ATTANL- Susy Origins

Chapter Twenty-Three

Christmas at Woodside was always a sight to behold. The ancient caretakers took pride in decorating the towering corridor walls with tinsel, lights and other Christmas things. Sock weather turned to tights weather, and we had started wearing jumpers underneath our blazers. Prue had started knitting for some reason, probably to have some kind of hobby that didn't involve people, and had given us two matching knitted bobble hats. Mine in lime green and Emily's in blue. 

"You look so cute in that hat." Emily said as I tried it on for the first time.

I gleamed.

Emily pulled it over my eyes. "I love you."

I tutted and pulled it back up. "Thank you." 

We were currently queuing up for assembly. Once a week, instead of form, we'd have assembly. Sometimes they'd be disciplinary related, other times, singing hymns.  I loved singing all the hymns and songs, even though they were mainly Christian and about Jesus. Obviously, if you're going to go a boarding school, they're going to have some kind of religion thing. I just liked singing them. Emily despised it and sung Christmas songs in German under her breath.

"Feliz Navidad!" I sung. "Feliz Navidad!"

Some of the girls in the queue starting singing along with me. Other's huffed. 

"That's Spanish not German." Emily bluntly told me.

"Oh well. It's still a good song. Cheer up Emily, or Krampus will come and visit you and bring you coal!"

Emily told me about how in Germany, most people had Santa as well as Krampus; an evil beast type thing that would come and give you coal and hit you if you had been naughty. Emily shown me some pictures of them and frankly, it looked quite hideous. I guess it didn't help that I had just been told that we weren't having a prom this year so I was already miffed off. Too many people had been excluded in my year apparently. And because of that, we all had to suffer. Thanks! 

I took my hands out of my pockets and inspected them. Still pink. It was freezing out there. Frosty and bitter. I was surprised that it hadn't started snowing. For the whole four Christmases that I had spent here, it had never snowed. I wanted to play in the snow with Emily and have snowball fights, even though we'd be told off for not acting ladylike. 

"Settle down!" Prue shouted, as she appeared from the halls. 

We quietened, with a few mumbles here and there. Emily did a farting noise and I burst out laughing.

"Emily! Susy!" 

How did Prue know it was us?

"Emily, you're already sixteen! And you, Susy, you should know better. Grow up!" Prue pretended to be cross at us. I could see the corners of her mouth curl.

"Yes. Sorry." Me and Emily mumbled.

Prue didn't like telling us off in front of people. We told her that it would be fine because she'd get in trouble for singling us out. Me and Emily liked messing around though. Outside of class that is! We were the best students lesson wise. We just liked having fun, that's all. 

"We're going to be singing some Christmas related songs today. Of course."

The queue of girls started cheering. I let out a little squeal of excitement. Emily smiled down at me, who was quietly celebrating and flicked one of my dangly candy cane earrings.

"Hey!" I stuck my tongue out at her.

"You're not allowed to wear earrings like that!"

"Shh! It's Christmas." I hissed.