24320 day 13 when will they get off the bus?

When the bus stopped in Hammer Rebecca looked up. “Bit early for a stop, I would think. If this keeps up we will be all day on the road. No wonder we had to leaver so early.”

Sara said. “We are picking up more kids here, no since in running half a bus full, it takes the same fuel full.”

“Really? How insane. What will they force on us next? I can not believe this, as if the week wasn’t enough of a trial.” Sure enough other kids started coming on with their bags, they were a bit louder being a bit more awake and not in the habit of silence on Sundays. Rebecca stiffed a bit as a boy slid into the seat in front of them, then a girl joined him. “Really must they be so vulgar?”

Sara said. “Must you be so rude? There ways are not ours. You don’t know why they chose to sit together. I can tell that this is no fun for them either.”

Rebecca said. “So I must suffer? I do not see how this can be right.”

Sara said. “Did not the lesson say it is the trials that will make those tempted stronger in the light? Yes, I know it was in reference to the boys trying out the world, but I think the words were meant for us as well. After all we will be expressing the world. I know it is uncomfortable, but think of this week as a lesson. It will help you know what to prepare your sons to face.”

Rebecca said. “There is that. Still it is not fitting. I hate to think what my intended will think. At least my hands are clean. Yes, this is a trial, and I will come out better able to guide my sons, but I do not enjoy going though it. I do not see how any lady would.” She took her sewing up, as if it would shield her.

The girl in front said. “Is it really that bad? I mean I know you all hold yourselves apart but some of you take the test each year.”

Sara said. “We send a few boys each year to take the tests, those whose careers require it, and then to the closest place possible. The young men are encouraged to use this week to try the world, we spend it testing our knowledge. Often mothers will let their oldest daughters take over the running of the hose for a few days so they can get a since of what it is like before they are on tire own. Ladies are to keep them selves free of the world so they can see the next generation set on lights path. That is why the school has other options for graduation. Not that a lady needs it so much as the men who must interact with the world do.”

Rebecca stiffened, clearly not liking Sara’s answer, or maybe that she was talking to someone she had not been properly introduced to. Likely both. The girl said. “Wow an answer. I didn’t think I would get one. So if it is such a hardship why do it?”

Sara said. “I am sorry if you have found us rude. I do try to answer when asked something. It is just that we are taught it is impolite to talk to those we have not been properly introduced to. So I am misbehaving right now, hence the reason she looks to be trying to choke the fabric.  I thought you were told this before we all started classes together. Among us being properly introduced means that our fathers are in the same circles so though them we have socialized, or that our teacher introduced us. If that is  not the case then we do not even talk to each other. As to why we are going, well that is simple. We were told to. I understand that about every ten years the leaders will have a few girls take the tests. However it has usually been closer to home. I do not know that any have been sent when an over night was necessary, and this is the first time any have gone for the whole week as far as I know. Grandfather didn’t say anything of it happening before. But I didn’t ask about that.”

She said. “I don’t know how you do it with all those rules, and most of them seem only for he women. I notice that the boys have no trouble talking to each other, or boys not in the church. Though never many girls. Which is a bit odd. But if it is against the rules why are you daring to talk to me now? Won’t that just get you in trouble? I can’t see going to do this because someone told me I should.  The location you take the tests impact the choice of schools you have. By going locally your graduates would have missed the bigger schools. This year they will have more choices.  Or do they get a choice? One of the reasons the education department demanded that all tests be help on a campus. The other being that some communities were rigging test to favor one area over another. As the number of high grades impact government funding in a lot of different areas, they were using the tests to fight old grudges.”

Sara said. “The rules are suspended for this week, but answering a question was always permitted, though the length of my answers would earn me some trouble.  I was wondering why we had to go so far. Yes they get to choose the school, it is up to the person taking the test if anyone else sees the results or learns what schools have made what offers. They only need tell the parents where they are going, once they have sent in the paper work. No doubt they have been given suggestions as to what schools to aim for, and of course there is a lot of push toward the church run schools where ever they offer the needed classes.”

The other girl shook her head. “I don’t know that I will ever understand you all. I don’t think I would get along well if I had to live under all those restrictions.”

The boy said. “If you grew up with them, it would seem normal, and our way strange. So you want to review some and let her get back to her book? I think her firend is about to kill that fabric.” She laughed and turned to the boy, Sara picked up her book again.

As the sun got higher and the light improved Sara set her book down and reached for her bag, taking out her sewing and a pastry, seeing Rebecca’s look she said. “Would you like one? I am not sure about the breakfast ones, I just will be the first one I tried, but the fruit ones came out all right for frozen fruit. Though I fear I mixed them up in packing so can’t say what kind is what, but you are welcome to one. I mean I have  bags of breakfast ones, lunch types of the fruit ones, just didn’t keep the fruit separated. We had a lot of frozen fruit that had to be used and I got a bit carried away making pies this week. I thought they would be good to snack on. I put a bunch in Abraim’s bag as well, not knowing how long the trip will end up being.”

Rebecca said. “This is still the holly day!”

Sara said. “So it is, but it is not a fasting one. I was to upset to eat this morning, but am feeling like it now.” Sara shrugged and took a bite, steam came out and with it a slightly spicy smell. Once her mouth was empty said. “Not bad for an experiment, but perhaps I was a tad heavy on the pepper, and it is a bit dry.”

Abraim said, from across the alley. “Do I have any of those?” He took out the bag of food pail she had given him.

Sara said. “You have some of each as well. I packed a lot more fruit ones than anything, as they will last a long time without spoiling.”

Zac was looking in his as well. “Looks like my mom visited yours. I seem to have a bunch of pies as well.”

Sara blushed. “Like I said I went a bit overboard, so I took them around to others. Anyone I could visit got some. And there is still enough to feed everyone pies all week at home.  I just gave out the fruit ones, though.”

The boy in front of her said. “What did you put in a breakfast pie? It sure smells good. How did you keep it warm? Whoops. I mean Sally say what do you think she would have put in those pie things?”

Sara laughed, though she was a bit redder. “It is just some sausage, scrabbled eggs, a bit of onion and cheese. Given the egg they aren’t going to keep long, and I fear it dried out a bit to much in the baking.  It is the bag that keeps them warm, you just pop it into the oven for a bit before you fill it, and it will keep what is in it warm for up to five hours, depending on how often it is opened. To keep things child, you just freeze it. It actually works better for cold things. And, here, I have a pie, I have plenty. I was hoping someone would help eat them.” She hand the bag up.

He took the bag. “Thanks, I didn’t mean to beg, but it dose look good. Sally?”

Another boy said. “Hay give me one of those Joe. I am starving.” Joe looked at Sara.

She shrugged. “Go ahead, I don’t mind, I will need the bag back, but am not going to starve. I have way more food with me than I could ever eat. I thought it wise to pack extra.”

The other boy said. “Thanks. It was a mess at my place this morning. I’m lucky I made it out with anything.”

Another one said. “Your house is always a zoo. Give me one of those.”

“Hay no fair keeping them up there! What about us back here starving?”

Sara laughed and took another bag out. “I didn’t meant to start something, I was just hungry. I didn’t think there would be any interest in them.” She turned in her seat, looking for the speaker. “I have another bag of them, if you would like?”

Someone said. “I don’t want to take your food I am just teasing him. He is always on about how he didn’t have time to eat. But they do look good.”

Sara said. “Like I said, I’m not going to starve, here try one. It is an experiment, and feed back is important with any experiment.”

Abraim came and took the other bag and walked to the back with it. “She means it, she likely has another back yet for her self. She wouldn’t have left any but fruit pies at home as father doesn’t like this kind of food. Sis I do hope you recorded how you made these. I say they are a hit. What made you think of a portable omelet?”

“Well, um, in one of grandfathers books they were eating something called toaster scramblers. When I asked he said it was a like a thin square box of pastry with eggs and bits of meat in it that was kept in the freeze then put in a toaster before eating. I remembered that when making the meat pies and decided to try a few with eggs.”

The driver laughed. “Say one of you bring me one of those, and kid if you can get me the recipe you used my wife will be over joyed. Her parents have been longing for those toaster things. We had no idea what they meant.”

Sara said, “I will copy them down next week. Grandfather says the crust is a bit thicker on the hand pies, and the toaster things usually were iced on one side. But the pies are close to what he remembers. I did try making them with a thinner curst, but they were harder to eat. I think they must have had something different for the pastry.”

One of the others said. “Say why don’t you open a trade on these bags. There is a market for them. Beats the pre bomb coolers we are trying to use. Or are these pre, to?”