Marielle.

Deployed Again.

Marielle has just arrived home from school, her father James is not home from work yet, she starts preparing dinner as this has been her job since the sad death of her mother two years before. Marielle is in the kitchen cooking, she hears the keys in the door and her father shouts, "are you at home princess?" "Yes, dad I'm making spaghetti bolognese for tea." "How lovely he shouts, easy on the garlic and chilli sweetheart." The food was almost ready, her father had just had a shower, he came to the table shirtless, Marielle says, "dad, we're eating, please put on a shirt?" He replies, "you sound just like your mother everyday and as beautiful as she." Marielle smiles, "I wonder if she's looking down on us and thinking what a pair we are?" He smiles and says "let's eat, I've got something important to tell you." Marielle stands up and in a rage states, "you're being deployed again?" "Yes, don't be angry sweetheart, you'll enjoy this one, it's Washington D.C. you've always wished for me to have that job." "I know dad, but I'll never see you, leave me here." "That's not an option sweetheart, you haven't finished high school." Marielle huffs for a moment, then says, "where are you sending me? I'm assuming it'll be a relative that mum always used to talk about?" "Yes, you'll stay with your aunt Iris in Boston, it's closish to Washington, I can visit most weekends? Besides haven't you always wanted to have an actual prom?" "Yes I have, but they have guns, I'm afraid of a school shooting." Her father explains that it's a rare experience, you'll be well protected by your aunt Iris, besides she has centuries of history to teach you, things I don't understand apparently?" This of course intrigued Marielle.

Marielle and her father placed white sheeting on their furniture of their London home, they were packed and ready for their flight. The best about this location they didn't need to pack up the house, they just packed clothing and got into the waiting car and head to the airport. On the flight, her father received a text from Iris telling him that she had found a school for Marielle and a part time job in her friends diner. James thanks iris and they would see each other in a few days. On the plane, Marielle asks her father where does Iris live, he tells her that as far as he knows it's near Salem. This excites Marielle, as she had just been taught about the witch trials in school.

The plane lands in Washington, they make their way to the ambassador's residence, it's a huge house, although old looking on the outside, it's very modern on the inside. Marielle knows she is only spending the night there, the next morning, she would be travelling to meet her aunt whom, she only ever had birthday and Christmas cards from. Marielle's mother hadn't told her about this side of the family. Iris is her mother's aunt, making her Marielle's great aunt, apparently she is a little fragile, she had an accident a few years ago. Marielle and her father flew to Iris's home, they'll hire a car at the airport, they finally reached it and she was waiting at the door. Smiling at her grand niece, she says, "come in child and James, I suggest you stay the night, there's a storm brewing, those roads are hazardous when wet." James says, "i had planned to, to settle Marielle in." Iris walked using a stick, although she was around 60 odd, she didn't look a day over 40, Marielle tells her that she hopes to get the same genes. Iris states, "magick my dear, pure magick." Marielle laughs it off, the old dear must be senile, she says in her head. Iris shows Marielle to her room, telling James that he can sleep in the spare bedroom. When Marielle walked into the room and suddenly she felt like she had been here before. Marielle asked Iris, "have I ever been here before?" Iris says, "yes dear, as a little girl, your mom brought you here when you were four, she and your father were having marital problems back then." Marielle doesn't remember her parents having issues, so she put it to the back of her mind. This was a misleading statement from Iris, her mother had brought her there for other reasons. Iris had made a huge meal for them all, they all sat down to eat, then James said he was tired, that he wanted an early start for his flight back to Washington in the morning. Iris told him to take himself to bed, he kisses his daughter goodnight and Iris said "see you bright and early James."

Marielle heads to bed not long after helping Iris wash up, Iris telling her that she can't believe how much she looks like her mom, that she'll enjoy her new school and on Saturday she starts her job in the diner. Marielle then says, "I can't remember mum and dad having marital problems, when was this?" Iris says, "ill talk to you about it once your father has gone, I'm sure he doesn't want reminding of those times?" Marielle agrees, then heads to bed.

The next morning Iris wakes James around 5am, she has breakfast made for him, telling he shouldn't travel on an empty stomach. James eats his breakfast and goes to wake up Marielle who was stirring, it seems her jet lag is kicking in. Marielle hugs her father, he promises that he will see her in two weeks, to be good for her aunt Iris and make sure she turns up for school and work. Marielle promises she'll be on her best behaviour and hugs him, telling him to get back safe. James leaves and Marielle falls back to sleep.

Two hours later Iris wakes Marielle up, she and Iris have coffee, Marielle isn't hungry, so Iris suggests she shows her the school she'll be going to then the diner her friend gave her the job in. They drive to the school, it's much larger than her old school, Marielle spots some cute boys, Iris says, "i saw you looking at those boys, be careful with them, they're what we in the states call Jocks, they usually have cheerleaders as girlfriends, the mean girls of the school." Marielle says, "I've seen that on films." Iris states they're worse in real life. I hated school. I went to this school, although it didn't look like that when I went to it." They head to the diner and Marielle tells Iris she's hungry now, Iris says, "this diner has great food, they do great pancakes and bacon." Marielle says, "that's not a good combination, I'll have eggs or something?" Iris suggests having eggs, bacon and toast. Marielle meets her new boss, it's a woman named Carol, she is really nice. Carol hands her a uniform and tell her, she looks forward to seeing her on Saturday morning, 8am sharp. Marielle thanks Carol and looks forward to working with her. Iris tells her that she starts school on Monday, at least she'll have a few days to get over the jet lag and rest up. They finish in the diner and head home.