Gooseberry High

Very important inquiry from home: "Charming and silver-tongued" (his words, not mine) spider would like to diversify his repitoire - currently predominantly featuring Shakespeare, with occasional forays into Shelley and Keats. Seeks advice on how to appeal to a younger and "less classically-minded" clientelle. Does not appreciate being told to "perhaps watch Arachnophobia, Roxanne."

Though I think that last part may have been aimed at me.

Better monologue/poetry suggestions would be much appreciated.


[Chris]

Hey there, bossman.

Quick question. Beater practice tomorrow - want to try something a little bit different?

I've got to say, my standards have been upped dramatically by the events of this morning.

I see no reason why every time a person tries to screw with somebody else, they shouldn't be required to include a present. One person gets the vicious satisfaction of potentially ruining someone's day and the other person gets gifts. Everybody wins.

( slid to the members of the coppertale quidditch team during breakfast )

( Passed off to Reid after the hockey game. In the least obtrusive or embarrassing manner possible. )

[Chris]

You're into the whole [...]

The ghost thing, right?

When Roxanne Barringer wakes up this morning, she notices something new: three feathers, tied together by a leather cord, hanging from the ladder of her bed. The feathers appear to be from a red-tailed hawk, of unusual size, fullness and vividness of colour. The cord is tied so securely, it appears to be magic.

Aside from their prettiness and their mysterious appearance in her dorm, the feathers look unremarkable, just another trinket of the forest... and yet. Roxie can't stop herself from touching them with a gentle finger, marvelling at the subtle way they catch the light. She wonders how they'd look in the bright sunshine. Looking at the feathers, she feels unstoppable—like she could do anything, go anywhere, rise to the highest of heights and never fall. Her normal confidence, multiplied tenfold.

For an unexplained reason, Roxie thinks it would be a good idea to tie the feathers to her broom. No, a great idea. She's definitely going to do that now.

Apparently, I have deeply shamed our (questionably) good family name by having only ever invited friends back home when it's the holidays and we have the Big Top broken down.

My mother insists that we put on an utterly poor show of it - and, furthermore, that it's completely ridiculous for someone who lives in a traveling show to have friends that have never even been to a real circus before. And while I can't exactly argue with her, I honestly hadn't really thought too much about it.

So consider Gooseberry informally invited to Nox during Spring Break.

And free funnel cake. Ibu said to add that.

Before I even say anything, I would like to point out that the mistletoe was not there when I climbed up here in the first place. I checked.

And that I have three days of shows to do next week when I get home - so I really did need to practice.

But the end result is the same: I'm stuck in a tree. Please help me down.

( Package unceremoniously dropped off to Reece Downing during lunch. )