Ah Friday, we meet again. I hope everyone had a good week. While I did go out last night to see fireworks elsewhere, the neighbors were still going strong until well past midnight. I think they shot off more fireworks than the city. When we got back the air in the ne4ighborhood smelled decidedly of sulfur. Which is a strange thing to come back to. But the air ha cleared out now. So let’s start in on the morning prompt, shall we?
I like this set up. it is clear that she is going from one environment to another, but I think adding in a mystery might be a fun twist. I’ll be thinking through the details on this one.
Friday, July 5th: No one knew the rules better than Elinor.
No one knew the rules better than Elinor. She had been sent to th3 Grayson Academy as soon as she was old enough to be allowed to attend. She had left during holidays, but was never home for more than a few days. In the summer, she was sent to the summer academy. There instead of concentrating on the academic subjects she studied during the year, she studied art and music. When the summer sessions ended she was taken shopping for her school clothes before being sent back for the year.
Once she tried to add up the days she actually spent away from the Grayson Academy. She came up with less than a month each year. She tried to decide how much of that time was actually spent with her parents and she came up with significantly less.
It was oddly what she was left thinking about. It was the end of her final year at Graystone. She had in fact finished her last final not an hour prior. There had been no mention of what was to come next. She knew she passed her exams and she knew that there would be a ceremony for the graduating class and that there would be no further summer sessions for her.
After the ceremony, Elinor would leave Graystone Academy and not return. She was finding that thought more worrisome than expected. She knew how Graystone operated. She knew the rules and the regulations. She understood it.
She didn’t understand her parents and she didn’t know what to expect when she left the Academy behind. She watched one of the teachers cross the yard. By her walk she knew it was Professor Graves. She had classes with him, but it had been a while. This year she had none of his courses so she was surprised when he came to her.
“Elinor Thomas?” he said. He looked around at all of the girls in their group as though uncertain which he sought.
“That would be me, sir,” Elinor said standing.
“If you will come with me,” he said. “The Headmistress would like to see you.”
Elinor grabbed her bag and received a chorus of ‘good lucks’ from her friends. Being called to the Headmistress’s office was never a good sign. As she followed Professor Graves out of the common area and back to the school, she tried to decide what she could have possibly done in order to merit being called in. As she had been concentrating on studying for finals, she couldn’t think of anything significant enough to draw attention.
Professor Graves left he at the Headmistress’ office. She stepped inside and the headmistress gestured towards the visitor’s chair.
Ten til Midnight 