Parry: defensive action in which a fencer blocks his opponent's blade.
The ride home was a grueling one as Cécilia noted the clear look of dissatisfaction casting onto her mother's irritable facial features. The women's face glossy with shards of glass, murderous and lethal. Her glower deepening as Cécilia divulged into how Adrien had won with a steady score of 15.
"Je suis très déçu, Cécilia," mademoiselle Berder spoke sharply, the clear chagrin laced between each uttered word.
Cécilia's silence was the only answer to the comment, arguably the best response to her mother's venomous words that hissed with poison. Instead, Cécilia remained placid as the sights of Paris whirled by the outside of the car's window.
The young fencer's eyes darted with disinterest as she watched the mundane scene of people chattering amongst themselves throughout the most exceedingly toured city of France besides Lyon; the city acknowledged for its historical Roman architectural landmarks that scattered across the populated region.
However, Paris's Eiffel Tower only enhanced the extravagant ellagance of France, putting mere Lyon to shame. Not to mention, the macaroons were the best in the world. Her best friend Mae's mother could vouge on that word, her bakery well known throughout Paris.
"Cécilia!" Her mother barked in response to Cécilia's lack there of. The defining sound of the silence shattering into a million pieces.
"Yes, mother?" Cécilia answered half-heartedly as she continued gazing out the window, shadows dancing across the paved sidewalks.
"Do you think I'm going to have to sign you up for longer practice fencing sessions with Monsieur Ladègaillerie?" Madame Berder inquired honestly, her voice void of emotion.
"No!" Cecilia involuntarily burst into a horrified and startled shout, eye's bulging at the suggestion as she jolted out of her seat. The sudden outburst resulting in her mother's foot slamming the break more abruptly than necessary. The car came to a jerking stop at an intersection.
"And why not? You've got to be the best in order to succeed Cécilia," and the accused couldn't argue, but very little did her tyrant of a mother actually know.
If she were to be enrolled into more private sessions with monsieur Ladègaillerie, that would mean more time that she would have to spend with Adrien. The mere recollection of the captain of her fencing team sent flickers of rage to simmer within herself. She hadn't forgotten the bitter loss that she endured not just that afternoon but all the ones that trailed prior to it. Resonating and gnawing away in the crevices of her mind. Bursting in every insult she would throw at him just to nurse her wounded ego.
Therefore, proceeding any more time with that garçon would just give her mother, and herself, tenfold the amount of grief. Monsieur Ladègaillerie would engage Cécilia into more bouts with Adrien, leaving her hope shredded over the unforgiving Piste under her feet.
"I'll think it over mother," Cécilia caved, stretching out for her fencing gear as the car's engine was terminated.
French Terminology & Definitions
Je suis très déçu: I am very disappointed.
Mademoiselle: a title used before the surname or full name of any woman regardless of her marital status (a neutral alternative to Mrs. or Miss ).
Garçon: A boy, lad, chap, youngster.
Arrondissement: Paris is divided into twenty arrondissements municipaux, administrative districts, more simply referred toas arrondissements (pronounced [aʁɔ̃dismɑ̃] in French).
Septième: Seventh