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alt_aliceWe’ve managed to settle into some sort of routine now that it's been a few weeks since we've taken in our new people. Naturally, it’s been quite an adjustment for all of us – we’re used to children, for a start, and some of these new people are late teenagers or young men and women, who are completely different sorts of people altogether, as Molly and Arthur can no doubt attest! That, and our children for the most part have been with us since they were very young, whereas these young people have spent years working and in the camps, and some of them under terrible conditions. It’s rather like getting eight John Turners at once, and he was quite the handful when he first got to Moddey Dhoo if you’ll all recall.
Everyone is recovering fairly well physically, but all of them bear some rather significant internal scars that will take a good while to disappear. The youngest one, I believe her name is Portia, she’s around twelve but doesn’t know for sure. She’s the one that worries me the most. She insisted when she first arrived that her name was Porca, because her parents were pigs, and she wore this awful stained dress that looked like sackcloth that she wouldn’t take off. Laura McGivern was endlessly patient about it, and after talking it over with her, sorted out that she was massively uncomfortable parting with the only thing that was really hers, so they came to a compromise where Laura made the dress into handkerchiefs so that Portia could always carry around a bit of it with her. I suspect she’s the one that’s been treated the worst of the lot – and will take the most care to bring round. But Laura has become her champion – she and Stephen came from the camps, you know, along with their daughter Katherine, so I think she’s able to identify a good deal with what they’ve all been through.
The next eldest is Lisa Turpin, who’s fourteen. She’s very quiet, and I don’t think she’s quite come to trust any one of us yet. She’ll talk to the others that she came with, though. She tends to steal food, just like Alec did when he first came here. She can’t read or write very well, and tends to give us blank looks whenever we ask her any questions. Judith has been assessing all of their academic strengths – they’ve got these enormous gaps in basic skills, of course, but some are far worse off when it comes to ability to learn new things, and Lisa looks like she falls into that group. If only she’d speak up, perhaps, we’d learn more about what she’s going through.
The next two are identical twins, boys around the age of sixteen. They call themselves Dexter and Sinister, though I know those aren’t their real names. They are terrified of being apart from one another, because they were trained to do everything in perfect coordination with one another as their mistress preferred it that way. They can’t even be in separate rooms without being absolutely beside themselves. I fear she trained them through excessive use of Imperius.
Tim Clark and Patricia Stimpson are both around the same age, around seventeen. Tim has quite a good head on his shoulders, as does Tricia, and both of them have become the most vocal members of the group, so they often will come to Arabella or Frank or myself with specific concerns that they all have, or their own opinions as to how it would be best to approach certain issues that some of their group are going through. Tim was treated very kindly by his master and mistress, and although he downplays it to the rest of them, he has a genuine sort of wistfulness when he talks of them. I gather that his master died two years back, and his mistress perished at the Cup. Tricia is also in mourning as well – a fellow servant she was quite sweet on was killed in the blast, and she misses him terribly.
Our two eldest are Finbar Quigley and Richard Weyman, two young men. Finbar is slightly younger than Richard, but he’s a good deal bigger – and the two are as different as night and day. Finbar is nothing but anger. He reminds me a good deal of John when he first arrived at Moddey, only John had his younger brother to temper him somewhat. Finn just has himself, and he’s flown off the handle on more than one occasion over little things. I don’t blame him. He’s got a lot to be angry about. Frank has started working with him regularly to burn off all that energy he’s got bottled up inside of him, and I hope that he’ll learn focus and purpose to direct his anger. Richard is very quiet, and quite calm about everything – but he puts up quite a wall when it comes to what he’s thinking and feeling. I can imagine that having to learn basic magic skills is very frustrating for someone his age – but he certainly doesn’t show any of it. He has been spending a lot of time lately with our Danny, who is a steady sort and tends to be quiet as well. They’re around the same age too, which helps a good deal.
The rest of the children have of course been endlessly fascinated by our new additions – I’ve had to tell them not to be too much of a bother, otherwise they’d have crowds following them everywhere they go. I have also had extensive conversations with our five students who already have wands about how they oughtn’t make a show of what they can do – not until the older ones have had a chance to catch up. Alec certainly understands what that is like, so he’s taken the others well in hand.
These young people have been through so very much, and although it can sometimes be difficult to sort out how it might be best to help them, I know in my heart of hearts that if there was a place and people who could, we would be it, and we will all be there for them all as best as we can. I’ve been so proud with how all of the adults at Moddey Dhoo have taken these new additions in with open arms, and have all been working tirelessly with them to show them they are welcomed here. I would expect nothing less from them, but it still does my heart good to see. Even though we’re taking small steps forward, that still means we’re moving in the right direction, and we’ll get where we need to in time.
Minerva, if you would do me a favour, I would very much like you to look up information about our Portia and the twins. I’d like to know their full names for a start, and any information you can give me about their parents would also be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and before I forget, I wanted to check with Poppy and Hermione -- has there been any progress on obtaining unicorn hairs? Melissandra has mentioned that mermaid scales and kneazle whiskers might also be worth a try if we can get our hands on any. I don't know how Crookshanks would feel about donating one, but perhaps if he sheds one any time soon, you could keep ahold of it, Hermione?
Everyone is recovering fairly well physically, but all of them bear some rather significant internal scars that will take a good while to disappear. The youngest one, I believe her name is Portia, she’s around twelve but doesn’t know for sure. She’s the one that worries me the most. She insisted when she first arrived that her name was Porca, because her parents were pigs, and she wore this awful stained dress that looked like sackcloth that she wouldn’t take off. Laura McGivern was endlessly patient about it, and after talking it over with her, sorted out that she was massively uncomfortable parting with the only thing that was really hers, so they came to a compromise where Laura made the dress into handkerchiefs so that Portia could always carry around a bit of it with her. I suspect she’s the one that’s been treated the worst of the lot – and will take the most care to bring round. But Laura has become her champion – she and Stephen came from the camps, you know, along with their daughter Katherine, so I think she’s able to identify a good deal with what they’ve all been through.
The next eldest is Lisa Turpin, who’s fourteen. She’s very quiet, and I don’t think she’s quite come to trust any one of us yet. She’ll talk to the others that she came with, though. She tends to steal food, just like Alec did when he first came here. She can’t read or write very well, and tends to give us blank looks whenever we ask her any questions. Judith has been assessing all of their academic strengths – they’ve got these enormous gaps in basic skills, of course, but some are far worse off when it comes to ability to learn new things, and Lisa looks like she falls into that group. If only she’d speak up, perhaps, we’d learn more about what she’s going through.
The next two are identical twins, boys around the age of sixteen. They call themselves Dexter and Sinister, though I know those aren’t their real names. They are terrified of being apart from one another, because they were trained to do everything in perfect coordination with one another as their mistress preferred it that way. They can’t even be in separate rooms without being absolutely beside themselves. I fear she trained them through excessive use of Imperius.
Tim Clark and Patricia Stimpson are both around the same age, around seventeen. Tim has quite a good head on his shoulders, as does Tricia, and both of them have become the most vocal members of the group, so they often will come to Arabella or Frank or myself with specific concerns that they all have, or their own opinions as to how it would be best to approach certain issues that some of their group are going through. Tim was treated very kindly by his master and mistress, and although he downplays it to the rest of them, he has a genuine sort of wistfulness when he talks of them. I gather that his master died two years back, and his mistress perished at the Cup. Tricia is also in mourning as well – a fellow servant she was quite sweet on was killed in the blast, and she misses him terribly.
Our two eldest are Finbar Quigley and Richard Weyman, two young men. Finbar is slightly younger than Richard, but he’s a good deal bigger – and the two are as different as night and day. Finbar is nothing but anger. He reminds me a good deal of John when he first arrived at Moddey, only John had his younger brother to temper him somewhat. Finn just has himself, and he’s flown off the handle on more than one occasion over little things. I don’t blame him. He’s got a lot to be angry about. Frank has started working with him regularly to burn off all that energy he’s got bottled up inside of him, and I hope that he’ll learn focus and purpose to direct his anger. Richard is very quiet, and quite calm about everything – but he puts up quite a wall when it comes to what he’s thinking and feeling. I can imagine that having to learn basic magic skills is very frustrating for someone his age – but he certainly doesn’t show any of it. He has been spending a lot of time lately with our Danny, who is a steady sort and tends to be quiet as well. They’re around the same age too, which helps a good deal.
The rest of the children have of course been endlessly fascinated by our new additions – I’ve had to tell them not to be too much of a bother, otherwise they’d have crowds following them everywhere they go. I have also had extensive conversations with our five students who already have wands about how they oughtn’t make a show of what they can do – not until the older ones have had a chance to catch up. Alec certainly understands what that is like, so he’s taken the others well in hand.
These young people have been through so very much, and although it can sometimes be difficult to sort out how it might be best to help them, I know in my heart of hearts that if there was a place and people who could, we would be it, and we will all be there for them all as best as we can. I’ve been so proud with how all of the adults at Moddey Dhoo have taken these new additions in with open arms, and have all been working tirelessly with them to show them they are welcomed here. I would expect nothing less from them, but it still does my heart good to see. Even though we’re taking small steps forward, that still means we’re moving in the right direction, and we’ll get where we need to in time.
Minerva, if you would do me a favour, I would very much like you to look up information about our Portia and the twins. I’d like to know their full names for a start, and any information you can give me about their parents would also be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and before I forget, I wanted to check with Poppy and Hermione -- has there been any progress on obtaining unicorn hairs? Melissandra has mentioned that mermaid scales and kneazle whiskers might also be worth a try if we can get our hands on any. I don't know how Crookshanks would feel about donating one, but perhaps if he sheds one any time soon, you could keep ahold of it, Hermione?
no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 04:10 am (UTC)But it's certainly worth a try.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 04:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 04:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 03:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 04:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 03:32 am (UTC)I wonder...Alice, thinking about the twins in particular, and you may consider this is a mad idea, but do you think it might be helpful if I came and stayed for a bit, so I could talk to them? Not too long, perhaps only a night or two since I know you're crowded. But if I came and told them that I'm the mother of twins myself, I might be able to help? If there's anything I know, it's twin issues! Especially twin issues in the midst of a big and boisterous family!
I don't know. They might think I'm simply another unfamiliar face poking my nose in their business. What do you think?
You might even ask them if they might like the idea?
no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 04:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 03:30 pm (UTC)Tell Frank good on him for working with your Finbar. If anyone can handle someone who's outraged at the world, it's Frank.
But Allie, you mentioned Wil a while back and then you were inundated with the new arrivals and I never had an answer. How is he?
no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 03:51 pm (UTC)He's quite the crawler, and Jacinda seems to think he'll be walking in a few months.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 03:51 pm (UTC)Private Message to Alice
Date: 2011-10-02 03:55 pm (UTC)Does it have to be a bracelet? Maybe something a little less ... er, well, more uh ...
Well. I'd like something, in any case. Yeah.
Only don't tell the others, right? Don't want them to think I've gone all soppy.
Re: Private Message to Alice
Date: 2011-10-02 04:03 pm (UTC)And don't you worry, love. Your secret soppy side is safe with me.
Besides, I can hardly tease you about being softhearted when Frank insists on feeding him every afternoon, and keeps a chart of how much he's grown.
Re: Private Message to Alice
Date: 2011-10-02 04:05 pm (UTC)Re: Private Message to Alice
Date: 2011-10-02 04:13 pm (UTC)Re: Private Message to Alice
Date: 2011-10-02 04:18 pm (UTC)It was just such an odd comment to make. I hardly noticed at first but since then, it's been sticking in my mind.
Even if it's not meant to try a dig at me, I can't work out why he thinks telling the truth would be such a defect. Can you?
Re: Private Message to Alice
Date: 2011-10-02 04:29 pm (UTC)The best way you can find out, of course, would be to ask him. Then again, you do have a way of asking him questions that tend to ruffle his feathers a bit.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-03 02:29 am (UTC)Today we packed off early with our nets and cases and pruning sheers, but we'd scarcely made it beyond the eaves of the forest when we were met by the centaur called Ronan, who said our visit had been foreseen and was not welcome.
He escorted us a short distance to a clearing where we found ourselves in a circle of his kind, who then spent an intolerable while debating what to do about us. In the end, when it was entirely too late to begin our day's work, they agreed we might return next Saturday morning if we consented to come at dawn and to bring tokens of our goodwill.
We're at a loss what they meant by the latter. Walden: can you suggest anything at all we might take that they'd appreciate? Do any of the rest of you have experience of centaurs? I confess mine is rather limited. Pomona's had some, but she says they were not so forbidding in the past. She was rather taken aback by the degree of hostility they displayed.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-03 02:47 am (UTC)I think it's a good sign that they agreed to let you come back, as you will most certainly need their cooperation to continue. They might've refused outright.
Thank you for trying, Poppy. I know it took a good deal of bravery for both you and Pomona.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-03 02:55 am (UTC)Pomona is giving me rather a stiff bit of ribbing for being provincial.