The Governess

School addict

After her conversation with Charles Bow, it was finally time for Fleur to meet her pupil Ulde once more. As the young woman had already expected, she found the teenage mermaid sitting at the edge the swimming pool. The eleven-year-old was busy on a tablet computer, nevertheless she looked up when her governess was approaching her.

"Good morning, miss," Ulde said. "You a good morning too," Fleur replied with a smile. "What are you doing now?" "Biology, miss." "Okay. And what particular topic are you currently studying?" "Taxonomy. Anything about the classification of organisms, such as the distinction between monophyletical and paraphyletical clades or the difference between unikonta and bikonta."

As it had been a long time since Fleur had studied biology herself at school, none of the terms Ulde had used rang any bells with her. However, Charles Bow, she thought, would as a professor in genetic engineer probably know everything about it.

"Sounds interesting. May I have a look at your progress?" "Yes, of course." Subsequently the teenager showed the governess her tablet and Fleur browsed through Ulde's score reports. As far as she was able to judge, her pupil used to receive high scores on any quiz regardless of the subject matter. "That are no bad results, young lady. Well, you can continue." She handed the tablet back to the eleven-year-old.

While her student continued her studies, Fleur took her own tablet and used the credentials Charles Bow had provided to login onto the teachers' portal of DAVE. There the governess found Ulde's progress page and this confirmed the score report she had just seen a minute earlier. In addition it also told her what subjects and topics her pupil had to study in the near future. Only after a few minutes she learned that the teenage mermaid was well ahead of the official curriculum. Though the young woman was not really surprised about this – what else could this particular eleven-year-old do, except studying?

"Ulde," Fleur asked, "what hobbies do you have?" "Well," her student said hesitating, "I like to read, to watch videos, miss." "Right, but wouldn't you like to have real life with friends, to do things with them?" The teenager shook her head. "Not really. There ain't many places for someone like me to go to. And most people would only stare at me for being a mermaid. No, I am quite happy here and you're some great company, miss." "I am glad to hear that."

Despite Ulde's assurance she had no desire to go anywhere or to have any friends her own age, Fleur still believed it was a bad thing that her pupil has essentially a prisoner in her own home. When she had been an eleven-year-old girl, the future governess really loved to be outside with her friends and she remembered very well how much efforts her parents had to make to convince to come home – especially when it had been nice weather. One time she had even been grounded for a week for refusing to come home in time for dinner.

"I think," Fleur said, "you're spending too much time on schooling. I see that you spend on average twelve hours a day on doing your assignments and that seven days a week." "I just really like school, miss." "I see, girl. But nevertheless you seem to be rather addicted to school..." "I thought it was your job to make sure I take my education seriously instead of arguing that I should spend less time on school." "Young lady, you should not interrupt me. And yes, you've a point regarding my job description but a young girl like you need some time to relax as well. Any addiction is unhealthy."

Ulde did not reply and just resumed her school work. Fleur put away her tablet and entered into the water. As the pool was about half the size of an Olympic swimming pool, the governess could resist to take a few rounds. By the time she had reached the other side, she noticed that her pupil had put her school work aside and had decided to swim after her. The young woman could help but to smile and quickly she swam back.

Much to her pleasure Fleur noted that she was still a decent swimmer as it took Ulde a few rounds to finally catch up with her governess. Nevertheless, she was undeniable one of the best swimmers the young woman had ever met – and she had almost made it to the Olympics – and she did not doubt that if Elynesia would ever choose to compete into the Olympic swimming contest, that Ulde would have a good chance of winning the country's first ever Olympic gold medal. Provided, of course, that her pupil would not be disqualified for being a mermaid.

Even after Ulde had caught up Fleur continued to swim as fast as she could but she failed to overtake the mermaid. Her pupil's body was designed to live in the water and the ability to swim quickly was an integral part of that design. Though the young man had been a competitive swimmer only a couple of years ago, it had not been her intention to compete against a mermaid. And now she realized how futile such an endeavor would be.

After a minute of ten Fleur decided to take a break and went sitting at the edge of the pool. Shortly thereafter Ulde also took a rest and sat down next to her governess.

"You're a good swimmer but Professor Bow already told me that." "Thank you, miss. He told me, while you were asleep, that you had been a high level swimmer." "That's true. Did you wanted to check if you could beat me in a swimming contest?" The teenage mermaid nodded and the young woman smiled, while she put an arm around her pupil.

"Ulde, you're a great girl and a good study. But from now on you won't spend more than eight hours a day on school and I will find something else to spend your time with. And sometimes it's good just to do nothing at all."

The eleven-year-old looked a bit disappointed but nevertheless she said:

"That would be fine, miss." "I'll make sure you will like it, young lady."

Then the mermaid returned to her tablet once more.