Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 7

I had a break for the first time that day before the designated lunchtime. Deciding it was the best time to deal with my hate mail, I went to my office to file through the letters, throwing away any junk mail caught in the mix. Waiting a week was enough procrastination I supposed as I tossed a stack into the fire. I picked up an envelope with a seafoam-coloured wax seal. I pried it open, hoping it was anything other than another letter from someone who had no clue about my history. Perhaps it would have been better to lie and say I did have something like lycanthropy. Then maybe I wouldn't have to deal with this crap or have any allegiance to the human world and those who sort harm.

Inside the envelope was a cursive chicken scratch of words that read:

Dear Ms Esmay S. Ambrose,

When we heard about your hire, we were glad that our daughters will have the opportunity to learn about humans and their history. Not enough monsters admit their roots in hominin and other Hominidae groups. We as a family embrace it, but we can't do that all year round when they are at school. We hope our children will find a home in your classes.

Sincerely,

Stafford and Hattie Bedwell.

Strange, like the others I expected to be roasted to the moon and back, it almost seemed hopeful. From the small interactions I'd had with the twins, they were more accepting than the rest of the school. They hadn't made any trouble with the more human-presenting monsters and tended to hang out with people outside of their year. That being said it hadn't been long so only time can tell. I would have to raise this with Mors to find out about their past behaviour, maybe even ask Mayor or Harro about the parents to get a rough idea about them.

I left my classroom and headed towards the headmaster's office, rereading over the letter as I did so. Out of the corner of my sight, I noticed that groups of students tended to move out of my way as I approached, eyeing me as I passed. I lowered the letters; this was certainly from the same family as the two girls I was asked to keep an eye out for.

The headmaster did request to see me at the endof the last week. I may have put the meeting off, but as I wasn't requested tomeet him, I assumed he didn't mind. Popping in won't be an issue, I was content with waiting around if he was busy, and at the very least I can organise a time to return when he was free from any major problems within the school walls.

I poked my head in. "I'm not intruding, am I?"

Harro lit up at the sight of me and waved me in. "Of course not Ambrose. I was worried we scared you off."

"That isn't possible," I assured as I stepped out from behind the door, closing it behind me before making my way to his desk.

He gathered up his papers and packed them away in one of the many folders on his desk. There was no need for him to clean up for me, but it could have been confidential work and best left unseen by my eyes.

I rested on the edge of the spare chair. Catching a glimpse of the folder's label. P&C council. Parents must be causing a stur again.

I took my free time while he was cleaning to gaze around. His office was bare for someone who had been working in this position for a century. There were little trinkets scattered about from better times. Most items didn't belong to him, from his predecessor but he kept them as clutter.

There was a flower preserved in a bubble. A magical globe no one in attendance could do.

"I believe the flower is from the tree in the garden." He paused, waiting for me to respond. I didn't. There was no point. We both knew it was. "I tried to move the globe, but it won't allow me. Would you know anything about that?"