother. She did indeed have her character reference with her. Like her notes, it was in the bottom of her handbag, underneath Alfred the Alligator. Could she say she’d forgotten and they’d send it later? A quick look at her mother’s warning face told her that was not an option.
With great trepidation she opened the bag and began fishing around, trying her best to keep Alfred concealed from the headmistress. Where was that form! Item after item presented itself to her fingertips but not one was the form she sought. Who knew she had so many things in this bag! She was sure she’d felt that same packet of tissues at least three times. Then finally, the desired piece of paper presented itself to her fingertips. She grabbed it, and triumphantly pulled it out. And dropped Alfred to the floor in the process.
There was silence for a moment. Ebony felt her face going very red. She grabbed the offending alligator and began trying to force him back into the bag as though by getting rid of him quickly she could pretend it had never happened.
Miss Thornton and Mrs Gordon were still staring at the large plush alligator, mouths partially agape. Mrs Caldweller was the one who broke the silence.
“Oh my! What a splendid alligator!” she exclaimed in delight, “would you mind if I take a look, Ebony?”
Wordlessly, helplessly, the girl handed over her precious alligator for inspection. He was passed along to all three members of the panel and thoroughly admired. Though it pained her to see him handed about so, Ebony had to admit, he was a pretty great alligator.
“And did you stitch that eye on yourself, Ebony?” asked Mrs Gordon, impressed, “your mother must be a good sewing teacher!”
Thankfully she didn’t look at Mrs Walker as she said it, or she would’ve noticed the lady’s livid expression as the alligator-that-wasn’t-even-meant-to-be-there was thoroughly admired from every angle.
At last, after what seemed an eternity to poor Ebony, Miss Thornton handed the alligator back across the table to her.
“I do hope you realise that the alligator won’t be able to attend classes with you next year,” she chided smilingly.
Ebony hugged Alfred and nodded solemnly. She wasn’t entirely sure if that was a condition she could abide by, but maybe if she did a better job of keeping Alfred in her bag, it wouldn’t be too much of a problem. I might be needing a bigger bag, she reflected as she handed her character reference to the principal.
Then she followed her mother out of the room, still hugging Alfred.
Ebony and her mother took their seats opposite the panel. Ebony was painfully aware of the way her feet dangled a moderate distance from the floor and her shoulders barely came above the level of the table top.
Mrs Gordon looked curiously at the blank stretch of table in front of Ebony.
“Did you receive the list of interview questions we sent you?” she asked, not unkindly, “because you may use notes if you’d like to.”
Ebony's eyes grew wide with a horrible realisation. She had indeed made notes, but they were in the bottom of her handbag, underneath Alfred the Alligator... there was no way she could retrieve them now without revealing Alfred.
Doing her best to ignore the feel of her mother’s gaze boring into her, she looked Mrs Gordon in the eye as confidently as she could and said, “Thank you but I won’t look at my notes”.
Miss Thornton raised an eyebrow and exchanged an impressed look with Mrs Gordon. Here was a very confident young lady evidently. Mrs Caldweller just smiled glowingly at Ebony. She seemed to do a lot of that.
“Very well Ebony, I think we can begin,” said Miss Thornton, making a small note on her page, “the first question is mine: ‘What are three reasons you would like to attend Hamletton School for Girls next year?’”
Ebony drew a deep breath, visualised the page of notes she would’ve had in front of her, and then began to answer.
Overall, the girl did well. Even her mother had to admit it, unimpressed as she was by the presence of Alfred and absence of Ebony’s notes. Certainly she stumbled over what she was trying to say a few times, but the panel of interviewers were well aware that they were interviewing eleven year old girls. They were looking for character, not elocution. Elocution was something Hamletton School would make sure to instill in all its students over the course of their time there, but it wasn’t a prerequisite for admission.
It was a short half hour later that the interview was concluded, though it had felt much longer to Ebony. The girl and her mother had already taken their leave and were part way to the office door when Miss Thornton called them back.
“Ebony, I almost forgot, did you have your character reference with you?” she asked.
Ebony cast a fearful glance at her mother. She did indeed have her character reference with her. Like her notes, it was in the bottom of her handbag, underneath Alfred the Alligator. Could she say she’d forgotten and they’d send it later? A quick look at her mother’s warning face told her that was not an option.
With great trepidation she opened the bag and began fishing around, trying her best to keep Alfred concealed from the headmistress. Where was that form! Item after item presented itself to her fingertips but not one was the form she sought. Who knew she had so many things in this bag! She was sure she’d felt that same packet of tissues at least three times. Then finally, the desired piece of paper presented itself to her fingertips. She grabbed it, and triumphantly pulled it out. And dropped Alfred to the floor in the process.
There was silence for a moment. Ebony felt her face going very red. She grabbed the offending alligator and began trying to force him back into the bag as though by getting rid of him quickly she could pretend it had never happened.
Miss Thornton and Mrs Gordon were still staring at the large plush alligator, mouths partially agape. Mrs Caldweller was the one who broke the silence.
“Oh my! What a splendid alligator!” she exclaimed in delight, “would you mind if I take a look, Ebony?”
Wordlessly, helplessly, the girl handed over her precious alligator for inspection. He was passed along to all three members of the panel and thoroughly admired. Though it pained her to see him handed about so, Ebony had to admit, he was a pretty great alligator.
“And did you stitch that eye on yourself, Ebony?” asked Mrs Gordon, impressed, “your mother must be a good sewing teacher!”
Thankfully she didn’t look at Mrs Walker as she said it, or she would’ve noticed the lady’s livid expression as the alligator-that-wasn’t-even-meant-to-be-there was thoroughly admired from every angle.
At last, after what seemed an eternity to poor Ebony, Miss Thornton handed the alligator back across the table to her.
“I do hope you realise that the alligator won’t be able to attend classes with you next year,” she chided smilingly.
Ebony hugged Alfred and nodded solemnly. She wasn’t entirely sure if that was a condition she could abide by, but maybe if she did a better job of keeping Alfred in her bag, it wouldn’t be too much of a problem. I might be needing a bigger bag, she reflected as she handed her character reference to the principal.
Then she followed her mother out of the room, still hugging Alfred.
Installment √5:
“Oh my gosh, I know exactly what you mean Nat!”
Ebony lay sprawled on her bed, in the middle of an important facetime conversation with her best friend. There was a distance of about two houses between them in real life, but it was a cold, rainy evening, and their parents wouldn’t let them go out. Besides, if the girls had been in the same room as each other, they probably would’ve just spent their time chatting and staring at their phones. This way, they were chatting and staring at each other’s faces on their phones, so it was far more sociable. And efficient.
“I don’t even know why they make us do it,” Natalie said with a shudder, “I mean, we’re only twelve!”
“Eleven,” corrected Ebony, shifting so that Alfred supported her chin a bit more comfortably. She was not yet a twelvie and she would make the most of that for as long as she possibly could.
“Yeah, whatever,” Natalie conceded, “but we’ll be twelve by the time term starts.”
“Still,” persisted Ebony, continuing their previous train of thought, “I don’t know why they make a bunch of eleven year olds do such scary panel interviews just to go to their fancy school. It’s not like they’re going to say ‘no, you can’t come!’”
“Yeah,” Nat sighed in agreement, “apparently it’s supposed to be ‘character building’ or something.”
Ebony scoffed. “Haven’t they got enough time to ‘character build’ us? I mean we’re there for the next six years or something,” she added.
Natalie didn’t respond to that. “I think my interview went well, though,” she mused a little concernedly, “Mum says I didn’t talk loud enough, and I just couldn’t look in Miss Thornton’s eyes,” she fretted.
“I know right!” exploded Ebony in sympathy, “what is it with Miss Thornton and looking so scary? She just gives me the bajeebus.”
After a while, there was not much more to say about the horrible interview process they’d been forced to endure, so the conversation turned to other aspects of what school life at Hamletton would be like. They both had older sisters at Hamletton and they’d heard so many great things about it.
“I just think it’ll be nice to get away from Mum finally!” said Ebony, “she’s always nagging me ‘Ebony, do this!’ ‘Ebony, do that!’ ‘Ebony, put your shoes away!’ ‘Ebony, clean the kitchen!’”
“I know right!” Natalie rolled her eyes, “my mum’s just as bad. It’s like they think we can’t even look after ourselves! I mean, we are almost twelve!”
Not long after, the girls hung up their call. This had been necessitated by Natalie’s mother mandating that she needed to take a shower before bedtime which was strictly 9:30. And the two girls both felt more than ever that Hamletton would be a very nice place to be.
Ebony lay sprawled on her bed, in the middle of an important facetime conversation with her best friend. There was a distance of about two houses between them in real life, but it was a cold, rainy evening, and their parents wouldn’t let them go out. Besides, if the girls had been in the same room as each other, they probably would’ve just spent their time chatting and staring at their phones. This way, they were chatting and staring at each other’s faces on their phones, so it was far more sociable. And efficient.
“I don’t even know why they make us do it,” Natalie said with a shudder, “I mean, we’re only twelve!”
“Eleven,” corrected Ebony, shifting so that Alfred supported her chin a bit more comfortably. She was not yet a twelvie and she would make the most of that for as long as she possibly could.
“Yeah, whatever,” Natalie conceded, “but we’ll be twelve by the time term starts.”
“Still,” persisted Ebony, continuing their previous train of thought, “I don’t know why they make a bunch of eleven year olds do such scary panel interviews just to go to their fancy school. It’s not like they’re going to say ‘no, you can’t come!’”
“Yeah,” Nat sighed in agreement, “apparently it’s supposed to be ‘character building’ or something.”
Ebony scoffed. “Haven’t they got enough time to ‘character build’ us? I mean we’re there for the next six years or something,” she added.
Natalie didn’t respond to that. “I think my interview went well, though,” she mused a little concernedly, “Mum says I didn’t talk loud enough, and I just couldn’t look in Miss Thornton’s eyes,” she fretted.
“I know right!” exploded Ebony in sympathy, “what is it with Miss Thornton and looking so scary? She just gives me the bajeebus.”
After a while, there was not much more to say about the horrible interview process they’d been forced to endure, so the conversation turned to other aspects of what school life at Hamletton would be like. They both had older sisters at Hamletton and they’d heard so many great things about it.
“I just think it’ll be nice to get away from Mum finally!” said Ebony, “she’s always nagging me ‘Ebony, do this!’ ‘Ebony, do that!’ ‘Ebony, put your shoes away!’ ‘Ebony, clean the kitchen!’”
“I know right!” Natalie rolled her eyes, “my mum’s just as bad. It’s like they think we can’t even look after ourselves! I mean, we are almost twelve!”
Not long after, the girls hung up their call. This had been necessitated by Natalie’s mother mandating that she needed to take a shower before bedtime which was strictly 9:30. And the two girls both felt more than ever that Hamletton would be a very nice place to be.
Installment 3:
“Ashley don’t be mean to your sister,” sighed Ebony’s mother from the front seat of the car.
Ebony sneered triumphantly at the older girl as though to say ‘Ha, even mum says so!’
But her victory was short-lived and the quarrel soon resumed.
“Mum, Ebony pinched my arm,” complained Ashley.
Ebony cast her sister an indignant look. “You started it!” she said defensively, “you stole my gummy bears!”
“Only two,” grumbled Ashley pettily.
Their mother remained silent. Too silent.
The girls exchanged a worried look, realising that they’d finally pushed it a bit too far. Each girl hunkered down in her own corner of the back seat, with Alfred the Alligator acting as a dividing wall between them. They both knew that their squabbling would be tolerated no more. When their mum got like this it was never a good sign.
Of course, if the girls were honest with themselves, they knew they were lucky to be being driven at all! It was a long car trip to the school, and most of their classmates would come on the train instead. But their mother had gone out of her way to be able to drive them for the start of the Ebony’s first term. This was partially because the girls wanted it – it was much nicer than coming in on the train. But for the main part it was a purely practical consideration. The idea of Ashley packing economically enough to fit in a mere one or two suitcases was laughable to say the least. And Ebony seemed to have inherited her big sister’s propensity for packing everything under the sun.
“Honestly, Ebony, you’re taking all your evening dresses?!” their mother had asked on looking into one of Ebony’s suitcases yesterday.
“But mum, what if there’s a ball?” Ebony had explained patiently. “Ashley says there was one when she was in her first year at Hamletton.”
“Oh, of course,” came the sarcastic response, “wouldn’t want to be underdressed for the ball, would we? You’d best pack all five of your nice dresses, so you can wear them all at once!”
Ebony had rolled her eyes at this. Her mother clearly did not understand the concept of choosing a dress!
Eventually, though, she had managed to locate all the necessary items and cram them into a variety bags and suitcases. Then her luggage and Ashley’s had been carefully packed into the boot in a life-size game of tetris, and they’d got on that way that morning barely an hour after the time their mother had hoped to leave.
At long last, they reached the lookout that was their last stopping point. Jasmine pulled over in the small carpark and the girls bounded out eager to stretch their legs. It was almost an hour to Hamletton still, but from here on in, the road was a steep and winding descent from the mountains to the coast, and their mother liked to be fresh and alert to drive it.
The lookout here had a rather spectacular view of the coastline, and on a beautiful clear day like this it was particularly stunning. Waves of a vibrant blue seemed to roll in silent slow motion towards the gravelly beach far below them. And by straining their eyes to the north, the girls could just make out the bay in which Hamletton lay nestled.
Hamletton was somewhat of an anomaly as a school. It was not so much a school attached to a village, as a school that was a village.
Hamletton village had been built by a rich gentleman many, many years ago. He’d fallen in love with this area of the coast and so built a picturesque little town on the coast, convinced that others would also be attracted by the natural beauty of the place. Unfortunately, he’d missed his guess. The area was far too remote. Though a handful of wealthy families had bought holiday houses there, no-one took up residence long term, and the place was soon abandoned. The post office had never been used as a post office, the council chambers were pristine and new, without a council to populate them, only the pool and tennis courts had ever seen much use from the holidaymakers.
The rich gentleman himself had lived in a handsome villa in the bay to the north until his dying day, and though he never spoke of his beautiful ghost village, people said he mourned for it almost as much as one mourns for a lost child.
In time, however, the gentleman passed, and his son and daughter were left to decide what should become of his village and his mansion. Out of respect for their father, they couldn’t bear to leave his structures to rot uninhabited until the wind and the waves reclaimed them. And so it was decided to turn the village into a girls’ school, while the mansion became its brother school.
Hamletton School for Girls, and Dulwich Manor Boys’ School soon gained an excellent reputation among the wealthy families all over the country, no doubt aided by the pristine beauty of their setting. Ebony and Ashley’s mother had herself attended Hamletton as a girl, and she’d made certain to impress upon her daughters what a splendid privilege it was to be offered a place at such a prestigious institution. Though between you and me, I suspect most of her lecture may have been lost on the wild and boisterous Ebony.
That wild and boisterous young lady was currently engaged in counting ships on the horizon with great enthusiasm. Evidently there was some form of offshore industry thriving in the area, because her count reached at least a dozen steamers visible in the hazy distance without too much difficulty.
Suddenly she was brought back to land by her mother’s weary pronouncement of, “All right girls, time to get back in the car.”
Ebony sighed as she bent her steps towards the vehicle. It might be just an hour more, but it was a slow and winding piece of road, and she’d never really enjoyed this section of the journey very much. Then, seeing Ashley had already made it to the car and seemed to have designs on her bag of chips, she dashed back to the car in order to apprehend her sister before any damage could be done.
Ebony sneered triumphantly at the older girl as though to say ‘Ha, even mum says so!’
But her victory was short-lived and the quarrel soon resumed.
“Mum, Ebony pinched my arm,” complained Ashley.
Ebony cast her sister an indignant look. “You started it!” she said defensively, “you stole my gummy bears!”
“Only two,” grumbled Ashley pettily.
Their mother remained silent. Too silent.
The girls exchanged a worried look, realising that they’d finally pushed it a bit too far. Each girl hunkered down in her own corner of the back seat, with Alfred the Alligator acting as a dividing wall between them. They both knew that their squabbling would be tolerated no more. When their mum got like this it was never a good sign.
Of course, if the girls were honest with themselves, they knew they were lucky to be being driven at all! It was a long car trip to the school, and most of their classmates would come on the train instead. But their mother had gone out of her way to be able to drive them for the start of the Ebony’s first term. This was partially because the girls wanted it – it was much nicer than coming in on the train. But for the main part it was a purely practical consideration. The idea of Ashley packing economically enough to fit in a mere one or two suitcases was laughable to say the least. And Ebony seemed to have inherited her big sister’s propensity for packing everything under the sun.
“Honestly, Ebony, you’re taking all your evening dresses?!” their mother had asked on looking into one of Ebony’s suitcases yesterday.
“But mum, what if there’s a ball?” Ebony had explained patiently. “Ashley says there was one when she was in her first year at Hamletton.”
“Oh, of course,” came the sarcastic response, “wouldn’t want to be underdressed for the ball, would we? You’d best pack all five of your nice dresses, so you can wear them all at once!”
Ebony had rolled her eyes at this. Her mother clearly did not understand the concept of choosing a dress!
Eventually, though, she had managed to locate all the necessary items and cram them into a variety bags and suitcases. Then her luggage and Ashley’s had been carefully packed into the boot in a life-size game of tetris, and they’d got on that way that morning barely an hour after the time their mother had hoped to leave.
At long last, they reached the lookout that was their last stopping point. Jasmine pulled over in the small carpark and the girls bounded out eager to stretch their legs. It was almost an hour to Hamletton still, but from here on in, the road was a steep and winding descent from the mountains to the coast, and their mother liked to be fresh and alert to drive it.
The lookout here had a rather spectacular view of the coastline, and on a beautiful clear day like this it was particularly stunning. Waves of a vibrant blue seemed to roll in silent slow motion towards the gravelly beach far below them. And by straining their eyes to the north, the girls could just make out the bay in which Hamletton lay nestled.
Hamletton was somewhat of an anomaly as a school. It was not so much a school attached to a village, as a school that was a village.
Hamletton village had been built by a rich gentleman many, many years ago. He’d fallen in love with this area of the coast and so built a picturesque little town on the coast, convinced that others would also be attracted by the natural beauty of the place. Unfortunately, he’d missed his guess. The area was far too remote. Though a handful of wealthy families had bought holiday houses there, no-one took up residence long term, and the place was soon abandoned. The post office had never been used as a post office, the council chambers were pristine and new, without a council to populate them, only the pool and tennis courts had ever seen much use from the holidaymakers.
The rich gentleman himself had lived in a handsome villa in the bay to the north until his dying day, and though he never spoke of his beautiful ghost village, people said he mourned for it almost as much as one mourns for a lost child.
In time, however, the gentleman passed, and his son and daughter were left to decide what should become of his village and his mansion. Out of respect for their father, they couldn’t bear to leave his structures to rot uninhabited until the wind and the waves reclaimed them. And so it was decided to turn the village into a girls’ school, while the mansion became its brother school.
Hamletton School for Girls, and Dulwich Manor Boys’ School soon gained an excellent reputation among the wealthy families all over the country, no doubt aided by the pristine beauty of their setting. Ebony and Ashley’s mother had herself attended Hamletton as a girl, and she’d made certain to impress upon her daughters what a splendid privilege it was to be offered a place at such a prestigious institution. Though between you and me, I suspect most of her lecture may have been lost on the wild and boisterous Ebony.
That wild and boisterous young lady was currently engaged in counting ships on the horizon with great enthusiasm. Evidently there was some form of offshore industry thriving in the area, because her count reached at least a dozen steamers visible in the hazy distance without too much difficulty.
Suddenly she was brought back to land by her mother’s weary pronouncement of, “All right girls, time to get back in the car.”
Ebony sighed as she bent her steps towards the vehicle. It might be just an hour more, but it was a slow and winding piece of road, and she’d never really enjoyed this section of the journey very much. Then, seeing Ashley had already made it to the car and seemed to have designs on her bag of chips, she dashed back to the car in order to apprehend her sister before any damage could be done.
Installment 4:
When they finished their slow, winding descent from the mountain and turned into the road that led to the school, Ebony suddenly seemed to lose the boisterous energy with which she’d been quibbling with Ashley. She deflated, almost like a two-day old helium balloon, and sank lower in her seat until she was barely wearing her seatbelt properly at all. Instead, she just held Alfred to her and squashed him as hard as she could.
Ever since Ashley had started there two years ago, Ebony had always looked forward to going to Hamletton. But now that she was actually doing so, she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t really know anyone else at Hamletton – except her sister of course, but that didn’t count. What if she didn’t make any friends? What if she lost all her books and failed all her classes? What if – and this was the one that was making her eyes prick with tears that she was pretending weren’t there – what if people thought Alfred was dumb? These thoughts and others plagued Ebony as they rolled into sight of the large archway over the road that declared ‘Welcome to Hamletton’.
Ashley, to Ebony’s annoyance, was so excited on their approach to the school that she was all but opening the door while their mother was still driving in order to hop out and run and find her friends. Ebony cast her a dirty look that went unnoticed. What business did Ashley have being so excited? Not only was it ridiculous to be so excited about such an ordinary thing – it was just plain insensitive to be so enthusiastic when Ebony herself was feeling so apprehensive. Though for a moment, Ebony almost forgot to be apprehensive – so busy was she being indignant about her sister’s exuberance.
Their mother stopped the car just inside the school and wound down the window to speak to the traffic director.
“Mum, just drive to my dorm and I can unpack there!!” commanded Ashley, veritably bouncing up and down in the seat in her haste to get moving, “we can find Ebony’s room later.”
Mrs Walker had the skill of ignoring her children’s pleas down to a fine art, so Ashley’s noisy petitions went entirely unacknowledged. Ebony felt a vindictive pleasure that she wasn’t the only one who found Ashley’s attitude ridiculous.
Peering out the window, raising her head only just high enough to see out, she watched her mum take the car into the side street that the traffic director had indicated. Then at last, the car was stopped, the engine was off, and her mum had stepped out of the car to go and see Mrs Caldweller about directions to Ebony’s quarters.
Ashley, unable to wait any longer, had evidently decided to take matters into her own hands. She bounded out of the car, leaving her door wide open and dashed to her mother’s side.
“Mum, I’m gonna go find Lucy and Ella, I’ll meet you at my place when you come drop off my luggage, okay?”
Their mother didn’t even pause her conversation to berate her daughter for interrupting, so Ashley took this as a license to run off and do as she pleased.
“And where’s our young Ebony?” Mrs Caldweller was saying merrily, “you didn’t leave her at home, did you?”
“No,” smiled Ebony’s mother, “she’s in the car there, just being a little shy today.”
Mrs Caldweller cast a glance in the direction of the car where Ashley’s open door left a Ebony and Alfred exposed to view. Ebony quickly reached over the back seat and shut the door so that she could continue feeling sorry for herself in uninterrupted solitude. She hugged Alfred so tight that it was a wonder his stuffing wasn’t bursting out at the seams! But as Mrs Caldweller had observed earlier, he was a very well-made alligator.
Before too long, Mrs Walker was taking her leave of Mrs Caldweller, having obtained the desired directions to Ebony’s quarters. As she opened the car door to get back in and drive to the necessary location, Ebony heard a final snippet of the conversation.
“Oh don’t you worry, we’ll soon cure her of shyness,” Mrs Caldweller was proclaiming merrily.
“Oh, trust me,” said Mrs Walker smiling pityingly at the teacher, “you won’t need to – this is most out of character for Ebony.”
Ebony scowled. How dare they talk about her behind her back! Well, not so much behind her back as right beside her while she was choosing to remain in the car, but still. She’d show them if she was shy or not!! Just as soon as she’d worked out whether or not she was...
Ever since Ashley had started there two years ago, Ebony had always looked forward to going to Hamletton. But now that she was actually doing so, she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t really know anyone else at Hamletton – except her sister of course, but that didn’t count. What if she didn’t make any friends? What if she lost all her books and failed all her classes? What if – and this was the one that was making her eyes prick with tears that she was pretending weren’t there – what if people thought Alfred was dumb? These thoughts and others plagued Ebony as they rolled into sight of the large archway over the road that declared ‘Welcome to Hamletton’.
Ashley, to Ebony’s annoyance, was so excited on their approach to the school that she was all but opening the door while their mother was still driving in order to hop out and run and find her friends. Ebony cast her a dirty look that went unnoticed. What business did Ashley have being so excited? Not only was it ridiculous to be so excited about such an ordinary thing – it was just plain insensitive to be so enthusiastic when Ebony herself was feeling so apprehensive. Though for a moment, Ebony almost forgot to be apprehensive – so busy was she being indignant about her sister’s exuberance.
Their mother stopped the car just inside the school and wound down the window to speak to the traffic director.
“Mum, just drive to my dorm and I can unpack there!!” commanded Ashley, veritably bouncing up and down in the seat in her haste to get moving, “we can find Ebony’s room later.”
Mrs Walker had the skill of ignoring her children’s pleas down to a fine art, so Ashley’s noisy petitions went entirely unacknowledged. Ebony felt a vindictive pleasure that she wasn’t the only one who found Ashley’s attitude ridiculous.
Peering out the window, raising her head only just high enough to see out, she watched her mum take the car into the side street that the traffic director had indicated. Then at last, the car was stopped, the engine was off, and her mum had stepped out of the car to go and see Mrs Caldweller about directions to Ebony’s quarters.
Ashley, unable to wait any longer, had evidently decided to take matters into her own hands. She bounded out of the car, leaving her door wide open and dashed to her mother’s side.
“Mum, I’m gonna go find Lucy and Ella, I’ll meet you at my place when you come drop off my luggage, okay?”
Their mother didn’t even pause her conversation to berate her daughter for interrupting, so Ashley took this as a license to run off and do as she pleased.
“And where’s our young Ebony?” Mrs Caldweller was saying merrily, “you didn’t leave her at home, did you?”
“No,” smiled Ebony’s mother, “she’s in the car there, just being a little shy today.”
Mrs Caldweller cast a glance in the direction of the car where Ashley’s open door left a Ebony and Alfred exposed to view. Ebony quickly reached over the back seat and shut the door so that she could continue feeling sorry for herself in uninterrupted solitude. She hugged Alfred so tight that it was a wonder his stuffing wasn’t bursting out at the seams! But as Mrs Caldweller had observed earlier, he was a very well-made alligator.
Before too long, Mrs Walker was taking her leave of Mrs Caldweller, having obtained the desired directions to Ebony’s quarters. As she opened the car door to get back in and drive to the necessary location, Ebony heard a final snippet of the conversation.
“Oh don’t you worry, we’ll soon cure her of shyness,” Mrs Caldweller was proclaiming merrily.
“Oh, trust me,” said Mrs Walker smiling pityingly at the teacher, “you won’t need to – this is most out of character for Ebony.”
Ebony scowled. How dare they talk about her behind her back! Well, not so much behind her back as right beside her while she was choosing to remain in the car, but still. She’d show them if she was shy or not!! Just as soon as she’d worked out whether or not she was...
Installment 5:
Ebony’s lodgings turned out to be a rather adorable cottage with a garden full of colour. A long row of sweet peas waved their colourful heads at her as the car pulled up. There was no particularly special view from the house – the houses with ocean views were generally given to the senior students, but it was a sweet little cottage all the same.
A sign on the door bore the names of her housemates to-be. Natalie Martin was the only name Ebony recognised, the sister of a friend of Ashley’s. They didn’t really know each other well, but at least it was something.
“Oh, Lucy says that Natalie’s just as annoying as you, Eb,” Ashley had told her, “so I’m sure you two will get on fine!”
Ebony wasn’t too sure.
Before unloading her trunk from her bag, Ebony and her mother went in to inspect the cottage that would be her home for the next few years.
There was evidence that at least one other resident had already arrived, but Ebony didn’t want to meet people just now, so she made her way to the bedroom that bore her name.
It was a small room compared to her own room at home, but it was neat and clean and the beige carpets were wonderfully luxurious.
“Wow, make sure you don’t spill anything on the carpets, Eb!” jibed her mum.
Ebony said nothing.
It was a rather plain room, Ebony felt. The bed was not ornate, the desk and chair in the corner were simple wooden pieces.
The only real spot of colour in the room was the curtains, and Ebony felt her eyes drawn to these. They were a deep, rich red colour. It reminded Ebony of the dull hue that you come across deep in the forest – not where the trees grow sociably close together and the light filters through the leaves above in shafts of gold and green, but that green that you get much deeper in the woods – where the trees grow so thickly that the light can’t find its way through to the forest floor at all.
She’d been that deep into the forest with her grown up cousin once. They’d taken the horses exploring and followed a new path that neither of them had seen before and it had taken her further into the heart of the forest than she’d ever been. They’d even had to leave the horses for a bit and continue on foot because the narrow trail had become too small. Ebony still remembered how the very air had felt thick, and smelt heavy with the scent of the old vegetation that littered the forest floor. Looking up at the canopy, she’d seen not a single point at which the sun could penetrate its cover, and the dull green ceiling had given no hint of the warmth and light that she knew existed far above the cool damp world she stood in.
Looking at her deep red curtains put Ebony in mind of that now. If someone were to take that dull green from deep within the forest, and translate it into a warm, dry colour rather than cool and damp, she was certain the result would be the colouring of the heavy curtains in front of her.
Though the rest of the room was relatively bland and plain in colour, this only served to make the curtains stand out even more against the pale cream walls. She loved it, and she had to work hard to resist the urge to go up and just touch the glorious curtains.
“Well, Ebony, if you’ve finished inspecting the curtains...”
Her mother’s voice recalled her from her reverie, and, mentally shaking herself, she followed her mother back out to the car to begin the task of moving bags and suitcases in.
A sign on the door bore the names of her housemates to-be. Natalie Martin was the only name Ebony recognised, the sister of a friend of Ashley’s. They didn’t really know each other well, but at least it was something.
“Oh, Lucy says that Natalie’s just as annoying as you, Eb,” Ashley had told her, “so I’m sure you two will get on fine!”
Ebony wasn’t too sure.
Before unloading her trunk from her bag, Ebony and her mother went in to inspect the cottage that would be her home for the next few years.
There was evidence that at least one other resident had already arrived, but Ebony didn’t want to meet people just now, so she made her way to the bedroom that bore her name.
It was a small room compared to her own room at home, but it was neat and clean and the beige carpets were wonderfully luxurious.
“Wow, make sure you don’t spill anything on the carpets, Eb!” jibed her mum.
Ebony said nothing.
It was a rather plain room, Ebony felt. The bed was not ornate, the desk and chair in the corner were simple wooden pieces.
The only real spot of colour in the room was the curtains, and Ebony felt her eyes drawn to these. They were a deep, rich red colour. It reminded Ebony of the dull hue that you come across deep in the forest – not where the trees grow sociably close together and the light filters through the leaves above in shafts of gold and green, but that green that you get much deeper in the woods – where the trees grow so thickly that the light can’t find its way through to the forest floor at all.
She’d been that deep into the forest with her grown up cousin once. They’d taken the horses exploring and followed a new path that neither of them had seen before and it had taken her further into the heart of the forest than she’d ever been. They’d even had to leave the horses for a bit and continue on foot because the narrow trail had become too small. Ebony still remembered how the very air had felt thick, and smelt heavy with the scent of the old vegetation that littered the forest floor. Looking up at the canopy, she’d seen not a single point at which the sun could penetrate its cover, and the dull green ceiling had given no hint of the warmth and light that she knew existed far above the cool damp world she stood in.
Looking at her deep red curtains put Ebony in mind of that now. If someone were to take that dull green from deep within the forest, and translate it into a warm, dry colour rather than cool and damp, she was certain the result would be the colouring of the heavy curtains in front of her.
Though the rest of the room was relatively bland and plain in colour, this only served to make the curtains stand out even more against the pale cream walls. She loved it, and she had to work hard to resist the urge to go up and just touch the glorious curtains.
“Well, Ebony, if you’ve finished inspecting the curtains...”
Her mother’s voice recalled her from her reverie, and, mentally shaking herself, she followed her mother back out to the car to begin the task of moving bags and suitcases in.
Installment 6:
On their second trip out to the car, they saw another vehicle pull up a short distance away, and to Ebony’s great relief, Natalie Martin stepped out and stretched her legs from the long car trip.
Dropping the pair of suitcases she was holding, Ebony rushed over to her friend and engulfed her in a big hug. Natalie grinned with delight at the girl’s exuberance.
Their mothers were standing a short distance away, catching up on news from the past month. Though they lived two doors away, and the families saw each other often, they’d been playing tag-team with going on holidays the past month, so their mothers had been sorely wanting for a chance to catch up on the latest gossip over a coffee. Standing in the lane outside their daughters’ school quarters might not be quite the same, but it would have to do.
The girls knew their parents and their incredible propensity to chat forever, regardless of where they might find themselves or how soon they needed to leave, so they felt no compulsion to hang around while their mothers finished chatting.
“Which house are you in?” asked Ebony enthusiastically, “please tell me it’s number twenty seven!” She clasped her hands and looked imploringly at Natalie, hoping desperately that the answer would be the one she wanted to hear.
“No!” cried Natalie, despairingly, “I’m in twenty nine!”
“Nooo!” rejoined Ebony. She’d been hoping against hope that Natalie might be in the same cottage as her, but since they were just regular houses with three girls in each, there hadn’t really been too much chance of that.
“Well at least we’re next-door neighbours,” said Natalie, trying to find a more positive light with which to view it.
“Yeah, because it’s not like we weren’t next door neighbours before,” smiled Ebony sarcastically.
Natalie smiled and raised an eyebrow at the joke. Then she and Ebony had abandoned their mothers out the front of the houses and ran up the steps to Natalie’s cottage to inspect it.
Ebony was a little surprised to find the place quite different in construction and furnishings from her own lodgings. She’d almost expected to encounter cookie-cutter cottages placed one beside the other, but that was definitely not the case. Mr Dulwich had wanted to build a quaint village, but not one full of neat rows of cookie-cutter houses. He had insisted that the design of each cottage be unique.
“Come and I’ll show you the inside of my house” said Ebony, after they’d finished inspecting Natalie’s residence-to-be. “You’ve gotta see my curtains.”
The house and the curtains having been duly admired, the two girls made their way to the lounge room to sit and chat. Of course, the first priority was to move their things from their cars and into their respective cottages, but they’d get to work on that just as soon as their mothers said to. For now, the girls too had their share of chit-chat to get out of the way.
“Hey, do you think the TV works?” asked Nat with interest.
“Maybe,” rejoined Ebony without quite so much interest. Nat got up to investigate while Ebony just stayed curled up in her corner of the couch with Alfred. She looked on idly as Natalie fiddled around with some dusty plugs to see if everything was in place. Then she became aware that they were not alone. Another person had just appeared in the doorway.
A girl of about their age with a bob of dark brown hair stood watching Natalie with a look of mixed confusion and mild disapproval on her face.
“What are you doing?” she asked, making Natalie start and turn away from the TV to face the newcomer.
“Oh hi!” smiled Nat, “I didn’t see you there. I was just trying to get the TV working.”
“Why?” asked the girl.
“Um, maybe so it can work?” suggested Ebony, annoyed. Natalie laughed warmly.
The newcomer turned to look at Ebony now. She cast an appraising eye over her.
“Why do you have a crocodile?” she asked by way of greeting, casting Alfred a strange look.
“Because I want to,” said Ebony simply. She stroked Alfred’s head as she said it, as though to console him for the implied slight.
Natalie giggled. “He’s actually an alligator,” she told the girl, “and you’d better make sure you get it right! Eb really loves her alligator.”
“All right,” said the girl, unfazed. She plumped herself down on the lounge in the seat Natalie had just vacated. Ebony frowned. Why should this girl come in here and act as if she owned the place? Natalie had just as much right to be here as she did, or – well maybe a little less, since Nat’s house was actually the one next door, but the principle of the matter was still the same.
“I’m Natalie, by the way, what’s your name?” asked Nat, calmly leaning against the wall beside the TV every bit as though she had not intended to sit down again in the seat this girl had just taken.
“I’m Mia,” said the girl, “Mia Cargill.”
Ebony should have introduced herself at this juncture, but she figured Mia would ask for her name if she really wanted to know. It seemed, however, that Mia was content to continue sitting in silence, unfazed by Ebony’s sullen presence.
“So are you, is this your first year at Hamletton?” asked Nat in an attempt to fill the widening silence.
“Well yes, obviously,” said Mia, “this is a first year house isn’t it? So unless I just randomly walked in off the street to hang out here...”
Nat laughed.
“It’s Ebony and my first year too,” she offered, indicating Ebony with a wave of her hand. Mia looked back at Ebony as though she’d almost forgotten she was there.
“Ebony,” said Mia, “Ebony Walker.”
It was a statement, not a question.
“I’ve seen your name on the door of your room,” Mia said by way of explanation, “your room’s smaller than mine,” she stated.
Thankfully Ebony was spared the trouble of finding something to say to this pronouncement by the arrival of another person. A girl with bleached blonde hair and with one hand on a large suitcase had appeared in the doorway to the lounge room. Her puffy red eyes gave Ebony the impression that she’d been crying recently.
“Hi!” said Mia, enthusiastically greeting the newcomer, “you must be Joanna Horrell. You’re the last to arrive – well for this house anyway.”
“Oh, don’t call me Joanna,” said the girl, wincing as though it hurt her, “my name’s Jo.”
Mia just shrugged. “My name’s Mia,” she said.
“And I’m Ebony,” added Ebony with as kind a smile as she could muster. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for this girl arriving all alone. She’d at least had the prospect of Nat’s company to help her along.
“Can I help you with your bag?” Ebony offered, standing.
Dropping the pair of suitcases she was holding, Ebony rushed over to her friend and engulfed her in a big hug. Natalie grinned with delight at the girl’s exuberance.
Their mothers were standing a short distance away, catching up on news from the past month. Though they lived two doors away, and the families saw each other often, they’d been playing tag-team with going on holidays the past month, so their mothers had been sorely wanting for a chance to catch up on the latest gossip over a coffee. Standing in the lane outside their daughters’ school quarters might not be quite the same, but it would have to do.
The girls knew their parents and their incredible propensity to chat forever, regardless of where they might find themselves or how soon they needed to leave, so they felt no compulsion to hang around while their mothers finished chatting.
“Which house are you in?” asked Ebony enthusiastically, “please tell me it’s number twenty seven!” She clasped her hands and looked imploringly at Natalie, hoping desperately that the answer would be the one she wanted to hear.
“No!” cried Natalie, despairingly, “I’m in twenty nine!”
“Nooo!” rejoined Ebony. She’d been hoping against hope that Natalie might be in the same cottage as her, but since they were just regular houses with three girls in each, there hadn’t really been too much chance of that.
“Well at least we’re next-door neighbours,” said Natalie, trying to find a more positive light with which to view it.
“Yeah, because it’s not like we weren’t next door neighbours before,” smiled Ebony sarcastically.
Natalie smiled and raised an eyebrow at the joke. Then she and Ebony had abandoned their mothers out the front of the houses and ran up the steps to Natalie’s cottage to inspect it.
Ebony was a little surprised to find the place quite different in construction and furnishings from her own lodgings. She’d almost expected to encounter cookie-cutter cottages placed one beside the other, but that was definitely not the case. Mr Dulwich had wanted to build a quaint village, but not one full of neat rows of cookie-cutter houses. He had insisted that the design of each cottage be unique.
“Come and I’ll show you the inside of my house” said Ebony, after they’d finished inspecting Natalie’s residence-to-be. “You’ve gotta see my curtains.”
The house and the curtains having been duly admired, the two girls made their way to the lounge room to sit and chat. Of course, the first priority was to move their things from their cars and into their respective cottages, but they’d get to work on that just as soon as their mothers said to. For now, the girls too had their share of chit-chat to get out of the way.
“Hey, do you think the TV works?” asked Nat with interest.
“Maybe,” rejoined Ebony without quite so much interest. Nat got up to investigate while Ebony just stayed curled up in her corner of the couch with Alfred. She looked on idly as Natalie fiddled around with some dusty plugs to see if everything was in place. Then she became aware that they were not alone. Another person had just appeared in the doorway.
A girl of about their age with a bob of dark brown hair stood watching Natalie with a look of mixed confusion and mild disapproval on her face.
“What are you doing?” she asked, making Natalie start and turn away from the TV to face the newcomer.
“Oh hi!” smiled Nat, “I didn’t see you there. I was just trying to get the TV working.”
“Why?” asked the girl.
“Um, maybe so it can work?” suggested Ebony, annoyed. Natalie laughed warmly.
The newcomer turned to look at Ebony now. She cast an appraising eye over her.
“Why do you have a crocodile?” she asked by way of greeting, casting Alfred a strange look.
“Because I want to,” said Ebony simply. She stroked Alfred’s head as she said it, as though to console him for the implied slight.
Natalie giggled. “He’s actually an alligator,” she told the girl, “and you’d better make sure you get it right! Eb really loves her alligator.”
“All right,” said the girl, unfazed. She plumped herself down on the lounge in the seat Natalie had just vacated. Ebony frowned. Why should this girl come in here and act as if she owned the place? Natalie had just as much right to be here as she did, or – well maybe a little less, since Nat’s house was actually the one next door, but the principle of the matter was still the same.
“I’m Natalie, by the way, what’s your name?” asked Nat, calmly leaning against the wall beside the TV every bit as though she had not intended to sit down again in the seat this girl had just taken.
“I’m Mia,” said the girl, “Mia Cargill.”
Ebony should have introduced herself at this juncture, but she figured Mia would ask for her name if she really wanted to know. It seemed, however, that Mia was content to continue sitting in silence, unfazed by Ebony’s sullen presence.
“So are you, is this your first year at Hamletton?” asked Nat in an attempt to fill the widening silence.
“Well yes, obviously,” said Mia, “this is a first year house isn’t it? So unless I just randomly walked in off the street to hang out here...”
Nat laughed.
“It’s Ebony and my first year too,” she offered, indicating Ebony with a wave of her hand. Mia looked back at Ebony as though she’d almost forgotten she was there.
“Ebony,” said Mia, “Ebony Walker.”
It was a statement, not a question.
“I’ve seen your name on the door of your room,” Mia said by way of explanation, “your room’s smaller than mine,” she stated.
Thankfully Ebony was spared the trouble of finding something to say to this pronouncement by the arrival of another person. A girl with bleached blonde hair and with one hand on a large suitcase had appeared in the doorway to the lounge room. Her puffy red eyes gave Ebony the impression that she’d been crying recently.
“Hi!” said Mia, enthusiastically greeting the newcomer, “you must be Joanna Horrell. You’re the last to arrive – well for this house anyway.”
“Oh, don’t call me Joanna,” said the girl, wincing as though it hurt her, “my name’s Jo.”
Mia just shrugged. “My name’s Mia,” she said.
“And I’m Ebony,” added Ebony with as kind a smile as she could muster. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for this girl arriving all alone. She’d at least had the prospect of Nat’s company to help her along.
“Can I help you with your bag?” Ebony offered, standing.
Quintessential
