68600. dec 5 just over 1k today still first night home. :(

The first thing she did was take the necklace out. ‘Stay safe.’  Then she got to work unpacking, a bit later there was a knock on her door after looking around and seeing that there was nothing to incrementing showing she call. “Come in.” Her father opened the door she looked up surprised. He never came to her room. “Sir?”

He looked around, she had been sorting things she had bought for others into baskets and was surrounded by them. “Was just coming to let you know that I would not be asking after anything you bought. You need not worry about hiding things. But at seeing those baskets I find I have to ask.”

Sara said. “They are a shopping basket they sold to use in the mall. I though they would be handy to use in the market so bought a few of them.” She picked up one that was collapsed and showed him how it would expanded when filled. “There is no magic, as far as I know to them, just something about the fibers used to make them. I was intended to show them to, but wanted to get things unpacked first, sir.” She pointed at the farthest basket. “That basket there is for the fabric room. I thought that it would make up well in quilts or curtains. I found a good buy on the light threads we hardly ever see at a good price so bought a lot of it.  The next one there is herbs and spices for the kitchen. Some that coast an arm and leg here were pennies there and I couldn’t pass them up. Then I bought some things for Anna. I hope not to much, but with her going to a new town I thought she would need a bit more than the normal gifts. The last is some books for Grandfather. It was just easier to sort things as I unpacked.”

He nodded. “Did you buy anything for your self? That is some impressive packing, getting all this in those bags. As I said I will not be checking to see what you have. I am sure the spices and sewing goods will be welcome, those baskets look useful. Thank you for thinking of us.” He turned. “I will leave you two to go though the books. Something tells me I am better off not knowing what they are.”

Grandfather chuckled. “I told you boy, I didn’t ask her to read that book. It was just on the nightstand, I didn’t think of it when I asked her to sit the tea down. I had one of those old books out on the night stand When Hanna brought my tea up. The cover alarmed her a bit.”

Trying not to laugh Sara said. “Well a few of the covers are a bit alarming. If she only saw the front, it might be easy to mistake for a forbidden book, not a story. I hope she was not to distressed, and you were able to explain it was not magic.”

Isaac coughed. “Do I want to know?” Sara blushed, she had forgot herself. It was going to be hard to get back into the habit of not talking.

Grandfather said. “I read her bedtime stories, helped her sleep, then as she got older I had her read to me. It was good for her. The stories of the past deserve to live.  None of the books were any not available in the library they just have the older covers.”

Isaac shook his head. “Well just watch better what you leave out.”

Sara said. “Perhaps a few book covers for when she takes the tea up would help? I think these are safe enough.” She handed him some out of the basket. “They still have dragons and swords, but they are not scary looking, and I think it should be plain it is not real.”

Isaac said. “Yes those look safe enough. No dragons bathing men in fire. I will live you know.”

Sara waited tell he was out of the room, and a bit away from the door. “She got up set over that one? But she read it in school last year, we laughed together over it. Granted it was just plain covered, but still. I hope it wasn’t to bad last week.”

Grandfather said. “It was good to have happen. We need to get used to each other. It was a bit funny actually. Hanna carefully set the tea down then screamed and fled babbling about spells and magic. Edith was trying to quite her, and Isaac came to see what happened. Once he stopped laughing about it after seeing the book, he went back down and told her to stop being freighted of a story book.  Truly he is not upset. I think he just wanted to know if you had read them. Now what did you find?”

Sara said. “Well there was a big used book store just a few blocks from the hotel. I spent a good eight hours and still didn’t see it all. I also got a few new from the mall.” She handed him the basket as her necklace warmed. “These are yours, mine are in the case yet.” She reached for the necklace and took it out. ‘lot water singing’ She erased the message. “It is really raining heavy in Bixter. I don’t think we have seen but the edge of the storm. Hopefully the bulk goes around us, I think the fields will be flooded out if it doesn’t.”

Her grandfather said. “You got all of that from that little charm? How many words can it send?”

Sara turned it over. “Just what letters will fit in those spaces, the letters came with them. All the message said was lot water singing. From that I know it is rained heavy enough that the street by the hotel is flooded at least three inches deep. It has to be at least that deep for Viv to hear it.” The necklace warmed in her hand. ‘wind singing there’ Sara erased and started finding the letters, but another message came in. ‘jack sprites red’ Sara said. “Well now you see, some of them take a bit of work. Let me answer her first one, that one I understand but red sprites I am not sure of.” She took out the letters and debated, then decide why not see what happens. So let him see her reply. ‘yes wind very loud’ She then closed her hand on it, and waited tell it felt cool.

Her Grandfather said. “Who are these people?”

Sara said. “Viv, Violet, is my heart sister, we met in the tests and just clicked. Jack is the medical student that recommend the tea. How was it? The crystals that’s the red!” She took the letters out. ‘took red normal see’

Her grandfather said. “Do I want to know? The tea was fine. I won’t mind drinking that. So what about the other items? And how did you do?”