Seren felt naked as they walked down the street. Despite how warm their new clothes kept them, and the layers, they were so perfectly fitted to their body that without the extra bulk they felt exposed. Seren kept their arms crossed as a way to try building another barrier against the world.
“Still cold?” Mr. Asche asked.
“No,” Seren shook their head. “Are we done?”
“Yup,” He nodded “Now we head home.”
“We?” Seren asked, “But I need to get back to dad at the hospital.”
“No you don’t. You need to sleep in a proper bed and eat proper meals.” His tone dared Seren to argue with him. “Your dad’s in the hospital, the staff will care for him and the best thing you can do for him right now is to care for yourself and build a safe place for him to come home to.”
“Oh,” Seren said, even when they tried not to sound disappointed they couldn’t help it. “We can still visit, though, right?”
“During regular visiting hours,” Mr. Asche nodded. He looked down under the rim of his glasses at them, only barely changing his posture to do so. “He’ll be fine, the doctors said he’s concussed and will make a full recovery.”
“What’s ‘concussed’?” Seren asked.
“He hit his head really hard.”
“I don’t think he hit his head. I think someone else hit his head.” Seren said bitterly. Mr. Asche tapped them to turn down a street. Where Seren could see his house at the end of it.
“I would have to agree, but that’s not our business.” He said, a rough edge of irritation in his tone. “It’s up to the guard to solve and unfortunately your dad can’t remember anything that happened that day.”
“I’m sorry,” Seren said instinctively.
“Do you know what you’re sorry for?” Mr. Asche asked, raising an eyebrow at them.
“Not exactly, but you sound upset and I feel like I should be.” Seren said.
“If you don’t know what you’re apologizing for, don’t.” He said sternly. Tapping his knuckle lightly on their head to drive the point home. “If you think you did something wrong, ask for clarification. Don’t just assume responsibility.”
“Okay,” Seren said. Hopping up the front steps behind him. “Did I do something to make you upset?”
“No, you’re fine.” He said, pulling the key out of his pocket and sliding it into the lock. “It’s the investigators ‘looking in’ to what happened. Lazy ba-”
“Seren!” Mrs. Houper said loudly once the door opened. “I’m so happy to have you staying with us! Come in! Come in! Oh, you look so sharp. I love it.” Seren couldn’t help smiling as Mrs. Houper shoved Mr. Asche aside to sweep Seren into the house. They took off their boots and coat and she hung them up while Mr. Asche entered and shut the door behind him.
“I prepared the guest room for you, I’ll get those put away.” Mrs. Houper took the bag from Mr. Asche who nodded. “Let’s go see how you like it!” Mr. Asche stood up, having removed his boots, and placed a hand on their shoulder. It felt so warm and solid, like the trust that the ground will always be beneath you. He gave a little push, encouraging them to follow Mrs. Houper.
They hopped off, Mrs. Houper sped up to the stairs. Making Seren run after her. Which had her running up the stairs, but she was no competition for Seren. Who easily passed her on the stairs, skipping two steps at a time to the top. Mrs. Houper reached the top and doubled over, struggling to breathe.
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“Ooh, hold on a second.” She gasped. “I’m not as young as I used to be.” Seren smiled and waited for her to catch her breath. Mrs. Houper stood up straight and smoothed out her dress and brushed her hair down.
“Well, that was a good amount of exercise.” She said standing up again. “Your room is this way.” Seren giggled and followed Mrs. Houper to the room they’d stayed in last time they’d stayed the night. When Mrs. Houper opened the white door, Seren found the room had been renovated. It was icy cold with fans going, all to dry the new paint. The walls were hand painted to look like an enchanted forest. The bed was remade with bedding that sparkled with little threads of silver sewn in. A curtain hung from the ceiling all around the bed with silver sparkles
A large white bookcase stood tall accompanied by a cushioned rocking chair and footstool. A tall reading lamp and table right beside it. Two broad windows with darkout curtains bordered a pair of glass doors that led to a balcony looking over the wall and into the forest. On the opposite side, was a little darkwood desk and chair with a work lamp. A dresser set beside the reading corner and the last thing Seren noticed was a basket full of fresh knitting supplies under the bed.
“We’ll shut the windows and balcony doors and get the heating going here.” Mrs. Houper said walking into the room, her nose wrinkled. “Whew, and some candles to clear out that smell.” She walked in and took the boxes and looked at them, her eyebrow raised skeptically as she looked through the boxes.
“What kind of clothes are these?” She scoffed, “these aren’t children’s clothes, these are working clothes! How are you supposed to relax or play in these?”
“Mr. Asche said he would only get me the necessities and I would have to pay for the stuff I wanted.” Seren said.
“And he didn’t think play clothes were a necessity?” Mrs. Houper said.
“No, I didn’t! They have clothes already, they can use those!” Mr. Asche yelled from the staircase. Mrs. Houper rolled her eyes and shook her head. She hung up the clothes while Seren wandered over to the craft box and rummaged through it.
“I picked out some bright colors for you as well as a basic white and black. Two colors you can never have too much of.” Mrs. Houper said, “I also left a book with diagrams on how to do different techniques and different cast ons and bind offs.”
“Thanks,” Seren said as they discovered different wooden knitting needles all wound together. As well as a few tools they didn’t recognize. “What are these?”
“A crochet hook and embroidery needle. Some tools for binding off or casting on or doing some fancy things for different projects.” Mrs. Houper said, hanging up the second outfit.
“Thank you so much,” Seren said, so overcome they held a few of the winds of yarn to their chest. “You didn’t have to do this, it’s so nice.”
“Of course I did!” Mrs. Houper laughed. “What were you going to do your entire stay? At least until you can read and write, that is. Oh! I did put some things in the desk for you. Tomorrow morning you start with a tutor so I made sure you would have everything you need and a few extras just in case.” Seren put the yarn back and stood up. The desk had several drawers. The top one was the shallowest with pencils, sharpeners, and erasers. The second one had loose paper in neat stacks and the third and biggest had binders and composition notebooks.
“Wow, these drawers actually work!” Seren said in awe, pulling the drawers in and out.
“That’s what you’re impressed by?” Mrs. Houper laughed. Hanging the third suit.
“They go in so easily!” Seren defended. Though suddenly a realization dawned. “Wait, tutor?”
“Yes, in the mornings. Just after breakfast you’ll be with a tutor who will get you caught up to your peers education-wise. Then lunch and the rest of the day will be dedicated to working in the office. The evenings after dinner will be yours to do whatever you’d like.” Mrs. Houper explained, then she held up the red dress. “Oh, this is… striking.”
“I picked it,” Seren said defensively. Not liking the tone she used to describe the dress.
“I can tell,” She laughed and hung it beside the others. “It’s very loud.”
“Yeah, but I like red. It’s my favorite.” Seren said. Pushing in the drawers and wandering back to the craft box.
“Noted,” Mrs. Houper said. “Well, lunch will be in about ten minutes and then I suppose you’ll be getting to work.” Seren looked around in surprise.
“Today?” They asked, “I just got here.”
“Well, as Eric says; Time slows for no man.” Mrs. Houper laughed with a roll of her eyes. “Why don’t you help me make lunch?”
“Okay…” Seren said, looking longingly at the yarn but getting up to their feet. Leaving the room and taking a last look at their new room. Shiny and new and cold and empty.