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 Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 5:52 am
AriyaLauna made a regular habit of being a nuisance checking in with Charles to make sure that she knew everything that was going on, trying to get Megan homeschooled, or to complain about this or that indoctrination. She'd found out about Zayd fairly quickly, as he and Candice were put in the same guardian group and information was shared freely enough for the support system.
"We're going a-calling, a-calling, a-calling!" She was in one of her moods...Energetic, silly, bored, and needing to socialize. She twirled a bewildered Megan around as the girl popped out of her room.
"Why are ya talkin' like we're going to some Renaissance thing?" the 13-year old eyed AriyaLauna warily, not wanting to be pulled into that junk again.
"'Cause I've been reading Little Women. Like you should be. You're dressed, wonderful, we're going out to see some people today."
"Vincent?" Megan asked snidely. She'd gone from teasing about him to being downright mean about the man.
"Nope, but we will see a boy. I don't know how old he is though... His name is...Zeb? Zack..Something...And Jenny."
Megan started to groan, until AriyaLauna pulled out her transporter. She perked up immediately, "What country?"
AriyaLauna laughed, "This one! It's some new poor soul that's been dumped into all this. Come on." Experience had taught her not to let Megan begin her complaining, and she grabbed the girl's arm and whisked them away to the common transport room in the area the new guardians were at. "Her place iiiss..." she mumbled and looked at the houses, before finally picking the one it was.
She rang the bell and knocked on the door then stepped back.
Megan stood at the bottom of the steps, trying to look both uninterested and friendly at the same time. She didn't mind the meeting a new kid part...it was just the whole thing about not having a choice in the matter that made her want to not try.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:05 am
"Zayd, can you get that? I can't leave the toffee!" came the yell from the kitchen; the smell of burnt sugar was emanating from it. Toffee-making was something Jenny had remembered badly from her childhood - the sometimes burnt results had, however, had been eagerly devoured.
The ten year old sighed, putting his latest book aside - his reading was coming along apace, and he had 'graduated' onto short roald dahl stories. "Yeah?" he jerked open the door, having tied his new bandana (a bright starry blue-and-red thing) around his head; he had relaxed enough to take it off around Jenny, if it was just them, but not if there was anyone else around - and especially if he was answering the door.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:13 am
AriyaLauna did her hardest not to judge the boy by his appearance, but that bandana... Her heart fell a little. Another little rebellious brat?
Her voice had not indication of her inner thoughts, "Hey there, my name's Ms De..."
"Ms. Ariya. It's easier'n anything else. I'm Megan. Hi!" Megan pushed past AriyaLauna, eager to make an appearance with a kid. She whispered then, "She says your an Evo. Me too! Cool, huh?"
"Megan," AriyaLauna sighed in asperation, "Behave yourself...and where is your skirt?" She looked behind her to see the article of clothing in question on the floor. Megan was dressed in some cullotes that came down the same length as three-quarter pants. She quickly picked it up, mentally chiding herself for een thinking of judging the boy.
Megan waved vaguely at AriyaLauna, "Wanna play a game? Ms. Ariya said she wanted us to be friends. I'd like that."
Well, at least she wasn't being grumpy...
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:26 am
"I, umm... pleased to meet you" Zayd blinked, taking a step backwards. Just a little over-whelming, perhaps?
"Zayd, who is it?" Jenny yelled from the kitchen; this was followed by the remark that 'whoever it is, ask them in - the toffee's nearly done, and I need some tasters'. Well, it was true - this particular batch, if it proved good, was being shipped out to one of her children.
"It's a woman calling herself Ariya, and a girl" Zayd yelled back, glancing down the hall. "Um, and I think they're to do with the agency"
"Well, invite them in - get them to sit down in the living room, and I'll be right through!" Jenny yelled.
"Please come in" Zayd said, embarrassed. "The living room's right through here"
The room in question was painted with various murals (that had been a fun afternoon), and scattered with books and leaflets, along with various leaflets. A TV sat in the corner, but it looked pretty unused. Lots of drawings were hung on the walls, all signed and dated.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:35 am
"What's toffee?" Megan demanded, a little put off by the politeness. She looked back and gave AriyaLauna a reproachful look. She'd set her up!
AriyaLauna was all smiles, really, from the entire conversation. This woman knew how to make toffee? Wow, if only she... And just look at this room! "Wow, Zayd," she'd been quick to pick up his name, having plenty of practice from working in the schools, "Did you do any of the art? Someone has some talent."
Megan rolled her eyes. Don't lie, she always said....but she always lied!
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:45 am
"No" Zayd said bluntly, folding his arms. "Jenny used to foster kids; it's all theirs" He looked embarrassed and shy, to tell the truth - new people were never that much fun. I mean, honestly. Did this woman really think he'd been around in the nineteen eightys? "Toffees' a sweet, I guess..."
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:52 am
"Not interested in art then? What do you like to do?"
"That's MY line...Want to play, Zayd? I have a hacky sac, we can throw it or play hacky ball or we can do somethin' else. Find someplace where the adults ain't annoying us...Ariya'll try to play too if she's here." she sighed. Why did she get the embarressing one?
AriyaLauna chuckled. Megan shot her a death-glare.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:58 am
"Umm... what's a hacky sac...?" Zayd asked, getting more embarrassed by the second; where was Jenny, and how could she just abandon him to these people?! He didn't get American culture at all...
"Toffee's done!" Jenny yelled. "Zayd, come and help me pour it out sweetheart!"
Thankful for the release, Zayd bolted from the room into the kitchen.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:05 am
Megan was quite pleased to explain hacky sac to Zayd, "It's a soft ball, I got one right...But..." Megan teetered back and forth on her feet when Zayd ran off and then, looking upset and defeated, turned around and plopped onto a couch, "He hates me." She announced glumly.
"He's cute," AriyaLauna trilled. Despite being rough on them, she loved the kids, and this one was a darling. She sat down beside Megan, "I think he might be frightened because you're big and loud."
"I'm not big!" Megan huffed defiantly.
"You're taller than he is. And you certainly are loud."
Megan folded her arms together, "But boys don't care about loud. Only sissies."
AriyaLauna shook her head and gave up, carefully folding the skirt that was in her arms to a small rectanglethat she could stuff the largish backpack purse she always wore.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:17 am
"Are they really that bad?" Jenny asked, amused; she was pouring out the thick sticky toffee into a large dish to cool.
"Yes!" Zayd said, clinging to her t-shirt. "Please don't make me go back out there!"
"Sweetheart, you are not going to get anywhere by being this shy" Jenny gently detached him, pointing to the fridge, on top of which sat the victoria sponge he had made yesterday - it was perfect, and he was very proud of it. "Why don't you go and get them some cake, and show the girl Zahra?"
"Don't want to"
"Oh, go on sweetie. Don't want her to think you're a wimp, do we? Now, you go and get Zahra, and I'll get the cake, alright?"
"...kay..." Zayd let go with a sigh. But there was no way he was showing his stuffed lion off. Nyeh. Swallowing, he peeked around the door of the living room. "Jenny's gonna get you some cake. Y'do like victoria sponge, right...?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:25 am
Megan had no idea what a victoria sponge was, but she nodded eagerly, "Yeah! I'd like some cake...." nudge from Ariya, "Please?"
"That would be great, thank you, Zayd," AriyaLauna tried to sound warm. She remembered how tramatized Megan had been and, in a lot of ways, still was.
Megan nudged AriyaLauna back, who quickly poked the girl, and in a moment the two were in a giggling poke-war. AriyaLauna settled it by grabbed Megan's hands and tickling until Megan had somehow slipped off the couch and was howling in laughter. AriyaLauna quickly straightened up and gave Megan a look like she had no idea what was wrong with her. It only made Megan giggle harder.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:29 am
Zayd blinked, then retreated into the hall, hiding a grin. He was passed by Jenny, who set the cake down in the center of room.
"Good afternoon!" she smiled, watching the pair with a grin. "I'm Jenny"
Zayd sneaked into the room, hiding behind Jenny's legs - they were kinda freaky. He kinda wanted to say hello, but he didn't want to get all embarrassed again.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:38 am
AriyaLauna stood immediately a Jenny's introduction, "Afternoon. I'm AriyaLauna."
"Ara."
"Or Ara, Ariya...A.L...Whatever. How are you doing?"
Megan had the ball out and was throwing it up and down, peeking here and there at both the cake and Zayd. He really was a sissy! But she kept her mouth closed, unconsciously listening to Ariya's earlier reprimand.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:47 am
"Please, sit down" Jenny said, detaching Zayd firmly, and seating herself in an old frayed leather chair - it looked comfy and old, rather then nasty. She curled up with her legs underneath her, folding her arms.
Zayd blinked, then, biting his leap, scuttled over to the chaise longue at the end of the room, picking up his book again to hide behind.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:54 am
Megan threw the ball up for the last time and snatched it angrily out of the air. He preferred reading a BOOK over her? Why, that little...She halfheartedly tossed the ball in Zayd's direction, purposely coming up short so it'd roll the rest of the way to him. Then she turned around and sat down in the seat Ariya was just sitting in. The end result was guardian on top of child.
AriyaLauna grinned and stood up, moving to the other side, "Not going to have to rename you Squash, am I?"
Megan squirmed, dying to be rude, but not daring to with that cake sitting in front of her.
AriyaLauna turned to Jenny, "Where are you from? I'm from a small-town in northern Florida, Megan's a Metropolis native. Thankfully!" The big city had been quite an adjustment for AriyaLauna.
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