A flock of news on Cascade Hall

Many Carey Owls

May 23, 2012 10:02 PM

A flock of news by Many Carey Owls

The large, golden-brown owl which arrived with a message for Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau early one December morning bore all the hallmarks of belonging to a wealthy family even before it got close enough for her to take the letter and note the similarly rich, heavy parchment. None of this, though, told which of the school’s various pureblood families owned the owl and had sent the letter; even the seal was plain, not made with a family or personal seal at all. The writer had been anxious, but he was the sort of man who, when anxious, began to think of more and more things, rather than becoming focused on a single aspect of whatever it was he was trying to do. That kind of focus only came if he was near panic, which he was not.

Even so, the letter didn’t waste many words in getting to the point. Anthony Carey VII, because of the bulk of his name, had quite a lot to do, and this was not what, despite his private feelings on the matter, the family considered one of the major tasks that he needed to carry out.

Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau, the letter began, the handwriting kept deliberately even and flowing.

I regret to say that earlier today, Thomas Carey, the brother of my great-grandfather, passed away due to natural causes. Due to the closeness of their relationship, the South Carolina Careys currently enrolled at Sonora Academy will be required to attend his funeral. My brother, Donald, and I will arrive in two days to collect our children; they should be returned in time for all final exams.

Anthony Carey VII

Another owl, smaller, arrived right on the first one’s heels, carrying the letter written on cheaper parchment and from one closer to the subject, slightly. Charles Devereux had never liked taking orders from his wife’s family, but he had known what was important when he saw it.

Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau, he had written, in a small, neat hand,

My wife and I send our most respectful greetings. Unfortunately, my purpose in writing to you now is to inform you that we are going to have to remove our daughter, Alexandra Devereux, from your care for several days, beginning tomorrow. She is needed for her great-great-grandfather’s funeral services in Virginia.

We hope you are well, and that you received our annual donation to the school.

With greatest sincerity,

Charles Devereux

The third message was the least visually distinctive, except for one minor thing: at one point, the handwriting became very shaky, as though the man writing had been seized by a violent coughing fit and simply not bothered to rewrite the letter, instead just crossing out what was illegible and beginning again after it. The letter ‘C’ had been impressed into the sealing wax, without the ornamentation that normally accompanied family seals.

Headmistress,

I am Robert Carey, of the Virginia Careys. My warmest holiday greetings to you, and hopes for your welfare, and that of your family. My son Edmond finished at Sonora last year, my daughter Jane is currently in her sixth year, and my family and I are, as always, grateful for the excellent education they have received.

The patriarch of our family passed away this morning, and the funeral is set for Sunday. I will arrive on Friday to collect Jane and take her home for the services. She will be returned Monday morning. I apologize for any inconveniences this causes with Jane’s prefect duties or professors.

With my regrets for the occasion,

Robert Carey

At the same time, more owls still were arriving in the background - one to Arthur Carey, addressed to him and his brother, two separate ones to his cousins Theresa and James, one to Alexandra Devereux and another to Jane Carey, and no less than three separate ones to Lucille in her chair at the Teppenpaw table - going to the Careys in the room to let them know, as their individual adults thought best, that their world had changed.

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