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Post by Sloane Hannelore on Jul 11, 2010 15:51:25 GMT -5
The best way to attract the attention of students on the first day was always to dress better than one's own part...that was what Sloane's mother had taught her before she'd even thought of becoming a teacher. She wandered through White Chapel, and she could feel the eyes on her as she walked, the rose colored dress she wore, the crisp apron over it, one arm full of books and paper and in the other a bag tied shut, jostling around as she looked around for a clear place to sit. She gave a sigh, opting for an old broken fountain to be suitable for what she would need to do. Looking over her shoulder she smiled at a few smaller children who had been trailing after her...no doubt curious as to why a woman like herself was there alone.
Though she had one or two jobs around town as a governess she main job that she'd given herself was to give charity. She'd been blessed with education, but there were others who were not so lucky. Sloane was not completely positive that this would work but slowly she set to work placing out her books and papers around her as if setting up for an audience...or a classroom. There would be no pushing or lecturing, just patience for those who wanted it. The day before she'd spoken with some of the mothers from this area, some of the children even...and she hoped that if anything in an evovling world like this the offer of a free education would gain some followers.
Sitting down on the edge of the fountain, the bag beside her feet and a book in her lap she smiled again at those who had gotten a little closer to inspect her set up. After a few moments she opened the bag she'd been carrying, the smell of sugar wafting up as she tipped it over a little and let the wrapped candies spill out beside her. Even the best ideas needed a little push... the children born from money needed more than the promise of a better life to open a book. Sloane began to scribble on the small pallet of paper she had in her lap, all that was left to do was wait and hope. |
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Post by EFFERY WINCHESTER on Jul 12, 2010 21:30:57 GMT -5
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The petite girl had looked into a mirror before leaving the orphanage, making sure that her hair was as dishevled as possible and that her face was smudged with dirt. Effery made sure that some of the hair flopped forward, hiding half of her face, and messed up her clothes a little.
Only then did she nod at her reflection and leave her room. Quick steps took her down the old stairs of the orphanage, and soon enough she slipped out of the front door and away from the building.
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Around an hour later, Effery found herself walking through White Chapel, the pockets of her dress stuffed with an apple each, as well as some berries. She'd been to the market, and had snatched one piece of fruit from nearly every stand. No one would miss one little fruit, especially the size of a berry! And she was less likely to get caught.
Now she was simply looking for a spot to sit and eat her share of the fruit. And later she would go back to the orphanage and give the rest to her closest friends. A smile played over her delicate, dirt-smudged face, and she caught sight of a foutain.
That would be a nice place to sit!
Her steps quickened, and she nearly hurried through the crowd. Once she arrived at the fountain however, she caught sight of a woman. An adult woman, sitting there with books and...candy. Effery's mouth watered at the sight of the little candies, and she licked her dry lips out of instinct.
She approached the woman, her hesitation quite evident, "Excuse me...madame..." Gray blue eyes peered out of the dirty face, trying to judge the woman's character by just looking at her. Would she shoo Effery away? Or would she share her candies?
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Post by Sloane Hannelore on Jul 13, 2010 0:10:33 GMT -5
A few children had come and gone in the time she'd lingered about. Some eagerly eating at the candy she'd brought, and others eating up whatever books and papers she had to give. Many didn't stay too long, but when survival trumped the need to read she could understand why those who did stay only lingered about for less than an hour.
Crimson curls had long ago fallen from its bun, the high lace collar catching a few errant strands as she worked through her own lesson book, watching as she last child wandered away. There was no telling how many would come back, or how many were from the orphanage. The whispers had gotten to her now, the longer she lingered at White Chapel...with so many children on their own there was still a large number to try to pick out those from the orphanage and those from the streets.
A small voice off to her right brought her out of her thoughts as she looked up at the small child standing close to her. She was rather messy looking, tangled hair, dirty face, but Sloane saw the eyes on the candy as she picked up the bag and held it out, her other hand staying in plain view on the open book. If there was one thing she'd learned it had been that a lot of children didn't seem to trust adults. "I'm not a madam, I'm Sloane." She replied softly giving a honeyed smile, "Would you like some? Take as much as you like."
Setting down the bag between the two of them she leaned back a little, just watching as she gathered one of the books beside her, "I'm new to this city. I was told that there were children who don't go to school. I'm a teacher, and I came to see if anyone wanted my help." Holding out the book towards the child, she set it beside the candy, her smile never once faultering. |
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Post by EFFERY WINCHESTER on Jul 16, 2010 2:51:47 GMT -5
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The woman turned toward her, and Effery was glad to see that the lovely features didn't twist with disgust or dislike. Effery still couldn't quite read the woman's intentions, but she felt safe for the time being. Once she'd assesed the situation to a degree, Effy allowed herself to look over the woman's glorious, red hair. The girl became even more jealous. Not only was this woman brave enough to show her beauty around grown men, but she also had the loveliest hair Effery had seen in her life.
That almost didn't matter however, once the woman picked up the bag of candy and held it out to Effery. The girl's eyes took in the woman's posture, out of instinct mainly. In the years she'd spent in the orphanage --while the staff was still in charge-- she had learned how to read some body language. At least she knew how most adults shifted their frame right before they would lash out physically.
This woman did not mean her harm. At least not immediately. Effery stepped closer, reached into the bag and took out one candy. Her fingers itched to take a hand-full, but she didn't want the nice lady to turn mean. She started unwrapping the candy when she heard the woman introduce herself. Effery went still when instructed to use the woman's first name, Sloane. This was a rare thing for adults to do, most of them demanded respect through either the use of madam/sir, or the use of their family names.
The girl popped the candy into her mouth, and seated herself on he edge of the fountain. She was sitting close, but not too close. Effery gave herself enough of a chance to get away in case the woman turned mean. She took the book, her movements not as hesitant as before, and she looked over the cover. "We were being schooled before. But not anymore since--" She cut herself off and bit her lower lip. "The teacher is gone."
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Post by Sloane Hannelore on Jul 16, 2010 11:01:11 GMT -5
With any troubled student...or rather students in general it took a more than just punishment to get their attention. Sloane still felt like a child herself sometimes, and so she knew how it could be sometimes for a child faced with an adult.
The girl was messy, unkept...how long had the child be without a caretaker? Her first thought rose up as she watched her take only once piece and then sit down beside her. The book was taken as well, perhaps a good sign. Perhaps just a greedy thought that the lesson book was worth some money in the street. Either way Sloane was just happy the girl had not ran off the moment she'd opened her mouth.
"You can take more candy if you'd like. The other children who have come here have left with handfuls, and some didnt' even care to say anything to me like you have." Another smile as she moved the bag a little closer now to the girl, "I got it so that children would actually be interested in what I have as far as lessons go. Reading and writing are very important skills for everyone to have, but even then, I guess sugared sweets cannot convince some of that." A soft laugh followed before Sloane went quiet at what else the young girl was talking about.
Sitting up at more of an attention she turned to better face the young one, "Now what is this poppet? Are you one of the children up at the orphanage? Why would you not have a teacher there?" |
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Post by EFFERY WINCHESTER on Jul 21, 2010 15:02:48 GMT -5
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She took a moment to roll the candy around in her mouth, letting the sugar melt down her throat. Effery loved sweets, but was glad in a way that she didn't get to experience them very often. If candy was available to her every day, it wouldn't be all too special. This had come up in conversation with other orphans before, and they'd frowned at her and said that she sounded like an adult.
Gold brows pulled together at the thought. She did not think like an adult, did she? The hard candy clicked against the insides of her teeth and Effery turned back to the woman with the fiery hair. "I like to read and write." Effery offered the woman a shy little smile, "But I am a little out of practice." She bit down on the candy by accident, then sucked on the little sugary shards.
"Are you a teacher?" Effery looked the redhead over again. She didn't look much like a teacher, and in this place, people usually looked like what they really were. Except for herself of course. Should she feel guilty for making herself look unlike what she was?
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Post by Sloane Hannelore on Jul 21, 2010 19:57:22 GMT -5
"Well it is good to have those skills poppet. Without them the world remains full of ignorant adults and never changes. So many think it is a waste of time for women to know such things, but I think they're afraid of the power what education brings." There was a mischivous tone in her voice as she leaned down, whispering softly as she took a candy from her bag as well, popping it between rosy painted lips as the taste of butterscotch rolled across her tongue.
"I am a teacher. I'm new to the job. I work for some families in the upper districts, teaching their children. I figured I would share my knowledge with others though as I have the time and means to share it. It's unfair to keep things from other because they do not have the means." Reaching out slowly she lay her hand on the other's hair, tangled beneath her fingertips, but still she petted it gently, "So you are without a teacher where you live?" She asked as she moved in a little closer as if to comfort.
"Is there anyone taking care of you poppet? Anyone at all?" Sloane smiled, the honeyed expression warm as her hand slipped from the hair and back into her lap, "Surely you aren't alone, no child should even have that...it is too cruel to be alone. I myself am alone right now in this city and even I find it scary sometimes." |
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