Chapter 3

“So, what you’re saying is that you’re helping four people gone mad. That’s so you.” Abby says after I finish my story.
                “What do you mean, that’s so me?” I ask her.
                “Helping people just because they say they travelled through time. You’re so desperate to get away from Nance that you believe everything you’re told.”
                “Hey, you’re supposed to support me.”
                “Yes, and I am supporting you, by being honest.  Because that’s what I’m supposed to do too.”
                I roll my eyes.
                “No, but seriously, sweetheart. How on earth could you believe them? There’s no such thing as time travel.”
                “How do you know that? You can’t prove if it’s real or not.”
                “Then how do you know if they’re speaking the truth or not?”
                “Okay, you’ve got a point there. Still, they needed help and...”
                “And you saw a way out. I get it.”
                “You do?”
                “Yes, because if they’re telling the truth you would be able to get away. But it’s just a fairytale. Please wake up before it’s too late.”
                “Is this supposed to make me feel better?”
                I sit down on one of the chairs at our fixed table in the school cafeteria and put my bag on the one next to it.
                “Yeah. No. I’m just warning you.”
                “But I want to believe them.” I say in my most childish voice, making Abby laugh.
                “I know. Wouldn’t it be the perfect tale?”
                “Are you going to Sally today?” I ask her after a minute of silence.
                “Yes. I help her twice a week, remember? Besides, mom asked me to give Sally her dress back. The one she borrowed for that party last week.”
                “Ah, right, sisters. I’m so jealous you’ve got a job.”
                “It’s not really a job when you’re helping your aunt.”
                “You get paid for it, so it’s a job. By the by, what party?”
                “The opening party for the new Boldings’ office block.”
                “Oh. She designed that, right?” Abby’s mother is the architect of many buildings in the city. She also helped with the design of her sister’s hotel. I wish I had a such a good family relationship as Abby’s got with her mother and aunt.
                “Talking about Sally, why did you bring them to her?”
                “Because they needed a place to stay and that’s the best place I know. Also, I love the Paradise and I trust Sally with whole my heart; why shouldn’t I bring them there?”
                Abby smiles. “True. You’re coming with me after school?”
                “Yep.”
                “What about Nance?”
                “I’ll just tell her the same as yesterday.”

---

                “Sal! I’m here!” Abby yells as we walk through the door of the estate. She walks to the office and looks inside.
                “Not here?” I ask.
                “Nope. She’s probably at the stables.”
                We walk back outside and follow the path to the back of the estate, where the stables are placed. Currently seven horses are having a place there; Sally’s own three horses and the horses of the four strangers. The eighth stable is the home for the five goats who are walking around the grounds of the estate; the other two stables are empty.
                As we pass the stables, looking if Sally’s around, a chick runs for our feet, followed by its mother.
                “Oh, the chicks have broken out of their shells.” Abby says enthusiastic. “Hello there, little one.”
                She pets the chick, which peeps at the touch and runs to its mother. Abby laughs at the sight of it all and walks away.
                We turn around the corner and see the horses walking in the barnyard. Sally rests her arms on the fence, talking to Valora. The latter notices us and waves at me as Sally turns around.
                “Abby! Hello dear, how good to see you. Ramona, how are you?”
                “I’m fine, thank you.”
                “I saw the chicks are finally out.” Abby says.
                “Yes, there are seven in total. It’s good to have them running around again.”
                “It’s nice again, yes.” Abby looks at Valora. “You must be Valora. Ramona told me about you. Nice to meet you.” Abby shakes Valora’s hand.
                “This is my best friend Abby.” I add when Valora looks at her puzzled.
                “Oh. How very nice to meet you indeed.” Valora says, and bows.
                “Uh, yeah, we... we don’t bow here.” I mumble.
                “Oh, right. I’m sorry.”
                I wave her apology away to tell her it’s okay. After all, she’s not used to modern actions.
                “So, I thought there were four of you.” Abby mentions.
                Valora looks a bit puzzled once again.
                “I kind of told her everything.” I say.
                “Of course, best friends.” She smiles. “They’re busy in the stables. I think Cade is letting Felix and Aiden do some choirs while he’s trying to figure out how to read one of those magazines himself.”
                I chuckle. “That wouldn’t surprise me.”
                The three of us start to walk to the big doors in the middle of the building, but Abby suddenly stops.
                “Almost forgot, Sal, here’s the dress mom borrowed.” She grabs a small package from her bag and hands it over to Sally.
                “Thanks. Tell her I want to see pictures.” Sally smiles. “Oh, if you’re going to the stables, can you check the forage supply? It’s gone a bit faster now with four horses extra.”

                “So you work for Sally?” Valora asks as we enter the stables.
                “Twice a week, yes. It’s not really a job, though.”
                “What do you mean?”
                “She means that because she works for her aunt it’s not really a proper job.” I say. “Hey guys.”
                Valora was right; Felix is mucking out one of the stables and Aiden is polishing a saddle, while Cade sits on a small chair in the corner, looking at one of the magazines I gave.
                “Ah, great, you’re here. I want to ask you something.” Cade stands up and shows me one of the pages of the magazine, an article about broken Hollywood marriages. “Why do these people marry each other if they, what do they called it again, break up again after a few months?”
                “Oh, yes, that happens a lot. You marry, and 73 days later you get divorced. Big hit, especially in Hollywood.” I say. “I hope this isn’t the only thing you’ve been doing since I left yesterday.”
                “He tried to read that history book you gave.” Felix says.
                “Tried?”
                “Do you know how big that book is? And how boring?” Cade says to defend himself.
                “How much have you read?”
                “I’ve read a bit about those Dark Ages and something about the so called Arthurian legend. It surprised me how much of the information was actually true. They know a lot about my ancestors.”
                “Wait, so it’s not just a legend?” Abby asks.
                “Of course it’s not!” Cade sounds a bit offended.
                “So all that has been written about King Arthur is actually true? It really happened?”
                “Yes! Well, there are a few things in this book that aren’t correct, but most of it is true.”
                “And how’d you know?” Abby asks provoking.
                Now Cade even looks offended. “How I know? It’s the story of my family, my ancestors! It would be strange if I didn’t know the facts!”
                “You’re ancestors, eh?  Wow, you must have gone really mad to believe something like that.”
                “Abby, don’t.” I warn her.
                “Mad? Who the hell are you to say I’m mad? You’re... You’re a maid! Do you even know who I am?”
                “Well, according to you you’re a Pendragon. According to me, you’re just an arse.”
                “Abby!” I yell. “Okay, both of you, stop it. Abby, you were being mean. Cade, you are very easily offended. Don’t take everything so seriously.”
                “I’m not easily offended.”
                “Actually, you are.” Aiden says.
                “Dollop-head.” Felix mumbles, too soft for Cade to hear, but hard enough for the rest of us, who stand closer to him.
                I suppress a smile and suddenly I realize I didn’t introduce Abby yet.
                “I almost forgot. Guys, this is my best friend Abby. Abby, this is Felix,” I start.
                “Hi.” Felix waves his hand and smiles.
                “This guy is Aiden,”
                “Nice to meet you.” Aiden leans over to grab Abby’s hand and gives a soft kiss on it. Abby lets out a soft giggle only I can hear.
                “And the guy you just fought with is Cade.”
                 Cade only nods, still with an offended look on his face.
                “Also, did you really have to do that?” I whisper to Abby.
                She shrugs. She still won’t believe they travelled through time.
                “So what have you read?” I ask Felix and Aiden.
                “The timeline in the back of the history book,” Aiden starts.
                “There’s a timeline in the back?” I pick up the book and open the last page. There is, indeed, a whole timeline with all the important events. “Okay, great, then I don’t have to make one.”
                “and I’ve read a bit about today’s society.”
                “Okay, can you sum up the most important things?” I ask.
                “Women are as important as men, media and...”
                “Whoa, wait, did you just say women are as important as men?” Cade interrupts.
                I hear Abby clear her troth and shut her up with an angry look. I don’t want any more fights between her and Cade. I agree with her though.
                “Women have become as powerful and important as men, yes. It’s not like we’re dumber or weaker than men. We’re all equal. Why so surprised?” I ask, hoping the bitter tone in my voice might shut him up.
                Cade thinks of something to answer, but Aiden shuts him up  again before he even starts talking. “You should read the book before you say something stupid about it.”
                “I actually think it’s good.” Felix says. “Our society sounds so disrespectful to women now.”
                I smile. I’m glad he thinks about it in a good way, and looking at Aiden’s face, he agrees.
                “Can you go on?” I ask Aiden.
                “Uh... Oh, media and electronics are very important, young women have a lot of problems with their selves because society makes them think it’s important to be super thin and beautiful instead of being yourself, global warming seems a big problem and... Well, that’s all I’ve read.”
                “Wow, I’m proud. That’s a lot already. I didn’t expect you to know all this after one day. Great job.” I feel like a teacher now, controlling if my students have done their homework. “What about you, Felix?”
                “Uh, well, except the things Aiden showed me last night and just told, I don’t know a thing. Actually, I couldn’t read, because Cade gave me a lot of chores to do.”
                “Oh, yes, of course, it’s my fault.”
                “Cade, if you want to fit in you shouldn’t act like such a lazy pig.” I say.
                “I don’t want to fit in, I want to go back to the place I came from.”
                “Yes, and until we find out how to do that, you should cooperate a bit more.” I turn back to Felix and Aiden. “It’s good that you show the things you’ve read to the others. The others will learn the same and they won’t have to read the same to know the most important thing. By dividing it, you’ll know the things you need to know faster than if you read everything yourself.” I turn to Valora. “Have you read anything different than what they just told us?”
                “Yes, I’ve picked up the book about the electronics. The technologies of this society are amazing. You can talk to someone who’s on the other side of the world via cell phones or something called the internet, on which you can also find a lot of information. It’s brilliant!” She says enthusiastic.
                “I’m glad you like it.” I take a small package from my bag. “Here, this is one of those phones. There is a booklet with instructions and an explanation of how it works. And here,” I search for the piece of paper in my pocket. “on this paper you see a few series of numbers. They are phone numbers. By typing in one of these numbers and clicking on the small green button in the bottom right, you can contact the person from whom the number is. As you see, I wrote down my number, for when you need any help. The second number is Sally’s, I thought that might come handy.”
                “Oh, give it.” Abby says, grabbing a pen out of her bag.
                I give her the piece of paper and she writes down her number.
                “This one might come handy as well.” She says.
                “Thanks.” I whisper to her.
                “No problem.”
                I feel my phone vibrating again. Every time Nance calls me, the urge to runaway gets bigger and bigger.
                “I have to go. Call me when you’ve figured out how.” I say, particularly to Valora.
                “And I should go to work now, or Sally is going to kill me. If you need any help, I’ll probably be somewhere around the estate.”
                Abby grabs her bag and walks into the forage room. As she looks back to us, I can see her staring a little bit longer at Aiden than she looks at the rest of us before waving at me.
                I wave back and grin. Perfect tale indeed.