Day 2 ends with this 5k of words.

She nodded. “Just so, I just can’t see how anyone can be happy behind those fences with the programmed cleans that are more robots then animals. Well I hope you are able to take the open skies, good luck. The desk is just there and I think those people are waiting on you. I have to go find mine.” She left, not giving Sam time to thank her. She walked over to where the others were waiting, and they got in line to check out. Her father looked at the books she had and smiled even as he shook his head a bit. “I see you found that dragon rider book. I do hope it is as good as that review made it sound. That one should get them both upset, they were alarmed to find you reading a review of it, even after you were able to prove that the paper it was in had been given to you at school.” Tom said. “The might have been a bit less upset had she not said how badly she wanted to read it. I can’t believe I missed it, I went with one about Merlin, so it should still be upsetting and interesting. However I do want to read that one also. Sadly my next book report needs to be on a western so I will have to wait a bit. My teacher wants us to explore each verity as I take it that some stay to the same. I wasn’t brave enough to say I was totally new to fiction.” Sam said. “The person near me said that this is the first of a series and most likely will lead me to come back after the rest. I was trying to decide between this one and a novel about a group trying to live after electricity stops working. I will have to try it another as it does sound interesting. It was very hard to leave it. I fear that next time I will have to have a higher limit, but I did stay to five this time.” Seth said. “I think that the message to Roger should include page counts so he knows just how you managed it. I don’t think you have a book with less then three hundred pages there. So which of us gets to talk her though writing her first text message? Yes you are, it is not that much different then emailing.” Alice said. “You do as you brought it up. That is an interesting selection there. I can’t wait to find out what ones cause the most yelling.” I have two that I can’t let them see, and I stayed to geography for my non-fiction choices. They had a biography of Capriocn and Humors journals from his voyage five years ago, both of which are banned for nongovernment employees out east.” Sam smiled and handed her books over to the clerk. “I just have one that I am sure needs to be out of sight. As I haven’t heard of Mackanmer so I don’t think he is on the banned list, but likely is not spoken of, still I think it is safe to leave out and to tell Roger I have. However Gamble’s anthology isn’t, but I think he will know I have it from the hint I dropped and only listing four books. Yet it might just be over showed by the fact I have finely gotten my hands on Richard Cook’s guide to Adsons. I have only been trying for six years to get to see something beyond the first five pages of it, so when I saw the full book I couldn’t pass it by, for all I wanted one dealing more with the treatment of it out here.” Will said. “I can’t wait until Grandma realizes it is in your stack, and don’t forget to have your text books out as well. This is going to be a fun call. I can’t wait tell she sees the art history and painting technique books among mine. Then when I tell her that some of these are for a paper I have to write on Rinner.” The clerk smiled at them and handed the books back. “Enjoy your books, and welcome to the area, it is nice to see some new faces around. I am sure your Grandmother will enjoy telling you what is wrong with your books, but make sure that one on Dagah is out of sight as well. He was labeled as a heretic last week. So far Mackanmer hasn’t been, but it is thought he will be in the next round. More are added monthly here of late. We get the updated lists, so just ask when you check out and whoever is here will be happy to let you know. You aren’t the only ones who have relives in the east and it can be a hassle to keep up with what can’t be talked of with them.” Grant said. “Thank you, that will indeed be a help. Come on we had best go get the living room set for the call.” Smiling they head home and got it set up, glad that they had a good webcam. Tom took over seeing to the living room as the others got dinner ready. It took a bit of shuffling to get it so they were all shown without the room looking smaller then it was. Then there was the books to see to, each persons need to be near at hand, but the titles need to be somewhat readable as well. Hopefully the image would be a bit clear on the other end as their computer was new and the display better. The webcam was new and it resolution was better then the screen could handle, so he was sure that as long as he could halfway make out the titles then Grandma should be able to see them just fine. He also checked how it looked on his phone, for all he didn’t trust that it was a good comparison. He finished just as he was told to get to the table. Once they were done and everyone was in the living room Grant signed into chat, so she would know they were there, then took up a book. Seth said. “Alright Sam time for you to text Roger the list of your books.” Sam shook her head but took the phone from him and tried to figure out how to text. She had just gotten it open, when the computer flashed saying there was a call. She tried to give the phone back to Seth but he shook his head. “No you are not getting out it. you are going to text him. Once you’ve sent one you will see it is nothing to fear. Hi grandma, how are things in Maine? Sam said you had a bee problem this morning? Now Sam you have it open, so you just use the letters there to type out the message. It isn’t going to bite. Sending a text isn’t that different from sending an email, and you have had those mastered since you were four, if I am to believe Roger.” Sam laughed. “I don’t know about that, and this on screen stuff is harder then a keyboard and it just changed that word? Why did it make theory into testing? Hi Grandma, they have informed me I am getting a cell when we go to mall so are trying to teach me how to use one. I don’t know about this texting stuff, but I am trying.” Grant said. “You will have it mastered in a week at most, and you did in fact send an email when you were four. Hi mom, how is your night? I hope it is less upsetting. Tom confirmed that he hasn’t seen any wolves at all, so we still are not sure just how that came about. He did send Ruth a picture of an odd looking cave, which might have been taken to be a mouth if the captioning was gone.” Grandma was frowning. “It certainly looked like a beast, I just don’t see how you all can manage out there. I am sure you would be so much more comfortable back here and there happens to be an opening with the parks department. I am sure Ned could get you on, and Milly was saying that the adult resource program was short staffed.” Olivia coughed a bit Grant said. “I would not be interested in the park service job, even if I was free to take it. I will be starting classes for mu doctorial degree in a couple of weeks, when Wilder University starts the term. Plus this job pays double what any one I could get there would, without counting the housing that is included. I am happy here.” Grandmother said. “So Olivia are you truly happy being a house wife? Wouldn’t you be back here and employed? And think of the children, just what are they learning out there? How is being exposed to all of that going to help them be productive members of civilized society?” Olivia said. “I see nothing wrong with staying home. However you are wrong in believing that being out here means I have to do so. As it turns out I just need a year of classes to be an accredited teacher out here. And before I knew it the district office had arranged a meeting with Wilder admissions for me and so I will be taking class at Wilder as well, and then will be teaching next year. Something I had been barred from doing in the east, but is my passion. The schools here are every bit as changeling as the ones the children were in out east, should they wish to go back east most of the university will welcome them. I see no harm in anything, none of them have asked to return east, even knowing that Ruth has said she would take them in if they wished to. I understand you are worried but we are not in danger out here.” Grandmother shook her head and sighed. “I do hope you wake up before one of you gets hurt. All that untamed life is just asking for trouble. Tom are you certain that beast didn’t hurt you?” Tom said. “I haven’t seen a wolf, and most assuredly wasn’t attacked by one. I just bet it was the cave you saw. I sent the picture of it to Aunt Ruth as I thought it would interest her. I am sorry it somehow got to you and made you think I was in danger. I like my school here, but I am a bit lost in some classes as they are doing things I haven’t heard of, but I am doing well over all. My teacher says I have a good eye and is going to see if I can get in to the photography class, for all it is for six graders not fifth. We are just starting on map making in geography, learning how they were made and will be making some of our own as well.” That caused a bit of coughing. “Right now it is on how to work out distances. It seems a lot like the home work Ryan was doing last year, so I think the school here might be a bit ahead of the one back there. Or it could just be that it was something that was deemed unneeded for me back east. I know that is my problem in English, but I am getting the hang of it.” She shook her head. “Are you sure the schools are not pushing to much. Map making sounds a bit advanced and what is the point of teaching Photography? Surely there are more useful things to learn. However giving the high school teaches pottery I shouldn’t be surprised. So Seth what sort of things are they teaching in seventh?” Seth said. “Nothing to wild in my classes, though you do have some art options I preferred the language classes. After all it is what I need for cryptology. I am hoping to get into SunVill High as it will give me a good chance of getting into Mexton or Colverdale University. I want Mexton as it will mean less testing to get into the classes I need, but that means I have to take harder classes starting now, so I am going to have a lot of homework. Next year I will start the computer classes so hopefully I can earn enough this summer for my half of a laptop. Dad said we can get one once we can pay for half the cost of it.” Grandma coughed. “I think that is. Well it is good that you must earn it, that will let you respect it, but it seems a bit much. I do think you might be shooting a bit high, Colverdale is a top three school, dear. So Alicia are things as mixed up in the ninth? I mean, it is a bit of jump after all.” Alice said. “It is strange not to have to worry about the class structure or be told that something is out of reach do to it. I am in Foulton High, as it is geared to those looking to go into a trade not an academic career. I will be a fully licensed mechanic when I graduate, but am working in a few cooking classes as well. So I have a good bit of math, engine repair, electronics, and some computer classes.” Her grandmother coughed a bit. “I have always liked working with tools and would help out in shops when I could, but thought I would never get the chance to truly learn. I am glad that I have the chance to study something other than the business management the councilors out east said fit me.” Grandmother said, a bit icily. “We are not tradesmen. I do not know just what you are thinking. Carrying on so. That is not our place! Just what. Of all the. You are not of tradesmen stock, just what are you thinking changing like that. You want to get outclassed really?” Alice smiled. “As I said there are no classes here to worry about, I am free to be who I want. Of course when in the east it will be the math and the classes on running a small business I talk about. I do not know that I will ever open my own shop but will be taking the classes on doing so just so I can say that is what I am studying, and after this I will not trouble you with the rest, I just wanted you to know. I didn’t want to lie about my plans to you. I will not be moving back east to live. I am young, but I know that I belong here.” Grandmother shook her head. “I have never heard the like. Of all the silly ideas. Yet I am to believe you all are safe out there! So they base the high schools on your studies? Just what king of High school has a pottery class?” Will smiled. “An Art biased one. I prefer the painting and art history classes to the hand skills, which is where I am doing pottery right now, it will also cover sewing, carving, leather craft and beading. As I want to go into art education I need to experience a lot of different forms of art, for all I plan to focus more on the history. I do have the standard academic classes as well. Oh and I am going to start a side business selling painted canes. I have one order already, without even being set up, and have someone who is going help me with the needed paper work.” She shook her head. “So Samantha what is your school? With the mix of class you told me I can’t tell where it is leading.” Sam said. “White Wands is a bit different, it is for students with the most server form of Adsons and is geared to see that the classes take into account the changes we have so we are not stuck at the pace of those that do not see the patterns we do. I am not sure just what my goal is yet, there is so much I have never explored before. I am sure I want something in science, but I am not yet sure of the branch. I have two years of high school as the requirements are a bit different, but I likely will still be exploring my options fore the first year or to I am at whatever University I go to. I am not sure just what ones I can hope to enter out here with the preparation I have. I am sure I will have a few meetings to go over the options.” Grandmother relaxed for the first time. “So it is a special school. That must be a relief to you. I am sure it will be a help to be with others.” Moonstone picked that moment to fly in and let out a chip as he landed on the back of Samantha’s chair. Grandmother jumped up screaming as her chair turned over do to her sudden moving. The screaming and the crash of the chair caused Grandfather, followed by Uncle Wane, to run in to the room where Grandmother was. Moonstone meantime was chirping wildly, in a way that made Samantha sure he was laughing. Grant and his father each said, at the same time. “Are you all right?” Then looked at each other. Grandmother said. “Just what is that monster and why is it? Are you sure you don’t need help? That hardly looks like you are safe with wild animals invading your house! How in the world? Animals do not belong in houses! Have they no boundaries out there?” Sam was trying to glare at the bird. Grant said. “We are fine, I am sorry about it. I do hope you didn’t get hurt. I didn’t expect him to show up like that.” Sam said. “Moonstone that was not nice and there is no reason to be laughing. You could have caused a lot of damage scaring her like that! It was not called for. How would you feel if someone had of been injured by the fright you just gave them? Do try to be a bit more careful.” The bird chirped and flapped his wings. “Yes it was an impressive display, but you truly didn’t need to be quite so scary.” She shook her head. “I am sorry Grandmother. I should have warned you that he would likely be coming in sometime. I assure you he is not going to hurt us. It is unusual to have a bird in the house but he can work the cat door so likely will be come in a good bit as he feels he needs to check on me. I am sorry he scared you all.” Tom said. “Well at least you are likely to find Furry as scary when he shows up, as I am sure will happen on some call. That would be my cat, by the way. I do wonder what he is going to make of Sam’s bird.” That caused a good bit of couching. Sam smiled. “I am sure that Moonstone has already talked it over with Furry. I just don’t see him coming in here and not having an agreement made.” Grandpa said. “It sounds worse out there then I thought. I didn’t know that you were expected to live with the beasts! Just what are you into? Does that book say Merlin? Who is that and why do you have it? I do not recall any official by that name. You need to stop chasing rainbows and get back to someplace civilized!” Grant said. “Hi dad, we are fine out here and sorry for the scare. It is odd, and the bird was unexpected, though I did think a cat and dog might turn up. So far no dog has, but it is early yet. We went to the library earlier so that is some of the books and then they have there homework out here as well. We are all liking it out here for all it is an adjustment.” Uncle Wane said. “So who is Merlin and why are your reading about him Tom? That name hasn’t come up in my class.” Tom smiled. “Historically Merlin was a druid and King Arthur’s advisor. This book though is about a wizard that shares the name. It is a novel Uncle. I have to read some for school, but would be even if I didn’t need to. It sounds interesting, for all I had a different book in mind when I went to get one.” “A novel! Just what are you doing with that? They are only to be read with guidance and only by those with the right skills to understand them. Stories are far to likely to cause wrong ideas.” Uncle Wane was very upset, but then he was a government teacher and so knew the laws and polices. “Where did you get it? You said it was a school assignment? Surely not!” Tom said. “I have a bunch of book reports to do for English and each of them we can pick the book but the teacher is setting the type. For the first one it is to be a fantasy, the next one has to be a western. Yes still a fiction book, I do believe the majority of them are to be on fiction. The book though came from the town library.” Olivia said. “The rules on classes were never adopted out here, so yes the children are going to be exposed to more ideas. We were aware of that before we moved out here. I was one of the factors we considered before making the move. The library is like wise open to them, they can access any book in the collection.” Uncle Wane coughed. “That is unwise. I do hope that you at least will be watching. It truly is likely to lead to some problems. It just isn’t safe to leave it open. So many of the older writers failed to see the danger in disorder.” Grant nodded. “And the government classes take that into consideration. They will see that any confusion is cleared up. I can see why you are concerned but I feel it is safe for them. Were it the first years after the treaty I would be worried as there was a lot of unrest and lack of law that had to be set right. However the years of guidance have seen that put to rest. It is a bit different out here a bit less structured, but I do think that will be better for my family. I feel they will find far less trouble out here.” Uncle Wane shook his head still upset. Grandfather nodded though. “Yes given how much they were sneaking in to place they were not to be or taking books approve where they should it is likely they are safer. However I must worry about it. After all they freely passed the books they had to Samantha. It is not likely that will stop, and with her condition it just isn’t good for her to be exposed to wild things like that novel.” Moonstone chirped and moved to the books next to her. Grant coughed. “Samantha is no more restricted then the others are.” Uncle Wane shook his head. “That can’t be. There are laws about that. The changes means she is so much more susceptible to the pulls caused by such junk.” Samantha took a breath trying not to let her anger show. It was upsetting when they did this, talked of her like she wasn’t there. Like she was too impaired to know what they said. For all it was just normal, and she should be used to it. They did mean well, in their way. “All the students in my school have the more server form of Adsons. One of my classes is dealing with fiction writings, another is about creating works of fiction. They do not see why I would take any harm from it. I also have Astronomy and a collage leave math class. The separation is not done out of fear but because the changes mean we learn in different ways and so can easily be bored by the pace set in a normal class room. I am not saying it to brag but in hopes you will understand that my school is as challenging as any other school. They do not believe that my disease has to limit what I am capable of any more then I do. Yes it means I relate to the world a bit differently, but I can learn to manage those differences and still be a part of the world. Here I can freely study the sciences that I have been pulled to. Here I can get my degree in genetics, or which ever other field I feel like. For all you found it so funny when I told you I wanted to when I five.” she looked at her gather worried she had gone to far he smiled at her. Grant said. “Just so and I do hope you will explore your options and see what you like best. It is not unknown for those with your level of Adsons to end up with more than one doctorial degree by the time they are thirty. Not that you need to feel pressured to do so, just to illustrate that it is indeed possible for you to follow your dreams into which ever filed or fields they lead you. I know it is troubling to you Wane, but they truly have found that they were harmed more by trying to limit those with Adsons then by letting them pursue the areas of study they whished to.” They both shook their heads. “I do hope no harm comes from it. It is asking for danger.” Moonstone was flapping a bit and started chirping causing Uncle Wane to look at him. “What is that bird doing? Are you sure it is safe to let it be there? Just why is Fishers Astronomy sitting there and Mackanmer is practically a heretic. Just where and why? Who is reading that junk? At least you do have a book on Adsons as well, that should help you understand better the dangers.” Sam smiled. “Those would be my books, the top four are library books the others are school books, though Fishers belongs to the principal and isn’t for my astronomy class, though no doubt having read it will help. Yes Moonstone I will take the dragon’s rides in and read a chapter to you before bed. However I have some other reading to do before then. Now behave, I am sure the chirping is not making it easy from them to hear us. I didn’t know that birds liked dragon stories.” She shook her head a bit. “I can’t believe I am barging with a bird, but it does seem to have worked.” Seth said. “As I said early, I am sure that Moonstone is more then a normal bird. He listens to well.” Grandmother shook her head. “It is good see that none of you have been eaten yet, but I think we need to make this a regular appoint. It is far to wild out there. Now though we have kept you long enough, and I promised Makaly I would check her spelling words, so I had best go. You have a good night and I do hope you don’t go to wild. Though it does sound alarming. I will call you both tomorrow and we can talk more then.” Grant said. “We didn’t leap blindly into the unknown. Our answers wont change, but yes we can talk more tomorrow you all sleep well, and I do hope the fright will not trouble your dreams. I am positive that we are not in danger.” Grandfather said. “I am not convinced of that, but I will give you the chance to explain it to me. I am sorry I refused to hear you out. It wasn’t fair to just shut you out. if I hadn’t I am sure an answer could have been found. It is late at this point but still we should try. I will be calling as well, and yes we need to make this happen regularly. That way we can still feel connected. Sam, I do not know that it is wise to let any child be unguided in study, but it isn’t right that you felt stifled. However there are good reasons that not all fields are open to everyone. You all have a good night.” With that he ended the call. Sam blinked a bit. “I was expecting him to be as mad as Uncle Wane was, but that sounded like he was trying to understand what I was saying. I know it was pushing a bit, but well. they were listening before they entered the room so had heard me say I was going to go into sciences and yet were acting like I couldn’t be trusted to think for myself. I was just to irritated to control myself.” Grant said you did fine dear. “Now do remember we are going to the mall tomorrow, so you might want to take a pain pill tonight as there will be a lot of walking. Yes go on and take your books to your room so you can spread out and read them easier.” Laughing Samantha stood up and picked up six of the books only to have Tom take them. “Now are you sure you don’t need the text books as well? She shook her head. “No I am up to where I need to be in them, but I can carry them.” Tom said. “I am going to go curl up in my bed with my book as well and your room is on the way to mine.” She shook her head and gave up. “Come on then, and Moonstone, keep that cookie out of my bed. I will break it up on the desk for you, thief.” Grant laughed. “Moonstone I am trusting you to see she shuts the light of and gets to sleep no later then one.” The bird chirped and he laughed. Sam shook her head. “I bet he will figure out away to shut the light off on me before long. Just to see that you don’t start hiding the cookies from him.” Laughing she head off to her room.