Two days late? Ahem, no comment.
Oh, and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts about how/where it’s going.
- Alistair
Breakfast tended to be a simple affair in Pascoe Glyn. Porridge or toast, that was it. According to the older villagers, who had an opinion on everything, the breakfast table was once laden with a glorious bounty. However, villagers of a more realistic mind recalled things differently. The memory of bacon, eggs and a whole range of ways to enhance toast, most notably jam, often reduced one of the old timers to tears. Pigs were saved for rare celebrations and chickens were creatures of myth.
Arisia, a recent addition to the adult population of the village, was holding court with a handful of the pre-Elevens. She had been hoping to catch Ryan’s attention but he was nowhere to be seen in the low ceilinged hall. She sat at the head of one of the old gnarled tables, on an unbalanced stool, and squinted at her audience in the dim light, reflected down a series of pipes from mirrors set on the outer surface of the village. She was sharing what they could expect today and even though they had seen the ceremony many times before, she was enjoying a chance to spread a bit of uncertainty, fear and doubt.
‘It’s not the Railman you have to be scared of, you see,’ she said, watching the eyes of the younger children widen with horror, their imaginations already working overtime. Gregor, who was eight, had a slice of toast thick with butter half in his mouth and looked at Arisia with a rising panic. And it took a lot to interrupt the normally robust Gregor in the middle of a mouthful…
‘No,’ she said, drawing uncomfortable looks from some of the nearby adults. Donovan, who was an Elder and reckoned his wisdom far above all others, looked up momentarily over his half-moon spectacles from the well worn book in his hands and directed a scowl to an oblivious Arisia before returning to his reading. ‘No, it’s what happens after the Railman doesn’t come is what you have to be afraid of.’
Rebecca was turning Eleven tomorrow, with Scott two days later, and she sat and methodically worked her way though her bowl of luke-warm porridge. She expected this routine, especially from Arisia, and had no desire to hear any more of it. Rebecca didn’t believe the stories but they were having an unwelcome effect on the others.
‘Nothing happens, as well you know,’ said Rebecca, rounding on Arisia. ‘You’re scaring them just because you can.’
‘Dry your eyes, Becca,’ she mocked. ‘Don’t think I’ve forgotten your day tomorrow.’ She leaned over and whispered in her ear. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’ She stood up, grabbed her bowl and sneered at her audience. ‘I’ve had it with you children,’ she snapped and marched out of the hall.
Rebecca reached across the table and took Gregor’s free hand in her own.
‘It’s okay,’ she said softly. He resumed chewing and a smile grew on his lips. Rebecca turned to Scott. ‘We’d better go and find Ryan before Arisia does. I don’t want her getting her claws into anyone else today.’
