Post by Kira & Lee Norris on Nov 4, 2007 14:13:55 GMT
"Lee, are you gonna eat that?"
Kira peered at him curiously, her fork poised over his plate. He looked up glumly, then cleared his throat.
"Er, no, you can take it..."
"Thanks!" she smiled warmly at him, but he didn't meet her eyes.
Kira wasn't really sure what to make of it. Lee had been fine last night at the party, and from what she'd been told, he was going out with Madeleine to Cardsdale later that day. What did he have to be glum about?
She had plenty to be glum about. Her homework was not getting done. She'd already discussed it with Mike and Jack though, and they were planning to head off to the library after breakfast to try (and probably fail) to do their homework. Jack probably wasn't the most academic of people, so Kira sort of knew he would be bored and distracted throughout their time there... but she was sort of banking on that.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over them, and Kira looked up to see Lydia beaming down at her.
"Hello!" she said brightly, tucking her scarlet locks behind her ears. "How are you two?"
"Mmmm," they replied simultaneously.
"Oh," she said, looking a little crestfallen. "Um... that's too bad then, isn't it?"
"Mmm-hmm."
"Lee, that was great last night, with Levi Ryder," she said brightly, looking at him. "Poor guy- I mean, he's good-looking and all that... but his looks... I dunno, they seem a bit... unnatural."
Kira frowned at her. "Unnatural?"
"Like how you can be too good-looking," Lydia replied.
Kira blinked. Lydia definitely had a point there. She'd always thought those teeth of his were really a bit excessive. "I guess the new gaps in his smile are an improvement."
"Ooh, definitely," winked Lydia, with a giggle. "Anyway, Kira, the mail arrived yesterday, and I was sent to look for you. You haven't claimed your post yet."
Both Lee and Kira jumped at that.
"Kira's got mail?" Lee demanded, apparently forgetting himself for a couple of seconds.
"Yes..." Lydia said slowly, laughing at him as she passed over the envelope. "All the way from Ireland too."
"It's from my parents," mumbled Kira, staring at the letter. "It's from... why... what?"
"I'll be seeing you two later," Lydia said brightly jumping up and waving at them both as she skipped off down the Dining Hall.
Kira and Lee stared at each other.
"My parents never write to me."
"I know," said Lee.
"I haven't seen them in months."
"I know."
"So what do they want?" she cried, clenching her free fist.
Lee stared at the letter. "Bethany wrote to me too. She's... mad at me. Maybe that's it?"
"My parents are mad?" Kira repeated.
"No, that's not what I meant..." Lee mumbled, the shook his head. "I don't know."
"Let's find out," Kira said tiredly, tearing open the envelope, and settling down to read. There were two letters- one from her father, and one from her mother.
The first was from her dad.
Hi, Kira, I hope you decide to read this.
Yes, it's me, Tom Norris, A.K.A. your dad. Bit of a crud dad really, but still, hi. And hi to Lee too, if he's reading. Look, I'm not going to lie to you. We're still mad as hell. Especially your mother. You know what she's like. But we're also proud as hell. We got the letter about you being made Head of the Spies ages ago- we just never had the guts to congratulate you. You're fighting for what's right, kiddo, and we're proud of that, really, we are. You know how tough it is for your mother, of course, knowing you're out there fighting the fight after what happened to her sister.
You shouldn't have ran away back to Orchid. Neither of you should have. We don't have all of the details, but I do know that Lee gave Bethany and his parents a hell of a hard time when he was telling them about his beliefs. Understand this, Kira. We're all biased, one way or another. My brother and his wife firmly believe in what Marius Hoodham is doing. My wife and I think it's despicable, and apparently, so do you and Lee. But after this Youth Revolution thing... I think my brother and his family may finally be starting to see sense. A lot of people are, actually. No-one really expected Marius to go that far.
You two kids put us all through a lot when you left. I'm going to be blunt with you- Lee's family all blame you for taking him away from them. They're upset, and emotions are running high. You're the obvious target to point the finger of blame at. I'm sorry, Kira, but that's just how it is.
Your mother thinks very little of Lee's family at the moment. As you know, she thinks part of the blame for her sister's death rests with people 'like them', who support Marius. She's a wreck without your Aunt Black. That woman brought a bit of fire and spark into her life. I don't think she's come to terms with her death.
Actually, I don't think. I know. She's a bit funny like that. She knows who she wants to win the war- she's all for Major Hoodham and his policies- but she doesn't want you to fight in case you go the same way as your aunt. Whatever she says in her letter; ignore it. Do not give up. Don't stop doing what you want to do.
It's your choice, and I'm behind you the whole way.
I love you, kiddo.
Dad
Kira caught her breath, folding up the letter and sliding out the next one. Beside her, Lee was completely silent, his face like marble as he surveyed his uncle's scrawled hand-writing.
"Lee?"
"They shouldn't blame you."
Kira looked at him. "What? No. It's fine. I don't mind."
"I told them it was nothing to do with you!" he cried, his blue eyes snapping to her own. "I told them, for chrissake, I told them!"
"Shh," Kira soothed him, prodding the next letter. "My mother's calling."
Darling,
No, I have not forgiven you.
Nor do I think I ever shall. You have always been a dreamy thing- but God knows I never expected you to actually take action. Lee must've convinced you to do it. He always had that little bit more drive than you. He wins chess championships. Probably not the most prestigious of sports, but he still does it, and is good at it. What are you good at?
Well, at least you've got this Head thing going now. You can handle the responsibility, can't you? Major Hoodham is a great man- so I suppose if he sees something in you, then there's something there. Maybe you've changed since I last saw you. But next time you decide to disobey me, think twice.
You should come home. You've done it now- you've had your day. Are you making your Aunt Black proud? Is that what this is about? My sister always excercised an unhealthy influence over you. We were close, I suppose. I did love her. I do love her. But she was always too wild for her own good. She shouldn't have fought in the war.
It's her own fault she... isn't here now.
You don't have to fight your aunt's fight. She was a fool. Don't be a fool. Major Hoodham is fighting the fight. You don't have to. Children shouldn't be fighting. We can get you homeschooled you know. Bring Lee home too, if you really feel the need. Although best not tell Victoria, John or Bethany, right?
Apparently, we're not invited to the wedding. Bethany and Jason aren't prepared to look past all this mess and see us as family again. Of course, you're not even bridesmaid anymore. It's really despicable. They're despicable.
I hope you're taking in what I've been saying. You're a good girl. I know you'll make the right choice... eventually.
Regards,
Your Mother
With a growl of hatred, Kira crushed the letter in her hands, ripping it up. She looked at Lee, whose face was the same marble mask.
"Is it wrong to hate your mother?" she asked him angrily.
Lee looked at her strangely for a few moments. "Hate's a pretty strong word."
Kira rolled her eyes. "Right. You read it, Lee. The feeling's mutual."
"I don't think she hates you."
"How do you know?"
He sighed. "If she hated you, why would she want you to come home?"
Kira didn't answer. She hated it when Lee was right.
Kira peered at him curiously, her fork poised over his plate. He looked up glumly, then cleared his throat.
"Er, no, you can take it..."
"Thanks!" she smiled warmly at him, but he didn't meet her eyes.
Kira wasn't really sure what to make of it. Lee had been fine last night at the party, and from what she'd been told, he was going out with Madeleine to Cardsdale later that day. What did he have to be glum about?
She had plenty to be glum about. Her homework was not getting done. She'd already discussed it with Mike and Jack though, and they were planning to head off to the library after breakfast to try (and probably fail) to do their homework. Jack probably wasn't the most academic of people, so Kira sort of knew he would be bored and distracted throughout their time there... but she was sort of banking on that.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over them, and Kira looked up to see Lydia beaming down at her.
"Hello!" she said brightly, tucking her scarlet locks behind her ears. "How are you two?"
"Mmmm," they replied simultaneously.
"Oh," she said, looking a little crestfallen. "Um... that's too bad then, isn't it?"
"Mmm-hmm."
"Lee, that was great last night, with Levi Ryder," she said brightly, looking at him. "Poor guy- I mean, he's good-looking and all that... but his looks... I dunno, they seem a bit... unnatural."
Kira frowned at her. "Unnatural?"
"Like how you can be too good-looking," Lydia replied.
Kira blinked. Lydia definitely had a point there. She'd always thought those teeth of his were really a bit excessive. "I guess the new gaps in his smile are an improvement."
"Ooh, definitely," winked Lydia, with a giggle. "Anyway, Kira, the mail arrived yesterday, and I was sent to look for you. You haven't claimed your post yet."
Both Lee and Kira jumped at that.
"Kira's got mail?" Lee demanded, apparently forgetting himself for a couple of seconds.
"Yes..." Lydia said slowly, laughing at him as she passed over the envelope. "All the way from Ireland too."
"It's from my parents," mumbled Kira, staring at the letter. "It's from... why... what?"
"I'll be seeing you two later," Lydia said brightly jumping up and waving at them both as she skipped off down the Dining Hall.
Kira and Lee stared at each other.
"My parents never write to me."
"I know," said Lee.
"I haven't seen them in months."
"I know."
"So what do they want?" she cried, clenching her free fist.
Lee stared at the letter. "Bethany wrote to me too. She's... mad at me. Maybe that's it?"
"My parents are mad?" Kira repeated.
"No, that's not what I meant..." Lee mumbled, the shook his head. "I don't know."
"Let's find out," Kira said tiredly, tearing open the envelope, and settling down to read. There were two letters- one from her father, and one from her mother.
The first was from her dad.
* * *
Hi, Kira, I hope you decide to read this.
Yes, it's me, Tom Norris, A.K.A. your dad. Bit of a crud dad really, but still, hi. And hi to Lee too, if he's reading. Look, I'm not going to lie to you. We're still mad as hell. Especially your mother. You know what she's like. But we're also proud as hell. We got the letter about you being made Head of the Spies ages ago- we just never had the guts to congratulate you. You're fighting for what's right, kiddo, and we're proud of that, really, we are. You know how tough it is for your mother, of course, knowing you're out there fighting the fight after what happened to her sister.
You shouldn't have ran away back to Orchid. Neither of you should have. We don't have all of the details, but I do know that Lee gave Bethany and his parents a hell of a hard time when he was telling them about his beliefs. Understand this, Kira. We're all biased, one way or another. My brother and his wife firmly believe in what Marius Hoodham is doing. My wife and I think it's despicable, and apparently, so do you and Lee. But after this Youth Revolution thing... I think my brother and his family may finally be starting to see sense. A lot of people are, actually. No-one really expected Marius to go that far.
You two kids put us all through a lot when you left. I'm going to be blunt with you- Lee's family all blame you for taking him away from them. They're upset, and emotions are running high. You're the obvious target to point the finger of blame at. I'm sorry, Kira, but that's just how it is.
Your mother thinks very little of Lee's family at the moment. As you know, she thinks part of the blame for her sister's death rests with people 'like them', who support Marius. She's a wreck without your Aunt Black. That woman brought a bit of fire and spark into her life. I don't think she's come to terms with her death.
Actually, I don't think. I know. She's a bit funny like that. She knows who she wants to win the war- she's all for Major Hoodham and his policies- but she doesn't want you to fight in case you go the same way as your aunt. Whatever she says in her letter; ignore it. Do not give up. Don't stop doing what you want to do.
It's your choice, and I'm behind you the whole way.
I love you, kiddo.
Dad
* * *
Kira caught her breath, folding up the letter and sliding out the next one. Beside her, Lee was completely silent, his face like marble as he surveyed his uncle's scrawled hand-writing.
"Lee?"
"They shouldn't blame you."
Kira looked at him. "What? No. It's fine. I don't mind."
"I told them it was nothing to do with you!" he cried, his blue eyes snapping to her own. "I told them, for chrissake, I told them!"
"Shh," Kira soothed him, prodding the next letter. "My mother's calling."
* * *
Darling,
No, I have not forgiven you.
Nor do I think I ever shall. You have always been a dreamy thing- but God knows I never expected you to actually take action. Lee must've convinced you to do it. He always had that little bit more drive than you. He wins chess championships. Probably not the most prestigious of sports, but he still does it, and is good at it. What are you good at?
Well, at least you've got this Head thing going now. You can handle the responsibility, can't you? Major Hoodham is a great man- so I suppose if he sees something in you, then there's something there. Maybe you've changed since I last saw you. But next time you decide to disobey me, think twice.
You should come home. You've done it now- you've had your day. Are you making your Aunt Black proud? Is that what this is about? My sister always excercised an unhealthy influence over you. We were close, I suppose. I did love her. I do love her. But she was always too wild for her own good. She shouldn't have fought in the war.
It's her own fault she... isn't here now.
You don't have to fight your aunt's fight. She was a fool. Don't be a fool. Major Hoodham is fighting the fight. You don't have to. Children shouldn't be fighting. We can get you homeschooled you know. Bring Lee home too, if you really feel the need. Although best not tell Victoria, John or Bethany, right?
Apparently, we're not invited to the wedding. Bethany and Jason aren't prepared to look past all this mess and see us as family again. Of course, you're not even bridesmaid anymore. It's really despicable. They're despicable.
I hope you're taking in what I've been saying. You're a good girl. I know you'll make the right choice... eventually.
Regards,
Your Mother
* * *
With a growl of hatred, Kira crushed the letter in her hands, ripping it up. She looked at Lee, whose face was the same marble mask.
"Is it wrong to hate your mother?" she asked him angrily.
Lee looked at her strangely for a few moments. "Hate's a pretty strong word."
Kira rolled her eyes. "Right. You read it, Lee. The feeling's mutual."
"I don't think she hates you."
"How do you know?"
He sighed. "If she hated you, why would she want you to come home?"
Kira didn't answer. She hated it when Lee was right.
