Sweep or Scoop

Writers: Mirren, Paula
Date Posted: 1st October 2015

Characters: Jessmyr, Elona
Description: Jess and Elona clean up and chat.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Elonus

"Hey, how's things?" Elona brushed the hair off her forehead for the hundredth time. No matter how careful she was in putting it up, some of it was always falling out of its tie and going wild.

"Hi, Elona, thing's are just fine and dandy. How about you?" Jess greeted. He didn't mind being paired up with her during chores, she was one of the nice ones. Not everyone showed understanding towards Jessmyr's physical weakness. Of course, his favourite chore pair was Aluka.

"I'm fine," she replied. "Although cleaning after animals isn't my favourite chore."

"Nor mine," Jess replied with a grimace. "Someone has to do it, and today it's us."

"Maybe we should team up?" Elona suggested. "One of us sweeps while the other scoops?"

"Sounds good to me. Which one you want to be? Scooper or sweeper?" Jess grinned.

"I'll scoop," Elona said. That would probably be harder work than sweeping, so she'd be happy to take it on, so he wouldn't have to.

"Okey with me," Jess flashed her a smile and went the get the needed gear from a broom closet. He handed her the shovel and kept the broom for himself. "Let's start from the back and work our way back here," he suggested.

"Sounds good." And she'd be watching to make sure he was all right. "It doesn't smell good though." She wrinkled her nose and bent to scoop up a pile of muck.

"No, it doesn't," Jessmyr agreed. He started to sweep the old hays to a pile, keeping his motions leisurely but effective. He had been forced to learn how to concerve his energy so not to overtax his bad hearth.

She watched him surreptitiously, until she was sure he was taking it easy. Too many boys and men (and women too) were too proud to admit when they needed to slow down. Satisfied that he wasn't going to overdo it, she followed behind him, scooping after he'd swept.

"So how have you been?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

"The usual," Jess replied with a shrug. "Nothing much changes in my life," his tone was wry.

"I know the feeling," she replied. Unless she impressed, nothing ever would.

"People think that life in Weyr is such glorious thing. But they only see the dragonriders, not us lowlies," sometimes bitterness got a hold of him.

"That's true," she replied. "Sometimes I think I should have taken up a craft. Maybe then…" She shouldn't feel sorry for herself. He had it worse than she did.

"I think you still could, the weyr's crafters are more flexible when it comes to age limits," Jessmyr suggested. He had thought about taking craft too, but honestly, none of them really interested him. He didn't seem to have any particular talents either.

"I know, but…" she trailed off. "I think I'd like to work with the kids if I don't impress. I certainly don't want to work with animals." She smiled

"Working with kids is good. I've done my share of creche shifts. They've never dull. And the Weyr has never too many fostermothers," Jess said with encouraging tone.

"That's true," she agreed. "There are lots and lots of children here. Elonus has so many friends I can't keep up with them all."

"That's a good thing," Jess replied. He thought about his own childhood. He had always been the odd one: never had the strenght to ran around playing with other children. He had been forced to sit in a shade and watch others ran and scream. At least here in Weyr he had found friends.

"It is," she replied. "How are you doing there?" She couldn't help but fuss a little bit.

"I'm doing fine, I've learned to cope," Jessmyr replied with a reassuring smile. "Although there are times when I think all those stairs we have here are going to be the death of me," he joked.

Elona gave him a watery smile. "We'll take a break of you need one, all right?"

"Don't worry, I've managed to survive this far," Jess said with gentle tone. "Pass me the water skin, will you, please?" he asked.

"Of course." She passed it over. "I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't need me to mother you."

"Don't worry about it, " Jess said and took a drink. "Mothering is kind of nice," he smiled and handed the skin back to her.

"I'm sure you get enough of it though?" she asked. "Sometimes you must wish…" She trailed off.

"Yeah, well..." Jess cleared his throat and turned his face away, embrassed.

"I'm sorry," Elona said softly.

"S'kay. I do miss my family," Jess said softly, staring the floor planks.

"Me too," she replied. "You can't go home either?"

"It's too far away and I...don't really fit in, not anylonger," Jessmyr replied.

"Me either. Mostly I don't want to go back. But sometimes-" she sighed, "-I'd like my son to meet his grandparents, aunts and uncles."

"Just meeting them wouldn't be so bad, but going back there to live? Nope, better off here," Jess replied and shook his head.

"Yes-" Sometimes she wasn't so sure about that. "All right, I think that's the last scoop." Elona wanted to wash her hands after this.

"Oh, good," Jess sighed. "You know, this does goes faster when you can talk with someone."

"That's true," she agreed. "It's always good to have someone to talk to, no matter what you're doing."

Jessmyr nodded.

Last updated on the October 13th 2015

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Sweep or Scoop