TUS NUA - ch 17

TUS NUA – ch 17

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

(*)(*)(*)

As she laughed and reveled in the closeness Liz felt with everyong now living in Tus Nua, she also, raised her hands to quiet them. “Sisters, while this is wonderful news for me and I can’t even begin to tell you how glad I am that you’re all as excited for me as I am for me, when Finola and walked through the portal, you looked as though you were deep in concentration. What’s going on?”

Sybil answered in a rushed and excited manner, “Mia and Annora were outside tending to the vegetable garden when Mia tripped over Midnight and fell in a mud puddle. Annora couldn’t control her laughter, yet reached out to help Mia. HOWEVER….. Mia, grabbed her hand and pulled her into the puddle too. Then they had a huge mud fight. But the best is that CC sketched it all and we were looking at what she’d drawn. I’ll tell you, Liz, CC is some good artist!”

“Let me see!” They walked to the table and shifted to make room for Liz. They didn’t try to hide their admiration for the young girl’s artistic talent. There were loud “oohs” and “ahs” across the table. Abby stood and walked to where CC was standing and blushing shyly. Abby whispered, “Hey, sweetie, you don’t need to be shy around us. Believe me, if we thought your artword wasn’t that good, we’d tell you.”

“It’s not that, Abby. I guess I’m just surprised everyone likes it. Back home, whenever maam or da caught me drawing, they’d grab the paper and tear it up saying I’ve more important things to do besides waste my time doodling. Like scrub the floors. And now, to hear any kind of praise, sort of knocks me off kilter and I’m a bit embarrassed by it all.”

“I have a question, CC. Looking at your sketches, can you duplicate one?”

“Well, yes, I suppose so. Why?”

She pulled CC closer to the table and pointed to the drawing where Mia is pulling Annora into the mud. “I would love to have a copy of that to hang on my wall. I’d even be willing to buy it, but, uh, well, I don’t have any money. I could give you an I.O.U.”

CC’s eyes widened. “You like it that much?”

“Oh, CC, absolutely! To me, it reminds me that whatever we went through these past years, we can still be ourselves, let loose, and have fun. I never want to loose that image.”

CC hugged Abby. “Then, you’ll have your copy tomorrow! You’ve my word. And for payment? That’s the easy part. I’m only eleven but Rory and I can always use a sister.”

This time, Abby’s eyes msted. “Oh, honey, that’s a given!”

Midnight screeched and everyone looked at the door where she was standing.

Mia walked over and picked up her familiar. “What is it, mo ghra. I don’t feel any danger. What’s going on?”

“No danger? No, mo stor, no danger. But we’ve a guest, well, not exactly a guest, but she’s coming up the drive.”

Finola smiled as she came from the kitchen. “Just in time as I’ve just put the kettle to boil.”

Mia looked puzzle. “Tis an old friend, Mia. You’ll know her as soon as you see her.”

Finola steped to the door as the woman raised her hand to knock.

Mia raced to the woman and threw her arms around her. “Mrs. McHenry! Oh, my lordie! I must apologize. I haven’t given myself time to stop in and say hello.”

The woman smiled as she entered the house. “Mia, mo stor, will you look at yourself. My, you’ve grown and don’t fret about being busy. Word gets around in Greenan, you know and Tauri dropped by yesterday. My, my, this is a very lovely place.”

“Sheila,” Finola reached out for the woman’s hand. “Come in and have some tea and scones. I’m sure I already know why you’re here.”

Mia mumbled to herself, “Crappy, I’ve got to figure out how to increase my mental power. I’m too often caught off guard.” She heared Finola’s thought, “Mia, mo ghra, in time. Once things quiet down a bit, I’ll help you work on your powers.”

As Dara poured the tea and Tauri placed the plate of scones on the table, Sheila spoke. “Finola, as I understand, you have many girls here that need to catch up on their schooling. Tauri didn’t elaborate so I’m just using my own imagination.”

“You imagine well, my friend.” She raised her hand slightly to bring attention to the table in the gathering room where the young women still sat oogling CC’s sketches.

“I imagined they’d be younger. I’ll ask you to tell me only what you can, then if the women want to ask me question or tell me about themselves, I’ll always be available.”

“All I’ll say for now is that most of them were kidnapped before they finished high school. The two younger ones ran from a neglectful homelife. Except for those two who are Irish, all the others came here from America.”

“Hm. Looks like I’ll have my work cut out for me, that is, if they’re interested. I’d like to meet them as soon as I finish my tea and after they’re finished perusing whatever it is that has them so engrossed.”

Sheila glanced over her cup at Mia and asked, “So, Mia, how’s the Gaelic coming along? Still learning or are you fluent by now?”

“That’s a problem, Mrs. McHenry. I don’t ofen get a change to use it. I understand it more than verbalize.”

“When and IF you have a spare hour each week, stop by the school and I’ll help you learn more.”

“That’s fantastic. I’d really like that.”

With tea and scones finished, they left the dining area and approached the young women.

“Girls,” Finola began, “I’ve someone here I’d like you to meet. Her name is Sheila McHenry and she helps run the local school in Grennan. I think you might have many questions for her. Can we sit down and intrude on your privacy?”

For the first time in days, she recognized a flicker of hope in the eyes of those at the small table.