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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

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SCHOOL WITH COWED WERES

School was different on Monday. Freya noticed quite a few people missing - all russet-headed. It looked like the were-foxes had kept their older offspring at home today. Without their subtle menace in the background, Freya almost enjoyed school. Aisha was back, and Freya was able to review the weekend’s events with her friend.

“I’m not allowed back to your house yet,” Aisha said. “Since I ‘irresponsibly went off in the night’ from there. Honestly, what will they do next year when I’m an adult and can legally do what I want?”

“It’s just because they care about you,” Freya said. “At least your family want you around.”

Danae had limped off to work that morning, impatiently telling Freya to get to herself to school, and no ‘buts’. Freya had only wanted to help her mother to work, so she didn’t injure herself further, so she was feeling more than a little rebuffed.

“My family want to see more of you, if that helps,” Aisha said. “Karim does, anyway.” She nudged Freya with her elbow. “You’ve made a conquest of my brother already. Better not abandon me for him.”

Freya laughed and blushed at the same time.

“He said he’d come by your place this afternoon with a fresh batch of whatever he and Nena have been concocting. Otherwise, I’d suggest you come over to the station cafe. You wouldn’t believe how strongly our house smells of herbs at the moment. It’s almost unbearable. I’d forgotten how much his potions stink the place up. It’ll be a relief when he heads off to uni. At least I’ll be able to breathe again at home then.”

Freya grinned.

“I thought he was wearing aftershave when he turned up on Saturday. But then the smell lingered all day, so maybe it was the potion after all.”

“Oh, he was wearing aftershave, too. I told you you’ve made a conquest,” Aisha said.

“Don’t be silly, Aisha, no-one ever falls for me. And I hardly know Karim.”

“Yeah. It’s a bit fast, seeing as he only got back on Friday. But you’ll have to work quickly if you want to do something about that. He goes to uni in a few weeks.”

“That’s faster than ever I’ve worked in my life. And I’m not that sort of girl. It doesn’t seem likely.”

“Just as well, it would be pretty weird if you got together - my friend and my brother, ugh!”

“No fear!” Freya exclaimed, but she wasn’t sure she meant it. She did like Karim. But was it a good idea to try form a relationship with someone who was so clearly going elsewhere? Of course, Karim wasn’t going far away just yet - and he’d be home to see his family in the holidays. But she didn’t want to lose Aisha’s friendship, either.

Freya’s train of thought was interrupted by the school bell. It seemed tame to be going to classes after the weekend’s dramatic events. Maybe tame was an improvement, though. She and Aisha trooped into class together.

Technology was the most interesting subject of the day. The topic of the term was storm shelters, a surprisingly appropriate choice, Freya thought.

“Thank Frigg we’re doing this topic,” she told Aisha. “Better than at my last school. We had weeks of yoghurt flavouring compounds, there.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad. I like yoghurt,” said Aisha.

“It’s OK, I guess, but I’ll never get those weeks of my life back. And I can still taste the acorn-flavoured one when I think about it.”

“Don’t think about it, then, easy.”

“You say that, but every year when I see the green acorns forming on the oak trees it comes back to me.”

“Excuse me, young ladies, I’m trying to tell you about the study break project, if you don’t mind.” The sarcastic voice of the tech teacher broke into their conversation.

“Sorry.” Freya assumed a listening attitude, eyes on the board at the front of the room where the teacher was standing. Aisha sat up straight at the desk beside her, hands poised on her notebook - the model of an attentive student. As the teacher began to speak again, she did a quick sketch of the teacher cowering in front of a giant yoghurt pottle, an acorn decorating its side. She turned the paper towards Freya, who had to smother a snigger. The teacher glared at them, but continued.

“As I was saying, in light of the storm we all experienced a few weeks ago, and the high probability that we will see more storms like it, I’ve decided to launch a competition for the senior class. Your task is to design and create a prototype for an in-place storm shelter, capable of withstanding winds of up to 100 miles per hour -”

“But wind is measured in kilometres per hour,” said one student.

“Or in knots, when you’re in a boat,” said another, whose family owned a fishing boat.

“You can apply your mathematical skills to converting my measurements, then.” The teacher glared at the interjecting students. “Your shelter should also be rainproof, and able to support the weight of say,” he looked directly at Freya, “a large oak tree. There will be a prize for the best design. I expect you to include working drawings, and calculations supporting the design of your project. Now, are there any questions?”

As a babble of voices rose around them, Freya turned to Aisha.

“That was creepy. Why pick on me? And how does he know about the oak tree falling on my house, anyway?”

Aisha shrugged.

“Mr Smith always picks on someone. Maybe he noticed my drawing. Or else he heard about your tree on the news. I guess an oak tree through the roof is a pretty public accident. I wouldn’t worry about it. Anyway, this is a good project, better than making metal lunchboxes or something, like Karim had to do when he came through this class. Although I think he still uses that lunchbox.”

“I guess I don’t need a metal lunchbox. But I don’t know where to start with a storm shelter. Can we work as a team?”

“Sure thing.”

Thank goodness for a friend.

***

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