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Sara wasn’t surprised when the other girls ignored her as they waited to get on the bus. They seldom spoke to her, but the looks and giggles were new. She wondered just what stories were flying about her. Well no don’t she would hear in time. She hung back and boarded last as usual, stopping by the bus driver. “Here are those recipes, I hope they help. It must be hard for the older ones to be wanting something this world no longer has. Grandfather said this one was the most like the toaster thing, but I found it basically sweet and flavorless.”

The bus driver said. “It will help, if nothing more than give my husband a new recipe to play with. Thank you child.” Sara made her way to the empty seat. It was among the younger ones this time.

Jacob was looking at her odd. Abiram said. “The hand pie recipe, she had extra for the trip and a few people wanted to know how she made them.”

Leah said. “I didn’t know you copied it out.”

Sara said. “No, you didn’t. But it is mine to give. I see no reason not to share it. If it brings the elders a bit of comfort all the better.”

Leah said. “So they liked the pies then?”

Sara said. “They must have, I had filled every bag I could with them and they were empty when we reached the hotel. A lot of them were ate at lunch, I had some meat ones as well as the fruit ones, and some of the Hammer kids had expected to buy meals so had nothing with them.”

Leah said. “I bet, there are a few girls in my cooking class that seem to have never set foot in a kitchen before.”

Rebecca said. “Just wait tell you get sewing next year. Some of them make your sister look like she can sew. I am sure they never saw a needle before in there lives.”

Sara said. “Some hadn’t. They don’t have those classes in the lower grades and the wealthy ones have people hired for the everyday tasks. It is one of the differences between our societies. And one of the many reasons you should offer help rather than mocking. Think how scared you would be to find your self handed a make-up kit and told to use it. That kit is as common in there world as a measuring cup is in yours.”

Anna said. “You would know.”

Another girl said. ‘That is why each girl must take a year of cook, sewing, math, and earth science, and why it must be the science and not herbal study. I thought everyone knew that. Didn’t you ask why you had to take a science class?” That stopped them for a bit.

The morning was frustrating, as usual after a long break there were those who forgot what it was to be in school. To make it worse the year was about over. There would be two weeks of real work before the teachers gave over to summer plans and essays. They would try and make it relate, but everyone would know they were just filling time. Sara was learning it was worse in the senior classes as they were in truth done at this point. It was just time for reviews and finishing the projects. No real class work left.

Sara went into her history class and took her seat. Hoping it would go better than her first two than morning had. She now an unnecessary essay to write as the others couldn’t settle down. That meant less time to spend on her paper. At least it was moving along well. Mr. Florance said “Well we have come to the last weeks of your high school years therefore it is time for a change of schedule. Pass forward your books for this class and your next if you have them. If not you can turn them in latter. Those who didn’t take the graduation test are to go across the hall, those who took it stay put. We will get started once everyone is here.” There was a few confusion moments as people shifted around and took seats.

Once everyone was at a desk Mr. Florance stood again and soon the room was silent. “For this last month the next two class periods well be spent preparing you for the next phase of your life. For you who took the tests this means college prep classes.” He looked right at Sara. “No matter if you are planning on taking that road or not. Plans change and it is a different world you will find your selves in.”  Sara stiffened, knowing that she was not the only one from Newton in the room, she dared not look interested, but yet she couldn’t look like she wasn’t paying attention. It was going to be a long month, and it didn’t help that was interested in some of what he was saying would be coverd.

It was with relief she went outside to her table for lunch. She got her lunch on the table then took out her necklaces and started writing.  ‘glad lunch here’  ‘how are roads’. Viv has been getting increasingly worried as the morning went on, which was not helping Sara relax any, she had been wanting news but could ask in class.

Viv wrote right away. ‘good your on break’ ‘roads getting worse’ ‘slowing down’.

Sara frowned. That wasn’t good but it didn’t explain the worry she was feeling. ‘what is wrong’

Rebecca said. “I wonder why any lady would frown at a bobble? Seems like something a town woman would do. Man but I am glad to be back where the food is descent.”

Anna said. “Was it that bad?”

Rebecca said. “They have no since of servings, more food then a filed hand could eat. And the things they eat. Meat and sugar, and a lot of it. No honest foods.”

Sara bit her lip and just read Viv’s answer. ‘more damage as go’  ‘nothing from home’ ‘dont know what’

Sara sent thoughts of love and hope. ‘hugging you’ ‘might be work’ ‘wish’ She looked up as Zac sat down and shoved a plate at her. ‘zac adding food’ “Zac, I have my lunch.”

Zac looked pointedly at the food she wasn’t eating. “I know, and I know it is not enough. I can’t do anything when you are at home but I will see you eat here. Jack was insistent you needed more. Consider it the price to run messages. How’s sis? Eat, and stop worrying about the girls.”

Sara shook her head. “The roads gets worse the further they go. They are not to far behind yet, but more troubling is that they haven’t heard anything from home today.” She took a bit of food as Abiram joined them. “Shouldn’t you two be over with the boys?”

Abiram said. “It is less obvious you are being shunned by them if we are here. It won’t hurt us any to eat with you. do you know what there problem is?”

Sara looked down at the necklaces. “Zac, Viv says to tell you thank you. She can’t see my lunch but is certain I needed more. Honestly, I think everyone’s is expecting me to starve my self.” ‘yes I know’ ‘I am eating’ “Well there is what I said on the bus this morning. A lot are not going to like being told they should be helping. Then I am sure that Rebecca has being sharing her side of the arguments we had last week, and making my behavior out to worse than it was. And I was mad, that last one. Said some things I shouldn’t have. No doubt I will have to explain, but so far the whispers haven’t come back to me.”

Abiram said. “Is it something I need to know ahead of time?”

Sara said. “She was expecting me to be upset about Anna’s widening and I told her the truth. That I was glad I was not the one, that I wasn’t ready last year when she was. She will do better than I would of in her place.”

Zac winced. “I can hear it now. So who did you end up with for your prep class?”

Sara said. “Mr. Florance, they took my history and cooking classes.”

Zac said. “Good I was hopping it was him. You will have to pay attention so I won’t repeat the lessons to you. Some of it sounds like it will be common since, but other things might not be.”

Sara said. “I wonder how many thought about laundry? As irritating as it may be, it is all things those going need.”

Abiram laughed. “True, I know a few lads looked shocked as Mr. Ams went over the topics.” The warning bell rang.

Zac said. “I will take the plate back for you, and this is a standard date. Jack said he would hunt me down if I didn’t see you ate better, and I am sure he meant it.”

Sara said. “Here I thought I would be done with people shoving food at me.”

They got home after school and found basket of old papers lining the hall. Sara blinked. “I know Father said there was a basket for me to go though, but where did all this come from?”

Her Uncle answered, making her jump. “I got to thinking some of the other towns might have some sitting in there plants so sent around to the other old towns. Heard back from six of them, two are already keeping the old journals in there archives, the other four sent truck loads back. A lot of it isn’t anything, but these baskets have everything readable in it. Tried to tell your dad you should sort it at the plant but he insisted you do it here. All of this is yours, but I will take anything useless to process. As it is yours you take it with you when you leave, where ever that is to.”

Isaac said. “I want it done here so you don’t feel the need set books aside because there are mentions of the woken ones or other such things. I know you don’t have time to go though it all this week but it will be in the office when you need a break from typing. You may enter the office when ever you want and use the table there. Also do not worry about your usage this week. It is going to take a good deal of time to get it typed and printed by Monday.”

Sara looked at her Father and barley remembered to curtsey. “Thank you Sir, and thank you Uncle. I was wondering if there was a way to get a look at other town’s records. Thank you both.”