estdeus_innobis | Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world. ~T'ien Yiheng

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Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world. ~T'ien Yiheng

Monday, the 11th of June
The Dormouse, afternoon

I have found, quite curiously, now that I am no longer surrounded by tea I want a cup almost every day. It might be because it is no longer work; but I would bet that it has more to do with the way Hope blends them. It's like she has a sixth sense about what will taste good together.

It's raining and blah and I have no interest in being 'Mayor von SacherMosch' today. I just want to sit and have tea and sweets and not be in charge of anything. So much so I forgo all the pretty dresses in my closet and opt to wear a pair of old, comfortable jeans and a t-shirt I found at the flea market. I have no idea why anyone would want a shirt advertising hardware, but the 'Pretty Hate Machine' part amused me greatly.

With my hair up in a pony tail and a walk that clearly states "I'm off the clock!" I head over to The Dormouse for lunch. I silently pray it's not too busy as I shake raindrops from my hair and push open the door.

(open)

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Wanda heads right over to Hope and those two start talking but I saw Faith notice and greet her in her own way so I sit back in my chair to wait. Though soon enough Wanda turns my way and asks me about how things are with the newspaper. So I smile back at her.

"Hello Wanda. Things at the newspaper are going well enough." The presses are in good working order and Mike has most of the next edition already laid out. "Anything newsworthy happen at the Mayor's office or residence today?"

I know Wanda doesn't want to talk about why the Mayoral residence changed colour so suddenly, but I have learned that sometimes I am able to make small references to such things that people do not otherwise wish to speak of, if I do not sound as if I seriously want the answer. And maybe someday she will tell me.

Ain't nobody comin' to the Carnival on a rainy Monday. Even the folks runnin' games'n rides'n stuff, they're all shuttin' down. It's the kind of day when you go into town to see what it's like, 'cause there ain't nothin' to do on the lot. Guess it'll be a good day to go see Ri again, and maybe catch the twins if they ain't too busy. I take my sketchbook, too, 'cause I can still get some good pictures even when it's rainin'. Sometimes the light looks better when it rains, even.

So I go to the tea shop, but when I come in, the first person I see's Miss Wanda! I almost go to her to get a table 'cause I'm so used to her bein' the one to do that takes care of that. "Hey, Miss Wanda - and - oh, Hope!" There she is! "Oh, I was hopin' you'd be here! Oh, heck, I'm so happy I found you!"

Smile at Leah when she glances at me, an' I reckon she wants some more tea so's I put the kettle on. But then I see someone I ain't seen in a long time come out of th'rain, blonde 'air all damp, an' it's bin a couple of years but she ain't changed too much. So's I rush over an' grab 'er, an' give 'er a smack on the lips, just cos'm so pleased to see 'er. Take Hope's hand, so she can see Genny an' I can speak.

"Luvvy, it's bin years! so good to see you again."

"Anything newsworthy happen at the Mayor's office or residence today?"

Nice try. "The biggest news out of the office is that I am not going back to it until tomorrow." I confide with a light voice. "And the biggest news from the residence is that our black raspberry bush is going to have a bumper crop." After all... they are purple too. Just not the purple Leah is asking about. "But if you can catch Kent, he might be able to give you some details about the new secondary school." I offer as a consolation.

The door opens again, and it's a face I recognize, but I can't place the name until I see the sketchpad. Genny from the Carnival, right. Before I can properly greet her, Faith has greeted her more than warmly, and is holding Hope's hand, talking excitedly. I pull out a chair so that Genny may join us all when the welcomes are over.

"Faith!"

Leastways I start to say it. 'Fore I'm done, Faith's kissin' me right on the lips, right in front of Miss Wanda and this other pretty blonde gal and everyone in the Dormouse! I know I'm blushin'. But I don't half mind, 'cause it's Faith, and 'cause I'm happy to be back.

"Good to see you too, honey. Both of you. All of you! Oh, look how nice you're keepin' this place up! Ri told me 'bout it, but now I can see you're doin' real good for yourselves."

Edited 2013-08-20 13:04 (UTC)

"Oh, Genny!" 'M so 'appy, an' I reach out an' give 'er an 'ug. 'Ave to let go of Faith to do it, so everythin' goes dark again, but Genny feels just the same. Sit back down. "'Eard the carnival was back in town, but didn't know if everyone's still with it... Syl an' Zann an' all still travellin' with you?" Faith squeezes me 'and an' says: "I'll make tea fer everyone - why don't you ladies all move to a bigger table?" an' off she dashes.

Wanda of course answers my question with two small items that are not the answer I was looking for but I didn't really expect her to give it to me today. And she does give me the interesting fact that her husband has information about the new school that he might be willing to tell me, if I can find him.

I am about to ask her where she might suggest I look for him, but then the door opens to a new customer who I don;t know but the others do. Can feel my eyes widen a bit as Faith kisses her on the lips. Not sure how I feel about seeing her kiss someone like that. Probably because I'm wishing she'd kiss me like that. Though the girl is quite pretty, especially the way she is blushing right now.

As the flurry of greetings dies down a bit, Faith says that she will make tea for everyone and suggests that maybe we should all move to a larger table. I pick my cup up in one hand and my notebook with the other and go over.

"Hello, I'm Leah. I understand you're from the Carnival?" Even if she isn't, I still like meeting new people. and if she is, then maybe I can get an article out of this.

So much for a quiet afternoon, but as distractions go, this is far from unpleasant. It is no trouble to move from one table to the next with the group as Faith goes off to make the tea.

"Hello, I'm Leah. I understand you're from the Carnival?"

I would warn Genny to watch her words around Leah, but this might serve my purpose to an extent. Maybe Genny will start talking candidly and I can get some answers as to why the Carnival is back. Yeah, right. Like I ever take a day off...

"Good to see you again Genny." I finally manage to greet her with a warm smile. "What pretty pictures do you have to show us in your sketchbook?" I ask, nodding towards the pad in her hands.

I give Hope a big tight hug. I wanted to talk to her so many times these last couple years. I wrote her and Faith letters, but it ain't the same thing. "It's real good to see you, honey," I say to her, real quiet. "Syl and Zann and Momma and everyone's doin' great. We miss you to pieces, but we're good. When Faith gets back I'll tell you both everythin' that's goin' on. Hope you can make it out to the Carnival, too, 'cause I know everyone'd love to see the both of you."

When Hope lets go of Faith to hug me, and then again when Faith goes away to the kitchen, I see the light go out in Hope's eyes, and for a second, I'm mad. Mad at Management for makin' life hard on Hope and Faith and everyone, and for doin' whatever they done with the Tower.

But Hope'd hate it if anyone was mad. Anyone 'cept Faith, 'course. Faith's always mad at everyone, and sometimes she even means it.

And it's hard to be mad when I'm so happy 'bout seein' the twins again.

We all head over to the bigger table, and the other gal introduces herself while we do. "Hey, Leah." I shake her hand while we're walkin'. "I'm Genny. Nice to meet you. Yeah, I'm with the Carnival - we just come back to town." She looks kinda familiar, but I don't think I met her. "How long you been in Excolo? Were you here when we was here before?"

Miss Wanda asks 'bout my sketchbook, and I grin. "Oh, I got lots from when we was down south last winter. There was beaches and palm trees everywhere!"

I thought that I could sit back and just absorb the conversation while I sipped my tea...

but... beaches. Beaches that might have oceans.

"May I see them please?" I think my tone is more pleading than friendly, but Genny still passes me the sketchbook. I flip through a few of palm trees and maybe the occasional pretty girl---

Oh (http://www.aurelia-art.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=38&Itemid=63).

Oh! (http://www.etsy.com/listing/79478433/waves-of-teal-original-oil-landscape-24) Oh, I remember this! The play of the waves on the shore, the moonlight reflected in the waves, and the song of the ocean. Oh, how I miss it!

"Could I buy this one?" I breathe out, my fingertips hovering just over the paper, almost afraid to touch it lest it's all a dream.

'Urry with the tea so I don't miss nothin'. Come back with a tray, an' think briefly of 'ow three years ago I couldn't've moved like this. Bein' dumb is a pain in the arse sometimes but I wouldn't swap back, no bloody way.

Wanda's cooing over somethin' - Oh, it's some of Gen's pictures. Lean over 'er shoulder.

"That's pretty, luvvy," I say approvingly, when I put my hand on Hope's shoulder, an' she smiles too, cos - "that's lovely, Genny. Ain't seen the sea in years," an' she sounds a bit wistful. "Definitely do want t'come out an' see you all, if we're still welcome." Not everyone was pleased we left, after all.

"May I see them please?"

"'Course," I say, handin' the book over to Miss Wanda. She looks, and…oh. Oh, I ain't never seen her smile like that. All happy and sad and full of wonder, all at the same time. I want to draw her now, she's smilin' so pretty.

"Could I buy this one?"

"You want to buy it?" I stare at her. "But it's just pencil! I mean, it ain't - " I was gonna say, 'it ain't special,' 'cept it is special to Miss Wanda. It's gotta be, the way she's lookin' at it. "If you like it you can have it - I won't charge you nothin' for it." I look back over at her. "You used to live someplace with a beach?" I ask, real soft.

Faith comes back, then, and she and Hope take a look. ""That's pretty, levy." Oh, even Faith's happy when she looks at 'em! That feels almost as good as Miss Wanda wantin' to buy 'em. Faith ain't so angry's she once was, I think but she still don't smile like that often. Guess I got better in the last three years.

"Thanks," I say, a little quieter, smilin' over at Faith.

"that's lovely, Genny. Ain't seen the sea in years," an' she sounds a bit wistful. "Definitely do want t'come out an' see you all, if we're still welcome."

"'Course you can come!" I say, reachin' over to give Hope a squeeze 'round the shoulders. "I say you're welcome. And you know Syl will say so too, and there ain't nobody who'd cross her. We all want to see you. Both of you."

She says her name is Genny and she confirms that yes she is from the Carnival asking in her turn how long I've been in Excolo and if I was here the previous visit. I nod, "I've been in town for about three years now.(That is not the exact number but it is close enough for most people) And yes, I remember the Carnival's last visit." I smile at her before asking, "Is Nu still a part of the Carnival?"

When we heard the Carnival had returned I wanted to go visit and say hello to Nu but Mike was too busy to come with me and he told me that he didn't think it a good idea to go on my own. But maybe if I can get someone from the Carnival to give me a proper invitation he might change his mind.

I'm curious about this Ocean and Genny's pictures of it are very nice and make me wonder what it might be like to be as big as a whole ocean. I like the pictures but I also like watching the faces of the other people at the table, Faith has such a nice smile. So does Wanda, but I think I might like to see if I could find something that could make Faith smile like that.

Wanda asks if she could buy the picture she's got under her fingers and Genny looks surprised and then decides to just give it to her. Take note of how Genny extends an invite to Hope and Faith to come and visit the Carnival. And how she says that Syl will back her up if someone challenges her right to invite people over there. I remember Syl.

con't below (http://estdeus-innobis.livejournal.com/479427.html?thread=11960003#t11960003")

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Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world. ~T'ien Yiheng

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