wildflower

[bulrushes]

On the doorstep of a little house in Forks, Washington, a basket is placed.

The doorbell rings.

There are footsteps, and then there are not.

Comments

[bulrushes]

Astrid nods.

[asmyown]

"We can give it a try on Monday, I'll call the school and make sure it's all right."

[bulrushes]

"Okay."

[asmyown]

She smiles back, then goes to go do that!

They are... Tentative about letting a three year old into a high school, but under the circumstances the principal is willing to allow it. Lynn's reasonably well known to be responsible and is also better at her job than most teachers present. Small towns are convenient like that. They'll tolerate the three year old if it means they don't need to find a substitute.

So, on Monday, Lynn packs up a lunch of what Astrid considers 'food,' and then they head out to school, bunny book, a few toys and a puzzle in tow.

[bulrushes]

And Astrid sits in the windowsill with her bunny book and sips water and reads, quite content.

[asmyown]

Lynn teaches class! It involves discussions where they talk about and give various opinions on the books they're reading, and Lynn returns various graded essays. Because even if they don't like writing, writing well and writing fluently is a useful skill that they need to know.

A few students are nosy about Astrid, but on the whole they leave her alone, until one student observes what she's reading.

"... Isn't that a bit advanced for a little girl?" says the student, bewildered.

[bulrushes]

"I know most of the words and I have a dictionary for the other words," Astrid says reasonably.

[asmyown]

The student has no idea how to reply to such a logical answer. "Okay then, that - um, is impressive," she says, and then she goes back to trying to figure out the book.

Lynn looks a teensy bit smug (she likes smart kids) and then it's back to English class. Questions! Discussions! Are the characters right or wrong in this situation? Are they actually secretly stupid? Who knows? It's up to the reader to decide.

And then that class is over, and Lynn has a free period.

"Do you want to play outside, or stay in here?" Lynn asks, when the students have all departed.

[bulrushes]

Astrid yawns. "Go outside and read?" she says.

[asmyown]

"Sure."

She straightens up her desk, and outside they go. "I think I'll need to get you a raincoat," muses Lynn, looking up at the rain.

[bulrushes]

"Yeah. It's wet. The book won't like it."

[asmyown]

"It will not," she agrees. "I have an umbrella, I just never use it. Do you want me to go get it?"

[bulrushes]

"Yes please."

[asmyown]

Umbrella is retrieved! Kid-ward, it goes. It's clear, with swirly black floral patterns. Also, the key to this entire endeavor - it's perfectly capable of protecting books and kids from the rain. If a bit big for Astrid to easily hold herself, anyway. But Lynn can do that for her, and even offers to.

[bulrushes]

"Thank you!"

And now Astrid will read her book under the umbrella in the gentle drizzle.

[asmyown]

D'awwwww. That's adorable. Or, at least, Lynn thinks so.

She will just be Designated Umbrella Holder, don't mind her.

[bulrushes]

Astrid wants to know why this human wants to trap these bunnies.

[asmyown]

"Well, there are two reasons. In one place, there are too many bunnies, and they're considered pests because they eat crops and things. Then there's also how not everyone wants to just eat fruits and vegetables and things. So, they go and catch animals." Pause. "For, er - food."

[bulrushes]

"Bunnies aren't food. They're bunnies."

[asmyown]

"Well, not everyone has the same preferences as you - some people think of bunnies as food and want to eat them, for various reasons."

[bulrushes]

Astrid seems to think that's weird. "Well, okay," she shrugs. "Real bunnies don't talk."

She continues to read.

[asmyown]

"Yes, there'd be moral issues with eating things that talked," agrees Lynn.

And then, back to being Designated Umbrella Holder. She doesn't mind in the slightest.

[bulrushes]

Read read read.

[asmyown]

Lynn leaves her to it! She'll bring a book of her own, next time, but for right now she'll just make a mental list of all of the things she'll need to get if Astrid stays. A bed, clothes, toys, a dresser - kids are expensive. Lynn is very glad she has savings.

(Quietly, Lynn wonders if her heart will break a second time if Astrid's parents are found. Maybe she'll end up hating them if they show up, for no other reason than taking away the adorable little prodigy. She doesn't know yet.)

[bulrushes]

Astrid is blissfully oblivious.

No parents turn up. There are no even shamefully belated missing child reports for little girls meeting Astrid's description. There have been no sightings of suspicious characters lurking around the town of Forks.

Lynn is asked if she wants to formally foster the kid, with a view to later adoption.