The Alpha and the Omega on Cascade Hall

A Pair of Pierce Owls

February 02, 2011 5:34 PM

The Alpha and the Omega by A Pair of Pierce Owls

Amelia received owls in the morning post more often than not, but somehow they were usually spread out. A post from Derry on Monday, a post from Bel on Tuesday, a letter from Druscella on Wednesday, a letter from Gabby on Thursday, a DISCUSS update on Friday. There were the occasional bills, a rare correspondence from someone outside the immediate family, a Quidditch Monthly magazine, and other assorted mailings that filled in because her close family didn't actually keep up to a weekly schedule. So while she didn't quite expect a letter everyday, she was used to a regular stream of correspondence.

Two owls on the same day, however, was a rarity, especially when she recognized both of them. One was Boomer, her own owl, coming back from Derry and Gabriella's. The letter on his ankle was expected. The other was Druscella's personal owl. He had two letters tied to his leg, both tied with black ribbon. She took the one with her name on it and then sent the owl on to give the one addressed to "Derwent IV" to the Teppenpaw table.

That was not going to be good news.

She undid the black ribbon first, wanting to get it over with. The handwriting was Druscella's so it wasn't going to be announcing that Derwent II was the new patriarch and the Boston Pierces would be expected to change their name within the year, but she didn't want to hear that any of her family was dead. She scanned over it quickly first to find out how bad it was going to be, then closed her eyes and bowed her head briefly once she understood its gist. She took a deep breath and then read it more carefully.

Dear Amelia,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Unfortunately, I am the bearer of sad news. Berta Pierce passed on last night of old age. She lived to 187 years. Her ghost came down to breakfast this morning, so I imagine she'll be keeping Hamlet company through eternity now. As you know, she already spent more time with the dead than the living so it's not surprising she became a ghost as well.

My sympathies,
Druscella Pierce

Berta was dead. But Berta was a ghost so she wasn't gone. That was something.

Still, she was dead and Amelia stared at the other letter uncertainly, not sure if she was ready to deal with Derry's perpetual cheerfulness. She could tell by his handwriting that he'd been in a very good mood when he'd penned her letter.

She should read it anyway. He was her son now. Plus, he was going to need to be told about Berta. So she unfastened the other letter and let Boomer at a piece of her sausage, and opened her Derry's letter.

Hey, Amy!

Good news! The Great Gabriella is pregnant! We're having a baby! I'm gonna be a Daddy, Gabby's going to be a Mommy, and Bel's gonna be an Aunt, and you're going to a Gramma-Aunt!

Isn't that great!
Love,
Derry!

I'm gonna be a dad!

Amelia sat back in her chair and stared out unseeing over the Hall. Gabby was pregnant. The Boston Pierces were growing.

New Generation.

Wow.

And Berta was a ghost.

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Derry Four

February 02, 2011 9:59 PM

Wait, what? What? by Derry Four

Derry stared at his breakfast. Eggs. Mom made good eggs. He missed her eggs. Not that the school's eggs weren't good, but they weren't Mom's. And Ben was great and so were the other people he'd met, but none of them were Thad. He missed Thad. Thad who followed him around everywhere and asked What's that Derry? and Why does that happen, Derry? and Tell me how Hamlet died again, Derry. Neither was their a ghost trailling along beside him and asking How were the Vampires defeated, Four? or Where is the Cabinet located, Four? or Explain the difference between 'affect' and 'effect' - and please use each in a full sentence, Four.

There just wasn't anybody tagging along behind him asking annoying questions that he didn't know the answer to here. Not once in the last week had he needed to turn around and just yell "I don't know!" at a munchkin half a head shorter than him or a transparent ghost dressed as archaically as he now was. It was weird and oddly wrong and left him feeling like something was missing.

Something like Mom, and Hamlet, and Thad.

He poked at his eggs again and missed them. He missed his Mom's smiles, and Thad's eager interest in everything, and even Hamlet's dry lectures. He missed . . . Grandmother's owl.

Derry frowned, watching the familiar owl fly to the staff table and deliver a letter to the impostor. She took the letter like it was her due and gave the black ribboned a wary look like she actually cared about what it said. Grandmother's owl came over to him, and he took his letter with the same wariness. He gave the owl a bite of his bacon and it flew off.

He glanced up at the staff table again and saw that the impostor had her head bowed and her eyes closed. As bad news as he thought the black ribbon meant then. But why did she care?

He slid the ribbon off and opened the letter. He took a deep breath and read it.

Derwent the Fourth,

I hope you are enjoying your time at your new school. The news I bring is unfortunate but expected. Your great-aunt Berta has turned into a ghost. You do not need to be sad about this, hon. She is like Hamlet now, but without the arrow hole. She died peacefully in her sleep. She'll talk to you when you home for Christmas if you have any questions.

Enjoy school and study hard,
Grandmother

Derry closed the letter and fiddled with the black ribbon for a few seconds. Then he took a deep breath and told his new friends what the letter said. "We have two family ghosts, now. Aunt Berta's going to help Hamlet take care of the Pierces."

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