--Daycare--

T.Mor:

"It's ok...I can't spell it..." I agreed, not looking up from my drawing. It was going to be my house. "Evan sounds like it would be easy to spell. I'd rather have that." I added, grabbing another crayon. Grey.

Cricket
I just looked at him for a moment, trying to put the peices together. "Well." Moment of thought. "A'right...oi my my. Well, you did read my mind, no lying about that."

"You can't spell it?" Evan asked surprised. "I think it's...T-dot-M-O-R."

T.Mor:

"We don't have spelling at my school...And I had to stop going to school..." Because I had to rebuild my house...Not that I'd tell that to a stranger. I grabbed another colour. Black. Lots of black. The sky was black...

"That stinks. I like going to school because it gets me away from...nevermind...he said I can't tell you." said Evan quietly. He reached for another crayon. He decided he was going to draw T. Mor.

Jamie
I nodded my head, "Me either"

T.Mor:

"Yeah...It does. I mean...I got a job so it's ok...But...I miss school. they had food there sometimes." I didn't push on the subject of why Evan couldn't tell me...something. It wasn't my place to.

Mr.Face:

"What do you like to do?" I asked Nike somewhat awkwardly. I had not had a lot of successful nonviolent interactions with other kids my age. This was new to me.

"A job?" asked Evan wide-eyed. "Don't your mom and dad...?"

T.Mor:

Crap. I had been doing so good too. Not thinking about it. I looked at the table. "I don't have a mom and dad." I said flatly.
Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Don't think about it.
My eyes traveled across my drawing. I'd put in all the burnt bits...the whole one side of the third floor was gone. I kinda felt sick.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry I didn't..." said Evan, trying to fix it. He put a hand on T.Mor's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

T.Mor:

"Uhm." I didn't know what to say. "Not your fault...I mean...It was a month ago...I should be over it..." I said. I mean... He hadn't killed them...Why was he sorry? It was confusing.

Peter

"That's not...all I can do, either..."

I put my head in my hands as the memories came back. I was getting that sick feeling in my stomach again... Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Senet give me a concerned look. He knew.


Nike

"Stuff like this," I answered Mr. Face. "Constructive stuff. I usually find things to do on my own, because I don't usually get along with other kids well."

"No, you shouldn't be over it. I..if my mom died...I don't know what I would do...and I guess I would miss my dad. My mom tells me he loves me even though he sometimes..." said Evan. He pulled up his sleeves to revel huge bruises. They covered his arms, most looked brand new.

Mr.Face:

"Really? Why not? You're the least revolting other kid I've ever met." I could not believe that she did not get on well with the rest of them. She was so...nice.

T.Mor:

Those...Those looked like the ones I'd been getting at work."You're sure you don't have a job?" I asked, forcing my...erm. My...Parents. Forcing my parents out of my head.
Don't think about it.
Ever. Especially not right before thinking about work.
Work made me feel sick too.

Nike

"Thanks," I said. "My mom tells me it's because I'm too honest or something. I tend to say things that offend people when they ask my opinion. Which I don't get, because they do ask for my opinion. But I upset people a lot. It's not just me, though; I tend to find other children annoying. Like a lot of people in this room. The criers, the screamers, the ones with too much energy." I shrugged.

Least revolting, huh? Interesting.

Cricket
I frowned. This kid had a story behind him. " 'ey..." I was never good at comforting. There was no doubt; the world was a cruel joke...if I went off on flowery speeches about bright sides and rainbows I would be both a hypocryte and a liar. So I just smiled a little. One of those wordless gestures that say 'Been there...sorry you're there, too.' I felt like a walking postcard.

Mr.Face:

"I don't mind honesty." I said. I liked honesty. "I just...You're the first person outside of the internet monastary that hasn't like...Judged me based on appearence...And...People are horrible things. You're better off away from most of them." I told her.

Peter

I gave him a quick glance before returning my gaze to the floor. Then I shut my eyes tightly, as if that would make the images go away. The picture of the hideous, devouring fires...the screams of pain... I just wanted it to stop...

Stop!

Stop, please!

My thoughts now echoed my desperate cries then. Why wouldn't it stop...? I felt myself quivering...then felt Senet's comforting arm around my shoulders. But he couldn't keep the memories away.

Nike

"Eh," I said with a shrug, "when you grow up on an A-Plane, nothing surprises you. And the last thing you're inclined to do is judge people based on appearances. ...Internet monastery?"

Cricket
" 'ey...things 'appen..." I said softly, uselessly. "I mean...we've all got regrets."

Mr.Face:

"Yes..."It did not occur to me that she may not Even know what the internet Was. "I...Was abandoned...and...I live there now." I explained.

Peter

"But I...I..."

I looked my hands. My hands that had somehow brought fire into existence. They were shaking now. I was feeling sicker by the moment, and I'm sure I must've looked pale. I felt the regretful tears wanting to fall...but I couldn't cry here. Not in front of them.


Nike

"Oh," I said. "But, um...what's an internet monastery?"

Mr. Face:

"It's this place where you go to work forever on your coding and stuff...you devote your whole life to the study and worship of the internet." I hoped that made more sense.

Nike

"Worship of the internet?" I asked, curious now. I liked learning about all the different cultures across the planes.

Mr. Face:

"Of course." I said. My teeth clicked together accidentally as I spoke. "Don't you all worship the internet?" This was totally strange to me. A shock.