The Art of Failing Mad Science

Chapter 4: Arrival at the Really Big School that Probably Shouldn't Exist

Mrew!

I was rudely awakened when a pair of playful paws came down on my nose. I cracked open my sleep-crusted eyes to discover a feisty lynx kit hunting wild hair in its natural habitat. This happened to be my face. I lifted my arm groggily to check the watch I had left on the night before. 4:30 a.m. Great.

"Alright Pammon, you want some breakfast?" I gave him some belly scratches and dug through my travel bag. After some rummaging I uncovered a small box containing kitty kibble. He purred and ate hungrily on my lap while I attempted to tame my hair. There was no going back to sleep now. Might as well make something of myself. 

After about half an hour I began to notice others stirring. Some of the older students had set alarms to wake them up at 5:oo, the problem being alarms tend to work on everyone in the immediate area. There were grumbles and angry moans of protest each time a beep began to sound, one after the other. Just when one was turned off another would begin from a different device that was slightly behind on the time. Some of the alarms clashed against each other in battles of sound, a pleasant wake up song versus incessant noise. A war on one's eardrums.

In the back cabin a small breakfast buffet had been set up. I filled a plate with fruit, scrambled eggs, french toast, and a hearty smelling baked good of some sort. Pammon helped himself to the bacon tray. I then searched for a familiar face. Clarice was tinkering with a watch in the corner over her plate, bingo! I scooped up my furry menace and made my way over to her table.

"Good morning Nona." She greeted. She was clearly distracted by her device.

"G'morning, watcha working on?"

"I'm trying to get this watch to run double time."

"You can do that?"

She sighed and put down the watch. "Apparently not. I never have had an easy time with clocks... or weapons... or machines."

"But aren't you supposed to be a mechanist?" I inquired.

"My entire family has been, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I am," she shrugged with indifference, but I suspected she was secretly worried. I decided to drop the topic.

"So we'll be arriving soon, does that mean you can tell me about the school yet?" I prodded.

"Nice try, but we are not allowed to say anything until we cross the school property. It shouldn't be long now." She glanced absent-minded out the window.

"How do you know if it's your first year?" I tried a different approach. She stopped an thought a while before answering.

"Its a family choice. Like an optional tradition."

"Gee thanks that helps a lot," I spoke sarcastically.

She shrugged with her mischievous smile and tucked into her omelette. I hadn't seen the omelette bar. I followed suit and began to eat my eggs. Pammon apparently wanted to try his hand at mechanism, because he pounced on the watch Clarice had left unattended on the table. While we were attempting to catch the wild kitten, Agnes sat down next to Clarice with her own plate of food.

"Hey guys"

"Hey"

"Oh hi Agnoof"Pammon stopped me mid sentence, when he chose to resume his hair hunt.

After the brief tussle I had Clarice run back to my bed and grab Pammon's kitty carrier while I held him secure in my arms. He nipped at my fingers playfully, and I made a note to clip his needle-like claws once we made it to the dorms.

"So, what classes have you always been best at in school?" Agnes inquired.

"Well I was home-schooled, but I always enjoyed science. Especially chemistry!" Clarice replied enthusiastically.