lunam et stellas

chapter eight

three years later... summer 1943

The five of them sat in the living room, playing cards. Well, Alex, Susan, and Lucy were playing cards. Peter and Edmund were being sore losers. 

"You had to be cheating." The younger brother called out. "No way did Lucy beat me." 

Alex laughed. "Edmund, we're playing Go Fish. There's not really a way to cheat." 

Peter scoffed. "Are you sure you didn't have a vision that told you-" 

Alex groaned, glaring at her boyfriend. "For the hundredth time, no. Just accept the fact that women are better than men." 

Lucy and Susan laughed boisterously. 

Edmund laughed. "You forgot to finish your sentence." 

Alex smirked. "Did I?"

He crossed his arms. "Better than us at what exactly?" 

"Well, everything," Alex smirked. "Why do you think we live longer?" The whole room burst into tears. Alex grinned. "I should have been a comedian." 

Peter scoffed. "In another life." He sat up, kissing her cheek. "You would have been famous." 

Lucy smiled. "She already is. Did you know her record is sold out in every store I've visited? I had to buy one off a child on the street." 

Susan gasped. "Really?" 

Alex laughed. "You could have told me. I have four copies." 

Lucy glared at her. "I could have kept my money..." 

"I'll pay you back, Lu. Promise." 

Mrs. Pevensie yelled out from the kitchen. "Dinner!" 

Peter grinned, hurrying up to his feet. "I am famished." 

Alex rolled her eyes, holding her hand out for him to take. "We just had lunch an hour ago." 

"I'm growing." 

"Please." They walked through the house and sat down in their backyard. This summer had been well-mannered, and the Pevensies had taken to eating on a picnic blanket and enjoying each other's presence. Helen smiled at the eldest of the group. "How's university going?"

Peter smiled. "Professor Digory offered me a job after I graduate, studying as his assistant." 

His mother grinned. "Wonderful, Peter, just wonderful! And you, dear?" She looked over at Alex. "How are your studies coming along?"

Alex smiled, too. "Quite well. I'm on track to graduate a year early, actually. I'd begin teaching in the fall." 

Helen smiled. "You will be a wonderful music teacher. You have the perfect temperament for it." 

Edmund smirked, mumbling. "Those poor children." 

Alex glared at him. "If they're any better than you, I'll be fine." 

Helen smiled at the sight of all her children getting along. "That reminds me, I got a letter from your father earlier." 

The Pevensies perked up, staring at their mother. "What did it say?"

"He wants us to come to America. To visit." 

Lucy grinned. "When?"

"September." 

The younger two whined. "We'll be in school then." 

Susan murmured. "I can go with you, Mum. I could even attend university in there and care for you and Father."