jan 3

She took the pot and mug into the kitchen and was met with glares which she ignored as she went over and rinsed out the pot and cup Edith said. “Breakfast is run a bit behind today.”

Sara said. “Anything I can do to help?”

Leah said. “You could have been here earlier. Why wasn’t the stove lit? You were clearly in here.”

Edith said. “You can go let the guys know it will be a few minuets late. Leah I told you it was not Sara’s job to light the stove.”

Leah said. “It is not fair we have to be late because of her. There is no reason she couldn’t have them going. Her foot is better. She was clearly in here early!”

Sara said. “Yes I was up, I left the bowls and flour set out, and tried to wake Hanna on my way by her room. I will try you next time Leah. I will not be lighting the stoves for you any more. I fell bad that I let you become dependant on me doing so. After all I won’t be with you in your homes. I should have been involving you in making breakfast for years not hogging the morning as I have been. I am sorry it has delayed the meal. But better it happens now then during harvest. I will not be helping here unless Mother asks it of me. I have been unfair to you by doing to much. I will go let them know Mother, and I am sorry for the problems I have caused.”

Edith frowned, but not at Sara. “Leah I told you and Hanna that Sara and Ann would not be helping with the meals. That meant you were responsible to light the stoves and get the food started. Hanna did Sara stop by your room?”

Hanna said. “Who gets up before the sun!”

Edith said. “I will take that as a yes. Thank you for trying Sara, and if you do not get a better response next time kindly wake me. It is not just your fault I was to willing to let you run things. I should have set it right before now. But at least it should be worked out before the harvest. So we don’t run into these delays then.”

Sara curtsied and left. In the dinning room she said. “I have been asked to let you know that breakfast is going to be a few minuets late this morning. Should be about fifteen more minuets is all, from what I saw. Would you like me to bring out some tea?”

Isaac said. “No, that’s fine we can wait. I expect there to be a few bumpy mornings. Come sit. So what do you boys think should done with the destroyed fields?”

Sara went to her place at the table feeling a bit out of place, as they went on talking about the corps. A topic not suited for a woman to have an opinion on that that she did. However she was certain this storm was just a little one compared to what they would see over the next four years. She was sure of the figures, even if she was missing a piece. Yet there was no way she could share what she knew. Even though it was important they know. Another reason she needed to get sent off to Jack so he could get someone there to verify it. After all if their findings matched they would surly put out a broadcast. Even if it proved to be just an isolated thing it was to important a discovery not to share. Luckily the food came out soon and she was no longer the only female at the table. Not that the other girls were saying much, it just felt less odd. Edith let them clear the table but sent them out before the dishes were done.

Sara spent most of the morning classes copying the book, the only one that was really do anything was the new one about life after high school. As she was in the one about what to expect in at collage she shouldn’t have been interested. Yet she couldn’t help but be. There was things she hadn’t thought about, and it was interesting to learn about even if she didn’t think she nee to. After all school was unlikely, it was fun to think about but not where life was meant to take her. Soon she would be taking the vows and getting ready to make a home, as she had expected to do all her life. Yet there was the other voice telling her she could see the world, that she would be better off if she did. That was the down side to that class, it made the question loud. But it was the only one that was still offering lessons, and she couldn’t tune them out. Hiding from the question would not get it answered.

She went out to lunch and set down, took her food out of her back and the note book with her weather information in it out of her bag. She frowned at the book and unpacked the lunch. She really should check the perditions and get it sent off, but she wanted to find what she was missing before checking. Rebecca said. “Why do you do that?”

Sara looked up confused. She didn’t know they were talk to her at all. “Do what?”

Rebecca said. “Bring a lunch. It makes you look like you think you are to good to eat what everyone does.”

Sara said. “I can’t take the pushing and the noise of the lunch room. By bring my own food I can get away from it most days I have no problem eating the food some of it is far better than the sandwiches I bring. I didn’t realize it looked like that. It is just my balance problems make stand in that line difficult.”

Rebecca said. “Well how to you plan to make it at the school then? they said meals were served there much like here, just all meals. That is going to make things difficult.”

Sara said. “I don’t know why everyone but me is so sure I am going. Do you know where? I don’t. However, I would think that with so many there would be longer hours and times that there were no lines, or at least no shoving. I hadn’t thought about it, but makes since I think. Then again the offers did say something about a spending allowance, so I guess that would let me get food else where. Don’t know what it would be for if not.”

“If you’re not going then why are you still getting offers?”

Sara said. “Why are you still getting offers?”

Rebecca said. “They won’t stop sending them. But that. Well I do have to look and see what they are trying. You do have a point there. But still what is the books? They are not things fitting. All the numbers there!”

“That is information on the storms from the old papers. Sewing is not my thing, but another of the tasks given to use is the preservation of history. That is what I decide I should be working on. I am hoping to take and make a useable, searchable, database out of the bits and piece of old diaries and letters I have. Too much about the early years of the town is being forgotten as those that made it leave this world. I know that has a bit of math, and to many numbers but I am hopping there might be some help found looking at the record of old storms. It was in part such a recorded that let them make forecasts in the days before. But as far as I know no one has had time to make on since the change.”

“Hardly fitting, all those numbers make my head spin. But yes we were asked to look after the past as we help guide the next generation on lights path. Sadly there are so many task and not enough hands. It is good you found something to fill your hours with.”

Sara knew that was meant as an insult, but there was no reason it had to be. “Just so, I am glad to be able to take up the task. It is good that we are a bit more settled and can look beyond just what is needed to live. Do sit, would you? Surly you do not fear the presence of my brother and cousin will do you harm? After all our fathers are oath kin. Standing so can’t be good on your legs. As to the numbers it is a bit of a confusing mess and one I am sure has something missing. I want to pass it on to better heads than mine, but am loath to do so when feeling I missed something important.”

Rebecca looked around but there really were no other seats open as it was a fine day. Which was the reason she had spoken in the first place. “Yes it is a bit silly of me. Just odd to share a table with boys. But as you say our fathers do share an oath, so it is not like strangers. Why did he push that food at you? One meal is enough surely.”

Sara said. “You would think so, but ever since we got back he has taken to giving me extra food any chance he gets. Something about some one promising him a lot of pain should he not do so. Sometimes it is necessary to suggest that same person surely didn’t want him to skip meals.”

Zac said “Nice try, but I have a full tray of my own. Now eat, don’t just look at it. I would ask what the problem is with the notebook, but am sure I wouldn’t understand the answer.”

Sara said. “The problem is that I don’t know what the problem is. The work I have done all looks sound, but I keep feeling I missed something. I have data to check against mine, but don’t want to look at it until I find what is missing incase it relates. You know, how knowing the suggest answer to an essay question will affect the way you answer it. I worry that if I see the answers before the problem I will make the problem fit and then it will all be worthless.”

Zac said. “Before you even say that is an unfitting answer let me be clear I have no more idea what she was saying than you do. But I would suggest that seeing the world differently doesn’t mean she is unfit in any way for whatever the light has intended for her.” Rebecca frowned as she had been going to say just that, and there frown deepened as a boy set a tray down on the other side of Abiram.

He said. “Abiram I know it is poor form to sit here, when your sister and the other is, but the tables are full. I hope it can be forgiven this once? There dinning hall is latterly a wrestling match and I need to eat.”

Abiram said. “Sit before you faint. Do I need to get you a glass of juice? Are they getting the fight seen to?”

The boy had already sat down and was taking a bite, but another girl said. “They are working on it there were at least six big boys involved, at three tables overturned. He should be fine in a bit. His sugar just started dropping.”

Abiram said. “I will go see if I can help. Zac will you stay here incase it spills out here?”

Zac nodded. “I will keep an eye on them and see that they are kept out of the way.”

Abiram shoved his tray at the boy. “Joe have my fruit to if you need it. If it’s a big mess the nurse will have her hands full, by I will send one of the assent coaches out when I find them.”

Joe said. “Really, its not.”

Sara said. “Don’t bother I know that look. That is the one that gets the doc around to the house no matter what anyone says. Here, this is tea with a bit of honey in it. If it is sugar you need more than water.” Rebecca shook her head. “He is clearly having a medical problem, and therefore it is duty to offer aid. I am not flirting.” She handed the thermos to Zac who passed it on down. “Tea might not be the best, but it should be better than water. Shouldn’t it?”

Zac said. “Yes the honey will help, more than plane water would with that and the fruit he should be getting some color back soon.” But he was frown as he said it, which meant he was trying to reassure her, but was worried.

Sara shook her head and said. “I knew that lunch line was rough, but I didn’t think it got that bad in the lunch room. I thought they waited tell after school for that stuff.”

Rebecca said. “It is just these last two weeks when this stuff happens, but usually not to the point of over turned tables. Thank goodness I was out here. I don’t think I could have taken being in there for that madness. I hope none of the girls were caught in it. I had best go check.”

Sara said. “Wave so Anna saves the chair for you. There will likely be more coming out looking for spots. It sounds like a mess in there. I do hope you are not s upset you can’t finish your meal.”

Rebecca said. “So glad you understand, dear. And I think I might mange to finish it after I clear my fears.”

Sara managed not to laugh until Rebecca was safely away. “She was actually civil, she must have really not wanted to be inside. Of course it is going to be all over town that I carry around a note book full of numbers and eat way to much meat. As well as anything else she can come up with. But that is my fault.”

Joe said “What was that about? That was civil?”

The girl said. “I haven’t seen her that mad since I won first place in the sewing competition last year. What ever did you do? And watch your locker I still say she is behind the moldy food that was in mine.”

Sara said. “I refused to agree to fail the tests and told her I didn’t think her attitude was to lady like. Zac or Abiram always open my locker since we have gotten back, but I have one of them in the office anyway. But one of the gang did mange to push me down the front steps of the church. Which I fear ended up with them in trouble and so now I am waiting for the next move. To make it all the worse our fathers are good friends, and mine can not see why the two of do not get along.” Sara pulled her book over and started looking at the sheet again.

Zac said. “There are times I wonder how anyone gets along with her. She needs to somehow learn she is not the gold standard. I am sorry about your locker.”

Joe said. “Try color. It can bring to light hidden patterns at times. Sounds odd, but it does help. Err I mean Zac would you mind suggesting that to her.”

Sara said. “I never thought of that. That would be a better way to show the pattern. I was worried they wouldn’t see it. But if I were to give the numbers different colors. Thank you.” She reached into her bag and came out with a box, then turned to a blank page and wrote out a color key, then used that to highlight the number of stores on the sheet.

She didn’t notice the assistant couch come “From what Abiram said I was expecting to find you passed out.”

Zac said. “He was close to it. He is looking a lot better now then when he first got over here.”

The man said. “You had better stay put a bit longer and give you leaves time to come up, but I think you will be fine. Just finish all that food. And stay here out of the way, I don’t know what has gotten into everyone but this is the third fight today.” He saw Sara and hastily added. “You should be fine here though.”

Zac said. “Don’t worry she is not one to pass out because of a fight. Now if you had said it at that table you would get the screams you were bracing for. I will see they get clear if anything should start out here, and that otherwise Joe stays put until his color is normal. Thank you for coming out.”

He nodded. “This is a fairly will shade table and not on the main path, so I really don’t think you will have to worry should something more happen. They pretty much had it under control inside, so Abiram will likely be back before long.”

Zac looked at Sara’s notebook. “That does help a lot. I can see the pattern that you were talking about. But why do the numbers in the last column stop?”

Sara said. “Those are the numbers of storm related deaths and at this point I am making predictions basined on the pattern. I haven’t checked yet to see if they hold. But that information wouldn’t go there. I have other sheets to fill out with it. Say if you want something to do. I need the stuff in this envelope put onto these sheets. Now as I said, I haven’t looked at it. It might need to be put in order. Oldest to newest and just fill this in as best as you can from what is there. If you want to, I mean.”

Joe said. “It beats sitting here doing nothing. You want to slide that color list over and I will code it as I writ them out if you want.”

Sara slide the list and her box of pens to the middle of the table then went back to work, barely looking up when Abiram joining them and added a plate of cookies and some books. He laughed. “I didn’t want you getting restless because you were board, but I see that has been taking care of. Sara have a cookie, they are not as good as yours, but they are not to bad. What are you working on?”

Sara looked up. “My storm data, they are making copies of the data as I try to finish up my predictions. I feel they need to get sent in, but yet they don’t feel finished. Though Joe’s idea of color coding helped.” She set down the pin and took a cookie then looked at the row. “I wonder if there is a pattern to the deaths. I didn’t look, but as they relate to the storms there.” She flipped back to a scribbled on page of the same numbers. “Reds, deaths need reds.” Shed pick out the red pens and started making marks. It didn’t take long to see a pattern on the page. Once she could see it she took out another sheet of paper and started figure out the equation.