Play@YSDC

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:16 am**

Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.
Wednesday, 8th May, 1941.

Jimmy Walker has recently left the short-term dormitory / clearing house near Stepney where the various Wardens had clucked over the poor parenting skills of their dead parents and how scandalous it was that so many mothers kept their children in danger rather than sending them into safety. They weren't harsh disciplinarians but they were tactless and cruel with their words. One of them even thought it funny that the schools being kept open - which was considered by them to be poor form because it encouraged kids to stay in the city - which had actually kept Jimmy alive during that raid. He'd just settled in and learned a bit more about the other lads before he was packed up and carted off to "where he should be".

Davey, on the other hand, hadn't been in the dormitory for very long at all before being whisked away. He had just arrived with his few belongings in a single trunk when the Matron had taken one look at him and sized him up accurately. "Take this one with you," she snapped. "He'll be trouble. Best drop him off in the country." Apparently he'd taken the space of another British kid who was then cheerfully held back by the Matron who apparently must've liked him.

The two boys have had to stand in the crowded compartment while their Warden sat down and knitted socks for the soldiers, nattering away to several Land Girls dressed in their smart green jumpers. Unfortunately, its not a corridor train so they're stuck in their compartment without a toilet until its time to get off. The Warden seems to think she's on a pleasant holiday and has arranged to stay at a local hotel before heading back on the following train despite, as she admits, there being trains that head back nearly right away. It has been a rather long train trip on a rather crowded train after all. If any of the boys are interested they quickly learn that the train is travelling on the Honeybourne Line which linked Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon that was opened by the Great Western Railway in 1906.

Peregrine Fairweather gets to sit on his trunk while a rather severe looking woman glares around at the Land Girls and the Matron occasionally before going back to read her Enyd Blyton novel. He'd never met the other boys or their woman before. They'd come into the same compartment completely by accident.

---

Mike Taylor was sent out in the ute to receive the new shipment of orphans, as the Matron had referred to it, and he was allowed to bring Martian and Clive as a bit of a welcoming party and as a reward to Martianfor his good work in the orphanage. It's quite rare for the orphans to be able to leave the confines of that building and its lands so its quite a treat. Mike is expecting to pick up three orphans and a woman who wishes to speak to the Matron for some reason. There's enough space in the back of the ute for all the kids. The woman will have to take the passenger seat.

The three of them stand on one of two 400 ft (120 m) facing platforms, on the Down platform, in fact, with the station building behind them that is build of red brick on a plinth of blue brick that was situated on the Down platform. A verandah canopy extended from the front of the building to a covered footbridge linking the two platforms. On the Up platform on the opposite side was a passenger waiting shelter and gentleman's lavatory. The goods yard lay on the south-eastern side of the station and comprised cattle pens, a goods shed, weighbridge and 6-ton crane that neither of the children have had a chance to see before. Especially Martian who might as well have been born at the orphanage. A brick-built 31-lever signal box controlled access to the goods yard, while a 50-wagon Up refuge siding led to the rear of the Up platform which wasn't too far away from them. The station had acetylene lamps with the gas hut situated behind the weighhouse but the lights weren't on because it was daytime and even if it were nighttime the black out would keep them off. There was white paint along the edge of the platform.

---

What do you do? Also, yes, I've taken a bit of liberty with a few back stories but this is the easiest way to establish you all together.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2012 3:20 am**

Davey's feet ached from standing still in the cramped compartment and he was getting antsy. "This is stupid, why can't the just let me go home...or at least stay in London." Davey grumbled to himself. He didn't really like how happy that ugly little British kid got when Davey was forced to take his place, "I'll show him."

Davey scanned the compartment, skipping over the blathering women. Seeing Peregrine he scoffs, "They even make babies go all over the place - they keep moving him and he won't have no where to call home."

Finally Davey catches Jimmy's eye, "Hey, I'm Davey," he says while sticking out a grubby hand, "nice to meetcha. I'm glad it's not all old ladies and babies coming around. It'll be fun to have someone my age around - that is..." Davey eyes Jimmy carefully, "...you ain't one of them sissy school boys are you?" From his accent, Jimmy can tell that Davey is an American and from the way he talks he can tell that Davey is quite rude, but seems genuine right now.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:58 am**

Peregrine has never been on a train nor been amongst so many people before. His clothes make him itch; they aren't his but some cheap hand-me-downs rolled up to fit. Only his blanket, made from pure alpaca wool, is left from the fine life that Peregrine was born to but at a casual glance it just looks like a grubby rag. He looks at the older boys standing, swaying with the train, he admires their attitudes of tired bravado, young boys made old by the war. The bright graphics of the Blyton novel are a flash of colour in the drab compartment and draw Peregrine's eyes; he recognises the swirly title of Enid's name because his bedtime stories were from similar books.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:56 am**

Martian, Clive. I expect you to behave, remember you are here to welcome the new kids and tell'em how good is the place, how fun it is and that they must behave well, Now climb up the back ... and no shouting to the pedestrians out there.
Mike chuckled to himself as he entered the ute. although he did this ride a couple of times in the past with the late Mr. Bill and two times alone he was anxious. He himself rarely went out. Most of the times he just rode the bicycle to the hardware store but there was always something interesting in the train station. The crowd of people, the peddler's stalls, the noisy atmosphere of the elders and the adult.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:46 am**

Jimmy looked the younger lad up and down and shook his offered hand. "You're a Yank," he said, instantly giving away his own East End origins. "I'm Jimmy and I'm not a cissy. The sooner I get out of school the better. It's borin'".

"What are you doing here, Yank?" he asked.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:05 am**

Davey smiles when his fears are squashed, "Good ta hear. My pa was a pilot - he came over here to help show you Brits a thing or two about flying, but..." his voice trailed off for a moment. It just didn't seem real that his father was gone. Davey quickly regained his composure, "But it turns out the Krauts must have known he was here, cause they got him when he was on the ground instead of the air... They musta been worried that he'd make you all too good, haha!"

Davey jerked a thumb at the ladies, "They're keepin' me here instead of letting me go home cause they say the ocean's too dangerous, but " Davey leaned in close, "I think my family is hoping the Krauts'll get me too. What bout you? Parents ditch you or are they just in a ditch?"

Davey will keep making small talk until the train arrives.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2012 1:33 pm**

"My dad's a prisoner of war. He was captured by the Jerries in France. My mum.... my mum.... Jimmy looked away and blinked away tears. "The Jerries killed her. Bombed our house to smithereens." He looked down at the floor, feeling utterly miserable. "It just happened last week so I don't really want to talk about it."

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:57 pm**

I leave my book, A Detailed History of the Roman Empire, in the car, fearing that the grown up might yell at me if I read while I'm supposed to be welcoming the kids. I stay as close to Clive as I possibly can, I don't like crowds like this, there's too many humans here; I could get whisked away by one of them if I'm not careful. Plus I don't know these new kids, they might be mean, they might want to hit me. Of course if that did happen the grown up would scold them but I've recently found that Clive's violence deters these situations much better then scolding. I keep my eyes firmly on the ground in front of me and wait until I hear someone approach.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2012 5:20 am**

Clive Higgins stands on the platform near Martian and Mike. He's glad to get out of the orphanage, as he hardly ever gets to go anywhere. He's also keen to meet the new kids, hoping they'll liven things up and share his interests. He keeps watching the skies, looking for any sign of aircraft flying overhead.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2012 5:23 am**

He might be in luck. There's an airplane over by the horizon that seems to be flying along the horizon. There's no wailing sirens or anything like that so if it's not a crop duster than its likely to be one of ours anyway. He might be able to figure out what it is if his vision is clear.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2012 6:05 am**

Davey chokes on a sob of his own but keeps a brave face, "I understand," he slaps Jimmy on the back, "my Pa got hit just last week too. But hey, at least you got someone left, right? Your pa will get home eventually and everything will be okay." Davey's smile cracks a little, "'Stiff upper lip' right? That's what you Brits always say... silly thing though, doesn't make any sense." Davey looks at the floor. He knows he can keep his emotions at bay for now, but tonight, when he is alone he will sing a different song.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2012 6:53 am**

The train can be seen coming down the tracks in its usual brisk manner, letting loose puffs of smoke as it goes. For those inside, they can make out another station with no sign anywhere in sight - another precaution against German parachutists. As they make their way they can see a group of Home Guard crawling about the grasses in their green uniforms, sneaking up behind a man in a tin hat leaning on a rifle who was sitting on a hay bale.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:18 am**

Jimmy sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve of his jumper. "We'll be all right. Churchill says we'll beat the Jerries and if that's what he thinks, that's good enough for me."

He looked out of the window at the approaching station. "What do you think this place will be like?" he asked, feeling a bit more chipper now he had someone to talk to.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:27 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:

Clive Higgins stands on the platform near Martian and Mike. He's glad to get out of the orphanage, as he hardly ever gets to go anywhere. He's also keen to meet the new kids, hoping they'll liven things up and share his interests. He keeps watching the skies, looking for any sign of aircraft flying overhead.

What's that Clive, what are you looking at. Oh... the aircraft.
Mike says as they wait.
Can you identify it ?

He then turns to Martian.
What about you champ? the wooden disc I gave you still intact? (Let's say I carved you a wooden disc for something)

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2012 2:19 pm**

Peregrine feels the tempo of the train's wheels change and wonders what it means. He pushes through the throng to the window but isn't quite tall enough to see properly; all he can see are wispy clouds scudding across a blue, Spring sky.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:50 pm**

"Yes sir. Thank you sir." I say in my usual toneless, quiet voice. I don't know what I was supposed to do with that wooden trinket; I knew it was supposed to be some kind of toy but I don't really play with toys, so its just been sitting on my dresser since he gave it to me over a week ago.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2012 12:34 am**

"I dunno. If it's anything like the last place it will probably be boring. But I guess it will be safe since it's out in the countryside." Davey says. The Home Guard and strange man outside the window catch his attention, "Huh... what'd you spose that's about?"

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:37 am**

Clive nods, excited as he squints at the plane and his keen eyes pick out the minutest details. "I can't quite place it," he says.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2012 6:16 am**

It's military and its Allied and it seems to be moving about in a fairly fancy manner which suggests that the pilot is having some fun with it. Other than that, he can't be certain as it's too far away. The train pulls into the station with a squeel of brakes, the engine chugging as it goes, and that smell of train smoke fills the air, puffed down towards the platform slightly by the wind.

"Hmm, is this it?" murmurs the woman in black, rising from her seat and pulling her suitcase down from the overhead netting. "Is this Winchcombe?" She looks around at the Land Girls who carefully avoid eye contact as though afraid of her stern gaze.

"Oh, are you after Winchcombe too?" asked the Warden, getting to her feet and pulling down the window. "Yoohoo! Is this Winchcombe Station? Quickly respond please. We don't have much time." She turns to the boys. "Get up your suitcases, just in case."

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2012 7:38 am**

stay behind me and don't leave my side
Mike orders Clive and Martian as they wait on the platform

When he spots the woman calling out he yells back
YES, THIS IS WINCHCOMBE STATION!
Mike straightened his cloth with the back of his hands and place his blue hat on his head, waiting for the woman and the new kids to step down to the platform.
Hello Mam, Mike Taylor is the name. I'm here to pick you and the new orphans. please, let me take your bags.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:58 am**

"Winchcombe," said Jimmy, giving Davey a nudge as he pulled on jacket and cap. "C'mon Yank, this is our stop."

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2012 1:44 pm**

"Oh boy, this will be powerful fun!" Davey says jokingly as he steps onto the platform at Jimmy's side.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2012 4:52 pm**

Jimmy looked up and down the platform, waiting to be told what to do. The noise of the aero-engine drew his attention and he looked up to try to identify the type of plane that it was.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:39 pm**

As the train grinds to a halt and the compartment door is swung open, Peregrine is pushed to the side. He cowers as the warden leans over him to shout of the door and the boys begin to bustle with their coats and suitcases. Afraid of being squashed by the woman's ample bosom he drops and crawls under the seat where there is more space.

Posted: **Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:52 am**

Clive stays right behind Mike as instructed. "It's definitely RAF, I can make out the markings," he says. "He's good, too. I hope I get to be that good when I grow up. It's too far away to tell what kind of plane, though."

Posted: **Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:45 pm**

I listen intently to Clive's description of the plane but keep my eyes glued to their spot on the floor.

Posted: **Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:08 am**

"Well, here we are then," proclaims the woman loudly as she bustles up the boys and ensures they have everything on the platform. "Well, we made it one piece." She shields her eyes and gazes over at that plane. "That isn't one of Jerry's, is it?"

"We must go, Perry," said the woman in black, picking up his luggage and taking it out onto the platform. She ensures that he steps out before her.

Posted: **Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:59 am**

"No, ma'am, it's one of ours!" pipes up Clive from behind Mike.

Posted: **Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:10 am**

"Can't be one of theirs, miss," replied Jimmy cheekily, "We'd have shot it down by now!"

Posted: **Thu Sep 20, 2012 1:51 pm**

Davey steps off the train bagless, crouches down in a fetal postition and rocks back and forth to strech out before standing up straight, "Finally some fresh air. I was dyin' in there. You can never be too sure about who is who, them krauts are sneaky. I wouldn't put it passed them to be flyin' your planes." Davey nods at the other kids before looking the older teen in the eyes,"My name's David. You can call me Davey. Are you in charge of us now? I'll be happy to get away from these stiff necked old ladies."

Posted: **Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:26 pm**

Peregrine keeps hold of his blanket and makes his way uncertainly after the woman. He stands on the platform looking round and then watches the older boys.

Posted: **Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:42 pm**

I take one quick glance up from the floor to look at these new comers before pushing my head back down. Not sure how to reply to Davey's remark I simply parrot the things the headmistress back home told me to say. "Hello. My names Martian. We're very happy your coming to live with us. The orphanage is a lot of fun. Just do everything the adults say and its a lot of fun." I speak in clear, short sentences. When I finish a take slow, deep breaths to calm my heartbeat and shuffle closer to Clive.

Posted: **Thu Sep 20, 2012 10:45 pm**

Jimmy raises his eyebrows and looks at Davey as the funny-looking kid parrots his introduction. "Sounds great, doesn't it?" he says.

Posted: **Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:44 am**

Davey rolls his eyes, "Yeah I can't wait."

Posted: **Fri Sep 21, 2012 4:05 am**

Clive stands beside Martian. "Hi, I'm Clive," he says, nodding back. "Nice to meetcha, Davey. What are the rest of your names?"

Posted: **Fri Sep 21, 2012 1:42 pm**

"I'm Jimmy,", said Jimmy with a nod of his head in welcome.

"Have you been here long?" he asked.

Posted: **Fri Sep 21, 2012 8:11 pm**

Hi boys
Mike smiles to the new trio and goes one by one, shaking their hands firmly.
My name is Mike, I’m the handy man of your new home. Any problem like broken toys or complaints you have you come to me and I will pass it to the matrons. Now let me have your bags. You can hop into the vehicle.
If anyone need help if will lift him up. Mike opens the door for the lady and when everyone is ready he will begin to drive.

Posted: **Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:58 pm**

I run ahead of the others back to the truck. With great effort I pull myself up and quickly tuck myself in the corner, retrieving my book on the way. Feeling much safer now I resume reading.

Posted: **Sat Sep 22, 2012 12:36 am**

"All right, now you boys be good," said the warden with a cheerful smile. "Oh, before you go could you sign this for me just to say that the boys have been deposited in the orphanage's care?"

The older woman in black frowns at her and the other lads, and her frown only deepens when she see the ute. "Perry, you will have to sit in between us. I will not have your life risked in the back of that ... vehicle." Then she turns to regard the teenager. "You call call me Mrs. Hartley. What is your name? Your full name?"

Posted: **Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:55 am**

Clive nods to Jimmy as well as they head for the ute. "I've been here a couple months," he says.

Posted: **Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:25 am**

Perry stares in astonishment as Mike shakes his hand like a grown-up. Then he follows Mrs. Hartley, as she orders, and climbs into the front seat of the ute. He looks around at the countryside, it's a lot softer and rounded than the stark plains back home and seems to match the gentle accent of the old porter as he speaks to the passengers about their luggage.

Posted: **Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:49 am**

Laraqua wrote:"All right, now you boys be good," said the warden with a cheerful smile. "Oh, before you go could you sign this for me just to say that the boys have been deposited in the orphanage's care?"

The older woman in black frowns at her and the other lads, and her frown only deepens when she see the ute. "Perry, you will have to sit in between us. I will not have your life risked in the back of that ... vehicle." Then she turns to regard the teenager. "You call call me Mrs. Hartley. What is your name? Your full name?"

Mike signs the letter of deposition and hand it back to the warden.
My name is Mike Taylor Mrs. Hartley.
Mike replies, nodding his head slightly as he opens the door for her

Posted: **Sun Sep 23, 2012 4:20 am**

Davey swings himself up into the back of the truck, stretches his legs out across the bed and leans against one of the sides.

Posted: **Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:12 am**

The warden gives Mike a sympathetic smile and a sidelong glance toward Mrs. Hartley as if to say 'I know the type and I feel sorry for you'. "Well, I'd best be off to see what accomodation you have here." With that, she folds up the letter of deposition and puts it in her handbag before trotting off into the railway station.

Mrs. Hartley nods curtly to him at his response and leaves Perry's large suitcase on the platform for Mike to carry and instead ensures that he is shepherded into the ute before she attempts to delicately climb him with grace and decorum and only somewhat succeeds.

Posted: **Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:33 pm**

Clive climbs aboard the truck with a bit more grace, but he's used to climbing trees. After that, this is no problem for him.

Posted: **Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:43 am**

Jimmy pulls himself up into the back of the vehicle and sits down where he will be able to watch the world go by. An East-end lad, he's only been out in the country a few times, so he's excited to visit again.

Posted: **Sat Sep 29, 2012 2:57 am**

They drive off down Greet Road, passing the Winchcombe school on the left which is packed with evacuees and locals playing on the oval during lunchtime (the orphans have their own tutors), through the center of town whose windows are all criss crossed with sticking tape and there was bread on display at the bakery rather than cakes and biscuits (as has generally been the case over the past few years). The local police sergeant is chatting to an ARP warden and a woman in WVS uniform pushing a pram. The bus to Cheltenham trundled past them on its way.

They head on out of the main area of town through Castle Street and soon pass one set of soldiers who have set up posts around the village. There are artillery guns and Bren Gun carriers which are small open armoured vehicles with caterpillar tracks that are parked near road blocks incorporating large round concrete blocks and concrete pill boxes for machine guns which have also been built on all approach roads into the village. Thus far there had been no bombs though the local boys know that when Coventry was bombed a number of people drove down there to assist (or spectate) though as they never get to talk to the local people most of what they know is from eavesdropping on the women who run the place. Mike got to hear a bit more about that.

Just past St. Kenelm's Chapel and down Ford Road Coppice a bit is a winding dirt road that has no name down which they go. There's a big wooden fence that protects about four acres of land upon which an old convalescent home once stood before it had been turned into an orphanage in the 1920s. Before then it had apparently been some sort of farming warehouse or such-like for it is a big brick structure with very small, disapproving windows like from an office warehouse. The basement is filled with archways that connect the rooms beneath although the boys aren't meant to go down there on pain of severe punishment. There's a garage over to one side that is more or less now just a thatch roof supported on wooden poles underneath which rusting farm machinery sits. There's a hen house, a few sheep and a large vegetable garden that provides much of their food.

Posted: **Sat Sep 29, 2012 3:10 am**

"Well, here we are," says Clive. "Might not look like much, but it's home."

Posted: **Sat Sep 29, 2012 3:11 am**

Martian stands and moves out of the truck but keeps his large eyes firmly glued to his book. He only looks up for a moment as he hops off the bed before returning his gaze to its normal position and scrambling inside. Easily avoiding the others despite his seeming lack of attention.

Posted: **Sat Sep 29, 2012 7:32 am**

Jimmy looked up at the building apprehensively. It didn't look much like home to him, but then his own home didn't look much like a home anymore, not since the Germans bombed it. He thought of his mum and swiftly turned away from the others as tears pricked his eyes.

He sniffed and quickly rubbed his face. When he could trust himself to speak, he turned to Davey and said, "What do you think? Don't look very homely to me..."

Posted: **Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:18 pm**

Final stop boys!
Mike calls out and smiles to everyone. He stops near the entrance and circles the ute to open the door for Mrs. Hartley.
I will take you belonging Mrs. Hartley.
Mike says, goes to the front door where he place Mrs. Hartley bag and addresses the boys.
Everyone take their belonging. The mistresses will see you in a second.
Mike goes back to the ute to park it near the garage. Then he joins the others.

Posted: **Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:57 am**

Clive climbs out of the vehicle. He stays near Mike and the new boys, though he has nothing to collect as all his stuff is already here.

Posted: **Mon Oct 01, 2012 7:50 am**

Being squashed between Mrs. Hartley and Mike, with the front dashboard high above him, Perry is unable to see much and he is very glad when they pull up in front of the orphanage. He waits patiently for Mrs. Hartley to gather her skirts and disembark, and then he slides across the seat and jumps out. It isn't what he thought he was expecting. He looks across the run-down grounds to the house, its small windows seem hostile and unwelcoming. He looks at the austere and dank brickwork; in size it is like his old home in the East country but there the similarity ends and his new home looms cold and menacing even in the Spring sunlight. He can't help it: with a racking sob, Perry bursts into tears.

Posted: **Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:17 am**

Mrs. Hartley gives him a dispassionate look before crouching down and dabbing at his face roughly with a handkerchief. "Now, now, you mustn't cry. You mustn't let the other boys see you like this. You must be strong."

Posted: **Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:14 pm**

Mrs. Hartley's administrations are almost worse than the prospect of the orphanage and Perry chokes back his sobs just to avoid them. Although he is tired and hungry he wipes his eyes and tries to stand tall like the other boys.

Posted: **Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:30 am**

"Looks ta me like a run down copy of my farm in the US. Not that I figger a couple of old ladies could take proper care of a real farm. It'll do for now though." Davey says as he jumps out of the truck - unencumbered by bags. "Not excited for the mouth flapping about rules and such that is gonna come in a few minutes."

Posted: **Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:43 am**

REDACTED.

Posted: **Thu Oct 04, 2012 5:23 am**

Posted: **Sun Oct 07, 2012 11:42 pm**

CrackheadC. wrote:"Looks ta me like a run down copy of my farm in the US. Not that I figger a couple of old ladies could take proper care of a real farm. It'll do for now though." Davey says as he jumps out of the truck - unencumbered by bags. "Not excited for the mouth flapping about rules and such that is gonna come in a few minutes."

"Rules are there to be broken," said Jimmy, "That was my granddad's motto. He fought in the Great War... when he wasn't locked up." Jimmy blushed. "He wasn't a bad man exactly, he just didn't like playing by someone else's rules."

Posted: **Mon Oct 08, 2012 12:12 am**

After a few minutes of waiting, the front door opens and a woman who looks to be in her early thirties comes out and starts down the few stone steps with a gentle smile as she runs an approving eye over all of those awaiting her here. For those who have dealt with her for a fair while, she has always looked to be in her early thirties and thus is probably a well-preserved woman in her forties. She heads directly towards Mrs. Hartley and extends her name, "Maggie O'Connell. Pleasure to meet you. Mrs. Hartley, I presume?"

Mrs. Hartley gives her a quick nod. "That is correct. It's good to meet you too, Miss O'Connell. Where might I find Miss Halloran?"

"She will be down presently," says Miss O'Connell. "I'm to see you to her office."

"Thank you," says Mrs. Hartley.

Miss O'Connell turns to Mike. "Could you please take the new children down to the Assembly Hall, thank you? Miss Higgins will be along to explain the rules."

Posted: **Mon Oct 08, 2012 5:29 am**

Clive remains with Mike and the new boys. He's been through the rules speech before, but he does want to find out more about the new arrivals.

Posted: **Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:34 am**

Right away Miss O'Connell.
Mike replies and turns to Martian and Clive
Well you are off to your business champs ... if you have any.
He then turns to the new trio with a smile - Jimmy, Davey and Peregrine.
Take your belongings, we are heading to the Assembly Hall.

Posted: **Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:50 pm**

Jimmy grabs what few belongings he has and follows Clive towards the Assembly Hall. "Keep up, Yank!" he says over his shoulder, "How can we break the rules if we don't know what they are?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:02 pm**

Peregrine looks at his small trunk. He doesn't even know what's in it as his aunt had packed it for him. He keeps a firm grip on his blanket and walks up to Mike. He tugs at Mikes shirt, "Please Sir, my box it's too big to carry and I don't know where it goes or where the ass-assembelly hall is." He finishes in a rush.

Posted: **Wed Oct 10, 2012 4:00 am**

Clive heads off after Martian, reasoning that he's probably heading to the library.

Posted: **Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:20 am**

aine wrote:Peregrine looks at his small trunk. He doesn't even know what's in it as his aunt had packed it for him. He keeps a firm grip on his blanket and walks up to Mike. He tugs at Mikes shirt, "Please Sir, my box it's too big to carry and I don't know where it goes or where the ass-assembelly hall is." He finishes in a rush.

Mike nods to Peregrine with a smile.
We'll have to make a man out of you
He then helps the little fellow with his belongings

Posted: **Thu Oct 11, 2012 10:01 am**

They are led through a rather dinky entrance hall that is largely dominated by a set of red brick steps heading up and a wide mirror to the left of them. They are led into what was possibly a parlour or maybe a reception office which has an internal window cut out of the other wall to allow them to see into an empty office on the other side. This room is filled with decent and comfortable furniture, a few chairs, some exotic oddments on the cupboards, a large clock on the wall, and another door (not the one that leads into the office).

Miss O'Connell nods to Mrs. Hartley. "If you'll wait here with me."

"Certainly," said Mrs. Hartley.

Mike leads the others through the other door into another hallway with two doors on the left and a line of doors on the right. Both those two leftmost doors enter a large single storey room with a series of wooden pews much like a church but with a pair of chalkboards at both ends. The room smells a bit like sawdust and chutney. A queer mix of scents.

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:21 pm**

"Can't you just show my room? I'm tireda all this 'Go there, stand like this, wait here' junk. Someone can just tell me the rules later.... plus it sort of stinks in here." Davey adds wrinkling up his nose.

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:30 pm**

Clive was incorrect in his assumption, on his way to the library he sees Martian sitting in his cross legged position on his bed, reading his book.

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:28 am**

"Hi, Martian," says Clive, looking at the book with curiosity. "Whatcha reading?"

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:20 am**

Jimmy poked around the room despondently. It looked like they had plans to try to teach them as well as give them somewhere to live. He'd rather be outside, doing something with his hands than be stuck in a classroom.

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2012 4:43 pm**

"Roman history." He said, not looking up and burying his head a little further in his book.

Posted: **Sun Oct 14, 2012 12:16 am**

"Neat," says Clive, though that wouldn't be his first choice of reading material. He's far more interested in the future than the past. "I like reading Biggles books. I can't wait for the next one! And everything by H.G. Wells is really good."

Posted: **Sun Oct 14, 2012 2:12 am**

A sparrow rises up in flight from between a couple pews and flies across the room to land on the chalk holding part of the chalk boards. It sits there, bounces forward a few steps and then back a few steps, cocking its head to examine the boys in the room.

Posted: **Sun Oct 14, 2012 3:08 am**

"I know" Martian says simply, not having anything to add to the conversation. He wasn't sure if Clive realized this but we weren't getting the next book in his series until at least a few years after it was out.
-If nothing else is said or done by Clive Martian continues reading in complete silence for two more hours before he finishes his book. He then closes it, stands up, and walks to the library to get another; keeping his eyes glued to the floor.
OOC- Feel free to stop and rewind me if I skip ahead of a plot moment Laraqua.

Posted: **Sun Oct 14, 2012 4:30 am**

Clive settles down to read his own book that he had recently borrowed from the library. When Martian is ready to return to the library, Clive goes with him.

Posted: **Sun Oct 14, 2012 9:57 pm**

Jimmy watched the sparrow as it hopped around on its perch. He dug in his pocket to find a few crumbs from the sandwich he'd eaten earlier and held out his hand in the hope the bird would come closer.

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2012 1:00 am**

Around ten minutes pass and then the sparrow flutters down the gap between the pews toward the doorway. Bored gazes are drawn to the movement in most cases and those boys who are interested watch it flight straight down the line as an older woman steps out into the doorway, hand snatching out to grab the bird. In a sudden cruel movement, the hand crunches bone and twists wings and the bird dies with a strange sound escaping its beak as its ribs grind together beneath her grasp.

"So these are the new boys," says Mrs. Matlock with an approving smile as she tosses the lifeless bird over her shoulder and into a bin that stands by the door. She strides down the center aisle, her low heels sounding heavily against the floorboards. "You all appear to be wonderfully obedient and sweet-natured boys. I am sure there would be no problems, no difficulties, no issues, hiding within your gentle minds." Her voice is so very sincere and so very genuine though her words imply sarcasm and taunts. She pauses before them. "I am Mrs. Matlock and you are my charges." Then she continues to stand before the chalkboards.

"I aim to do my bit for King and Country through this institution in raising some of Britain's finest lads for the new era that will come after the fall of Nazi Germany. I am a true believer in Britain's greatness as I am sure you all are as well. Even an American must be able to see that Britain has shouldered this crisis well and that the tireless workers of our nation will toil to ensure our nation's continued success. As our mothers and fathers, now dearly departed, toiled in our factories and our offices and our front lines for our future, so must we toil in our own small ways to contribute to our future also. It is a small cost, an insignificant price to pay, for you to obey some small measure of rules to ensure that this institution moves along smoothly and provides minimal disruption to the greater war effort."

"Where your parents sweated to save the nation, all you must do to honour their name is to sweat for your daily bread. Where your parents fought to stem the tide of fascism, you need only fight to remember the rules and prevent yourselves from becoming a nuisance. Should you fail, you will add strain to a system that is already strained. You will make a mockery of the work of your parents and their parents before them. You will stain your family name and so stain them. After all that Britain has given, all that it has sacrificed, is it really so much to ask that you duly obey the rules so that more children may be saved from the bombs in this place of refuge? Is it really so much to ask that you treat each other with the respect that your parents have treated their colleagues with such respect? Is it so much to ask that you respect the authority of those who have charitably undertaken to provide for you and protect you with little to no recompense?"

"Or must you strike out at the hand that feeds you? Gnash your teeth like Huns and take up arms against those British citizens that toil with such insufficient staff in an effort to keep more children out of the way of bombs? Must you gunk up the works so that fewer children can be comfortably housed here and so must struggle and die in the streets of London and our other fair cities so that you may march like Nazi soldiers and play havoc where you rest? Must the blood of our nation and our nation's children mean so little to you that you behave in such an unChristian fashion, in a deliberate fashion, to damage and disrespect this institution so that you might gain some twisted, wicked glee that you are somehow above it all? Above the Christian works and the charitable needs of the more fortunate to assist the less fortunate?"

She gravely gazes upon the children to allow her words to sink in. "These are the choices that stand before you. To do your bit for your country by helping to provide for yourselves with our small garden and our small animals so that you lessen your burden upon this nation state. To accept as your lot a bitter few years in exchange for the brightness of an everlasting tomorrow. You have a grave duty. As grave as that of an Air Raid Warden or a Land Girl or the Home Guard or even the soldiers themselves to do what needs to be done and to do the right thing and to respect the laws that govern our fair nation."

"Are you willing?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2012 5:29 pm**

Peregrine has been watching Jimmy trying to coax the sweet little bird when the terrible woman strides in. Having been brought up to respect and love all living things he is aghast when the bird is crushed and discarded. He listens to Mrs. Matlock's speech in shock. She reminds him of a man who used to come to his Father's house for dinner. He too spoke in a similar way. And his parents used to row late in the night after the man had left. Peregrine used to hate him turning up and Peregrine decides Mrs. Matlock is a horrible woman.
"These are the choices that stand before you. To do your bit for your country by helping to provide for yourselves with our small garden and our small animals so that you lessen your burden upon this nation state." He wonders if she means for them to eat the sparrows. He is busy thinking these thoughts when she asks if he is willing.

"But we can't eat the sparrows!" He blurts out.

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2012 11:45 pm**

She pauses and looks at him in a heavy silence for a long moment before responding, "You haven't been listening at all, have you?" She sighs deeply. "Very well. You are quite young. I'm asking you to do your bit for your country by obeying the rules and not being a nuisance."

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:08 am**

Davey looked uncomfortable during the speech, but couldn't keep quiet. "Ma'am, I may be American and maybe I don't know what all your ten-dollar words mean, but I did live on a farm and I know what living out of a field is like. If'n we do our chores to eat - we ain't a burden on no one. Britain or not. I don't see what's wrong with having fun though - I mean them Nazi kids can't have fun, that's the difference 'tween us 'n them."

Feeling like he said too much Davey sort of trailed off at the end, "Sides, I don't mean to stay here all war..."

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:53 am**

"No, we aren't Nazis," she said with a brisk shake of her head. "There's plenty of time for you to be able to enjoy yourself outside of your learning and chore time. So long as you obey when you need to obey then you can spend your free time as it pleases you so long as it doesn't displease anyone else." She peers down at him. "Although I wouldn't recommend going into the woods at night. Stay within the boundary fence at all times or else the pigs will eat you." She smirks at him, as though daring him to disbelieve her. "Oh, and about returning to America.... Don't you think its a little wrong for a boy to get so impatient that he endangers a boat load of sailors just so as he can go home? Its a dangerous run across the Atlantic so they only do as many as is necessary and therefore don't have room for evacuees."

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:57 am**

"I never met a pig that ate nobody. Well nobody who was alive - I think they probably eat a dead person." Davey said gaining a little confidence, "and my pops said that America is giving guns and bullets and ships to you Brits now. I'm sure one of them transport boats could take me back soon enough." He said hopefully.

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:03 pm**

Peregrine looks at Mrs. Matlock with wide eyes. Pigs that eat people, people that eat sparrows, maybe Mrs. Matlock is like the witch in his Russian fairy tale book; the Baba Yaga. He can't remember seeing if the orphanage had chicken legs but he decides to play safe, "Yes Mrs. Baba Ya I mean Matlock."

Posted: **Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:02 am**

Mike stands in the corner, waiting for Mrs. Matlock to finish her talk with the children. He shudders when she snaps that sparrow but remains quiet and shudders again when she speaks. Mike dislikes her but respect the hand that feed him and give him a place to sleep. For many years when he was a child a whisper spread between the children that the woman was a green hag.

He tries to signal the boys to acknowledge Mrs. Matlock without saying too much by nodding them to approve her question. They do not want to upset the woman on their first day by arguing with her. She is an intimidating woman and they should keep low profile, after all, they are new to this place and information should be extracted from the other kids and not from Mrs. Matlock.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:54 am**

Mrs. Matlock smiles at them with a look that lights up her face and makes her seem to sweet and genuinely caring. "Oh, such cute little boys. You keep hoping that transport order will come through for you, dear, and you," she looks over at the little boy, "have nothing to fear from this sweet old witch."

"The rules are simple. They're all on the boards you'll find in the various rooms. You'll wake up at 6AM. Curfew at 8PM. No one is allowed outside after dark. No one is allowed outside the boundary fence without explicit permission. You will do what you're told when you're told to do it. You'll attend school for four hours a day. Chores for four hours. We try to integrate schooling with those chores. You will get an hour to be ready in the morning, fifteen minute morning and afternoon tea, and a half hour for lunch. That leaves you with around three hours of spare time per day that you can spend in a number of different ways: reading, sport, and outdoor play. Any questions on that?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:54 pm**

On his way to the library Martian passes close enough to the hall to hear the headmistress's speech and releases a slight shudder. It really wasn't that bad here but that old woman always scared him for some reason.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:25 pm**

Jimmy had remained silent since the woman had crushed the life from the bird. "Wasn't that an unChristian act, miss?" he asked, pointing towards where she had discarded the lifeless creature.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:41 am**

"Sparrows are pests," she said, turning that oh-so-sincere smile on him. "It would be unChristian of me to allow it to eat all of our grain. Besides which, has God not placed humanity above all of the animal kingdom? Do we not eat meat?" She lowers her head. "Ahh, but it would be unChristian of me to deny you such staunchly held beliefs. Since you find it unChristian to kill a bird, of course you must think the same of pigs and cows and hens and their young. Have no fear. You can relinquish your right to a meat and egg ration and instead have extra cheese with your meals." She gives him a look as though she genuinely expects him to be pleased.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:17 am**

Clive frowns when he hears Mrs. Matlock speaking. He isn't afraid of her - the Jerries don't scare him, so he's not about to let her do it - but he does find her a bit creepy. Still, all he is to do is what he's told and to keep his nose clean, and he stays on her good side.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:08 pm**

there is a loud, insistent gurgling noise. Peregrine goes bright red under his blond hair. "I'm hungry." He whispers in embarrassment.

Posted: **Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:15 am**

Jimmy scowled but said nothing. He'd already taken a dislike to Mrs Matlock but wasn't going to argue further for now.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:21 am**

"Well, lunch should be ready shortly," she said. "There's only a few rules regarding meals. Arrive promptly, go to your assigned chair, don't put your elbows on the table, use cutlery and not your hands, and wash your hands before and after. Its pretty simple." She smiles at Jimmy. "I'll go inform the kitchen about your special needs."

Special needs. That will make him popular.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:29 am**

Mike nods to Mrs Matlock.
Come kids, I will help you to your places.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:42 pm**

Peregrine cheers up at the sound of lunch and walks over to stand next to Mike. He looks at his hands to see if they are dirty and then looks at Mike's hands for comparison. "Gosh." He is impressed with the state of Mike's black and blue hands, "Your hands are really dirty." He grins.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2012 2:40 pm**

No matter how much I wash them, the oil is in the skin. Years of work with oil and machines ruined my hands.
Mike responds to Peregrine as he looks at his hands.
Now come on,place your belongings near your beds and wait for the lunch call.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:20 pm**

Jimmy pulled his stuff over to an empty bed and dropped it at the foot. Feeling miserable he trudged off to wash his hands, less Mrs Matlock use it as an excuse to deny him something else.

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:26 am**

The bedrooms are on the first floor (the floor above ground floor) and most of them are a series of bunk beds set up in old offices and therefore are quite pokey. The three boys are given a rather poky little room with two bunks on either side of a tall boy with two narrow wardrobes sandwhiching the door. The top of the tallboy is covered in fiction novels and the odd toy. Across the hall is a rather long near broom cupboard whose door is currently standing ajar. Mike knows that's Martians' room. He was given that room for good behaviour and as a sign of favour from the matrons here. Davey, Peregrine, Jimmy and Clive will be bunking here.

They all hear the lunch bell ring. Even Martian can hear it from his position in the book room.

The dining room is back on the ground floor on the other side of the hall. It's a rather plain and dreary place with tall, narrow windows whose glass has been removed in case of bombing. Now there's simply shutters to try to keep the heat in and the cold in - something that always fails and the room tends to get quite cold by night time. The matrons never seem to feel the cold. There's about fifty boys in here now, ranging from as young as five to as old as fourteen, and they sit on the long benches arranged around tables that can sit about twenty apiece. There are no pillars to support the ceiling. Instead the room is just ridiculously long and narrow with the odd wide archway intersecting it.

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2012 1:24 am**

Martial silently takes his place and eats whatever food is placed in front of him quickly, without looking up from his plate at any point.

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2012 3:43 am**

Clive hurries down to the dining room when he hears the bell, not wanting to be late. He washes his hands and takes his assigned seat at the table as he always does.

Posted: **Tue Oct 23, 2012 7:54 am**

Mike places his working apron back in his shed and cross the yard to the main building for lunch.

Posted: **Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:01 am**

There's no supervision in this room but all of the children are relatively well-behaved as though they are currently being supervised.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2012 6:24 pm**

Peregrine washes his hands and trails the others down to the dining room. He sits next to Jimmy and Davey and waits eagerly for his food. He recognises two of the other boys, Clive and Martian from the railway station and smiles shyly at them.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:03 pm**

Lunch is mashed potato with a hint of cheese and a few pieces of bacon. Pretty standard ration fare. They also all get a glass of milk. Again, pretty standard as far as the schools are concerned. The other boys all talk to each other in low murmurs and no one puts their elbows on the tables (one of the rules written in white chalk on the blackboard).

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:14 pm**

Martian keeps his head down and eats as quick as he can, wanting to finish his food and get back the sanctuary of his room.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2012 5:21 am**

Clive eats at a more sedate pace, wanting to savor what food he can get. Portions aren't as big as they were before rationing. He notices that one of the new boys didn't get any meat. He couldn't have done anything bad yet, he thinks. He just got here.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:00 am**

Clive, on the other hand, seems to have been given a double serve of bacon. They never seemed short on bacon here.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:26 pm**

Peregrine has difficulty eating his meal without putting his elbows on the table because he is so small. He drinks his milk, at least it's cold. He notices that one of the boys from the train, Jimmy, doesn't have any bacon. Seems like Mrs. Matlock keeps her word. "You, you can have my bacon if you want. I don't really need it." He whispers to Jimmy across the table.

Posted: **Sun Oct 28, 2012 2:01 pm**

Davey follows the rules, but only barely. He runs his hands under some water and sits down next to Jimmy during lunch. "Not fair for her to take your food. And she was unchristian. Killing animals, but not usin' their parts is a waste." Davey ate his meal happily though. His father always told him to never turn down a hot meal because you never know when the next one will come along.

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:37 pm**

"No thanks," said Jimmy to Peregrine, "There's no point in both of us getting into trouble." He gave the younger boy a tight grin, feeling sick but determined not to let on.

Posted: **Tue Oct 30, 2012 6:30 pm**

Peregrine thinks Jimmy is very brave; he is determined to be as brave and eats all his food as quickly as he can while watching the older boys all the time.

Posted: **Wed Oct 31, 2012 10:54 pm**

There's the sound of dozens of birds taking flight outside the orphanage and flocking past the tall, narrow windows with the sound of dozens of beating wings. This happens occasionally so all of the local kids barely look up, instead they continue to murmur to each other and rapidly devour their food.

Posted: **Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:13 pm**

Martian doesn't look up but immediately recognizes the noise, as soon as it reaches his ears he releases a small shudder. Crows have scared him ever since he read in a book on Irish mythology that crows are servants of Morrigan, God of death, strife, and war. Crows are bad. Crows are an omen of death. Of course since he's been here there haven't been any deaths other then that pig boy.
OOC-Have there?

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:21 am**

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:48 am**

Yeah I bet.

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2012 4:38 am**

Clive ignores the birds and continues eating. He had been startled the first time he had heard them, but he's gotten used to them and no longer finds them that interesting. Now, airplanes on the other hand would get his attention.

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:37 pm**

Peregrine cranes his neck to see the birds. "At least they are free to go where they want." He thinks.

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2012 4:04 pm**

Jimmy finishes his food and drops his knife and fork noisily on his plate. "So," he said, "What's next?"

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:44 am**

The rest of the day passes in boring monotony as the new boys are made to wash the dishes under supervision from an older lad before being shown around the hen shed and allowed to watch the others feed and care for them. Peregrine doesn't see the lady who had brought him to the orphanage again. It looked like this was really it. This was their life here. As night began to fall, they were ushered up to their rooms and sent to bed. Unfortunately, none of them felt all that tired. Martian had his little closet room opposite one that the new boys slept in (alongside a fourth empty bed) and Mike had his own room, small but not as small as Martian's on the same corridor. Mike was allowed to roam this floor at night if he couldn't sleep although no one else could. No one was allowed to waste electricity to read or write either. Using flashlights was out of the question due to a lack of batteries.

The matrons promised that the boys would all be rostered on for fire watching duty the following night to help them get to know each other. Mike was to supervise them. While that might be dull, the British countryside promised a lot more stars than London. Unfortunately, they would have to be awake all night as there would be no shift to relieve them.

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:47 am**

Mike was preparing his brief talk about the fire watching duty as he walked to see that everything is in place prior to the briefing. Once the little lads gathered around him he began the tour.
OK champs, This is the fire watching duty tour. You will do it at least once a week.
He says with a smile and clears his throat
As you already know, beside the fact that we are at war, fire can be erupt by accident. If this happens and if fire takes place here or in the court yard we are supposed to be the heroes that extinguish the fire. Now, how we do it you ask? Mutual help is the answer. Come with me...
He takes them to the entrance where the yard is visible.
First, we can see just next to the wood logs, there is a shallow lifted shed. Under the rain protective skin you will find sandbags since sand can choke fire. The bags are not that big and a small child can lift one if needed. Questions?

He pauses for a moment, answers relevant questions and leads them to their floor.
Now in the closet next to my room and the closet next to the dinning room where the brooms, wipes and other genitor stuff is located you will find filled prepared buckets. Each one of them is covered with a leather rug. We change the water in the buckets every week and use it irrigate the garden. Beside it, on the shelf are some heavy blankets, again to choke the fire. Next to it we’ll find special gloves to avoid hand burns and leather scarves to wet in the buckets and tie around the mouth and nose.

He gather them in the dining hall and continue
As for the routine - If anyone sees fire he alerts the entire place shouting “FIRE” three times as loud as he can. The children around here already know that in case of fire they get up as quickly as possible, line up and go down quickly to the yard if the fire is in the house or gather in the dining hall if the fire takes place in the yard. The already wake up children and the supervisor begin the fire extinguish routine with the sand sacks and the water if the fire is outside and the blankets and the water if the fire is in the house. By no mean you are using the blankets, only an adult is allowed to use the blankets.
If the fire goes out of control we are evacuating the house and wait for outside help.
Questions?

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:21 am**

Peregrine stares at Mike with his big blue eyes. He clutches his own small bit of blanket close to him. It all sounds very complicated and Peregrine really hopes there won't be a fire. He's even more concerned about staying awake all night; it's never been done before.

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:47 pm**

After he is dismissed Martian hurries back to his room and obediently goes to bed.
(Waking up around midnight to talk to Julius of course.)

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:28 pm**

Jimmy yawned and shook his head. He was tired and hungry and really hoped he wasn't chosen to take the first watch.

Posted: **Mon Nov 05, 2012 5:14 am**

They settle into their narrow wire-framed beds whose thin mattresses cause the steel mesh to dig into their tender skin through the mattress. The sheets are thin and threadbare. The single knitted blanket barely enough to keep out the cold. To the poor British kids, the conditions are fine but sleeping in separate beds is madness, especially on a night like tonight, and there's a strong urge to cuddle up to someone. They'll likely pass the night tossing and turning. Those used to the orphanage, or Americans used to more room, are fine with having their own bed though the conditions aren't as good as they good be. Peregrine's little body grows quite cold as the blanket itself certainly isn't enough.

Sadly enough, this isn't even a particularly cold British night. It's just cold enough.

Posted: **Mon Nov 05, 2012 6:16 pm**

Jimmy squirmed uncomfortably, his every move causing the bedsprings to creak and groan. On cold nights, once his Dad had gone off to fight, he and his mum had shared a bed to keep warm. Jimmy thought she probably missed his Dad and wanted the company as well. At least she wasn't like Nigel Smith's mum; as soon as his dad had gone off to the war, she'd moved some other bloke in. She'd told Nigel it was one of his uncles, but Nigel had said he could hear the 'uncle' going into his mum's bedroom once they thought Nigel was asleep.

Jimmy's stomach grumbled. He should have taken the bacon when the little kid had offered it to him earlier. He pulled the covers up to his nose and trying not to think about his mum or food, tried to get to sleep.

Posted: **Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:08 pm**

Peregrine wakes. He has pulled the blankets over his head but the cold wakens him. He begins to shiver and pulls his little blue blanket to his chest. His fingers are cold, his nose is cold, his toes are cold; he pulls his feet up but there is little warmth in his small body. "It's so..so...cold. I can't feel my toes anymore." Peregrine tries not to cry and stifles his sniffles but a loud gulp echoes round the quiet room.

Posted: **Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:39 pm**

Martian pulls himself into his normal fetal position and rolls himself in the blanket like a cocoon with just his head sticking out. It's still cold but he was well accustomed to this; so he slept as he always did, completely silent and still.

Posted: **Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:07 am**

At some point during the dark of the night, there's a sharp girlish squeal from the basement below and something slams up against the wooden floorboards, knocking them briefly against the nails, in the room containing the four boys. Even Mike and Martian are roused from their sleep by the squeal and then the thump. In the moments following the thump, all is quiet.

Posted: **Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:39 am**

Martian in his, sleepy daze, rationalizes that one of the boys must have fallen off their bed and goes back to sleep.

Posted: **Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:20 am**

Clive is used to the weather and has no problem sleeping. He remembers how cold it was when he first came here, so he knows the new boys aren't having an easy time of it. Still, that had been in winter, and it was nowhere near as bad now that spring was here.

Posted: **Wed Nov 07, 2012 9:25 pm**

Laraqua wrote:At some point during the dark of the night, there's a sharp girlish squeal from the basement below and something slams up against the wooden floorboards, knocking them briefly against the nails, in the room containing the four boys. Even Mike and Martian are roused from their sleep by the squeal and then the thump. In the moments following the thump, all is quiet.

"What the hell was that?" said Jimmy, sitting up sharply in bed.

Posted: **Thu Nov 08, 2012 9:43 am**

Hmm, Ogh ... What'de .. Hmmphh ...
Mike opens his eyes ... it was damn cold and hard to sleep and now someone or something did noise. He rose up, stretching and massaging his neck for a minute. Mike stands up and goes outside to check the boy's doors. opening each door to see if anyone is missing.
Could be one of the boys or perhaps the pipes in the basement like a week ago. Better go and see ...
Mike thinks to himself.
Last thing I need is a leak over there and a partially flooded basement in the morning.
He says, grunting and takes a screwdriver and a monkey wrench just in case from the closet next to his room. If anyone of the children is awake he will order them to join him. He will need someone to shine some light with the electrical torch, someone to hold the pipes for him and someone to take dry towels if a swift work was needed. In any case moving the muscles a little bit will help to get warmer in this cold night.

OOC: So, who's awake ?

Posted: **Thu Nov 08, 2012 10:05 am**

Posted: **Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:57 pm**

The sound of Mike's sleepy footsteps filter through the ears of those trying to get back to sleep as well as the sound of the door coming in as he peers inside to check.

Posted: **Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:01 am**

Martian was facing his door and not yet asleep when Mike poked his head in, he grumbled mentally at being summoned to help him but made no protest.

Posted: **Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:37 am**

Clive turns over and goes back to sleep.

Posted: **Fri Nov 09, 2012 6:51 pm**

Peregrine is glad to see a friendly face peeking round the door jam in the cold moonlight. He slides out of bed, taking his blanket with him, and pads over to Mike. He puts a small cold hand into Mike's.

Posted: **Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:31 am**

Jimmy slips out of bed, wincing as his feet touch the cold floor. He quickly slips his shoes on and pulls on his pullover. He looks a bit incongruous but at least he'll be warm.

He walks quietly across the room to join Mike & the younger boys.

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:21 pm**

OOC: What about Davey?

Mech. repair [68%] (1d100=8) - less then a fifth, Epic success !

Mike nods to Jimmy, Peregrine and Martian to join him.
Leave your blanket here, you don't want it to get wet. Here takes this towels instead.
He says to Peregrine and hand him several folded towels. He hands an electrical torch to Martian and the screwdriver to Jimmy.
Jimmy will help him with the pipes as Mike sees the young lad as his future assistant. The boy knew one thing or two with fixing things ... like Mike himself was when he was in Jimmy's age.

Follow me.
Mike place the monkey ranch in his pocket and leads the boys to the door leading to the basement. (Not going down yet)

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:41 pm**

I have a bad feeling about this, of course it's probably just my primal human nature telling me to be afraid of the dark even though I no longer live in the wilderness and thus no longer have to worry about being ambushed by nocturnal predators or rival tribes. Martians thoughts race a mile a minute while he stands perfectly still, head down, waiting for instructions.

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:27 pm**

Peregrine takes the proffered towels carefully but he vehemently shakes his head at leaving his blanket behind and grasps it firmly under the pile of towels. He follows Mike and the other boys along the passage towards the basement looking like a pile of towels with legs.

Posted: **Mon Nov 12, 2012 12:22 am**

The cool air is chilly. Mike rarely goes down into the basement which is actually designed like a spacious cellar with massive brick arches and a lot of sectioned off rooms but he's never had any trouble going down there before. On earlier days, he's gotten the permission of the mistresses of the house but they've become more relaxed about the rules lately and have given him more decision making ability so long as he doesn't go down to the furthest reaches of the cellar. They've never explained why but they generally don't.

Posted: **Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:25 pm**

Jimmy didn't know what it was but he didn't really want to go down into the cellar. He told himself not to be so soft. Back home his pals would have laughed at him.

"What are we looking for?" he whispered to Mike.

Posted: **Tue Nov 13, 2012 2:18 am**

The door looms large before him, still closed, and set into the stairs. The house itself is silent but for the odd creak of wood settling in the cold.

Posted: **Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:28 pm**

Light the torch and mind your step. Not sure of the light is OK if it is a leak.
Mike says to Martian
Mike goes first, pulling Martian with him to light the way down. He peers into the place and looks around the walls, trying to find and feel any indication of blasted water pipes inside the walls or a minor leak.
Stay with me and don't wonder. The cellar is no a place for kids by the order of the mistresses, but so long you help me there is no problem.

Posted: **Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:49 pm**

Martian simply nods, lights the torch, and follows Mike, keeping his head down and watching his feet carefully.

Posted: **Tue Nov 13, 2012 5:40 pm**

Padding silently behind the others, Peregrine is strangely unafraid. For the first time in his short life he feels a thrill of excitement as adrenalin starts to filter through his veins. He finds it tricky on the stairs; feeling for the rail with one hand and balancing the towels against himself with the other.

Posted: **Tue Nov 13, 2012 7:58 pm**

Jimmy brings up the rear, struggling to see the steps as the torchlight is up ahead. He catches his foot on the last step and stumbles into the cellar, using a word he once heard one of his father's friends use when he skinned his knuckles trying to re-bore a cylinder on a motorbike engine.

Posted: **Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:17 am**

The cellar is filled with cavernous compartments with massive archways that lead from one section to the other. The twelve-foot-high ceilings have plenty of dark and dim recesses above the hooded light bulbs which could allow any manner of foul creature to lurk within their shadowy corners. Dust lays across the floor and walls and the many boxes and old furniture that are stacked here and there. There's some sort of strange print in the dirt. Mike has always seen them but never quite understood what it could be. Some sort of badger sleeping here, perhaps?

There's no sign of any spilt water in this section. The generator is inside a section to the left and it makes the regular sort of noises that suggests that everything is all right. There are pipes that run along the shadowy sections beneath the cavernous sections. Perhaps if they took a look around the sections they could find it?

The matrons really don't like being disturbed after dark. It wouldn't be a good idea to harass them for further permissions or what not and they'd likely be angry if a fire started or a lot of water damage occurred. After all, since the risk of the blitz a lot of equipment from the top floor and the small attic were placed in these cellars.

Posted: **Wed Nov 14, 2012 3:43 am**

Martian with his head down already has a view to look closely at the paw print.
I'm not sure what the base for those skills are but I rolled a 28 if thats worth anything. http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3782932/

Posted: **Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:39 am**

Peregrine looks around in amazement, watching the looming shadows play against the arches. he doesn't even notice the tracks

Posted: **Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:33 pm**

We'll have to check each chamber for a possible leak unless a rodent of some kind made the noise. Then we'll have to catch it. Follow me.
Mike goes from section to section. He even throws a glance towards the generator to see that everything is working properly and no wires were eaten. He tries to see if he finds poop marks around, that will indicate some kind of vermin that must be caught and made this dark cellar his home.

Posted: **Sat Nov 17, 2012 8:04 am**

Jimmy moved through the cellar carefully. He didn't know what the tracks were but he didn't like the thought that there was something scurrying around down here.

Posted: **Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:57 am**

The noise below awakens Clive. He sits up and rubs his eyes, then climbs out of bed and opens his door to look out into the hallway, trying to hear what's going on downstairs.

Posted: **Thu Nov 29, 2012 2:34 am**

Clive can hear the footsteps squeak on the stairs and hurrying after the noise, he soon discovers several shadowy figures down in the cellar and some strange prints on the dusty floor. There are old crates stacked here and there from the building's original unknown functions. Somewhere, further down the cellars through the arched rooms, something can be heard to move about with a click-click-click against the bricks.

Posted: **Thu Nov 29, 2012 4:41 am**

Clive creeps quietly towards the sound, more excited than frightened. He's not entirely sure that this isn't a dream, but he's keen to discover the source of the noise.

Posted: **Sat Dec 01, 2012 11:20 am**

Who's there ?
Mike whispers loudly as he turns his look to the stairs.
Once he sees a figure of a child and orders Martian to turn the light to there.
Clive, what are you doing here? ... arrr, help Peregrine with the towels.

Posted: **Sat Dec 01, 2012 9:39 pm**

"Um, okay," says Clive, going over to help Peregrine. "I came down here because the noise woke me up. What's going on?"

Posted: **Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:58 pm**

The torchlight flicks away from the cellar and back towards the cellar stairs. Jimmy found himself stumbling around in the darkness. "Hey!" he shouted, "Shine that light over here!"

Posted: **Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:03 pm**

Peregrine hands over half his towels to Clive. He smiles, "Isn't this fun?! I've never been up late before, it's rather spooky but exciting too - look at the shadows!"

Posted: **Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:20 am**

"Yeah!" says Clive to Peregrine with a huge grin as he takes his share of the towels. "I've never done anything like this. I'm not even sure what it is we're doing, but I like it. I know it's not an air raid; there's no sirens."

Posted: **Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:17 pm**

"What's this, a mother's meeting?" grumbled Jimmy as he stumbled from the darkness. "Come on! Let's find whatever it is we're down here to find and get back to bed!"

Posted: **Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:00 pm**

Peregrine giggles at grumpy Jimmy and hugs his towels. At lest they are keeping him warm. "We are looking for a strange sound." He says conspiratorially to Clive.

Posted: **Thu Dec 06, 2012 3:46 am**

"Okay," says Clive. "What does it sound like?"

Posted: **Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:21 pm**

"It's something like a pig." says Peregrine. Then he has a terrible thought. "Is it the pig that the lady has? The one that eats..." Peregrine's eyes grow very wide as he looks at Clive. "People." He whispers.

Posted: **Fri Dec 07, 2012 3:50 am**

"I heard about that pig," says Clive. "If we can kill it, then maybe we can eat it!" He pauses in thought. "Wait, if the pig eats people and we eat it, then wouldn't we be..."

Posted: **Fri Dec 07, 2012 11:42 am**

Jimmy shook his head angrily. "We're wasting time," he said. "Let's find out what's making that noise and get back to bed."

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2012 3:06 am**

Shhsh!
Mike says and leads the group of kids after him, moving from chamber to chamber.
Check the floor and the ceiling for any signs of a leak.

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2012 5:28 am**

Clive nods and remains silent, sneaking along with the others and looking at the floor and ceiling.

Posted: **Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:10 pm**

Maritan doesn't contribute to the conversation but does move to stand next to Clive as soon as he reaches their make shift search party.

Posted: **Mon Dec 10, 2012 1:54 am**

There's a foul stink coming from the far right of the basement. The stink to a farmer's nose does smell quite a bit like fresh pig manure.

Posted: **Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:15 am**

Clive can't see anything in the dark, nor can he hear anything. He wishes he couldn't smell anything either.

Posted: **Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:46 pm**

Peregrine listens carefully as he walks along with the other boys. He hears something and looks into the darkness, straining his eyes. The acrid smell makes his eyes smart.

Posted: **Tue Dec 11, 2012 3:01 am**

Maritan makes no apparant reaction to the smell except to raise his eyes and squint into the darkness.
Spot fail
Listen success 3 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3820004/

Posted: **Tue Dec 11, 2012 6:10 am**

Listen(25%);Spot(65%) (1d100=27, 1d100=31) - Listen fail, Spot Success.

What's that smell?
Mike says to the others, clearly his own voice overpowers any noise around him, thusת preventing him from hearing something but he do sees something in the far end.

Posted: **Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:34 pm**

Any chance of hearing the noise from the corner is lost when Mike starts talking and the swinging torchlight shines his way, ruining whatever night vision he had.

Posted: **Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:25 am**

Keen eyes detect a silhouette of something low to the ground darting beyond an archway while eager ears note the sound of nails clicking across the floor, similar to a dog, but not quite the same.

Posted: **Wed Dec 12, 2012 10:27 am**

"There it is!" Peregrine points at the darting shadow and, in doing so, drops his towels in the excitement.

Posted: **Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:08 pm**

Something about the situation didn't seem right to Jimmy and it was setting his teeth on edge. He gripped the screwdriver tightly, wishing he'd brought his catapult. Whatever the thing was, he didn't want it getting too close.

Posted: **Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:51 am**

"Shh!" hisses Clive. "It'll hear us..."

Posted: **Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:03 am**

What is that?! Some kind of big, mean, scary monster?! Should I run?! No. Don't run, your safer in a group; if nothing else your statistically less likely to be the one mauled when I'm in a big group. Martian thought to himself while standing perfectly still, not wanting to draw attention to himself.

Posted: **Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:23 pm**

"It's only a little thing." Peregrine is caught by the novelty of not being the smallest creature around for once. He ducks down and starts to follow through the arch where he saw the shadow, leaving all the towels but his own dumped on the ground. "It was just here!"

Posted: **Sun Dec 16, 2012 3:14 am**

Clive scoops up the discarded towels, adds them to his own pile, and follows.

Posted: **Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:45 am**

There!
Mike points after the thing.
A bloody Rat. we must catch it.
He says as he follow the thing, holding his monkey wrench tightly. If he needs to he will kill the disease infested thing.

Posted: **Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:56 am**

Mike and Perry race across the bricks after the departing shadow and hear a rattish squeak as it ducks beneath a crate. Shortly afterwards, they hear a scratching on the glass window of the small rectangular basement windows but it's damn near impossible to make out anything in the dark night outside. What is that noise?

Posted: **Thu Dec 20, 2012 12:00 pm**

Jimmy! help me with the crate.
Mike orders the kid as he tries to move the crate
Martian, Perry. kick the rat when you see him. Clive, I think there is an escape route for the fiendish vermin from the window, check it out.

Posted: **Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:15 pm**

perry is caught up in the action. He nods at Mike's command and keep his eyes peeled for the rat.

Posted: **Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:44 pm**

Jimmy cursed under his breath. He didn't really want to have to move the crate but the others were just kids and not big enough to help. He put the screwdriver down on the top of the crate and took hold of the sides, waiting for Mike to give him the nod to lift it.

Posted: **Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:14 am**

Clive nods and heads over to the window, still carrying the pile of towels.

Posted: **Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:32 pm**

There's something skittering against the glass. Dark shapes moving against a darker background. Mike and Jimmy heft the crate, revealing a rat that screeches at them, moments before the glass shatters and dozens of rats skitter down the brick walls towards them.

Posted: **Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:08 am**

Clive yelps and tries to scramble out of the path of the rats, dropping the whole stack of towels.

Posted: **Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:40 am**

Rats!
Mike calls.
Head to the stairs, now.
Mike will try to protect the kids from the little swarm with the monkey wrench he holds.
Rats are dealt with fire, we need a torch.
His mind race for answers, he can wrap a stick with a towel and dip it with the gasoline barrel they have outside. Clive dropped his towels, hopefully, Peregrine will not.

Posted: **Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:13 am**

Jimmy dropped the crate on the rat and jumped back. The screwdriver had been on the crate and it rolled off into the darkness. He thought briefly about trying to find it but didn't know whether the crate had hit the rat or not, and didn't want to be feeling around in the dark if the rat was still alive.

He ran quickly towards the stairs, genuinely scared now.

Posted: **Mon Dec 24, 2012 6:24 pm**

Peregrine stands amazed at the tide of rats, then Mike's cry jerks him into motion and he starts to back away towards the stairs. He is only carrying his own blue blanket; his towels are in a heap on the floor.

Posted: **Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:42 am**

The rats swarm over Clive's dropped towels as he backs away, moving towards him in a mass of little furry bodies. They run across his boots, nipping at his trousers, even leaping up to grab a hold of his tender flesh in their little teeth (1 damage). Mike's words might spur the boys into action but it also draws the rats to him as well as they surge about his legs, climbing over themselves to get at him. There has to be at least a hundred rats in here! Where did they all come from? (1 damage) Martian doesn't move from his position beside them, doubtless having wracked his brain for an appopriate option, for too long, and finds the rats surrounding him also (1 damage).

Jimmy drops the crate which drew some over but then he turns and flees away from them, running through the compartmentalised cellars, trying to find his way back, but they had turned a corner in what are essentially a number of four wide doored rooms connected to each other, and he realises he's gone the wrong way. He has an inkling that he's just taken the very worst way when suddenly there's the rasp of nails on the stone floor as something looms up about of the darkness.

Peregrine runs behind Jimmy, frightened, but his smaller legs ensures that he starts falling behind. He doesn't knowany better about which way to run.

Posted: **Fri Jan 04, 2013 4:33 am**

Clive remembers the way he came quite well. He grabs Martian by the hand and flees for the stairs leading back up. "This way, everyone!" he calls.

Posted: **Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:07 am**

Clive rushes in the opposite direction, calling to the others, stepping on bundles of screeching bony fur as he goes. It's not far from the stairs. Just three 'rooms'.

Posted: **Fri Jan 04, 2013 11:04 am**

Jimmy starts to back up, putting his arms out to catch Peregrine, to prevent him from running into whatever is up ahead. He quickly glances around, looking for something - anything - that he might use as a club or a shield against whatever emerges from the darkness.

Posted: **Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:10 pm**

Mike estimates the situation, He runs to the stairs but stops when he spots that Jimmy and Peregrine ran to the opposite direction. so he decides to head back to them while kicking and stepping on rats.
Jimmy, Perry ... over here. climb on the crate.
Mike climbs on the crate they moved just a moment ago.

Posted: **Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:23 pm**

Peregrine races through the dark. "Jimmy!" He wails. He doesn't realise Jimmy has stopped and runs until Jimmy grabs him. He stops, uncertain in the darkness, breathing heavily, "Jimmy, what is it?"

Play@YSDC

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