Chapter 160
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Pronged Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2041, Planet: Grimoire
Later in the day, once Grifton and Firenze had completed their moving, they headed to the academy and gathered the instructional materials they would use later in their classes. Then, they headed to the warehouse. They had projects to finish for their classes and just for customers who'd requested commissions from them.
They also just wanted to spend what little time was left together. Even if it meant working in the warehouse, which didn't bother Grifton or Firenze. However, they were startled when it became clear that others had gathered in their absence in the central part of the warehouse.
"Hmm, well, fortunately, nothing was disturbed." Grifton looked around carefully.
"Hey, Tinroy and Jesso, I'm glad to see you two." Gladys popped out of the warehouse's office area. Her father appeared a few seconds later. "Sorry we didn't warn you that we were coming."
"Uh, no problem." Grifton blinked. "How goes the planning commission?" He grinned at her disgusted glower. It was just a little payback since she hadn't contacted him or Firenze ahead of time to tell either of them that she and her father were coming.
At first, she didn't recognize what he was doing. "Just dandy," Gladys scowled. "This'll be my last time doing that crap." She hadn't wanted to be a part of it.
Her father had insisted she do it just for the experience. "I told her truthfully," Harold shrugged. "There were times when she would have to serve on a committee in the future for various commitments." He grimaced. "All part of the civic duty in living in an area that encourages free will and choice in how places are governed."
Grifton found that admirable. "Yes, I've avoided becoming embroiled in those things." This was mainly because he was never around when such things were organized.
While he hadn't seen either of them since the last unofficial spar, he knew Gladys had been involved in the planning committee, organizing the events of the official combat exam.
She harrumphed at him. "Just you wait," Gladys threatened. "If you remain here long enough, Grifton." She sounded amused and aggravated simultaneously when speaking of the future. "Those academy officials will force you into some committee or other, claiming it is for credits and mandatory, so you can't say no."
Grifton shrugged. "If they do, and I'm sure they will, I'll accommodate their demands." He didn't see any reason to be aggravated about having to do civic duty. The only time it wouldn't be welcomed was if they did it without sufficient warning. Then there would be a definite problem, and not his either to sort out.
*
While Grifton was teasing his friends, Harper, and his siblings were completing their first day of classes. It was different from what they'd expected. The ceremony had been uneventful and tedious, to be honest. Most students fell asleep through the officials' long-winded speeches, which did nothing to arouse collaborative juices. All it did was make Harper wonder if he'd made a mistake in choosing this academy.
However, his anxiety dispersed when he approached the welcoming stall and discovered that Grifton was there with his boyfriend. They were patiently working to help the newcomers adjust to life at the academy.
"Greetings," Grifton smiled faintly at Harper. "How are you all settling in?" His eyebrows lifted when he saw all eight of them for the first time.
"Well, the speeches bored us to tears," Jennifer piped up before Harper could say a word.
"Yeah, that's pretty typical." Firenze nodded. "Even he fell asleep while standing up." He grinned when Grifton elbowed him.
"We all fell asleep at some point or other." Grifton shrugged with a wry smile. "So, have you been assigned to anyone for a tour of the facilities?"
Harper was taken by surprise. "I don't know. How would I find out that information." He wasn't even sure where to look.
"Check the communicator," Firenze informed him. "It should be located under the general announcements for first years."
The fact that neither male referred to them as newbies or rookies made it clear they knew how inconvenient the whole process was. Harper began to feel that he'd be fortunate if these two were assigned to him and his siblings for a tour.
Even as Harper looked at his communicator, he was surprised. "Err, who is Gladys Jenning?"
Grifton smiled. "Someone who'll make an excellent guide," he confirmed, "Provided she can break away from her other committee duties."
Firenze glanced at them. "She's on her way." He shrugged. "From what I gather,"
Judging from the amusement gleaming in Firenze's eyes, the female wasn't happy about being assigned to the committee. Harper cleared his throat. "So does that mean she's playing truant?"
"No, she wouldn't do that." Grifton shook his head.
"In this case, this is a good way to keep her from getting into trouble," Firenze grunted. "She's taking this as a good reason to skip out on the rest of the committee leader's nitpicking of her work."
In other words, she was taking the opportunity to leave before she did something she'd regret. Harper nodded. He'd seen his mother do that many times when she'd come close to exploding, usually because someone was nitpicking her attempts to keep a calm facade in a bad situation.
"I'll take it to mean that we should watch our tongues around her," Harper said mildly.
"Oh man, did she get a pie thrown in her face?" Holly was bemused.
"Hmm, this is going to be difficult; take it seriously," Sherpa muttered.
"Don't be too hard on her," Sapphire warned. "Remember, she's just been dealing with some people who evidently didn't like her."
Harper was relieved when the commentary ended with Sapphire's reminder that the woman arriving shouldn't be provoked.
A woman strolled over to them, casually wiping away something from her face. "Hello, you must be the Frost and Payne siblings that I was assigned to guide?" A faint smile curved her mouth. "I'm Gladys Jenning, and I welcome you to Cornell Academy." She glanced at Grifton and Firenze. "I'll take over from here."
Harper realized Gladys heard everything from that statement but wasn't inclined to hold it against them. "Thank you for being our guide today," Harper told her. "We appreciate it."
Gladys nodded. "That's not a problem." She beckoned for them to follow her. We should get started right away."
This was someone with an agenda. It was not a bad way to end what had been a torturously boring beginning.