Hidden Gem
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 2 of 2, complete
Word count (story only): 1870
[Thursday, May 7, 2020, late morning]



:: Nik convinces the trio to visit the Priory International School. Part of the Edison’s Mirror arc. ::


Back to Hidden Gem (part one)
To the Edison's Mirror Index
On to




The group ambled through the campus, down hallways wide enough for groups of students to walk four abreast without crowding, every open section of wall covered in sheets of cork to help mitigate the noise of feet on hardwood floors. On the walls, artwork warmed the neutral wood tones. The pieces began low, showing stick figures and smiley-faced suns hanging in a row that lined up the top edges of the quality watercolor paper with the bottom edge of each door handle.

Mixed in the rows above, the pieces ranged in size and materials, and the topics flowed from botany drawings to comic book pages drawn and many inked, from technical draft images by near-professional hands to watercolor interpretations of dishes being presented to an appreciative audience.

Aidan touched a finger to one corner of the beige newsprint of one of the younger artist’s drawing. “That’s a remarkable array of papers, not just the art itself. Why is everything mixed together?”

Mrs. Hume smiled warmly at him. Proudly. “Because the campus is for all students. There’s a gap between the artwork in the youngest students’ building, so that they can’t impulsively reach for the pieces made by older students. Each work is displayed for a month, and we try to have several pieces from each student up at any one time.”

Vic patted Aidan’s shoulder. “What about other media? Aidan loves woodwork. Me, I was pretty good with clay modeling, but I haven’t done it for a while.”

“There are three-dimensional pieces in each classroom, more in the public spaces, but they’re all in cases. So, pieces go into cases based on their size, not the age or experience of the artist,” Ailsa Hume enthused.

Liana’s fingers twitched. “That sounds… really nice,” she murmured.

“Come on, I’ll show you my current favorite. It’s not next on the tour, but I can’t pass up an opportunity to see it.” Ailsa beckoned them toward a side corridor that led to one of the exits, easily moving at Nik’s pace. They made their way across campus to a nearly identical brick building with a large fenced playground full of equipment for preschoolers. She checked her watch before reaching for the door. “It’s naptime in the infant room, and story time in the others, so we’ll be quiet.” She led the way to a classroom with a dozen two-year-olds lying on their stomachs on colorful vinyl mats, their heads propped in their tiny hands as they listened to one of the teachers reading a picture book. Next to her, a young man signed the story. Elsewhere in the room, two more teachers began filling small cups with warm spiced apple juice.

Ailsa pointed to the butterfly house in a corner of the classroom. Puffs of tissue paper and pipe cleaners hung from the bare branch of a dogwood tree. Construction paper butterfly shapes, decorated with glops of glitter glue or raggedly torn bits of colored paper, took up more space. A bit of educated guessing identified cocoons and caterpillars, as interpreted by two-year-olds.

Beaming, she pressed a finger to her lips, then led them back to the hallway. “The class watches the real caterpillars in the spring, and one of the teachers thought of this project to help the kids to understand the life cycle, the week before the live caterpillars arrived.” The headmistress beamed proudly. “That class is graduating from high school this year, and everyone loves the tradition. This year, they’re a little late because the shipment was delayed.”

They continued the tour, asking questions that the headmistress answered easily and confidently. The first time she paused to look at her watch, Aidan was staring, transfixed, at two preteen girls putting together a tiny computer module and the black plastic casing. The taller girl checked their blueprint, then handed a toggle switch to the girl at her left. They whispered to each other, too quietly for anyone in the tour to overhear.

After a long moment, Aidan took a steadying breath and forced himself to shift back to stand beside Nik. “I’d join their class if I understood anything about what they’re learning,” the auburn-haired man admitted.

Vic brightened. “I can teach you a few things, and there’s always the library. Getting supplies might mean ordering remotely, though.”

“Oh, parental interest like that is always encouraged. There’s a robotics club, and they want to hold a tournament so their bots can fight each other.”

Aidan’s eyebrows climbed. “Gladiatorial combat via… machines?”

Nik snorted. “You were a teenage boy, and before that, a preteen one. They’d host a gladiatorial game over which brand of hot dogs are best.” He raised a hand, patting the air toward Liana. “Are girls bloodthirsty in other ways? It’s been awhile since I was a preteen boy, after all.”

“Not as long as it’s been for me,” Aidan murmured, his lips twitching upward.

Liana relaxed a little more. “They tend to get aggressive with words first. Usually.” She glanced wistfully toward the classroom door and the students beyond. “I’d like to try it, too.”

“We can join together,” Vic declared. “If you want. That way, you and I have something in common and there’s a familiar face when we first start classes.”

For the first time in the tour, Ed spoke up. “What if I want something really, really different? A cooking class or something?”

Vic nodded gravely. “Sure. That’s something that you and I can share.”

Liana rubbed her fingertips on the welt seam on the outside of the leg of her jeans. “You’re probably ahead of me in everything,” she whispered.

“So?” Ed asked. “If it’s fun, and you enjoy it, I’ll enjoy spending time with you. And sometimes, it’s nice to have something familiar… especially now.”

“That sounds like a decision,” Ailsa observed. “Let’s go to my office and get the enrollment paperwork set up, and the scholarships assigned.” She motioned toward the main building. “There’s a student store, but that’s for funny erasers and scratch-and-sniff stickers. Next to it is the School Closet. We can pick up your uniforms after everything is signed.”

Nik’s brow furrowed. “How expensive are they? I don’t think anyone came prepared for a--”

Ailsa tilted her head slightly. “What? Why would there be a cost? Three uniforms, a pair of gym shoes and a pair of dressier shoes are part of the tuition costs. Which means that they’re included in the scholarship.”

“Laundry,” Liana blurted, then blushed darker than the bricks outside.

“That’s part of the life skills department. It’s in the high school building.’ Ailsa patted the teen’s shoulder. “Just bring in the clothes in the school’s duffel when two need to be washed and the resource teacher will teach you how to operate the machines.”

Nik nodded. “That makes sense.”

“Not to me,” Aidan murmured. “Vic, could you explain it later? It might be… a language gap.”

“Sure,” the teen agreed.

Ed slipped his hand into Aidan’s, quietly watchful as they returned to the Headmistress’ office. It seemed to be two walls full of bookshelves, a wall of windows, and a wall of the same cork surface as in the hallways, covered by children’s drawings, cards, and even half a dozen playing cards, backs up, to show the silhouettes of boys and girls of various ages.

Nik cleared his throat as the door closed behind them. “They’re working on legal documentation. Can we set up provisional enrollment?” he asked carefully.

Ailsa’s expression smoothed to professional interest. “Did you fear for your lives at any point before arriving on the island?”

Liana squeaked. Pinching her lips between her teeth to hold in the rest of the air in her lungs, she nodded.

Ed nodded next, more slowly.

VIc raised a brow. “Absolutely.”

Aidan shrugged. “I’m not sure what your… What are the standards?”

Ailsa’s expression softened. “Did you, at any point before stepping foot on the island, worry that you might die? Lack of food, lack of warmth, lack of water, not having a shelter.” She scanned his face for a moment. “Not all danger is obvious, but the fear that you might die is our standard.”

Slowly, brow furrowed, Aidan nodded. “But I am an adult.”

“You’re the custodian of record of the two boys. I’ll use the same security on your paperwork. My eyes only.” The headmistress smiled.

Liana turned longing eyes toward the old-fashioned black touch-tone phone on the Headmistress’ desk, which was tucked in a sunny corner instead of dominating the space. “I should call Beverly.”

The headmistress waved the worry away. “I can list her as your guardian of record, but the documentation is safe from scrutiny. Even a subpoena. I’ll fill out your paperwork today, and Beverly can call me to confirm when you’ve had time to discuss it.”

Nik raised a brow. “How do the kids usually get here?”

“Dropoffs, mostly,” Ailsa responded. “Why?”

“We don’t have a car,” Vic explained. “But it’s less than two miles. That’s an easy walk.”

“Only after Henry clears Ed,” Nik argued. “I’ll drop you both off and pick you up. If Aidan will help me run errands, it works out for everyone.”

The headmistress smiled. “That sounds like the last obstacle. Shall we start filling out papers?”

Ed shrank smaller. “I’ll need an assessment before picking out classes. What I want might not be a good fit, yet. I don’t want to stand out to the other students.”

Ailsa leaned forward, studying his face at the same level. “You won’t. You’ll each be assigned to a coordinating teacher. Then you’ll work on projects, most of which run only six weeks or less, and from those modules, we’ll assemble a portfolio with grades that are translated to the standard format that the local schools and colleges expect. We’re an accredited International Baccalaureate program. The goal is to help students succeed, not just follow a standard template. We’ll tailor things to your needs, because I can see that once we do, you’ll be willing to create your own successes.”

“Big words,” Liana murmured.

The headmistress nodded. “They are. Let me prove them to you.”

The teen stepped forward. “Okay. I’ll start the paperwork. How long will it take?”

“I’ll call Mun in the kitchen, and they’ll bring up snacks. Any allergies?” Ailsa asked, already reaching for the desk phone.

“Rice,” Ed and Vic declared simultaneously.

“How do you feel about royal crowns?” Amusement danced across the older woman’s face. “Today’s snack is a stalk of broccoli carved into a crown, with a thin slice of carrot underneath, filled with peanut butter. The apple wedges are served with a sweeter dip with maple and cinnamon.”

Nik laughed brightly. “I love it. They’re more creative than ants on a log, that’s for sure.”

Aidan’s bewildered expression made the younger man laugh again. “I’ll show you later. It’s just a weird name for a kids’ snack.”

Ailsa motioned toward the long chaise set at an angle next to the desk. “Have a seat, Liana. We’ll have you set up before the snacks arrive, and maybe both of the young men’s papers, too.”

Vic nodded firmly. “Good deal… and thank you. So much.” Ed nodded along.



30















ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith Oct. 14th, 2025 01:24 pm)
Today is mostly sunny and warm.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.  I heard a squirrel chattering but didn't see it.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/14/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
Based on an audience poll, this is the free epic for the October 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl reaching its $200 goal. It came out of the July 15, 2025 bonus fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from [personal profile] mama_kestrel. It also fills the "I'll Get My Revenge" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo fest.

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([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith Oct. 14th, 2025 01:03 am)
Naomi Rivkis — The World As It Ought to Be
Stories from a protopian future

Protopia (n.): A world that is not perfect, but is getting better; one that is on the long arc toward justice, carried by human hands.

What if the future didn't have to be dystopian?

In a time when every headline screams of crisis and many governments seek power instead of solutions, these stories dare to ask a radical question: What would it be like to create a better world?


On Dreamwidth, see the post by [personal profile] mdlbear.
The half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics is now open over on LiveJournal.  Donors, start your engines!
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([personal profile] weofodthignen Oct. 13th, 2025 08:52 pm)
The rain held off long enough that I was able to do a quick and dirty de-leafing in front. Increasingly heavy showers, then it settled in to rain seriously. The dog was not impressed with the puddles in the driveway and tried to come back in via the front porch, but I didn't have my key. Monty and Prudence had both come by at breakfast time; I trust they are dry and warm somewhere.
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([personal profile] billroper Oct. 13th, 2025 10:16 pm)
I confirmed tonight that the soldering iron gets hot enough to melt solder, so that's good.

OVFF is approaching like juggernaut and I'm trying to figure out what all needs to be done before I go. We're still trying to settle the issue of what to do about the dogs, although it looks like Julie's going to stay home, so there is some chance that she can manage the assorted canines. The problem is that Calvin is still very much a puppy and requires a lot more attention than Ruby does.

And it is nine days until Gretchen's birthday and I still don't have a birthday present for her yet. I need to consider this...
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([personal profile] dialecticdreamer Oct. 13th, 2025 10:39 pm)
Hidden Gem
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of
Word count (story only): 1045
[Thursday, May 7, 2020, late morning]



:: Nik convinces the trio to visit the Priory International School. Part of the Edison’s Mirror arc. ::


Back to Lunch and Logistics
To the Edison's Mirror Index
On to




The campus, surrounded by thick clusters of evergreen trees, centered on a group of five red brick buildings which had likely been built in the same decade as the American Civil War. despite being just past noon, the grounds were quiet, soothed by the rustle of salty breezes through the foliage. White enameled iron fences, each low enough for the average preschooler to step over easily, framed the cement sidewalks wide enough for Nik, Aidan, Liana, and Vic to travel side by side while Ed marched behind Nik’s chair, speaking quietly about the ways that his uncle would have romped over the primary-colored playground areas that they passed on the way to the central administration building. Flower beds, edged by the straight lines and low iron fences on one side, sprawled on the other side into long sweeping curves that seemed to melt into the verdant lawn.

Deeper in the open areas, a shoulder-height fence of the same white wrought iron, marked the spaces for a basketball court on the left and a tennis court on the right. Toward the rear of campus, partially hidden by the central building, a confidence course seemed to grow between two towering evergreen trees.

Aidan scanned the area, but seemed to be listening more than watching. “What is that? I hear people chanting, but I can’t understand specific words.”
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([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith Oct. 13th, 2025 02:45 pm)
Today is cloudy and mild.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches. I heard a squirrel chattering but didn't see it.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/13/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/13/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/13/25 -- I planted groundnut roots in two pots of the new picnic table garden.

I've seen a fox squirrel up a tree.

I picked a handful of groundcherries.

EDIT 10/13/25 -- I watered the new picnic table and septic gardens.

EDIT 10/13/25 -- I watered the irises, telephone pole garden, and savanna seedlings.

I am done for the night.
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([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith Oct. 13th, 2025 12:02 am)
These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Affordable Housing
Wildlife
Half-Price Sale in Polychrome Heroics
Today's Smoothie
Free Epic Poll
Activism
Unsold Poems for the October 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl
Journalism
Birdfeeding
Today's Adventures
Art
Politics
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Society
Photos: Seeds
Photos: Coles County Community Garden
Poem: "What Wizardry Is All About"
Conservation
Birdfeeding
Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 2 Left Side
Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 1 Right Side
Follow Friday 10-10-25: Jazz
Today's Adventures
Sustainability
Poem: "The Disappointing Daughter"
Poem: "The Unretired Witch"
Birdfeeding
Early Humans
Birdfeeding
Books
Good News

Trauma has 29 comments. Food has 51 comments. Affordable Housing has 53 comments. Robotics has 85 comments.


"An Inkling of Things to Come" belongs to Polychrome: Shiv and needs $191 to be complete. It has 4 new verses. Maiara and Arthur discuss taking notes.


The weather has cooled off slightly, but still unseasonably warm. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, and at least two squirrels. I heard a blue jay screaming but didn't see it. The migration is heavily impacted -- we drove past the lake again and there was no sign of waterbirds. However, I spotted a small flock of geese flying south Saturday evening. Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, oxalis, moss rose, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant, cypress vine, sunchokes, sedum, violas. Tomatoes, ball carrots, and groundcherries are ripe. Fields are more than half harvested.
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([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith Oct. 12th, 2025 11:21 pm)
This article looks at housing as one possible bottleneck in human birth rates.  As countries around the world become more urbanized, overcrowding makes it harder to afford enough space to have children.  Overcrowding itself also tends to suppress fertility.  If a shortage of affordable housing is a significant limiting factor, then producing more of it might enable more families to have children (or more children).  Note that even 2 kids require a total of 3 bedrooms if you  have a boy and a girl but don't want them sharing a room -- and minimum wage doesn't support any kind of residence anywhere in America.
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([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith Oct. 12th, 2025 11:16 pm)
Spider gynandromorph!

Arachnologists poking around in Thailand discovered a new species of mygalomorph, Damarchus inazuma. One individual was particularly unusual: it’s a gynandromorph!

With cool pictures.
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([personal profile] weofodthignen Oct. 12th, 2025 08:45 pm)
The Chronicle weather guy is trying to foment panic about tomorrow's weather. Major storm! An inch of rain in San Jose! Thunder and lightning! Deep snow in the Sierra! etc. etc. Hopefully it will water my plants. I swept the driveway; I should have run a rake over the front grass, but didn't get to it.
The October 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl made its $300 goal, so there will be a half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics from Monday, October 13 through Sunday, October 19.  Yes, I'm running it the week after the fishbowl instead of skipping one, but I'm done writing and the end of the month will be extra busy, so I hope this works for folks. 
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([personal profile] billroper Oct. 12th, 2025 10:22 pm)
A friend is coming by later this week to work on my pinball machine and (with any luck) get it working again after six years of lying fallow. He asked if I had a soldering iron.

Well, I *have* a soldering iron. *Finding* the soldering iron is another matter altogether.

Tonight, I ransacked the laundry room where the tool shelf sits, hunting for my soldering iron.

I didn't find it. But on the floor, I found an old Archer soldering iron, still attached to its card. I'm going to assume that it works. But there was no solder to be found there.

I went to look in the studio. I threw away several cable envelopes that should have departed a while ago and eventually discovered a spool of solder.

But still no soldering iron. Why the solder was there and the soldering iron wasn't bothers me.

Not enough to keep looking though.

In other news, the low tire pressure light on my dash went off on the way home from the baseball game on Thursday night. This led to my looking for a reasonable place to put air in your tires, which is rather more of a problem than it used to be.

Last night, I gave up and ordered a battery-powered air compressor.

Today, my tires are full.

And I have an air compressor for the next time this happens.
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([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith Oct. 12th, 2025 10:16 pm)
Today we made a smoothie with:

1 cup apple cider
1 cup Brown Cow vanilla yogurt
1 fresh banana
1 frozen banana
1 tablespoon apple cider caramel sauce
1/2 cup ice

The result is beige and on the thin side, but tastes deliciously of caramel apple cider. :D It would probably work better with both bananas frozen though.

If you don't make your own caramel sauce, storebought would probably work. I warmed it up to pouring consistency because in the fridge it's closer to fudge texture.
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([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith Oct. 12th, 2025 09:44 pm)
The October 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl has made its $200 goal, so you get a free epic. Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open at least until Monday night. If there's a clear answer then, I'll close it; otherwise I may leave it open a little while longer. Here are your options...

"Once the Avalanche Has Begun"
A foolish choice in a neighboring town makes life challenging for Shaeth's followers.
70 lines

"The Well-being of All Our People"
When bandits attack a caravan, Menachem and Yossele defend their fellow travelers.
69 lines


Poll #33718 Free Epic for the October 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl
This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 14


Which of these should be the free epic?

View Answers

"Once the Avalanche Has Begun"
6 (42.9%)

"The Well-being of All Our People"
8 (57.1%)

Lunch and Logistics
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1594
[Thursday, May 7, 2020, late morning]



:: At lunch, several neighbors meet the Teagues and interest spreads. Part of the Edison’s Mirror arc. ::


Back to Shopping Surprises
To the Edison's Mirror Index
On to



“This menu is bewildering,” Aidan murmured. He shifted his shoulder, making Ed’s head lean closer, until it rested in the crook of Aidan’s neck. The boy seemed on the verge of unconscious instead of merely asleep, and had not stirred no matter how many times he’d been lifted in and out of Nik’s van.

Vic raised a brow. “Do you like pork? The adobo is--”

Aidan brightened. “A vinegar sauce, somewhat spicy? Garlic and soya sauce?” His smile widened. “I haven’t tasted it in… many years. Not since I was in Las Felipinas.” He closed the menu, running a fingertip under the Restaurant’s name. “Shore Leave. That’s an interesting name for a restaurant.
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