The Girl of Colours (Book TWO)

Clyde's Life

God, Sky's first day at school... It was so strange, that in a few months I would have been here for 3 years, and it felt like only yesterday I started at Park Vale myself, still a Year 11 with Luke, and now I'd nearly finished 6th form. And now, I was sat with my adopted daughter, though the records said sister, and we were getting her enrolled. "Well Sky, I hope you'll enjoy life at Park Vale. Luke certainly flourished here, as did Callie, our star pupil in the 6th Form."

"I like to learn stuff." Sky smiled, having me told very firmly that she had to keep calling me her sister. She was like my daughter, but my own records said that I was only 18 by this point. Couldn't really adopt a 12 year old. "There's lots I don't know yet, but Callie's teaching me too."

Haresh gave her a smile and a nod. "That's a very healthy attitude. These days, too many students of our students think they know it all." Insert Clyde's face in his brain now.

"Oh, Sky's a keen student." I agreed. "She's got so much potential, in electrophysics especially."

"Clyde says I'm a bright spark." 

And then electricity cracked around as she laughed, before a fish thumped against the window. "What on Earth?"

Oh my god... "Haresh, there seems to be a trout on your windowsill."

Cue his face looking like he was sucking on a lemon. "Excuse me, Callie, Sky. Some of our pupils have an over-developed sense of humour."

So we headed home, walking with Clyde and Rani and went up to the Attic, where Sarah Jane was napping. Not purposely by the look of it, because she had a book on her chest and her glasses were on, but we woke her with a start as we came into the attic. "Mister Smith, I need you!"

"Yes, Calliope." He told me as he came out. "How can I help you?"

"Have you got a good recipe for the biggest fish pie in history?" Clyde asked as Sarah rubbed her eyes and yawned. I had always wondered what she did when we were at school, guessing she had some me time.

"I have been monitoring reports of the unusual storm over London."

Sky grinned, looking around the attic as usual. "I love this planet. When you think you get fish in the sea, they start coming out the sky."

Mr Smith then ruined that for her. "Throughout the ages, there have been many reports of fish raining out of the sky. There is a meteorological explanation."

Rani frowned in confusion. "What, you mean it's natural?"

"Storms and tornadoes suck fish out of the water into the upper atmosphere." Sarah Jane explained. "They freeze, then later they come raining down. Yeah, but those fish are small. Wouldn't satisfy next door's cat." I still wanted a cat. "Mister Smith, the fish today, they were this big." Traditional fisherman's exaggeration. 

"Yeah, well, still not natural. Mister Smith, I want you to scan for alien energies."

"Of course."

Clyde made it that little bit worse. "Oh, and Mister Smith, you'd better cast your net pretty wide."

"Oh, don't encourage him." Rani swatted.

Except my daughter was laughing. "You know, I'm glad Sky turned up." Cly told us, wrapping an arm around her. "Finally there's someone here who appreciates my comic genius." 

I rolled my eyes. "Sky would find my dad funny, and that is saying something."

"Calliope, Sarah Jane, you may be interested to know that the Museum of Culture is currently staging an exhibition of totem poles." Mr Smith told me after a moment. "Among them is what has become known as the Totem of the Lost Tribe."