Moving on up to the east side...
It was time for the Cornfed Legion Guthrie family to move out. Apartment was found. Insurance money--after MUCH haggling and threatening with lawyers--was acquired, deed to the land and remaining farm equipment that hadn't be trashed was sold, and she already had the builders moving in on the new land and building (bless her Sam for what he'd done; already she had a little put away that she'd keep adding to until he she could pay him back so he could buy up some new land for himself).
The kids had helped her move out, arrangements had been made for Lucy, Liz, and Jeb to stay at the school--at least until the farm was complete, then she might let Lucy and Jeb come back home until they were a little older--but the other NEEDED to be there where they could be themselves without fear. Where they, like her two eldest, could turn into amazing people.
Little gifts had been left for some of the kids, especially Cessily and Josh, a knobbly-knit scarf with a note for Josh saying: I know it's out of season, but come winter, you might find it useful and a pretty little antique necklace for Cessily. Both notes said: When the farm's built, you're welcome by anytime.
Professor Xavier got a hat and an apple crisp for putting up with them all.
And that was that. Now for the hard part--separating her family up again. Jay especially seemed mighty nervous today--probably about the prospect of the family splitting apart again, but she figured a little talk with everyone would assuage his and all their fears.
"Well, we've talked about this," she said, and they had, they'd talked about moving and whatnot, as a family. "And I know it's been awful nice to be together in one place again, but it's got to get done."
Lucy, in particular, she knew, wasn't going to be happy being split from her twin, but she'd be by enough with Lewis to make sure the twins got by all right.
The kids had helped her move out, arrangements had been made for Lucy, Liz, and Jeb to stay at the school--at least until the farm was complete, then she might let Lucy and Jeb come back home until they were a little older--but the other NEEDED to be there where they could be themselves without fear. Where they, like her two eldest, could turn into amazing people.
Little gifts had been left for some of the kids, especially Cessily and Josh, a knobbly-knit scarf with a note for Josh saying: I know it's out of season, but come winter, you might find it useful and a pretty little antique necklace for Cessily. Both notes said: When the farm's built, you're welcome by anytime.
Professor Xavier got a hat and an apple crisp for putting up with them all.
And that was that. Now for the hard part--separating her family up again. Jay especially seemed mighty nervous today--probably about the prospect of the family splitting apart again, but she figured a little talk with everyone would assuage his and all their fears.
"Well, we've talked about this," she said, and they had, they'd talked about moving and whatnot, as a family. "And I know it's been awful nice to be together in one place again, but it's got to get done."
Lucy, in particular, she knew, wasn't going to be happy being split from her twin, but she'd be by enough with Lewis to make sure the twins got by all right.