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She dressed and then took a deep breath, then shook her head. Viv should tell them how much her arm was hurting. She took her necklace out and found the letters. ‘tell them it hurts’ ‘dont brave it out’

Viv sent back. ‘sorry get med soon’ ‘you should feel it strong’ ‘why upset’

Sara sent back. ‘no but ache know’ ‘you hurt bet storm’ ‘results feast today’ ‘not like attention’

Viv said. ‘you be fine’ ‘it is just numbers’ ‘your town beat mine’ ‘didnt think pain’ ‘will manage’ ‘grandma say tell hurt’ ‘drug make me sleep’

Sara said. ‘keep charm she see’ ‘I send when feel’ ‘u sleep heal’ She added thoughts of well being that she hopped would help Viv relax and rest. She also hoped they understood her warning about Viv feeling her pain during storms. She would write that in the letter when she got home. The post rider should be colleting them Monday.

When she got down stairs Abiram was waiting by the down, looking as nervous as Sara felt. He said. “You are rubbing your arm again. Relax it is going to be fine.”

Sara said. “I hate being looked at, even when it is not my fault. Sorry about the arm thing, it is not my arm that hurts. This necklace is acting unexpectedly. See they were supposed to send feelings with the words, but it is going a bit over. I am waiting on a letter to know for sure what happened. But some how Violet has a broken arm. They all made it home safe and she is being well tend to, her Grandmother is a doctor, but the next dose of pain medicine has yet to work. Shouldn’t be to long until it does. I just feel a very dull ache but know that if I am feeling anything it must really be hurting her.”

Abiram said. “If it is bothering you why don’t you take the charm off? That is one of the things father doesn’t like about them. You can’t tell what it is going to do until it does it. Still they are useful.”

Sara said. “I was going to but her grandmother asked that I let her know about any pain, as the medicine might make Violet a bit to confused to. As long as Vi is touching the charm her Grandma should be able to read it.”

Isaac said. “You both look scared. Don’t be, this is a yearly thing and you are not responsible for any results but your own. I am sure we didn’t do to badly.”

Abiram said. “I don’t think so, I haven’t heard anyone say they failed.”

Sara bit her lip. “I am think we did good, but.”

Isaac said. “You were told to try hard, and do your best. There is no reason to be ashamed because you did so. I am proud of both of you no matter what the numbers look like. Now then let’s go so we can find out. They have done everything they can to keep it a surprise.”

They got to town hall and went into the ball room. Why it was called a ball room no one knew all it was used for was town celebrations.  It was a long room with tables set up though out, big enough to hold everyone in town, and a few more. At one end was a raised platform that held two tables and a podium. One of the tables was for the leaders, the other for the guests. As this was about the exams those that took them were at the guest table. There were screens on the front and back walls that when they worked would be used to display the news items or other things relevant to the gathering.

Abiram and Sara made there way to the guest table and were directed to chairs. The boys were at one end and the girls at the other. That of course made it clear to everyone that the girls had a problem with Sara, as they did not acknowledge her. None of them looked to comfortable with being on the stage.

Leader Jackson stepped up to the podium “We thought about dragging it out, but realized the kids wouldn’t eat if we kept them waiting. They are too worried about the results, and the funding. And the ladies have as usual prepared a mouth watering feast and it would be a shame if they were to upset to enjoy it. I mean I saw the food and they really out done there selves this year.” Sara had thought it bad to be down there listening, she know knew it was worse to be up here. “I had best get to it before those boys get the jump on me. Well ladies and gents I must say we have a remarkable group of kids in this graduation class. It is going to be a hard act to fallow. I am very proud of all our children and the effort they put into showing the power of the light. That said this year has toped them all. First though as the school has hit the top ten schools five years running they are garneted full funding for the next five years.” He paused to let the news sink in. There were no loud cheers, it was not fitting, but there were happy expressions. He went on. “But that is no reason to slack off. We must set an example and show that you do not have to embrace magic to be a high performing school or town. Something that the nation needs to see. To many are thinking magic is required to succeed in this world.”

“It is not only the school that did well we as a town did as good. We to will have full funding. All the projects will be funded this year. In fact we have more than asked for, so we can look into those communication improvements. We hat these children to thank for it. It is their deduction as well as the methods used by the school and teachers that have made this happen. We are a top five school and town. Ninety percent of those taken the test from our school passed. Our town had a unprecedented ninety fiver percent passage!” That did get a cheer, and not a one person frowned at it. “Every one of these young ones should be pleased with there selves. We are. This is something worth a bit of self pride. Here is the break down, as you see we have six in the top ten percent national, the most of any one town in our size range. Every one did very well the teachers and students should all be proud of the jobs they have done. Our schools are doing it right. Now then bring the food out.”

That was the sing and the buzz of talk started as the women started setting the food out in the food tables. The men went first, but no one counted the number of trips anyone made at feasts. They were the few times it was fitting to eat tell you couldn’t, then there were games until sunset when the pies, cakes and other treats came out. There again everyone was expected to sample all they could. It was why Sara looked forward to these days, even though she often ended up going short of food after them. This year she was not allowed to help set the food out, but had to stay where she was and smile as people wondered over to them how glad they were and thank them for representing the town.