Star Dust

Chapter One ~ Mystery

Monday mornings were always the most difficult to deal with, a new 'sight' every time. Sadly this time the 'sight' seems different in a way I can't describe as anything else but odd. Being a seer isn't all bad, you can tell when you're in trouble or not, but it's more than that it is knowing everything and nothing at the same time.

Today seems like one of those days, where you know exactly what's going to happen yet you can do nothing to change it.

I sit here in bed thinking and waiting for my morning alarm tell me that I need to get up. To pass the time I list today's events aloud. In a voice that mimicked the reporters leveled tone on the television from down stairs I begin listing the events to myself "This morning starts off with a flurry of voices followed by a gale force of pain. Trust me this is going to blow all the rest out of the water. But wait there is more a surprise guest is going to make his first appearance on this Monday afternoon at the Star Gazer Academy, the good news folks; it's going to be an early release, again."

The alarm goes off, a shrill screech liable to wake anyone from the deepest depths of sleep. Springing from my bed I make a good show of smashing my fist down on the infernal device I was required to have. 

Strutting across the room like a peacock in my thin pajama's I reached into the closet and pulled out my school uniform. The fabric fell from my fingers and rested on the floor presenting the boring grey and thin black trim design of my uniform. I dressed quickly wishing that I could return to my still warm bed and forget about school. But as a student of Star Gazer Academy and a government 'dog' I have certain responsibilities that force me to rise each morning. "Where did I leave off?" I asked my self staring at the drab uniform hands braced on my hips. "I remember," With a dignified cough I continue my morning rant, "Todays new comer is a boy who will change your miserable life forever" dry laughter escapes my lips, this day will only blossom into the greatest adventure of all my lives."

That's right I'm old, nobody knows my true age but me, that knowledge has been lost for I don't know how long, so lets get on with the adventure. Stomping down stairs in my usual grumpy morning attitude my mother presents me with bacon and eggs, but I reach for the fridge to pull out my favorite fruit. "Mother" I whine as she takes the fruit from me and examines it "what is it again" she asks sighing in frustration. "Mom we've been over this the fire fruit is not for you" I turn the sarcasm up a little higher "its what maintains my youthly glow" she hands me the fruit and we both laugh.

Catching a glance at my mothers watch, I plant a kiss on her cheek and rush out the door "bye mom love you" and run to school before I'm late again. Mr. Grodo never in a good mood, especially when I turn up late. Guess that could just be part of our 'oh so wonderful relation ship'. Some how I had threatened his career and ruined his life but I never know what he is talking about. So every chance I get I'll find new ways to get away and make him turn a different colour.

It's been years since any other teacher besides him had taught me anything, and somewhere along the way a few of us came up with a new language. The fact that Mr. Grodo didn't know how to decipher it made it even more fun for us. Sadly those memories of the good old age don't last long cause the bell just rang and I have to run even faster. yeah like that's going to happen, not today and definitely not for his class.

"Miss Varn, you are late again"

I smile at my pudgy teacher sitting all smug at his desk typing on his shiny new device "does it matter you'll fail me anyway".

He nods at the empty desk across the room, a desk that hasn't moved all year from in the middle of the class room, close enough to the front that he can watch my every move, and far enough in the back that if I play my cards right I won't get caught.

Only four kids are unlucky enough to be placed in the front row and receive many slaps to their wrists, Mr. Grodo's way of bringing back ancient traditions or what we call his happy time. most of the class gets together after school to plan 'experiments' on him, and we came up with five volunteers to have their wrists slapped for the fun of it. Our hypothesis was that a look of joy or even pleasure would cross his face every time he saw an old mark or made a new one. At the end of the day seven people with bright new rashes gathered around and noted what they discovered, we all laughed at each other's rash and made comments on what they looked like. In the end we concluded that we were right and that tests like this should be left to the professionals, but then again its more fun to torture him our selves.

"Hey star" some one taps me on the shoulder "mmm" I grumble Grodo looks so angry I think I'm going to play the game again "yes Mr. Grodo what is it" I turn my face to glare at him. His face becomes a deep purple colour showing his hard core anger. I place my hand behind my back and get a high five from the blonde haired kid behind me, another mischief maker, he whispers "crimson under magenta you can do better than that".

Placing my other hand behind my back as if stretching, I opening my palm to display to blondie what I had written earlier in anticipation to this moment not "done yet..." I relax and Grodo tenses up asking his question one more time "where is the newest star located?" I'm actually surprised I know this one, not because he had just discussed it (I wasn't paying attention, not one bit) no it's because it was part of my most recent 'sightings'.

The answer rolls off my tongue, the exact coordinates and place "...quadrant three dash nine six, past the Lantrail nebula, 938 billion light years away, going in the opposite direction of the last human migration". An astounded teacher turns peach then bright crimson then neon pink so bright that he almost glows, looking around I see that everyone else in the class is staring straight at me deciding whether or not react to my stunt or to laugh at Grodo's glowing complexion.

Blondie behind me gets out of his seat and stands on his floating desk clapping "one million points go to Miss Varn the best star tracker in all the galaxy." Everyone cheers, some can hardly breath because of all the laughing their doing, then blondie holds out a hand and helps me up onto my own desk. Behind his back he produces a stack of papers and hands them to me bowing as he steps onto the lower level chair. "This stake of home work is presented to the only person who could surpass Mr. Grodo's expectations for a single question. Please everyone let us applaud her" smiling faces applaud this fake award and cheer for the old record of pale pink that has recently been passed.

"Please I can't accept this" blondie looks up at me all serious "of course you can" I look at him pointedly "no cause its all of this weeks home work and its got your name on it". I throw the neatly stacked papers at his chest that explode on impact pages flutter every where and he gives me a hurt expression, but I look at the clock instead and walk to the door in confident strides. Holding up my hand three fingers pointing skyward and one by one each come down and when there is only a fist, I pump it in the air in time for the bell saying "lunch time, everybody out".