Chapter 2: 2- Invitations

June 2021

 

The girl leans back against her chair as she reads the papers in front of her.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay, young miss? These people barely seem competent,” says the elder man in front of her.

The girl looks up. This ancient man has been taking care of her since she could remember. From giving her her monthly allowance to doing errands for her, he does it all, always clad in his crisp suit and slicked back hair that’s already showing signs of graying. She’s sure that more than anyone, he cares about her well-being. That’s Richard, aka dude.

“Barely competent? This bunch is incompetent, that’s the word for them. Just a couple of nobodies who became the unfortunate centers of some bad joke. Nobody here is qualified for the position they were voted for,” she replies.

Richard grimaces. The young lady never minces with her words. But she’s right, they are a bunch of less than desirable prospects. To think that they would be the ones who would have to go on this journey with the young lady. He sighs. The young lady’s last year of high school is not looking so well.

“What will you do about it, miss?” he asks, looking at the young lady.

It’s her turn to sigh, leaning back against her chair, massaging her temples.

“Well, I just have to whip them into shape, right?”

“But that’s…”

“I have a plan,” she blurts out. “Not much of a plan but a strategy. Well, more of a working idea. No really, maybe a general vibe is all I have. But whatever, it’ll work out in the end.”

Richard looks at his young miss. She can be so unpredictable at times. What could she be planning now?

“Very well, miss. Of course, I will do everything in my power to help you.”

“Yeah, I figure I’ll need the occasional help,” she says, rising from her seat.

She grabs an apple from the nearby basket. She inspects the specific apple, looking at the scarred spots.

“They say a single rotten apple can spoil the whole basket. If that’s true, then we should get rid of the rotten one to ensure the safety of the rest of the yield,” she says as she shoots the apple to the nearby bin. “Just you wait, Richard. I’ll take out this rotten apple and save the yield from completely spoiling. There is hope yet.”

Richard bows.

“As the young mistress desires it,” he says.

It might be an adventure ahead, he thinks.

 

**********

He wipes the sweat off his brow, gulping in the cold water. Taking off his sweat-drenched shirt, he fumbles with his hair and messes with it.

“This came for you this morning,” his grandmother says, emerging from the kitchen.

She hands her the deep blue envelop. He takes it with his free hand.

What a fancy looking piece of crap. What could it be? Who would send this nonsense here?

“And don’t forget to wipe the sweat off your back. Can’t have you catching a cold!” the woman yells from the kitchen.

“Yeah yeah, got it!” he yells right back, still investigating the envelop.

 

********

 

“And that’s it for this class.  It’s been a pleasure learning with you all. See you again next summer break!” the tutor says.

The students get up one by one, picking up their individual instruments. Each of them go out of the room in groups, merrily chatting with each other as they go. He leaves last, slinging his violin case behind his back. He heads for the door, all alone.

“Samier, do you have time?” his teacher asks.

He looks up, not sure what to expect. Did he do something wrong? Did he somehow mess up?

Not knowing what else to do, he nods and approaches the teacher’s table.

“You’re improved profoundly these last few weeks. I think you have a future here. I hope I see you again next summer. I’d love to continue working on your latent talent,” she says.

“Uh…that’s…,” he says, looking down.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to decide now. I was just saying. You have potential. I hope you let it grow,” the teacher adds.

He nods.

“Oh, by the way. Someone dropped this off for you earlier,” the teacher says.

She hands him a dark blue envelop.

Huh? An envelop? What could it be? he thinks. I don’t think anyone is inviting me to their birthday.

“Well, I hope to see you again,” the teacher says.

He nods once again, walking out of the room, the puzzling envelop still at hand.

 

**********

She’s watering her garden, making sure the hydrangeas are hydrated in the summer heat, when she hears a mailman drop something in the mailbox. Having nothing else to do, she goes ahead to check what it is.

Hmm, what could it be? We’re not expecting any mail soon.

She opens the box to see an envelop, a dark blue one .

Eh? That looks suspicious. What is it? Some sort of invitation that will tell her she’s the descendant of some bigwig and set her off on a quest to stop an alien invasion?

 

**********

You are reading story Asters at novel35.com

 

“Ahhh! Nothing beats swimming in the pool in this summer heat!” she says delightfully as she splashes in the water while sipping on orange juice.

“Young miss, something arrived for you,” one of the maids say she she approaches.

Oh? Something to disturb my beautiful rest?

“What is it?” she asks.

“I’m not sure, miss. Nothing’s written on the envelop,” the maid replies.

She gets up, her curiosity peaked. Taking the envelop in her hand, she inspect  it. Dark blue and nothing written on it indeed. How intriguing.

She lets out an inner giggle. This could be fun.

 

**********

 

“Lester! Lennie! Leia! Stop running around too much! You’ll destroy the glassware! And Leonard! Don’t you have your finals to attend to?!” she screams at the top of her lungs against the ruckus that’s going on in her house.

“Don’t be such a spoilsport! We’re just playing!” says her younger sister Lennie.

“I’ll do the paperwork later. Let me play some games for now!” says her older brother Leonard.

Uuhh! They never listen. This house is always a total wreck no matter what she does to keep it clean.

The doorbell rings. She’s surprised she still noticed it amid the chaos.

Needing a bit of a breather herself, she heads out.

Left. Right. Left. Right. Front. Back.

Hmm? There’s no one here.

Down!

There!

An envelop? What could it be?

 

**********

 

“Now you add some onion leaves for the dressing, and viola! You’re done!” the woman on the television says.

“I’m home!” his mom says from the door.

“Just in time! I tried out a new recipe. I think it’ll be good,” he says, approaching his mom to help her with her things.

“Of course it’ll be good. My one and only talented son cooked it,” his mom says with a wide smile. “Oh, I saw this outside. Must be for you,” she adds, handing him a dark blue envelop.

“Eh? For me? Are you sure?” he asks.

“Well, it sure doesn’t look like it’s for me, and it was by the door. Try to open it.”

Hmm, what is this? A prank, maybe?

**********

 

Wipe wipe wipe wipe wipe. Dust off dust off dust off dust off dust off, sweep sweep sweep sweep sweep.

All clean! He declares with a smile. Now to prepare the vegetables for dinner.

Rinse rinse rinse rinse rinse. Chop chop chop chop chop. Mince mince mince mince mince.

All done!

Now for the highlight of the day! Soooooomeeeeeeee….

And the doorbell rings.

Wow, perfect timing, he says sarcastically in his mind. Still, he heads for the door.

What now?

Suddenly, an envelop comes fluttering down in front of him. He catches it in his hands.

Again, what now?

He opens the envelop. Inside is a single piece of paper. It’s thick, dark blue in color as well. And embossed in the middle of the paper is this message:

 

 

 

SAINT MICHAEL ACADEMY

JULY 26, 2021

BUILDING D

ROOM 101

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