Pomegranate 19, Papaya 18, Green Tea 14
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Pre-NIEE & Post-NIEE
Challenges: Pomegranate 19 (passing notes), Papaya 18 (method to my madness) & Green Tea 14 (historic)
Toppings & Extras: Gummy Bunnies (Storyfriends game: Passing notes, someone challenges someone else to a duel, pop quiz, "Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men." - Kin Hubbard), Whipped Cream (first part: Bri is 10, Jay is 8), Caramel (second part: Jay’s son Sam is 10, his daughter Andy is 8).
Word Count: 1,085
Rating: PG
Summary: Trouble is spelled ‘Brighton and James Dall.’
Notes: Jay grew up as Jim(my)/James until shortly before he joined the Freedom Fighters. Renie is Ren/Ani’s daughter. Corey is Jez/Beau’s older son. Bri and Kira have twin boys who are Bri x10. Last Pomegranate!
James tried to squash his excitement. This year, he was a whole eight, which meant that he and Bri were in the same classroom for the first time in three years. Their school wasn’t very big, so the youngest kids (James until this year) were in one classroom and the next age up which included the ten-year-old Brighton and their friend Tessie were in another. It went on like that with every three or four years thrown together.
He marched into the room and took his assigned seat towards the front of the class. That was a definite downside - last year, as the oldest kids, he had been in the back. At least it wasn’t the front row. He turned and glanced back, catching Bri’s eye and grinning when his brother winked at him. His friend Curtis came in and plopped down almost directly behind him.
“I hate being the little kids,” Curtis complained.
“But we’ve got Bri and Tessie and stuff this year. And we get to learn big kid stuff,” James said. “I think it’ll be awesome!” Even better was that he and Curtis were just young enough that his obnoxious older cousin Margie was never in the same classroom as them. Poor Bri and Tessie had to deal with her two years out of every three.
“Still.”
The head teacher rapped her podium just then for quiet and James turned back around, although he spent more time eyeing the classroom than really paying attention to her ‘welcome to a new year’ speech. He’d heard that already three times before.
A moment later, something poked into his back and he turned slightly to see Curtis offering him a note. He took it and slipped it behind his book, carefully opening it.
Welcome to Miss Kilroy’s class, Jimmy. Ready for a new year of fun?
James grinned, scrawled a quick affirmative and sent it towards the back via Curtis. The brothers passed the note back three more times before Molly Annan noticed and raised her hand.
“Miss Kilroy,” she said shrilly, “Brighton and James are passing notes.”
James went red at being called out, but Bri instantly shot out of his chair and struck what he obviously thought was a noble pose. “For being a tattling know-it-all, I challenge you to a duel!”
Laughter broke out throughout the classroom.
Miss Kilroy was not amused. “Brighton Dall, sit down.” She heaved a sigh and pinned James with a look. “I have heard stories about you, James, and I do hope you will be able to act your age this year and not let anyone’s influence sway you.”
Tessie raised her hand and then didn’t wait to be called on. “Miss Kilroy, whose bad influence do you think Jim’s under? How do you know he’s not the bad influence?”
Bri, still posed, ignored the teacher. “Outside at recess. Weapons your choice. Tessie’s my second. Sorry, Jimmy, but she’s bigger.”
“Not a problem,” James said, grinning. “I’ll just clean up the remains.”
“Who is your second?”
“Brighton Dall,” Miss Kilroy roared at such an impressive volume that most of James’ class jumped. The older kids all seemed used to it.
Bri turned on her with wide eyes. “Yes, Miss Kilroy?”
“There will be no duels. Now sit down.”
James’ older brother seemed to debate his choices. “Recess,” he mouthed at Molly, who looked entirely not amused, before sitting down.
“Now, I want to see what we’ve retained over the summer and where Mrs. Saylor left our new classmates.”
A groan went through the classroom as she gestured them to pick up their slates.
“This is all your fault,” Curtis grumbled in James’ ear.
“Is not. Even Margie admits that Miss Kilroy can be a tyrant,” James shot back and then gave him back the note with a wide, winning smile. “To Molly please.”
His friend rolled his eyes, but obligingly passed it back towards the girl.
“Miss Kilroy!” Molly started as soon as it started to move and then blinked dumbly as the note landed on her desk.
“Miss Kilroy,” Bri said, mocking her tone, “Molly is passing notes.”
“Gods’ Breath,” Miss Kilroy exploded as the classroom burst into laughter again, “I haven’t even asked a question yet. Brighton, if you don’t shape up, I am going to send you up to the next class where you will be a year behind and sitting next to your cousin. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Bri said meekly, sinking back into his chair.
James grinned down at his desk. He passed the surprise test without issue, acing the history section and managing to scrape out answers to the math part. He was also not surprised when Miss Kilroy thrust a letter into his hand to take home to his parents. James took it without worry. He’d give it to his mom and that would be the end of it.
*
“Sam, you know I love you, but how in the world have you gone almost three weeks in school without a note home?” Jay demanded of his oldest.
“Because I go to school with my cousins and Andy,” the ten-year-old said dryly.
Jay grinned fondly. While his son took after Stella more, Andrea, or Andy as she prefer, was a chip off the old Dall block, just like Brighton’s terror twins. “That’s true,” he said proudly, “Andy’s gotten six.”
“And that’s low,” Sam said, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, I like school. I leave the chaos to the others.” He grinned. “I prefer to keep my plotting outside of class.”
“Oh, really? Got anything in the works?”
“I can’t tell you. You’ll just tell Mom.”
Jay shot him a wounded look. “Who do you think I am? James Dall is not a tattler.”
“But you are whipped,” Sam said. “Mom says so.”
“What in the name of the gods is your mother teaching you when I’m not around?” Jay said in horror.
“It’s okay, Dad, Renie says her dad is too and so does Corey. Oh, and Uncle Bri too.” He tiled his head thoughtfully. “If it’s that common, does that mean-”
Jay slapped a hand over his son’s mouth, not sure what it said about their children if this was the type of discussion they had. He also didn’t want to hear the rest. “What was that about plotting?”
Sam’s grin was far too knowing as he pried Jay’s hand off. “Pinky swear you won’t tell Mom?”
“Cross my heart, hope to die. Can I help?”
His son laughed. “Maybe.”
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Pre-NIEE & Post-NIEE
Challenges: Pomegranate 19 (passing notes), Papaya 18 (method to my madness) & Green Tea 14 (historic)
Toppings & Extras: Gummy Bunnies (Storyfriends game: Passing notes, someone challenges someone else to a duel, pop quiz, "Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men." - Kin Hubbard), Whipped Cream (first part: Bri is 10, Jay is 8), Caramel (second part: Jay’s son Sam is 10, his daughter Andy is 8).
Word Count: 1,085
Rating: PG
Summary: Trouble is spelled ‘Brighton and James Dall.’
Notes: Jay grew up as Jim(my)/James until shortly before he joined the Freedom Fighters. Renie is Ren/Ani’s daughter. Corey is Jez/Beau’s older son. Bri and Kira have twin boys who are Bri x10. Last Pomegranate!
James tried to squash his excitement. This year, he was a whole eight, which meant that he and Bri were in the same classroom for the first time in three years. Their school wasn’t very big, so the youngest kids (James until this year) were in one classroom and the next age up which included the ten-year-old Brighton and their friend Tessie were in another. It went on like that with every three or four years thrown together.
He marched into the room and took his assigned seat towards the front of the class. That was a definite downside - last year, as the oldest kids, he had been in the back. At least it wasn’t the front row. He turned and glanced back, catching Bri’s eye and grinning when his brother winked at him. His friend Curtis came in and plopped down almost directly behind him.
“I hate being the little kids,” Curtis complained.
“But we’ve got Bri and Tessie and stuff this year. And we get to learn big kid stuff,” James said. “I think it’ll be awesome!” Even better was that he and Curtis were just young enough that his obnoxious older cousin Margie was never in the same classroom as them. Poor Bri and Tessie had to deal with her two years out of every three.
“Still.”
The head teacher rapped her podium just then for quiet and James turned back around, although he spent more time eyeing the classroom than really paying attention to her ‘welcome to a new year’ speech. He’d heard that already three times before.
A moment later, something poked into his back and he turned slightly to see Curtis offering him a note. He took it and slipped it behind his book, carefully opening it.
Welcome to Miss Kilroy’s class, Jimmy. Ready for a new year of fun?
James grinned, scrawled a quick affirmative and sent it towards the back via Curtis. The brothers passed the note back three more times before Molly Annan noticed and raised her hand.
“Miss Kilroy,” she said shrilly, “Brighton and James are passing notes.”
James went red at being called out, but Bri instantly shot out of his chair and struck what he obviously thought was a noble pose. “For being a tattling know-it-all, I challenge you to a duel!”
Laughter broke out throughout the classroom.
Miss Kilroy was not amused. “Brighton Dall, sit down.” She heaved a sigh and pinned James with a look. “I have heard stories about you, James, and I do hope you will be able to act your age this year and not let anyone’s influence sway you.”
Tessie raised her hand and then didn’t wait to be called on. “Miss Kilroy, whose bad influence do you think Jim’s under? How do you know he’s not the bad influence?”
Bri, still posed, ignored the teacher. “Outside at recess. Weapons your choice. Tessie’s my second. Sorry, Jimmy, but she’s bigger.”
“Not a problem,” James said, grinning. “I’ll just clean up the remains.”
“Who is your second?”
“Brighton Dall,” Miss Kilroy roared at such an impressive volume that most of James’ class jumped. The older kids all seemed used to it.
Bri turned on her with wide eyes. “Yes, Miss Kilroy?”
“There will be no duels. Now sit down.”
James’ older brother seemed to debate his choices. “Recess,” he mouthed at Molly, who looked entirely not amused, before sitting down.
“Now, I want to see what we’ve retained over the summer and where Mrs. Saylor left our new classmates.”
A groan went through the classroom as she gestured them to pick up their slates.
“This is all your fault,” Curtis grumbled in James’ ear.
“Is not. Even Margie admits that Miss Kilroy can be a tyrant,” James shot back and then gave him back the note with a wide, winning smile. “To Molly please.”
His friend rolled his eyes, but obligingly passed it back towards the girl.
“Miss Kilroy!” Molly started as soon as it started to move and then blinked dumbly as the note landed on her desk.
“Miss Kilroy,” Bri said, mocking her tone, “Molly is passing notes.”
“Gods’ Breath,” Miss Kilroy exploded as the classroom burst into laughter again, “I haven’t even asked a question yet. Brighton, if you don’t shape up, I am going to send you up to the next class where you will be a year behind and sitting next to your cousin. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Bri said meekly, sinking back into his chair.
James grinned down at his desk. He passed the surprise test without issue, acing the history section and managing to scrape out answers to the math part. He was also not surprised when Miss Kilroy thrust a letter into his hand to take home to his parents. James took it without worry. He’d give it to his mom and that would be the end of it.
*
“Sam, you know I love you, but how in the world have you gone almost three weeks in school without a note home?” Jay demanded of his oldest.
“Because I go to school with my cousins and Andy,” the ten-year-old said dryly.
Jay grinned fondly. While his son took after Stella more, Andrea, or Andy as she prefer, was a chip off the old Dall block, just like Brighton’s terror twins. “That’s true,” he said proudly, “Andy’s gotten six.”
“And that’s low,” Sam said, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, I like school. I leave the chaos to the others.” He grinned. “I prefer to keep my plotting outside of class.”
“Oh, really? Got anything in the works?”
“I can’t tell you. You’ll just tell Mom.”
Jay shot him a wounded look. “Who do you think I am? James Dall is not a tattler.”
“But you are whipped,” Sam said. “Mom says so.”
“What in the name of the gods is your mother teaching you when I’m not around?” Jay said in horror.
“It’s okay, Dad, Renie says her dad is too and so does Corey. Oh, and Uncle Bri too.” He tiled his head thoughtfully. “If it’s that common, does that mean-”
Jay slapped a hand over his son’s mouth, not sure what it said about their children if this was the type of discussion they had. He also didn’t want to hear the rest. “What was that about plotting?”
Sam’s grin was far too knowing as he pried Jay’s hand off. “Pinky swear you won’t tell Mom?”
“Cross my heart, hope to die. Can I help?”
His son laughed. “Maybe.”