Problems

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 16th February 2006

Characters: Sh'dori, Karaleigh
Description: Sh'dori tells Karaleigh of his foster mother troubles.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 5 of Turn 3

"Hurry up, da!" Chadora called. She was running along a corridor with Sharixa. Sh'dori followed them with more sedate pace. "We're already late, hatchling, few more seconds don't matter," the brownrider. They arrived to the classroom door and Sh'dori knock. "Morning, journeywoman. Here's Sharixa and Chadora. Sorry we are late,"
he said when the door was opened. "That's all right," Karaleigh said smiling down at his children. "Its better late than never, right girls?"

"Right, Karaleigh" the girls chimed in unison. Less than a turns difference in age, both having the family's dark curly hair, they were often mistaken as twins, while in truth Chadora was Sharixa's aunt. Sh'dori watched the girls get into their places and greet their friends. "Their fostermother didn't show up this morning. She was supposed to pick them up in time for their harper classes. We waited her to the last minute," the brownrider explained. After that they had dwaddled otherwise. Sh'dori never been good at hurrying. "Uh oh. Well, Chadora and Sharixa, why don't you join the other students? They are working on their writing exercises," she said with a nod towards the rest of the class. "And if I could spare a moment of your time," the harper whispered to the brownrider.

"Sure, what's up?" Sh'dori asked and waived at the girls.

"This is the second time they were late this sevenday. They were late a couple times last sevenday too." She offered him a seat. "Is there something going on that I need to be made aware of?"

"Yeah, their fostermother caught someone who is keeping her in bed.
She's been neglecting her job lately, missing appointments and suddenly dropping the children on us," Sh'dori's voice was low, almost growling.
The little girls were important to him and the thought that the fostermother wasn't doing her job angered him. "Have you spoken to her about this?" Karaleigh asked in a low voice.

"Well, Chamia is going to. She stormed off this morning in a kind of mood that she's going to let the fostermother hear what she thinks and then some." "Have the children noticed at all?"

"I'm not sure," Sh'dori said thoughtfully. "They behave as usual." The harper frowned thoughtfully. "Children are very aware of when they are not wanted or are being ignored. That worries me more than their tardiness."

"Well, me and Chamia are giving them all the attention we can, considering we're both riders. And the rest of the family looks after them too. Please let me know if they seem to suffer from...something." "Perhaps you should talk to them about it. I can try talking about them too. As much love and attention as you want to pay them is wonderful, of course. But at the end of the day, they go home to her. It's important to know where the children stand in her life."

Sh'dori nodded. "You're right. How did you became so wise for so young and pretty?" Karaleigh resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. Shards, what did he think? She was asking about the well-being of his children just to get a roll in the furs with him? "Just lucky I guess," she replied dryly.

Sh'dori flashed her a cocky grin and then became serious again. "Let me or Chamia know if you have problems with their fostermother. If she doesn't show up to pick them up or something." "I certainly will," Karaleigh nodded. And she made a note to herself -
talk to Chamia first...

"Right. Anything else? I got drills," Sh'dori asked. "No, I think that's it. Please feel free to talk to me, or ask their _mother_ to talk to me," she added, "if there are any developments I need to be made aware of."

"Certainly," Sh'dori nodded. "Bye-bye, hatchlings!" he waived at the girls. "Good day to you, journeywoman," he saluted playfully.

Last updated on the February 16th 2006

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