Chapter 2 Scene
Chapter 2
A Giant Beast and a Fire
It was unusually warm for spring when Mills woke up. It was still dark out and there was almost a full hour before the sun would shine its light on Cloud City. She could smell the damp earth and the scent of rain that had only stopped recently, coming in through her open window on a light breeze. Yawning, Millicent sat up and stretched. Better wake the brat she thought, he is crabby in the mornings. Sam, like most kids his age, were sure to cause a lot of fuss this early in the morning and Mills was not about to let him ruin her morning. Fishing she thought as she got up from her bed, she hadn't been fishing in...Well since last spring. Feeling around for a candle and match she tripped over something.
"Ouch" Mills squeaked fearing she might have woken her dad.
Mr. Gabb had worked in the iron mine near the low mountains for years until it collapsed killing most of the crew. Millicent’s dad had barely escaped but was now sick quite often and didn't sleep well. She had no intention of bothering him if had had just gotten to sleep that would not be good for her at all. Mr. Gabb could be quite strict when he was tired.
After sitting on the floor for a few moments rubbing her knee which she whacked on the dresser when she tripped, Millicent found a match and lit her candle. Within a few minutes
she was dressed and heading out her door into the long, dark, upstairs hall of the Gabb household. Unfortunately, Mills stubbed her toe as she closed her door and had to hobble down the hall. Peering into her father’s room she saw that Mr. Gabb was sound asleep, so she put the note she had wrote for her father the night before on the table by his door and moved on to Sam's room.
Now where could that little sneak have gotten off to she thought seeing her brother’s bed was empty. “Wait till I get my hands on him.” Millicent mumbled to herself heading down the stairs. She knew that not only would she have to deal with his morning crabbiness but now he was off somewhere doing who knows what. Reaching the bottom of the stairs she could smell fried eggs and bacon coming from the kitchen and a faint light was peeking from under the doorway. Bursting into the kitchen Millicent found a plate laid out on the table and a note that read:
Mills I wint owt sid hop yu injoy yur food
yur bruther Sammy
Well at least he spelled food right she thought chewing a thick piece of bacon. After quickly devouring the eggs Millicent went outside to find her, most likely, cranky brother and give him a piece of her mind.
She found her younger brother in the small one horse barn that her father had made for his horse back when he had worked in the Nizhoni mines. The barn had not seen a horse in years. Mr. Gabb, being unable to work, let alone care for a horse, had decided to sell it to help pay the bills. Sammy stood in the middle of the barn staring at a group of kittens that had somehow found their way into the abandoned barn. Something was wrong with Sam's face Mills thought looking at him closer, it seemed... well, confused. "Where did those come from?" Mills asked, feeling a little confused herself at the expression on her brothers face. What was going on in that bizarre head of his?
Snapping out of his daze, Sam looked at his sister and smiled a big grin. "Hi sis, they were lost and thought this would be a good place to hide from Old Max." Old Max was the meanest dog on the block and loved to terrorize the neighborhood cats.
"A likely story," Mills responded tapping her foot, her green eyes glaring at her brother with impatience. "I have had about enough of your shenanigans already this morning. Running around all by yourself this time of day, cooking food without supervision and now out here putting god knows whose cats in our barn. I'm sure you have a great story," she said grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, "but I am not putting up with your attitude today."
"I'm sorry I do tend to have a bit of a problem in the mornings." Sam told his sister with a look that said she was his problem, but his older sister did not seem to notice. "How was your breakfast?" Sam asked honestly of his sister who now was dragging him towards the house.
"Don't get smart with me brat or I'll whop you a good one. I swear Sammy Gabb; you are a thorn in my side when it comes to morning." As she finished scolding her younger sibling they reached the steps leading onto the porch and she told him to run into the house and grab their fishing poles while she picked some vegetables out of the garden. They would need something to munch on later in the day.
A short time later they were walking down an alleyway, the scent of fresh rolls and donuts filled the length of the narrow walkway. They were almost at Mr. Potter’s bakery where they were to meet Tate.
A Giant Beast and a Fire
It was unusually warm for spring when Mills woke up. It was still dark out and there was almost a full hour before the sun would shine its light on Cloud City. She could smell the damp earth and the scent of rain that had only stopped recently, coming in through her open window on a light breeze. Yawning, Millicent sat up and stretched. Better wake the brat she thought, he is crabby in the mornings. Sam, like most kids his age, were sure to cause a lot of fuss this early in the morning and Mills was not about to let him ruin her morning. Fishing she thought as she got up from her bed, she hadn't been fishing in...Well since last spring. Feeling around for a candle and match she tripped over something.
"Ouch" Mills squeaked fearing she might have woken her dad.
Mr. Gabb had worked in the iron mine near the low mountains for years until it collapsed killing most of the crew. Millicent’s dad had barely escaped but was now sick quite often and didn't sleep well. She had no intention of bothering him if had had just gotten to sleep that would not be good for her at all. Mr. Gabb could be quite strict when he was tired.
After sitting on the floor for a few moments rubbing her knee which she whacked on the dresser when she tripped, Millicent found a match and lit her candle. Within a few minutes
she was dressed and heading out her door into the long, dark, upstairs hall of the Gabb household. Unfortunately, Mills stubbed her toe as she closed her door and had to hobble down the hall. Peering into her father’s room she saw that Mr. Gabb was sound asleep, so she put the note she had wrote for her father the night before on the table by his door and moved on to Sam's room.
Now where could that little sneak have gotten off to she thought seeing her brother’s bed was empty. “Wait till I get my hands on him.” Millicent mumbled to herself heading down the stairs. She knew that not only would she have to deal with his morning crabbiness but now he was off somewhere doing who knows what. Reaching the bottom of the stairs she could smell fried eggs and bacon coming from the kitchen and a faint light was peeking from under the doorway. Bursting into the kitchen Millicent found a plate laid out on the table and a note that read:
Mills I wint owt sid hop yu injoy yur food
yur bruther Sammy
Well at least he spelled food right she thought chewing a thick piece of bacon. After quickly devouring the eggs Millicent went outside to find her, most likely, cranky brother and give him a piece of her mind.
She found her younger brother in the small one horse barn that her father had made for his horse back when he had worked in the Nizhoni mines. The barn had not seen a horse in years. Mr. Gabb, being unable to work, let alone care for a horse, had decided to sell it to help pay the bills. Sammy stood in the middle of the barn staring at a group of kittens that had somehow found their way into the abandoned barn. Something was wrong with Sam's face Mills thought looking at him closer, it seemed... well, confused. "Where did those come from?" Mills asked, feeling a little confused herself at the expression on her brothers face. What was going on in that bizarre head of his?
Snapping out of his daze, Sam looked at his sister and smiled a big grin. "Hi sis, they were lost and thought this would be a good place to hide from Old Max." Old Max was the meanest dog on the block and loved to terrorize the neighborhood cats.
"A likely story," Mills responded tapping her foot, her green eyes glaring at her brother with impatience. "I have had about enough of your shenanigans already this morning. Running around all by yourself this time of day, cooking food without supervision and now out here putting god knows whose cats in our barn. I'm sure you have a great story," she said grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, "but I am not putting up with your attitude today."
"I'm sorry I do tend to have a bit of a problem in the mornings." Sam told his sister with a look that said she was his problem, but his older sister did not seem to notice. "How was your breakfast?" Sam asked honestly of his sister who now was dragging him towards the house.
"Don't get smart with me brat or I'll whop you a good one. I swear Sammy Gabb; you are a thorn in my side when it comes to morning." As she finished scolding her younger sibling they reached the steps leading onto the porch and she told him to run into the house and grab their fishing poles while she picked some vegetables out of the garden. They would need something to munch on later in the day.
A short time later they were walking down an alleyway, the scent of fresh rolls and donuts filled the length of the narrow walkway. They were almost at Mr. Potter’s bakery where they were to meet Tate.
