Snow Princess

Chapter 23: Too hard to talk about

   The next day hit like bricks. I woke up early to get Mr. Jos’s work packets done so then they would be able to be turned in this fine Thursday afternoon. He had assigned one geography packet which had me label the states which was easy enough and then I had the history packet which made me fill in the blanks from sentences from the text book. They both were easy and got done within thirty minutes. I had spare time so I ended up taking a shower and heading down to the dining hall for breakfast. 

 Once there, I was alone, as expected. I grabbed me a toasted bagel, an apple, and some milk. I sat alone in the middle of the table since there wasn’t anyone there. I looked at the clock and it read 8:13. I didn’t know why anyone was not up actually but hey it was on them. I sat there quietly eating when the door opened and shut behind whoever walked in. I turned my head to see Muriel coming in with a smile on her face. I smiled at her and finished up my bagel before starting on my apple. 

Muriel came to sit in front of me moments after with a juice box and Lunchables. “Is that all your having?” I asked a little curious to why she was eating only that for breakfast. 

“Yeah, I don’t eat much in the mornings.”

 “Ah, I feel yea.” 

She smiled. “At least you’re eating healthy. An apple a day sends the doctors away.”

 I laughed. “I think its keeps the doctors away.”

 She shrugged with a smile, “Same thing.”

We fell into silence as we ate but then after a couple minutes I started looking around. “So, where is everyone?” I asked. 

“Oh, some might be sleeping, others waiting to take a shower, some are already in class, and I don’t really know. Not many people grab breakfast this late on Thursdays.”

 “Wait late?” I said in confusion.

“Yeah, some grab breakfast as early as 6 am so then they can get a head start before classes.”

 “Don’t they get hungry earlier before classes end though?”

“That’s the beauty of once a month slips.”

“What are those?” 

“No one explained it to you?” She asked tilting her head to the side.

 I just shook my head. 

She shrugged. “They are slips for you to ask for once a month to go eat during class. Kind of like bathroom slips but you can only use these once a month and that’s it.”

 “Oh, sounds interesting.” 

“Yeah, no one really uses it though since they always tend to not get hungry so easily.”

 I nodded in understanding. “Well I don’t think I’ll need one anytime soon.” 

 “I suppose not,” Muriel said then sipped on her juice box. 

 I looked down and tried contemplating the next thing I was going to say. I didn’t want to seem like I was forcing her on the subject but I was so curious to know about her life. I wondered if it would help me with everything else that was happening around me. Like all these wolves, the secrets, the mysterious wall, and the orphanage. Why was it all like a distant memory? It was like I should know about it but then I didn’t. But that part of me was only thinking that because of the little conversation that happened yesterday in Mrs. Clabourgs office. 

What was that about anyway? My eyebrows pushed together to pucker a V on the bridge of my nose. 

 “Are you okay?” Muriel asked with concern etched in her voice.