We've had a sleep - a true sleep, with only the sort of dreams that you do not remember save for knowing that you have had them. I am still exhausted enough that I rise later than I usually do, but it is Saturday, and I doubt that the library will see many visitors today - and moreover, I know that Lydia, of all people, will understand if I am too tired to open on time after what I have done
( ... )
I look up when I hear her -- them -- coming down the hall. "Good morning, darling. How are you feeling?"
"Too small." I look back at my bowl. "But mostly just real tired." Tired even though it feels like I've been sleeping forever.
I take another bite. "My oatmeal is cold." I just made it, though. Just now. I made it and sat down. I look at Hermia again, and there's another voice in my ear. "Excolo isn't a real place, is it?"
"Too small." I look back at my bowl. "But mostly just real tired."
Too small? Does she mean, too small only having herself, instead of the other girl who was with her? Too small for the power that she holds? (the power which I must start helping her learn about and control!) But it makes sense to Alice, and that's what counts right now. "I understand," I say, because I might, after all. "We're all tired." I plant the kiss gently on her forehead and turn away again to start the coffee.
"My oatmeal is cold."
"Would you like me to warm it up for you?" I ask over my shoulder as I cut bread from a thick loaf - goodness, I hadn't realized how hungry I was!
"Excolo isn't a real place, is it?"It comes out of nowhere, half a second after she asks about oatmeal. What is going on in Alice's sad labyrinth of a mind to lead her there? I set the knife down, and turn to face her fully. A question like that deserves all of my attention, and a great deal of thought, as well, for I am certain that she can sense more magic than she realizes, and she
( ... )
Hermia kisses my head and I smile, because that's what you're supposed to do. "Can I have coffee?" I ask, and I let the spoon drop back in the bowl of oatmeal. "Coffee's warm."
"Excolo is a different sort of place than most," she says and she's looking right at me, so that I want to squirm around in my chair, "but it's real." I nod and it's quiet. The air is listening.
"More real now than it was yesterday, even, because there won't be any more problems like there were yesterday. What sort of things did you have in mind that made you wonder whether it was real?"
I gotta think about that, because the answer isn't right there for me to see. I got think and find it. I gotta listen. "It shouldn't be real." This place. People like us. All the wrong things come together here. I shake my head, and shake the thought away too. Another one comes up and takes its place, words in my ear for me to say. "Maybe... Maybe it's too real. Maybe that's what's wrong
( ... )
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"Too small." I look back at my bowl. "But mostly just real tired." Tired even though it feels like I've been sleeping forever.
I take another bite. "My oatmeal is cold." I just made it, though. Just now. I made it and sat down. I look at Hermia again, and there's another voice in my ear. "Excolo isn't a real place, is it?"
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Too small? Does she mean, too small only having herself, instead of the other girl who was with her? Too small for the power that she holds? (the power which I must start helping her learn about and control!) But it makes sense to Alice, and that's what counts right now. "I understand," I say, because I might, after all. "We're all tired." I plant the kiss gently on her forehead and turn away again to start the coffee.
"My oatmeal is cold."
"Would you like me to warm it up for you?" I ask over my shoulder as I cut bread from a thick loaf - goodness, I hadn't realized how hungry I was!
"Excolo isn't a real place, is it?"It comes out of nowhere, half a second after she asks about oatmeal. What is going on in Alice's sad labyrinth of a mind to lead her there? I set the knife down, and turn to face her fully. A question like that deserves all of my attention, and a great deal of thought, as well, for I am certain that she can sense more magic than she realizes, and she ( ... )
Reply
"Excolo is a different sort of place than most," she says and she's looking right at me, so that I want to squirm around in my chair, "but it's real." I nod and it's quiet. The air is listening.
"More real now than it was yesterday, even, because there won't be any more problems like there were yesterday. What sort of things did you have in mind that made you wonder whether it was real?"
I gotta think about that, because the answer isn't right there for me to see. I got think and find it. I gotta listen. "It shouldn't be real." This place. People like us. All the wrong things come together here. I shake my head, and shake the thought away too. Another one comes up and takes its place, words in my ear for me to say. "Maybe... Maybe it's too real. Maybe that's what's wrong ( ... )
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