We had another change in our usual Tuesday night schedule;
though this time it wasn’t weather-related – we just ended up spending the
evening at Rowen’s house after Michael, Tim, and I were invited to go there for
dinner when Rowen’s mother found out that we were expecting to put in extra
study time together after dinner to finish up a project and get ready for two
tests.
The weather was still very nice today – at least until the
rain started at around dinnertime and the temperature started dropping like a
rock; but the crash back into winter isn’t supposed to last long. Since tomorrow is an after-school work day
anyway; I don’t really mind the timing for that at all. Our extra studying tonight was fairly
well-timed too for both Rowen and me; since alone time opportunities with our
boyfriends and dealing with our periods doesn’t really work out very well
anyway. I’m also glad that we’ll be
getting that out of the way this week instead of during March Break; so we’ll
be done with it by the time we’re ready to get started on a week of fun and
adventures.
That’s actually something we talked about a bit tonight
while we studied; partly because Mom and Dad have decided that she’s going to
take Ethan, Ehlana, Michael, and me to Crystal Springs for three days and two
nights next week. Mom’s birthday is on
Monday, so we’re going to be at home for a birthday breakfast that Dad will
need to miss because he’ll already be in the city; and then we’ll head there
too and have Mom’s birthday celebration there.
I’m sure that Mom would have at least been going there for an overnight
stay on Monday one way or the other, and this change was made after Violet and
Dillon firmed up their plans. Michael
and I found out about it when we checked in at home on our way to Rowen’s
house; and Miranda and Jacob had already given their approval for the trip –
even though that means he’ll need an extra day off from the Inn on a holiday
week. I’ll try to find some extra time
to help out there to make up for that; but we’ll see how that goes with
everything else we already have planned.
I’m sure that Rowen and Tim would have liked to go along
with us, but that isn’t an option this time; and I think they’ll manage to keep
themselves entertained while their best friends are away for a few days. Rowen and I also talked about what we can do
with Dawn and Jillian while they’re here, and though we want to spend time with
Michael and Tim too; Michael will be spending a lot of time at the Inn; Tim’s
going to spend time at the shop with his father; and we’ll end up with a fair
bit of girls-only time anyway. Some of
our ideas will depend on the weather; but sleepovers and other indoor fun will
be part of the action for sure; and I’ve already sent off some email
invitations tonight for a dinner, movie, makeover, and sleepover night.
Getting back to the action from today, we were busy enough
at school with tests and other work; we spent our entire lunch break outdoors,
enjoying the warm that broke into the seventies for a while this afternoon; and
band practice ended up being a bit short again when a few too many teens
skipped it in favor of spending that time outdoors instead. I can see how that must get frustrating for
Mrs. Robinson, and while I’m not going to promise that I’ll never skip a band
practice for no reason other than I’d rather be doing anything else; I will try
to keep that in mind and not do it very often.
Tim did get to goof off outside with some of the guys while
waiting for us; and we weren’t surprised to find out that tossing a football
around was involved – even though the football field was too sodden for them to
use. He wasn’t really all that
interested in heading over to the computer store when it was time to get
started on our studies, but reminding him that we had a fair bit to get done
tonight – including getting ready for a test in one of his least-favorite
subjects – was enough to draw him away from the football action. He may grumble a lot about the extra work we
put in when studying together; but then he also likes the results of that work
– at least from the parental relationship point of view.
I don’t actually have much to report from our time at the
computer store or at Rowen’s house.
Rowen’s parents had Patrick and Scott with us for dinner too, but they
didn’t cause any problems tonight; and some gaming time with Michael and Tim
while Rowen and I helped out with cooking.
They stayed out of our way while we studied in the dining room after we
all finished eating and cleaning the kitchen; and I’m sure that nobody reading
this needs a play-by-play of our test preparation or the details of our little
Grade Eight projects. It is sometimes a
bit strange having both Michael and Rowen know how pointless all of that work
is for me yet not be able to deal with that openly when we’re together, but
then it is all for appearances anyway; and it is more fun to hang out together
– even if that means we have to play ‘normal’ teens to do that.
It would be nice if the Magi council was ready to give us a
bit more slack for that, but I should be happy with what we are allowed;
considering how much more that is compared to what most Magi kids and teens are
allowed. At least if we do this
well-enough; it’ll help all of the younger Magi kids – and future generations. Yes, that’s already changing for Ethan,
Ehlana, and even our little cousins; but we’re still a very long way from kids
and teens being allowed to know about all other Magi or training together in
groups. We still really only have a
comparatively few kids being taught with Mom’s more advanced pre-natal and
neo-natal programs; so even that is a long-term project.
That’s getting off on a side-trip again; and I really don’t
want to sound like I’m complaining. Mom
and I just have a different perspective on Magi training; but we understand and
appreciate how the Magi Council has chosen to deal with our collective
situation to protect everyone.
Anyway, since Magi-powered studying wasn’t an option
tonight, it took a while to work through our project and have Tim feeling
fairly comfortable about the tests we’ll be writing tomorrow; so we didn’t have
any time left to play anymore before Michael, Tim, and I all needed to head
home for the night. Michael and I left
first so that Rowen and Tim didn’t have an audience for their goodnight hugs
and kisses; but then we wanted to be alone for a few moments too – even though
we were both damp and a bit chilled when we said goodnight on my front porch
after running there through the steady rain.
That kind of weather does have one advantage – we didn’t have a group of
witnesses like we often do on nice-weather days – and especially during the
summer.
For those Magi reading this in the future who didn’t grow up
here in Witch Falls – or don’t live here anymore – I want to remind you that we
don’t have a town full of voyeurs here.
That’s just the way it is in a small, close-knit community like ours,
and even though it can occasionally be annoying to earn a starring role on the
gossip news network; that’s nothing compared to everything that’s wonderful and
best about living here. That’s something
else that comes from the perspective of a girl who spent the first nine years
and change of her life on the run and often prevented by necessity from getting
too close to anyone except my mother, but even if you live in a big city; think
about getting to know your neighbors.
Those connections are what really matter in life – not your career,
social status, or whatever else you think is more important than your family,
friends, and community.
It’s way too easy to forget that sometimes.
Even though I didn’t get to really spend much time with Mom,
Dad, Ethan, and Ehlana today, we did at least start and end the day together;
and I was home in time to do the bedtime story and snack with my brother and
sister. I also had a bit of one-on-one
chat time with each of them when it was time to tuck them in for the night; and
then it was time for Mom to do my Magi lesson with me. She keeps very detailed records of my lessons
and archive assignments; but it’s probably past-time for me to add an update
here.
We’ve both noted in our archives and journals that my
training has been sped up compared to where Mom was in her training at my age –
before her parents were killed in the plane crash; and that pace has continued
even though there isn’t any immediate danger from the Hathornes or other Dark
Magi. Having other Magi to train with is
obviously different for me too; but that helps me more right now with learning
to teach as opposed to learning new skills.
I’m not going to add anything here about the details of my training
tonight; but it’s time to mention that the day that I’ll begin my self-training
is approaching fast.
It isn’t that Mom can’t continue to teach me – and she will
still be able to do that for a long time.
I’m just getting to the point where I know enough, and have the control
and abilities required to teach myself and choose my own learning path – just
as she did after finding out about the archives shortly after learning of her
vast inheritance. I’d suggest that
she’ll love being freed of that almost-daily chore; but then something else
will come up to fill those empty hours each week.
Quit grinning, Dad; I don’t need that mental picture now –
or whenever you’re reading this in the future some day. Then again, you might not be grinning; since
you’ll know what probably didn’t get to happen with that ‘spare’ time! ;^)
I so shouldn’t have gone there – quick, change the subject!
Once my Magi lesson on the elements was finished, Mom, Dad,
and I all went up to bed; and I used a bit of Magi power to get what I wanted
to work on finished while still being able to get to sleep before
midnight. I don’t have anything at all
to report from any of that, and if I can move on from those thoughts about Mom
and Dad quickly enough; I’ll still manage to make that happen. With that in mind, that’s all for tonight;
so, until next time...
...Live long and prosper, fellow Magi of the Light!
