“Grandmother…how much longer is the story? Summer’s almost over!” The oldest of the boys asks. The old woman laughs softly, sounding young and happy.

“On the night your grandfather and great grandfather return,” She says, looking at the smallest child, “when the moon is at it’s fullest, I will have finished this story and you will know why I have drawn the telling of this story out.” She finishes, grinning almost as though she was a child her self before beginning the next part of the story that she seemed more than excited to tell.

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       Marianna, as I have said, was a girl who despised the very idea of dresses. But in a dress they put her. Every female seemed to have been forced into a dress of floral patterns and a wide, many layered skirt for the so-called classes, the boys forced into smoothly pressed slacks and silk dress shirts. She muttered to herself as she followed the crowd of older girls toward what they referred to as ‘the Field’. Sapphire and Lysander followed close to her along with a few younger boys that Justin had brought later in the night, none of which, seemed to be her absent roommate who had yet to show his or herself. Not that she believed she had one. But if she did, they obviously had no belongings and made their bed beautifully.

“Marianna…Marianna.” Lysander said, waving a hand in front of her face. She shook her head, clearing her mind of her distant thoughts.

“What?” She asked, pushing his hand out of her face.

“Fire was just talking to you…didn’t you hear her?” He asked softly, looking at her worriedly.

“No…Sorry. I was kinda dazing…What were you saying, Saph?” She asked, looking at the other girl. Sapphire smiled softly.

“I was asking if you noticed that, you-know-who with the name that starts with a J, was looking at you.” She repeated. Marianna shook her head, looking up and right at Jason, who stood at the end of the hall. As soon as he noticed that she was looking, he stalked toward her, the other children flowing around him as though he was a stone against the flow of a river. He came right up to her as she stood her ground, her mind wanting her to both cower and show her fearlessness of him. Once he got close he reached toward her and she flinched, expecting some sort of show of violence or reprisal. But he did neither, simply fixing the bow in her hair without a word before returning to his post at the end of the hallway.

“W-What was that all about?” Marianna asked, eyes wide with surprise and shock.

“Who knows? Maybe he likes you.” Sapphire teased, elbowing her jokingly in the side before continuing down the hall. Marianna followed after her, more distant than before.

             The group of friends got to class and sat next to each other. Marianna listened to them distantly as they spoke to each other. But then class began. The teacher stepped to the front and his very presence demanded attention, his eyes a leopard gold that the friends could see from the place near the back of the classroom.

“I am Micah McClain. You can call me Micah or Mr McClain or just McClain, but you may not call me Mike, Clain, or McMicah. Those who call me by those names or any other abbreviation will be kicked out and dismissed from my class for the remainder of the year. Do I make myself clear?” He asked, and the students all nod, looking somewhat terrified.

                                                                                                               *****

  The old woman pause, soft colored eyes flickering in the light of the fire as her voice fell silent. The children remained quiet for a moment or so, before they broke out into questions.

“Why did Jason fix Marianna’s bow?” The oldest child asked, raising her hand.

“How do you know this story?” One of the smaller children asked.
“Shush.” Was the old woman’s only reply before ushering them off to bed for the night.