Knocking on Professor Powells Door on Crotalus Commons

Professor McFarlan

May 14, 2007 12:58 AM

Knocking on Professor Powells Door by Professor McFarlan

When Headmaster Bulla gave her the go ahead to arrange the overnight on the condition that she could get a couple of the staff to help her chaperone, Professor Powell was the first person to come to mind. They had shared such a nice time over their soup and tea, Kathleen knew that she would enjoy her company as long as Sadi didn’t mind a chilly night by a bonfire keeping an eye on a couple dozen rowdy teens.

Even if she didn’t want to help, this was a good excuse to call on a new potential friend. Perhaps she could be persuaded to tutor Kathleen in using runes. She wasn’t kidding when she told the Ancient Runes Professor that she found the subject fascinating.

Not matter what, they could enjoy the homemade soda bread that Kathleen brought with her. Her mother had sent it that morning and just before Kathleen headed for Sadi’s office, she used a warming charm on the loaf just until the icing began to soften. It would taste as though it’d just come out of her mother’s oven. So laden with the bread and high hopes, Kathleen knocked on Sadie’s door.
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0 Professor McFarlan Knocking on Professor Powells Door 1467 Professor McFarlan 1 5

Professor Powell

May 14, 2007 3:04 PM

Answering the door by Professor Powell

Sadi’s office was, as always, pristine. She marked assignments in her classroom whenever she could help it, so as not to have too many loose sheets of parchment lying around the office. Though despite the almost obssessive neatness, her Head of House quarters remained suitably comfortable; the highly polished desk and hard backed chairs enjoyed the company of a couple of more comfortable chairs to the side for more informal occasions. However, very little of the furniture had been disturbed while it had been in Sadi’s possession; the Crotalus students rarely required her assistance. Therefore the office had become a quiet haven, where Sadi could drink tea and pursue leisurely reading, more often than not without any form of interruption.

Currently, however, Sadi’s attention was given to the letter she was writing to her daughter Jera. Sadi wrote home usually twice every week, once to her husband and once to her daughter, because that way they could both feel special in receiving a letter addressed entirely to them. She paused with her quill over the inkpot, considering what to tell her daughter next. In her last letter, Jera had written excitedly about meeting a new friend. Sadi had been delighted for her (despite having known already from Toma’s missive), as Jera had very little opportunity to make new friends because Toma tutored her at home. Sadi missed her family a great deal whenever she didn’t take the weekend away from Sonora to visit, but she loved her job, too.

A sudden knocking at the door interrupted Sadi’s thoughts. A vague look of surprise floated across her features as she lowered her quill and pushed herself up from her chair. “Coming,” she called as she stepped lightly across to the door. She pulled it open to see not a student, as she admitted to herself was what she had been expecting, but the recently appointed astronomy professor, Kathleen McFarlan. Sadi smiled, genuinely pleased that a colleague had come calling on her, no matter what the circumstances (though judging by the absence of a distraught expression, Sadi presumed it wasn’t anything too drastic).

“How nice to see you, Kathleen,” she said pleasantly. “Please come in.” Sadi stood back allowing Professor McFarlan space to enter. She gestured to one of the more comfortable chairs before closing the door and turning to smile again at her unexpected caller. “How may I be of assistance?”

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Kathleen

May 15, 2007 4:31 PM

Just Paying a Friendly Call by Kathleen

Professor McFarlan was relieved to see her colleague’s warm expression. Certainly, this was a nicer greeting than she had received earlier in the afternoon from the DADA professor. Truly though, she hadn’t expected anything less from Sadie who seemed to have a friendly spirit.

“I’ve come to visit for two reasons.” Kathleen smiled back and presented Sadie with the treat she‘d brought along.

“First, my mam sent some of her homemade soda bread. I’m addicted to it and I’ve learned the old wisdom is true… Anything baked with loving hands always tastes better when shared. So if you’ve the time, I thought we could indulge ourselves. Besides, I know what that would do to my hips if I ate the whole thing by myself.

“Secondly, I’ve come to ask a favor of you. Please know that you can feel free to say no if you wish.” Even though she really would enjoy it if the Ancient Runes professor would come along, Kathleen hoped that Sadie understood that the offer to decline was genuine. Who knew how many commitments the professor had lined up already? Really, whether she said yes or no, this was a good excuse to strengthen their new friendship and talk to someone who didn’t use the words "dude", unless they were speaking about a ranch, or "like" more than once in a sentence.

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0 Kathleen Just Paying a Friendly Call 0 Kathleen 0 5

Sadi

May 17, 2007 3:13 PM

Is that all? by Sadi

Sadi was surprised, but certainly not unpleasantly so, when Kathleen offered to share the soda bread her mother had sent. “So if you’ve the time, I thought we could indulge ourselves.”

“That sounds lovely,” Sadi replied with a grateful smile. Baked goods and friendly company in one go; Professor McFarlan was certainly going the right way about founding a friendship. With a flick of her wand, Sadi called a china tea service to her from across the room. She then settled into the other comfortable chair, facing Kathleen, while the tea tray hovered at about shoulder height and concerned itself with preparing two cups of tea.

“Secondly, I’ve come to ask a favor of you,” Kathleen said. “Please know that you can feel free to say no if you wish.”

Sadi nodded gently, intrigued about what favor her colleague would ask, which may warrant Sadi to decline. “Go ahead,” she said, taking a small cup from the tray, and indicating that Kathleen should take the other. The china was quite plain – white with a pale blue stripe around the rim – but it had been a gift from Darren before he’d died, and so Sadi treasured it. “What is this favor?”

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Kathleen

May 18, 2007 12:02 AM

Well, There is This by Kathleen

Kathleen offered Sadie a slice of the rich, sweet bread and thanked her for the tea. As tended to be true for most people, Sadie’s office seemed to reflect her personality. Very neat and organized on the one hand, and warm while warm and welcoming on the other. She hoped that this would be the first of many visits they would exchange.

“Go ahead, what is this favor?”

Kathleen took a sip of the offered tea to gather her thoughts. It would be an insult to her hostess to dissemble. Setting the cup down on a small table nest to her, she gave Sadie her full attention.

“Headmaster Bulla has given his permission to me to take my Fourth and Fifth year class on a stargazing field trip. It’s about three miles west of the school. There are plenty of tents and camping supplies for everyone. One condition he did make is that I have two other staff members accompany us to help chaperone, which is only reasonable. As you were such pleasant company when we dined the other day, and I doubt there’d be a lot of opportunity to actually sleep once I turn the kids loose for the night, I thought it would be nice to have you along. That is if you are willing.

“The date is set for this coming Saturday. I know schedules can be hectic and I don’t know if you’ve plans to visit your family. I don’t even know if you enjoy camping, come to think of it. So if you’d rather not, I'll understand.” \n

0 Kathleen Well, There is This 0 Kathleen 0 5

Sadi

May 18, 2007 4:32 PM

I can cope with that. by Sadi

OOC: Just a note: Sadi is spelt without the 'e' on the end.

BIC: Sadi took the offered soda bread and munched a slice while sipping her tea; the two tastes complimented each other delightfully. She listened while Kathleen introduced her to the concept of accompanying the fourth and fifth years on an astronomy field trip. Actually, Sadi listened for quite a long time, as Kathleen didn’t stop talking for a while, about the trip and Sadi’s company and Sadi’s weekend plans. When she eventually stopped chattering, Sadi paused for just a couple of seconds, savouring the ensuing silence.

“I don’t have any plans,” she began slowly, “and I’m not adverse to the idea,” she added, smiling. “Actually, I’m rather fond of camping, though I can’t say I’ve ever experienced it with a horde of adolescents,” Sadi said, smiling over the rim of her teacup. “Though certainly I’d be willing to give it a try.”

Sadi thought about the proposed excursion. It would be good for the students to have a night away form the school together, and it would be good for their education to try a fresh approach. Furthermore, it would probably be good for Sadi, too, to take a trip, even if it was just three miles away with her students, and for her to spend some more time interacting with her colleagues. Which did lead to another question…

“Yes, I’ll come,” Sadi confirmed, smiling once again. “Just out of interest, who is the other staff member you had in mind?”

0 Sadi I can cope with that. 0 Sadi 0 5

Kathleen

May 26, 2007 1:00 AM

Coping's Good by Kathleen

OOC: Sorry, it won’t happen again.
BIC:
Kathleen sighed with relief when Sadi said she would come. After their rough start, it seemed that Professor O’Leary was a perfectly nice man in private, but there was no doubt he would consider himself on duty during the trip and would be all business in front of the kids. With Sadi’s delicious tea and calming influence, Kathleen’s initial bundle of nerves began to ebb away.

“Thank you so much.” Kathleen said and sipped her tea. “I’ll owe you.”

“Just out of interest, who is the other staff member you had in mind?”

Kathleen paused a moment. Hopefully, her answer wouldn’t make her new friend regret her decision. Professor O’Leary had a reputation for not being very sociable and he seemed to relish and encourage that perception. Yet, Sadi seemed to be a very good judge of character.

“Oh,” Kathleen kept her voice light and matter of fact. “It’s Professor O’Leary.” She took a couple of sips from her cup, admiring the simple beauty of the pattern as she decided to change the subject. “So, how is your family?”

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Sadi

May 31, 2007 3:36 PM

Not to mention necessary by Sadi

Sadi had yet to become acquainted with Professor O’Leary beyond an appreciation of his existence, and so was now able to look forward to the possibility of perhaps getting to know him a little better during the excursion. Unless, of course, he was particularly unforthcoming.

“So how is your family?” Kathleen asked then.

“Fine, thank you,” Sadi replied, surprised at her colleague’s interest but delighted to respond nevertheless. “I was just writing a reply to a letter from my daughter, Jera. She’s made a new friend,” Sadi said, smiling fondly. Sadly, Sadi’s extended family wasn’t bearing so well, but she had no inclination to discuss such matters with someone so unfamiliar as Professor McFarlan, however charming the other woman appeared to be.

“Do you keep in contact with any family?” Sadi asked, genuinely interested. There were very few professors at Sonora who had close family, which she supposed was something to do with spending so much time living at the school. Sadi had to admit it was difficult juggling work and family the way she did, but since she adored both she somehow managed to cope.

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Kathleen

June 03, 2007 3:10 PM

Too True by Kathleen

Kathleen’s face softened with affection when asked about her family. The kept in touch and she visited as often as possible. She loved spoiling her nephews and nieces when they came to visit her on her mini-farm.

She still had baby sister worship for James, her oldest brother. After a bumpy year or two, she developed a close relationship with his wife. Michael was nearer her age. Their were always partners in crime, driving their poor mother to distraction. He married a Muggle girl who had an equally wicked sense of humor and their kids were all cut from the same cloth.

When her parents retired, they moved to a piece of land in County Meathe her mother, being an O’Hara, had inherited years ago. One could see the Pillar of the High Kings from their front stoop. Retired was a figurative expression where her Da was concerned. Event though his sons bought him out and now ran the Cosmos, he kept his finger in the pot as much as his wife and sons let him..

“We get together as often as we can.” Kathleen said. “It’s hard sometimes, though. I miss them. My folks most of all.”

She took another sip of tea. As much as she missed her family, it must be doubly hard on Sadi. She was separated from the man she loved and a daughter she obviously adored.

“Do you have a picture of your girl? I’d love to see one.”\n

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Sadi

June 10, 2007 4:30 PM

All about families. by Sadi

Sadi nodded sympathetically at Kathleen’s statement about missing her family. No matter how much she thought she got used to it, Sadi knew that she would always miss her family whenever they were apart. Sometimes, albeit infrequently, she still missed her own father, and he had died before Sadi was seven years old. Therefore it was ultimately conceivable that Kathleen missed her family, with whom, apparently, she was still very close.

“Do you have a picture of your girl?” Kathleen asked. “I’d love to see one.”

“Of course,” Sadi replied, smiling. She placed her teacup back on the suspended tray and stood gracefully. She took the couple of steps over to her desk and collected the terracotta photograph frame that sat thereupon. “Here,” she said, as she handed the picture over to her colleague. The photo depicted the small family together: Toma, with his sun-worn skin and age-lightened hair, was hoisting a nine-year-old Jera up in his arms. Her chestnut hair flew out behind her as he spun her around, her dark eyes dancing with silent laughter. Sadi stood to one side, calm as always, watching with obvious joy as her family played together. “That’s Toma, my husband, and our Jera. She’s still a tiny little thing,” Sadi said fondly of her daughter, “but if her father’s height is anything to go by she’ll shoot up like a rocket sometime soon.”

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Kathleen

June 12, 2007 11:52 PM

It Certainly Is by Kathleen

Kathleen accepted the photo offered and looked at the smiling family. The joy that radiated from the little girl’s face was so great that one almost expected to hear her delighted giggles emanating from the photo. Kathleen noted blended the different features of both her mother and father.

Sadi’s husband seemed to be as exuberant as she was reserved. Kathleen imagined they balanced each other well. They certainly made a handsome couple. Even though Kathleen wasn’t looking, if love found her, she hoped she would be as blessed as her new friend.

Realizing that she had been admiring the photo in silence for quite a long time, she handed the photo back to Sadi, smiling. “She’s a marvel.” Kathleen said softly. “You have a beautiful family.”

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