35,526 day18 So much of this dosen't need to be here. but edit latter, finsh first.

Sara smiled. “Thank you that will be fine.” The waiter left and she took out her note books and a pen, and set to work.

A person at the table next to her said. “Now that is dedication, studying before breakfast. Maybe I would have been better of if I had of.”

Sara said. “It is not studding really, just some editing on my graduation project. I want this ready to type up when I get home. I was going to type it this week, so there would be time to edit as I typed, but plans changed.”

“That I sincerely believe are what plans are for. So what is your paper on? Perhaps a second set of eyes would help?”

Sara said. “Well it is a look at the very start of Newtown, or so it end up being. In looking at the records I discovered that Newton was one of the first eighty granted land right after the change. Of the eighty only ten made it to the five year mark. I think someone should look into why they made it, but have not found any such study. I am not the one to do it, but thought I might take and work on putting together an account of the early years of Newtown at least, but found for more than I thought I would, so had to narrow it for this paper.”

She shook his head. “I would have never even have started something that. At my school most of the projects are community volunteer work, like clean lawns or painting houses, perhaps some repair work for those mechanically inclined. Nothing involving so much work, as you seem to be going though.”

Sara said. “It really isn’t that hard, as I find it interesting. The hardest thing was finding a topic small enough to be covered within the page limit. I am not sure what the boys do, there could well be some painting and other things. The rules for those doing projects instead of taking the tests, as this started out to be, say that the projects are to be something lasting.”

She said. “You do projects instead of taking the test in your school? That might be the difference then. We have to take the test no matter if we plan to go to a University or not. I can see where having an alternative would be nice. Some just are not good at the academic side of things. So what kind of things do you do for them?”

Sara said. “My older brother built a tractor for his, and that is common for those going into farming to do. I have no idea what is normal for men in other lines not need more education do. Most of the girls will make a set of house things, curtains, quilts, table dressing and the like. The number of items depend on how complicated the pattern is. My sewing skills would not pass muster, so I had to find another way. Now though the paper is not really needed, but being so close I see no reason not to finish it.” The waiter was coming back so Sara moved her note books to the side.

The waiter set the other girls meal down and then Sara’s. “Enjoy ladies and if you need anything let me know.”

Sara looked at the plates and shook her head . “Thank you, I can’t imagine needing anything more.” Instead of the cup of tea she had been expecting there was a small pot, as well as the large glass of juice. The hash browns and toast had come on a second plat as the omelet filled one on its own. The other girl was looking at her order with equal disbelief.

That waiter smiled at them. “Enjoy your food, and there is no need for either of you to feel rushed. There are few calls for the small tables, so if you come in and find a line make sure you point out you want a single and you should get one faster. Or a double should you have a second.” She left them both looking at the food.

The other spoke first. “Have you ever seen such? I asked for oatmeal, as it is a rear treat at home. But this.” She had a large bowl, with a jar of heavy cream and another small cup of sugar, a plate that held toast and sages, as well as a glass of juice and a pot of tea. But the oatmeal was nothing like the mush Sara was used to.

Sara shook her head. “No, I haven’t. That looks like it might be worth eating. Nothing like we have at home. And this. Well I saw  them bring omelets out so had an idea what it was, size wise. But they put so much in them, things I have never seen before. There is so much food involved in a meal here!”

The other girl nodded, and put some of the cream and sugar into the oatmeal. “Sugar is something we may see once a year, and oats are to rare to have this much. They don’t like our climate so much be brought in, and we don’t have a paved road, so it is horse and wagons. With that each of them turned there attention to there food.

The omelet disappeared faster that Sara thought it would, and the hash browns soon followed. She then pulled her note books bake and set to work, sipping on the tea and munching the toast. Not paying any attention to who came in. So it wasn’t until she had to get up and walk to the bathroom that she noticed that the students were now outnumbering the other diners, as it was closer to test time.  Back at the table she finished the last of the tea and packed up the notebooks then headed out to the lobby.

“There you are. Where have you been?”

Sara said. “Clearly I am coming from the dining room. Have you been looking for me? What can I do for you Rebecca?”

Rebecca said. “I didn’t see you in there. It is almost time to leave and we have yet to discus the tests!”

Sara said. “I didn’t know you were waiting on me. What do we need to go over? Did you have a good breakfast?”

Lena said. “How anyone could eat at this time. What are we going to do? We will not be taking the test together there will be large gaps of time to fill. It is a mess.”

Sara said. “I have no idea what you are talking about. But I expected there would be blocks of unaccounted time, just like finals at school. I fail to see the problem. It is normal to have gaps and with this many they would have to split us into sections. I am still missing something.”

Rebecca said. “It is yet another stain. But the issue is what to do during that time. We will be stuck there.”

Sara said. “I have packed a few books and my sewing, and there might be a place near by to do a bit of shopping. I have a list of orders to fill.”

One of the others said. “They did tell us what to look for to know if a good was safe, so I guess we could do some shopping. I am not going to have enough thread at this rate. I didn’t realize how much it would take to fill up time. But I do not want to brave it alone. So many rude people. They have no respect for women here.”

“Perhaps there will be over laps in the off time when we can go. But what about the tests there selves. If we don’t do well it will reflect poorly on the town, but what will our intended think?”

Rebecca said. “My father told me to be sure to pass the fitting areas and make a try at the others. Answer at least ten questions if you can, is what he said.”

Sara said. “I would say that we each follow the instructions we were given. You all needn’t worry. Names won’t be published, just stats, and those will be for the group as a whole, male and female. If the results point to more than the men having passed the folks at home will say it was me. I am the one here who has a reputation for liking books after all. Now then hadn’t we better follow the others to the busses?” She started walking, not waiting for an answer. Still wondering what that had been about. Were they trying to get her to comet to failing the test?

It was not the busses that had brought them there that were waiting, but some flasher ones, and there were people with clip boards giving out slips of paper as the kids got to them. Lena said. “All are mixing. How do we know?”

Rebecca said. “Relax, Lena, here.” She gave her a mint. “The light is with us. It will keep us pure and safe as long as we do not forsake it. I know you are worried, but the taint can not affect you if you do not let it. Just do as you do at home with your cousin. Perhaps if we get in line together.”

Sara had enough and got into line, not caring if it made it more likely she was separated from them. A few more kids got in line behind her before the others made it. She pretended not to see them waving for her to join them. She got to the man with the clip board. “Name and home town.” He sounded board.

Sara said. “Sara Geryriver from Newton, sir.”

He swiched clipbords and ran his finger down the lists. “Ah here you are. This is your number, you are on the first buss, take the seat that matches the number.” Sara moved down the line of buses and got on the first one, then found her seat.

The person in the one next to her was no one she knew. He looked at her and blinked. “I didn’t know your kind sent there gals out.”

Sara smiled. “That’s nothing neither did I before I was told I was taking the tests. Turns out they send a few every ten or so years.”

He laughed, as she sat down. “Wow you talk even. So you mind telling me why none of your kin ever do?”

Sara said. “Well if you are trying to talk to the ladies, it is because they could not risk being thought to encourage you. Ladies should not speak to males not related to them, and never make eye contact, as that is flirting.” The bus was full, and the doors closed.

He said. “And I thought my folks were strange. I’m from Humbteron.” He was looking at her, waiting for her to ask.

Sara said. “So you don’t use magic either. But why come all this way to take the tests? Are they not being help at the collage there?”

“I was wondering if you would know us. Most don’t realize that we are separatists unless they have been there to note the lack of magic. We don’t dress all that much different and our rules are not as strict as yours. Have you been there? Yes the collage dose hold tests, but it is better for the town if at least some of us take the exams at a different place. Plus there are more schools here then will be looking at home. It is far easier to get into a school if it is recruiting at the place you take the test then to send your test results to it.”

Sara said. “I didn’t even know you could send your results to a school not there. We are taught in first lessons the names and locations of the settlements for both branches of the light. You are aware that your church is a branch off of mine aren’t you? Your founder and ours had a disagreement and parted ways ten years after the reconstruction.  Sorry, history is a hobby of mine.”

He nodded. “They tell the story of the founding each year, so I had that. But I didn’t know you were taught where every town was. My folks joined the church just four years ago. So I missed the first lessons. I just hope they will be able to understand when I don’t join. Maybe if I had of gown up in it I would find it easer to understand. But I just don’t see how they can ignore what is under there noises. I don’t think it is right to ignore something that might help us rebuild. And now you are horrified. But don’t you ever find it odd? Or wish for differences?”

Sara said. “I can bet it would be a big change. I would hope your parents would understand. Yes there are times I find it strange, and it doesn’t help to be told to shun the things of magic, when we must also bargain with magical beings. We are taught such feelings are the darkness talking to us and we should push them aside. But when there is a gnome standing on the preachers shoulder it is hard to push the thoughts away.”

Abiram said, starting her, she hadn’t seen him. “Just when did Leader Ecrson have a gnome on his shoulder? I can’t see him letting that go on.”

Sara said. “I don’t think he noticed it was there, but there is usually one there every time the renewal of the blessings is to happen. Sometimes one there is a fairy fluttering around as well.”

Abiram said. “Odd I haven’t seen it.”

“Gnomes and the others are good at letting only those they want to see them. We are still trying to understand how they do it.”

Sara said. “I think he wants to get me in trouble, as on Holly days there are no bisects set out for them. The rest of the week, I get a few to dark and set them out in the garden. But of course it is on accident those few get left in the oven to long. I do hope Anna remembers to set some out for me this week. Other wise there might be a bit of mischief done.”

The driver said. “That is an understanding if I ever heard one. We are pulling up to the school now. There should be someone to meet you kids and give you a tour before the first test, but incase they forget it the big building on the left is a mall, that’s like a indoor market place. All kinds of stores under one roof. So should you get board between test you can go there and kill some time. I have a few kids your age.”