sugarandice | October 2, 2010

The key to the future?

I know, it's sort of a cheesy campaign slogan, but I was having a hard time thinking of something and then I saw the little box on my desk and it popped into my head.

[Private to Peter]
Is it really horrible?

I just hadn't expected you to use a key for your campaign. No, it's not horrible. It's actually quite a good idea.

I guess I have a thing for keys.

How are the little ones treating you?

Have you figured out what all of them are for yet?

I'm doing alright with them. It's always interesting and things are always happening. One of the second graders came in from recess and puked the other day, which was a joy. I guess a bunch of them have strep throat. Doesn't it seem like we ought to be immune to normal diseases or something?

One would think. Although I suppose it may depend on what sort of Old Race you are? Some of us are more human than others, or so it would seem.

It sort of makes me wonder what possesses people to have children at all, knowing all of the various and sundry disgusting things that tend to come out of them.

And no, I haven't figured out what all of them are for yet. Only the one so far, I suppose. Have you figured yours out?

I haven't figured mine out at all.

You don't like children?

You will. ~~At least I hope you will.~~ ~~Not that I'm sure I entirely know what I meant it to be for.~~

I don't mind children, as long as there's nothing oozing from their orifices.

Eventually, I guess.

Children sort of come that way naturally, especially when they're small. It's hard to raise them without that part.

Indeed. I'm sure I was just as oozy and gooey when I was small.

Everybody is. Have you ever babysat?

Not really, no. Once or twice for my cousins on holidays but never when they were very young. Rhys and Seren are close enough in age to me that it was never my responsibility to watch them. If the three of us were left home alone together, I was nominally in charge, but it's not as if either of them listen to me.

You should try it someday. It's not something you ever really forget. Although it's better if you actually care about the child, I think, rather than if it's someone random.

Well, if my aunt and uncle ever decide to have more kids... Other than that, I don't know when the opportunity might arise, with me being here all the time.

I'm not sure I'd quite know what to do with a child so young they couldn't tell me what they needed.

That last bit's easier than you think. You listen to them. They always say what they need, even if it's not in words. There are different cries for being wet or for needing to be held or for hunger. Smiles. Quizzical looks. Reaching out. You have to pay attention to them and forget about what you want, in order to figure out what they need.

But don't you have to be their mum or something to know the difference between the cries? It doesn't seem like something you could just pick up in a couple of hours, watching them.

You need to spend time with them, yeah. But a good babysitter pays attention. And usually sits for the same family more often than once.

I take it you have experience with it, then?

It's good to have an way to earn money. And I'd already learned some with my siblings. ~~Before Mom knew I was different.~~

I mostly helped out in my parents' shop for money. Still do, when I'm home. Sometimes I help out not for money, because they tell me to. There's no such thing as child labor laws when it's a family business.

Yeah, my parents never paid me for babysitting. I did that around here, which was good in the summers when I wasn't going home anyway. What kind of shop do your parents have?

British import shop. My father and uncle started it, back before I was born. It's in Springfield, though, because that's where they were before they moved to Pelham because of me (and then Seren), and where my uncle still lives. So it's a little bit of a commute for them, but they manage all right.

For the record, British candy is far better than American - they actually use real sugar.

I wonder if I've ever been in there. Springfield's pretty big, but not all that big. That's funny, though, that you were born in Springfield. I didn't realize.

I had this one British candy once. Or maybe it was Canadian. Or both. It was this thing called a Crunchie and it was like a honeycomb in chocolate. Really sweet, but it kind of melts on your tongue, like it just dissolves away.

We moved to Pelham Hills when I was in second grade. It took a couple of years, I guess, for them to really pinpoint that I was Sidhe, and not just a pretty, charismatic little kid.

Crunchie is British. Made by Cadbury, who is based out of England. Of course now that you've mentioned it, I want one. I guess I'll have to see about having Mum and Dad replenish my candy stash.

I like the chew bars - sort of like American's Laffy Taffy? - only they taste a lot better. There's one called Vimto that's blackcurrant and grape and such that I'm a bit addicted to.

And I've just noticed that when I start thinking about my parents and their shop, I start talking like them. My grammar goes slightly wonky, at least by American standards... and I use words like wonky.

I came here during sixth grade. They thought I was quiet and distractable. Then they figured out that my mind really was wandering off. Everyone else is still in Springfield.

I wouldn't mind one of those Crunchie bars. I can give you money for your parents.

I don't think I've ever had those chew bars. Black currant? They have different flavors.

Why did your parents decide to move here?

You don't need to pay. They can afford to sacrifice a little bit of candy to their oldest son and his friend. And yes, they have different flavors. The Skittles over there have blackcurrant instead of grape.

I think my parents may end up moving back to Springfield once Rhys and I graduate. Seren will be in the dorms then (she convinced them to do the same thing with her that they did with me - let her live in the dorms for upper school) so there's not really a reason for them to stay in Pelham.

I'm assuming by "here" you mean "to America". They came over to help one of my dad's older brother's set up an import business/shop. It wasn't meant to be permanent, but shortly after they got here, Mum got pregnant with me, and then Rhys right after, and they just gave in and decided to stay.

We've done family holidays to visit a few times.

That ~~still sounds odd~~ doesn't sound right; they don't know me at all.

Springfield's not a bad place. Some parts are, but the suburbs are good. And there's always something going on there.

Yeah, I meant here, in the States. That must be cool to go out of the country for holidays and things.

It's a candy bar, Peter. I ask for candy all the time; they won't think anything of it, and if I choose to give one to you, free of charge, that's up to me, isn't it?

It is cool. I love Wales; it's really beautiful. I like London, too. We went to visit where my grandfather (father's father) grew up in Italy once, too.

I've never been out of the country. Someday I'd like to go to England, I guess, or Europe, but not until I can afford to fly first class. You'll have to tell me what's good to do there if I ever get to go.

I was going to ask 'why first class?' but then I realized that your height in coach would be uncomfortable. It's bad enough for me, and you have several inches on me.

I'm thinking of seeing if I can get my parents to agree to let me go after I graduate, as a graduation gift. Maybe if you've managed to save up by then, you can come along. That is, if I can convince them.

That's exactly it. I've never flown, but I've been in a train and that was bad enough. I've heard so many horror stories that I don't even want to try coach, especially not overseas.

~~I don't think~~ ~~It's going to take~~ If I have enough, maybe. But I know it's not cheap, and my family's not going to buy my ticket.

It's not actually as long a flight as you might think - it takes nearly as long to get from one side of the United States to the other as it does to get from Boston to London. But still, point very much taken.

I don't know if they'll let me go on my own, either. I expect I'll get told I can go when I'm an adult... which technically won't be until next September.

Ah well. I can dream.

What does being eighteen have to do with it? Once you graduate, you're as good as adult. You'll... well, you'll be doing whatever it is you want to do after you graduate. If you go to college, that'd be before you turn eighteen, right?

If I go to college, it'll be before I'm eighteen, yes. I don't know what the difference is, eighteen or not, but it seems to make a difference to the old folks. I suppose the fact that I technically can't consent to things like medical treatment or whatever might play a part.

I didn't claim it made sense.

Parents rarely make sense.

But I'm sure you'll convince them when the time comes, too.

I certainly hope so.

I can help hang them.

Awesome. Everything's pretty much closed up for the night - meet for breakfast tomorrow morning, say 9 am, and we can go after that?

Ai, Ai captian!

And how would you be making Pelham a better place?

By making sure that the students voices are heard, and our interests are represented. By striving to make this place not just a school, but the home that so many of us see it as. By ensuring that this place is more than just a holding pen for the freaks and misfits of the world - that we really do get to develop our potentials, and that people are prepared when they leave to be part of what's outside.

And you?

I think I'll be working on a one word campaign. Much simpler.

And that word is Fun. You must remember the capitalize it. It is key.

How, precisely, are you defining fun?

Events that generally bring about happiness and laughter and enjoyment. Like that whole campfire celebration for my birthday's eve. So, more of that sort of thing.

More parties? That's your plan?

How will you address those students who don't find those sorts of things enjoyable? What do you plan to do for them?

Parties, events, trips. It doesn't have to be just parties.

I'll figure out what they want and find a way to do them. We're living here all the time, so there should be more to it than just studying and homework and, if you're so inclined, sports.

You've been here less than a month. How do you know that there's a lack of such things?

October 2, 2010

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