Seren’s alarm clock woke them up at six. They sat up and flipped the switch that turned off the solar based alarm clock. They jumped out of bed and stretched. Already wide awake, they went to their closet and dressed in their usual work attire, including their armored vest. Changing into it now would save them the time of changing after their tutoring. They ran out of their room and up the stairs to the study where Eric was already at his desk with his coffee.

“Good morning, Serenity.” He said. Only briefly looking up.

“Morning!” Seren said and sat at their desk. “When do I get to drink coffee?”

“Go for it.” Eric said, passing the tray toward Seren.

“Ooh,” Seren’s eyes got wide. They took the spare cup and poured coffee from the silver pot. Taking the silver sugar bowl and spooning in some sugar and then using the creamer to finish it all up. They stirred as they got out their binder and started on their work for the day.

“Here, work out of this ledger.” Eric said, putting a heavy book on Seren’s desk.

“Okay,” Seren nodded and they worked in silence. The doorbell chimed throughout the house and Seren and Eric looked up at each other.

“It’s not my tutor.” Seren said, checking their pocket watch.

“My first appointment is at eight.” Eric said, looking at the desk clock. The comms crackled as Mrs. Houper spoke

“Wilbur is here, shall I send him up?” She said. Seren snickered. Trying to hold back their laughter as Eric got up to reply.

“Send him home!” Seren whispered. “He blew it!”

“Shh.” Eric said sharply. He pressed the button; “Send him up.” Seren’s jaw dropped.

“For what? Are you gonna yell at him again?” Seren asked.

“No. I’m going to put him to work.” Eric said. Seren just stared at him in utter confusion.They got back to working on their list for the day. Eric returned to his desk and the silence was short lived. With Wilbur walking in without knocking. The first thing he did when he entered the room, was glare at Seren.

“Shouldn’t that be MY job?” He whined crossing his arms.

“Yeah? All right. Come try it then.” Seren grinned with the full mischief their face could handle. They stood up and stepped aside. Seren left the ledger but took their binder and notes with them. Wilbur walked over with his nose in the air and sat down,

“You need any tips?” Seren asked. Wilbur sneered and started looking through the book. He found a page and began writing. Seren tried to hold back their smile as they watched the pattern he was picking, knowing it was all wrong. They sat back and waited patiently, rounding the other side to grab their coffee mug and leisurely wait.

“Done. Get to it.” Wilbur held up the paper.

“I don’t work until after class.” Seren smiled.

“Let me see,” Eric said and took the paper from Wilbur.

“Would you like to see mine too?” Seren held up their own list. Eric took it wordlessly and looked between the two pages. Seren rocked back and forth on their heels while they waited for theirs to be declared better.

“Serenity, use your list today.” Eric said, handing back their paper.

“What?! No fair!” Wilbur yelled, jumping from his seat.

“SIT!” Eric snapped and Wilbur fell into the chair in surprise. Seren smiled, waiting to see what happened next but the comms crackled again.

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“Serenity, your tutor is here.” Mrs. Houper said.

“Leave your things on my desk and get to your class.” Eric said. Seren muttered about missing all the fun but did as asked. Hurrying down to the library where their tutor was waiting to teach them something.

The clock struck noon and Seren closed their math book. Their tutor finished wiping off the blackboard and turned to Seren on the sofa.

“You’ve improved remarkably.” Their tutor said. “I daresay it’s time for you to join your peers. In a proper classroom.”

“No thanks. That’s a whole day long commitment. I like our arraignment.” Seren said and put their textbooks away.

“You need to be with others your age.” Their tutor said. Seren laughed hard. Their tutor thought they were seventeen, everyone but Eric and Mrs. Houper did. The three of them knew that Seren was really only fourteen. Which meant the tutor had caught them up several classes above where their true peers would be.

“Thanks for thinking of me, but I like the company of my books.” Seren said. “I have to get to work now.”

“Right. Well. I will… I will see you tomorrow then.” Their tutor said, wearing a troubled look. Seren jumped up the stairs to the study. Giving it a quick knock and waiting a brief moment for an answer before entering.

“Class is out,” Seren announced as they strode to their desk, pausing to look irritably at Wilbur still sitting at their desk.

“Good, here’s your work for the day.” Eric said, holding out their binder for them.

“Thanks! Be back soon, betcha I’ll be done by noon.” Seren took their binder and threw their nose in the air. Boasting a bit with their cousin in the room.

“Please don’t rush or end up in the hospital.” Eric sighed.

“I won’t!” Seren grinned. Grabbed their bag and slid their binder into the bag and ran downstairs. Sliding to a stop at the front door and hitting the ground. Stomping on their boots and lacing them up. They were up again in a second and out the door. They yanked out their binder and looked at their list proudly. It was organized by address so they’d go around in a large circle.

Seren ran to their first stop, a nice little townhouse. Looked cute and quaint. Seren thought it would be nice to have a little place like that when they were old enough to own their first home. They hopped up the front steps and rang the doorbell. Rocking back and forth on their heels as they listened for the people answering. The door clicked and a small girl opened the door.

“Yes?” She said. Seren smiled and waved.

“Hi! Are your parents home?” They asked. The girl shook her head no and Seren frowned. “Oh no. Did they leave you all by yourself?”

“They said they’d only be gone for a minute.” She said. “Can I take a message?”

“Yes, see. I’m an enforcer, and it’s my job to collect the money your parents owe me.” Seren bent down to be at the child’s eye level. “Do you have anything you can think of that you can give me on their behalf?” The girl thought about it, shrinking back behind the door for a moment. But Seren’s smile lured the child back out from behind the door.

“I know where my mommy keeps the jewelry.” She said quietly.

“Ooh, can I see?” Seren asked.

“I’m not supposed to let strangers into the house.” The girl said and Seren stood up with a theatrical gasp.

“You’re right! Oh, I know!” Seren clapped. “My name is Seren Asche-Winters. What’s your name?”

“Jane.” The girl said shyly.

“Well it’s nice to meet you Jane.” Seren said and shook the girl’s hand. “There, now we aren’t strangers.” The girl thought about it for a second before her face cleared.

“Yeah! Okay!” Jane opened the door and let Seren in. Seren let the door close behind them and looked about at the house. Pursing their lips and frowning at the lack of furniture. It all looked very bare.

“Your parents working?” Seren asked.

“My mommy is now. She just started.” Jane said. “That’s why my parents are out. They went out to shop.”

“I see.” Seren said. The little girl led them into the main bathroom and pointed at a beat up old wooden box.

“There’s the jewelry box.” Jane pointed, Seren opened the lid and looked in. Frowning at a single necklace, two rings with no stones and a pair of pearl earrings. Not even real pearls. Seren closed the lid and listened. The house was dead silent.

“That’s truly unfortunate.” Seren sighed. They opened the box and took the jewlery. Putting it into their bag and pulling out the binder. “Well, tell your parents when they come home I will be planning to return and that I have come by.” Seren sneered at their math. Finding the jewelry didn’t even come close to how much they wanted to collect from this house.

“I will.” Jane said, “I think my mommy will be mad without the jewelry.”

“Well I will come back. And we can speak then.” Seren said as they put their binder back in their bag. “Here, for your cooperation.” Seren pulled out a little wrapped sweet and offered it to the child who smiled and took it.

“Thanks!”

“Thank you,” Seren said as they left the house. Looking at what the next stop was.