It’s Daniel

Chapter One. A New Way To Learn.

Hot sunlight streamed through the windows of the school, as Arrista Diamond walked through the hallways. Her over full backpack weighed down upon her back, causing her to stumble as she attempted to turn the corners. If she didn’t hurry, Miss Canen would have her head.

Arrista smiled to herself, as she turned another corner. She was nothing like her sister, and proud to count herself in the different group. How dull it must have been for Annelina, all meek and needing of her eacher as she was. Arrista would never love Miss Canen, and she held no reservations for the way she treated the snobbish old lady. Nobody treated her family as Miss Canen had and fully got away with it.

With a last wistful look down the hallway, Arrista opened the door and entered the brightly litmusic room. The Grand piano tood n the crner as it alwayshad before, the top decorated with two vases of roses from obvious fanatics, and smaller bols of lilies and lilacs Miss Canen had gathered herself. On shelves beside the wall, sat the trophies won by the music classes of the past and present, all of whichhad been taught by Miss Canen herself. Arrista couldn’t help but glare with disgust at the trophies. Whoever in the world had more pride in oneself than Miss Canen?

“You could at leat be respectful enough to show up before the bell rings, Miss Diamond. Honestly, I can never be certain whether you Diamonds have any sense at all, though I’ve little doubt you don’t. Maria certainly never did.” Miss Canen greeted coldly, as Arrista took her seat in the alto section.

“Certainly, Miss Canen. I won’t be late ever ever again, if you can promise me you’ll get help for your narcissism. I hear it can be quite terminal, not only for the one who’s narcistic but for the ones falling victim to it. Have you ever studied narcissism? It’s uite an interesting---“

“Tat’s enough, Arrista. I am not now, nor have I ever been narcissistic. You’ve a lot of nerve calling me names. I’ll have five hundred sentences of “O shall not backtalk in class, as is my family’s cstom”, by tomorrow.” Miss Canen snapped, her expression cruel as she towered above Arrista.

“Got it. Now, how about getting some music out of the way befe the bell rings? Don’t bother, I’ll have another five hundred sentences tomorrow on top of the others. I rather enjoy them!” Arrista mocked, as she leaned bac in her chair.

“I don’t kow why you even botherbeing here, MissDiamond. You’re never serious about this class, and you can’t stay in tune ifthe tuners ht you over the head with the notes. You’re flatter than your older sister used to be.” Miss Canen told her, her smile small and cruel as she attempted to ut deep into Arrista’s soul.

Arrista smiled and leveled her gaze upon her choir teacher. Miss Canen had succeeded in her attempts to angerArrista. She felt the comment bubbling u ith in her, and knew well the consequences her actons would bring when thecomment burst from her lips. Come it would however, and Arrista braced herself as she knew there was no way to stop it.

“Cassie might have been flat in some ways, but at least she was flat on her feet and not on her bak.” Arrista said quietly, her smile radiating into the face of the blind music t

eacher standing shocked in front of her.

The room had buzzed with the onversations of everyone around Arrista, but at her comment the room fell dead silent. Her comment had acquire the affect she’d desired, and she had to smile at the reddening expression that had taken Miss Canen’s face. She’d finally hit a deep nerve, and Arrista congratulated herself as she faced her teacher. Perhaps now Miss canen would see the error of her ways. How dare she bother Arrista’s family as she always did.

“Arrista Diamond, you have thirty seconds to get out of my classroom, or else I’ll break every school law and slap you.” Miss Canen said quietly, her tone dangerous as she leveled her face to Arrista’s height.

“I’m sure you’d just love that. No matter though, I’m off to see the Wizzard.” Arrista told her, as she stood to leave.

The class watched her go, silent and listening until she closed the door safely behind her. Arrista gave those she liked one of her happy smiles, and glared through her green eyes at those she did not. There was really no use in pretending to like someone when you didn’t. It only caused anger, and Arrista knew something of the anger one felt when they were liked for pretend.

Safely outside the classroom, Arrista looked at the closed door behd her and allowed her anger to ebb slowly away. She knew she hadn’t been too harsh with Miss Canen. The woman had earned it after all she’d done to her family, and how long she’d made her mother suffer! Many a horror story had she heard, of how Miss Canen’s hand had caused the suffering of her mother, and all the time Arrista’s anger had grown acutely deeper and dangerously close to exploding through her. She’d never be kind to Miss Canen as Annelina had been. That was a betrayal to everything she held dear to her.

Sighing, Arrista leaned against the wall and awaited the sounds of music that were sure to come from the room beyond. Once the music began, she’d slip quietly back into the room and make her way to her place once again. She’d try and forget about this scrape till the end of class, then she’d be obedient and tell her mother what she’d done. How disappointed Maria Diamond would be in her daughter, though that was the last thing Arrista had wanted to do.

“Arrista, do you want to tell me why you’re standing all alone outside Kursten’s office?” A familiar voice asked from behind her, as Arrista jumped and spun in horror.

“It’s not really me, dad! It’s---it’s only the wind, I tell you!” Arrista said, as she felt her face flush a violent readdish color.

“Does your Mum know you’re out here, Arrista?” Her father asked as he laid a hand upon her head.

“Oh, does she have to know at all? Why must we tell Mamma?” Arrista pleaded, resting her head on her father’s shoulder and kissing his cheek.

“Tell Mamma what? Well, hullo there, Arrista! I’m of the opinion you’d better have a good reason for being out of class.” A far too familiar voice spoke from behind her, startling the girl once again as she stood hugging her father.

“I really do! Oh Mamma, it’s just that---“

“It’s just that your daughter has the unnatural ability to lay it on real good when she’d like to. You should have heard her lay it on Miss Canen in there! That was something I wouldn’t ever miss in the world!” Angel Thompson said as she walked out of the classroom door.

Oh great, thought Arrista as she glared at Angel. Maria would be so furious with her for talking out, and Angel had just made it worse. If it had been Miss Canen who’d gone to hermother, she wouldn’t have taken it as she would now. Angel had just sealed her destiny, and Arrista would never forgive her for the grounding she was about to receive.

“Did she deserve it, Arrista? What exactly did you say to her?” Maria asked, as she looked into her daughter’s eyes.

Arrista faltered beneath the gaze of er mother. She’d been certain she’d done right by telling mis Canen just how she felt, but now she couldn’t be so sure. Would her mother be disappointed in her? Who really cared if she was!

“Oh, Arrista told her all about how she felt. How she at least wasn’t found on her back, and a bunch of other things like that. Made poor Miss Canen cry, Mrs. Diamond.” Angel said as she looked with triumph at Arrista.

“Eiher way, the bell’s rung. Both of you, get to class. Arrista, we’re going to have a discussion when you get home, so come straight.” Maria ordered as she walked away.

Arrista watched her mother for a second, hating Angel with all her heart as she wondered what the discussion was to be. Angel had gotten her into trouble, and she had a class with her mother that next period! How could she do such a thing, and pretend to be her best friend other times? Hadn’t she stood up for Angel on multiple occasions, and even taken the blame for her antics a few times? Was this how she was to epay Arrista’s kindness toward her?

Angrily Arrista turned and walked toward her English class. She’d hoped to get by with her tiny little essay on butterflies, but she was almost certain now that that wouldn’t work for her. Maria Diamond was n a ripe old mood now, and she had to face her. Oh, Arrista would never forgive Angel.

The end of the day brought a load the size of Texas upon Arrista, and she looked forward only with dread at the amount of time she’d have to spend away from her lovely horse to complete it. Lightening was the most beautiful thing in her life, and on the times when she could ride far and fast around the trails, she’d imagine she was a heroine on a long quest to free the world from the tyrannical nature of King Henry and that abominable Queen Elizabeth. Who cared that they’d been father and daughter of a completely different generation? She knew in her dream world that Queen Elizabeth and King henry lived together in their castle in England and tortured everyone in her dream world to the point of exhaustion.

Perhaps she’d be Queen Elizabeth herself that day, or even King Henry in her world of play. Nobody would e able to tell her wht to do if thatwere the case, and she couldn’t wait to torment her subjects. Arrista would knock them all into line, before she was done with this day.

“I heard Angel got you into trouble. What a whore!” Samantha Louis said, as she wandered to Arristas side in the crowdd hallways.

“She told my Mother what I’d said to Miss Canen today. If I could get away with it, I’d so kill her.” Arrista told her best friend as big angry brown eyes met mischievous blue ones.

“No reason why you at. Tomorrow we’ll meet her on her way to school and teach her a lesson. If she can’t identify us, we’re in the clear.” Samantha said joyfully, smiling as they turned toward the north exit of the big school building.

Arrista, by all rights of a growing adolescent had known the idea of beating a girl for snitching was wrong. Because she had known the consequences that come from hurting a soul without care, I cannot commend her behavior, nor can I lie to those of you who read her biography and tell them that she had given her decision much thought. Arrista had never been known for her thinking things out, so one might not be too surprised when she heartily agreed to meet Samantha Louis besid the old oak the following morning

“It’ll be fun. That little nitwit won’t know what hit her!” Samantha stated cheerfully as she followed Arrista out the exit dors.

“Keep in mind Sam, that if we get caught we’re hamburger.” Arrista replied as they turned toward the place where Arrista would meet her bus.

With promises to meet in the morning, Arrista and Samantha parted. There was homework that needed done, and the horses needed their exercise. It was Arrista’s turn to exercise the dreaded and very green-broken Theodore and his sister Brandy, and she needed all the rest she could get to keep them in line. She’d have to do her homework on the bus, that she could get it out of the way.

On the bus at last, Arrista pulled the worn and tattered notebook from her backpack. She was wondering if she might have some time to write a poem she’d just brought to life within the depths of her mind, and knowing it might be a bad idea began to write. It grew and grew upon the page of the notebook, and when at last she’d finished it she stared in disbelief at the written work. Had she really been able to write such beauty?

“You’re going to miss the stop, Arrista!” Jacob told her as the bus rumbled to a stop.

With a gasp, Arrista was brought with a jolt back to her reality. She had little time to wonder how time had passed so quickly, when Jacob began hurriedly thrusting her things back into her backpack. Shed have to help him, if she emant to keep the papers neat and tidy. She’d not have her littler brother messing her things up and making them wrinkly.

“Off with all of you, Diamond family. This be your get off point.” The driver instructed, as the doors opened.

“Yeah. Get off the bus, sardines.” A girl of about Jacob’s age commanded in a harsh whisper that was nonetheless overheard by all Diamonds.

“Too bad we’re better than your family, Carter.” Suzy said as she stood.

“Want to see about that? We could really see about that, little Suzy. Ever heard the song Somebody killed Little Suzy?” The girl asked, her long nose pointed at the girl as she began to get to her feet.

“You take that back, Theresa Carter. You take back your threats to Suzy right now!” Rilla commanded as the girl turned her pointed nose toward her.

“Get off my bus!” The driver snapped angrily, as Arrista leveled her gaze at the girl.

“You gonna say that to me, Theresa? C’mon! I wanna hear you say that to me.” She said dangerously, as she shifted her eyes to the door of the bus where the other Diamonds were unloading.

“You don’t scare me, Arrista. We’ll sort this out, you and I. The flagpole, Monday after school.” Theresa said angrily, naming the time and place where Arrista would teach her a lesson.

“Then Monday by that flagpole, I shall commense to kicking your pretty brown nosing ass, and teach you a lesson you should have been taught by your Mamma and Papa when you learned to walk.” Arrista promised as she unloaded the bus and looked around.

The old red truck sat waiting for them at the bottom of the hill, its occupant catching Arrista’s eyes and sending thrills of excitement through her entire being. Long hair waving in the little breeze, Uncle Wyatt had come at last to visit. Seeing that the passenger seat had miraculously remained empty, Arrista threw herself through the passenger door and round her great-Uncle’s neck. She’d missed him so very much since he’d been gone, and he hadn’t even written her in so long!

“Whoa, girl! I missed you too!” He greeted, as he patted her back.

“Oh Uncle Wyatt! Does Mamma and Dad know you’re here yet, or are we the first?” Arrissta questioned, as she hugged him furiously.

“Nope, you’re all the first. I waited here for all of you, so you didn’t have to walk over the two miles to your house. That your dog?” Uncle Wyatt asked, as the wolf galloped down the driveway and hurled herself into Jacob’s outstretched arms.

“That’s Diamond. Isn’t she so beautiful? We got her and her sister, and Mamma named her sister Walla. Don’t ask why, I’m not certain. Can I ride up with you, Uncle?” Arrista asked, as Rilla climbed in beside her.

“Well, get comfortable. It’s off we go!” Uncle Wyatt said happily, as he started the old motor and began the anctient truck moving.

Homework forgotten, Arrista chatted with her Uncle and Rilla as he drove up the hillside, happy to know her Mamma would soon be seeing her own Uncle and forgetting all about Arrista’s mishaps that day. She couldn’t have asked for a better distraction, as she smiled at her Uncle. He’d been long overdue at Four Paws, and she had so much to tell him.

“Uncle, why do you look so sad?” Rilla asked in that kind little voice as they pulled through the gate.

Wyatt turned his curly head to her, and gave her a smile as he squeezzed her little hand. Arrista’s eyes had found the sadness on his face as well, and she allowed her smile to fade away as she concentrated on him. Her Uncle had never looked so, or at least he was able to hide it well when they were about. Why could he not hide it now?

“I’m not here on a visit of our usual, girls. You see, I don’t know how I’m going to tell your mother, but your grandmother has passed on.” Uncle Wyatt said carefully, the deep lines in his face creasing to hide the tears he’d not wanted to fall.

Rilla and Arrista exchanged looks, as they sat beside him. At no time in their lives, had their mother even mentioned she still spoke to her mother, or even that she had one for that matter. Arrista had never been one of those girls with the grandmother from Mamma’s side and that of her father’s, because to her neither of them existed. They only had grandparents who claimed both were theirs by adoption, so she’d never bothered to think of somebody else as grandmother or grandfather. The one time she’d ever asked her mother, Maria had looked sad and told her her mother had gone away. Di Uncle Wyatt know better?

“Mamma has---had a Mamma?” Rilla asked, her blue eyes curious as she stared into those of her Uncle.

“Well, I’m not surprised she didn’t tell you. They never really got along, Maria and Sarah. Your grandmother was eccentric, you see?” Uncle Wyatt asked, as they pulled into the house.

“Do you think Mamma will cry?” Rilla asked, her face holding the slightest hint of fright as she asked the question.

“No, Mamma won’t cry. At least, not when we’re there. She’ll wait till we’re sleeping or gone to cry. Mamma never cries in front of us, silly girl.” Arrista assured her, as she patted her younger sister’s head.

“Jessi and Amy’re with the horses!” Jacob shouted in alarm, as he threw himself from the still moving truck.

Arrista felt her own heart quicken as she watched Kaylobe, Elija and Alexander hurtle themselves from the truck, and sighed with relief as she saw them all running toward the stables. Three-year-old Amy and two-year-old Jessica were constantly into trouble with the horses, and Arrista could sense a lot of her own wild spirit within the two of them. She wondered now how they’d slipped by the Nanny, and knew she’d be furious with them when they were brought in to her.

Uncle Wyatt let out a string of curses that would have horrified her very dignified and gentle mother, and Arrista laughed quietly as the truck came to a sudden stop. She was well used to the way her Uncle Wyatt screamed and yelled when he was depressed and for any other given reason, she rather felt like doing so herself at times. How jolly it would be to allow those kinds of words to flow freely when one needed to vent any sort of emotion. She was thinking she’d try it sometime, when she heard the distinct rumble of another car as it approached the house.

“Cassie’s here! Guys, Cassie and James are here!” Suzy cried as she leapt from the truck.

Arrista felt her heart leap again, as she and Rilla jumped from the passenger side. Uncle Wyatt wouldn’t mind their leaving. He never did, especially when he had other things to do. He was reclusive as it was, and so she knew he’d be all right. He was the kind of man who allowed people to do what they would, as long as he himself could do so.

“Rista! Family!” Cassie greeted, as they hurled themselves at James’s old Ford.

“Cassie! You’re here, and so is Uncle Wyatt!” Rilla greeted as she flung herself into Cassie’s outstretched arms.

“Didja know Mamma has a Mamma?” Alexander asked as he helped to take Cassie’s two children from the car.

“Doesn’t everyone have one?” Cassie asked obviously, as she waved James into the house.

“I’m glad you could come, Cassie. Didn’t think it would e so soon, but glad nonetheless you did. Want to go for a walk?” Arrista asked quietly, as she hugged her growing sister close to her.

Cassie nodded, then followed Arrista away from the crowd of family as it scattered toward the house. There’d been so much to tell her since she and James hahd moved away, and there were times when Arrista had felt so alone she could cry. How excited she was to finally have her sister back.

The crowd waiting outside Miss Canen’s door the next day caught Arrista’s attention immediately as she turned the corner. Never had the door been locked before that Arrista could remember, and now it stood closed and locked as the students talked excitedly. Arrista felt a mischievous smile cross her face as she wondered if the old bat might finally have died, when the door finally clicked. Taking a deep breath, Collista turned the lock and opened the door as she walked into the room.

For a moment, Arrista saw nobody as she entered the room, then her eyes fell on a form standing beside the grand piano with a book held in front of the face. About as tall as Miss Canen, the figure seemed thin and sinewy, though something about it was completely different than her old teacher. None of the haughtiness did it hold as it stood, and though the gloved hands fumbled through the pages, it had no end of a time trying to open the book correctly.

“Miss Canen?” One of the Favorites asked uncertainly, as he looked to the papers in the figure’s hand.

“Aww, now ye see, ye’re quite wrong bout that. Be seated now, and we shall be started.” A thick accented voice commanded, far deeper than Miss Canen’s herself as the figure lowered the music book.

A collective gasp rang through the room of students, as the face came into view. The eyes behind it were unmistakably Miss Canen’s own eyes, but the face held a merry little glow below the long red hair that hung loosely down the figure’s back. This could not be Miss Canen, Arrista knew. He had none of her grace, and even seemed a little nervous as he faced the classroom of students.

“Where’s Miss Canen?” The favorite asked, his voice confused and angry.

“Kursten Canen has drunk herself sick this mornin’, and has asked that I be takin’ her place. So sit yer asses down and we’ll be beginnin’ ourstudies.” The man commanded in a voice that left none to question the seriousness of his words.

“Just wait till we tell Miss Canen.” Candice Rosemary said, as she looked down her nose at the man.

“There’s a good place for ye in the office down the hallway there if ye can’t behave as a sivilized teen might. Now, this entire book is crap, so we’re goin’ to try somethin’ different. How many of ye know any other songs than are in this book of Rubbish? We’re goin’ to find something prettier than this flowery dirt to sing.” The man told them, as Arrista felt a smile cross er face.

“You can’t just change our corriculem when you’re only here one day, Mr. It doesn’t work that way.” Catherine Tracey told him angrily, as she pulled a magazine from her backpack.

“Well, I’ll be decidin’ what I’ll be doin’ from now on, will I not? Put that book away, before I send ye away. If anyone gives me any more flack, they can be off to the Principal’s office. Now, take out a laptop and get writin’ a list of music, if ye can’t be civil. Those of us who can, let’s begin discussing new music.” The man ordered as he took Miss Canen’s laptop unceremoniously from the back cupboard.

“Sir, who are you?” Arrista asked in confusion, as she raised her hand.

“I’ll be Kursten’s evil twin brother Daniel McPhearson. And ye must be the famous Arrista Diamond from the dreaded Diamond family. We’ll get along fine, ye and I. So, any new mischief befallin’ ye of late?” The man asked, smiling warmly at Arrista as he extended a bony gloved hand.

“Miss Canen doesn’t associate with that riffraff.” Catherine told him as she glared dangerously at Mr. McPhearson.

“Miss Canen is both a drunk and a whore, and I shan’t hear anythin’ of her in my presence. As for those of ye she pets, that is not my way. Be quiet if ye can’t seem to findthe right words to name off a good song for the semester.” Mr. McPhearson said sharply, as he smiled at a group of students in the back corner.

“Mr. McPhearson---“

“Please call me Daniel? I won’t be all high and mighty with ye students. I’m no different than ye, cept that I be older slightly. So, let’s be on a first name basis, ye and I.” Daniel told them, as he took a seat on the chairs beside one of the other members.

Those who hid in the back to avoid retaliation by the previous teacher, wandered shyly forward now to seat themselves in the front. Daniel welcomed them all warmly by name, as he began to write down the ideas and suggestions of the students for music they would like to sing. Arrista felt an instant liking toward the Irish man who sat beside Nicholas Jewels, allowing it to grow as she saw how well he interacted with the students.

“I bet they’re distant cousins or something. Miss Canen told me she hadn’t any siblings and he’s from another country besides.” Catherine could be overheard whispering to Draiah Luna from across the room.

“Well, that be a lie, and a damned big one too. Ye see, when we ewre born to this Earth, me mother took Kursten to be raised in America and left me with me father. And she has another brother besides, in the family that be legally adoptin’ her over eighteen years previous. She be a Montgomery.” Daniel told the class at large, as Arrista looked to him.

She had heard the name Montgomery before, though she didn’t remember where. It had been a name she’d heard in passing, spoken by her parents. This she was certain of, though she could not remember who the said Montgomery family was, and why her parents might be discussing them.

The class drew to a dramatic end an hour later, as Daniel had finally sent a disobedient Catherine to the office. A torn magazine lay in tattered shreds at the bottom of the shredder basket, and Arrista felt the smile crossing her face again as she hurried to her next period. She had so much to tell her mother,, and wandered into the classroom halfway through the break as she took her seat in the cozy classroom.

Her mother’s classroom was quite different than those of the other teachers in looks. One section had been completely re-furnished with the hiring of the woman, and held three large couches in one large circle. A television with VCR and DVD player sat in the corner, and a large square coffee table sat in the front of the couch. This was where the students would read their literary plays and watch the movies her mother picked for them.

Desks sat in neat little rows facing the teacher’s desk in the front, and Maria sat behind this now with a Braille book in hand as she read on. Arrista was used to seeing this sort of thing, as she wandered to her mother’s desk and pulled the cushioned chair in front of it. A big mug of hot tea sat on the corner of the desk, peppermint with honey as was her mother’s favorite. Arrista took this now, and had a long drink of it before setting it back on the desk and catching her mother’s attention.

“There’s some in the pot on that counter if you’d like to have some, baby. Want the key to get a cup?” Maria asked as she looked at one of the desk drawers.

“There was a substitute teacher in Choir today, Mamma. A man.” Arrista told her as she poured herself a mug of tea and sweetened it with the honey her mother had on the counter.

“New sub? Have you met him previously?” Maria asked interested, as she laid her book aside.

“No. He’s Miss Canen’s twin brother Daniel McPhearson. He told us in class that he comes from Dublin Ireland, and he’s so much nicer than Miss Canen. H didn’t have one bad thing to say about our family all day long. Actually, he seemed to revere us somewhat. Mamma, it was kind of disconcerting, really.” Arrista told her mother as she took her seat once again.

“It’s awful early for him! I didn’t expect him for at least another twenty years, at least!” Maria told her daughter, a look of utter shock on her brown face.

“you know him? He’s so exciting, Mamma! What do you know about him?” Arrista asked her, stunned for the thousandth time at how many connections her mother had.

“Daniel’s someone I’ve heard of in passing, when I was younger. Kursten may have mentioned him once or twice.” Maria told her as she sipped her tea.

The bell rang then, and Arrista took her mug to her seat as Maria shook her head. Lifting one of her slender white hands, she pointed the few students who’d entered the classroom toward the partitioned part of the room where the couches lay. Arrista made her way to the corner one, and allowed her mother to sit beside her as she handed the mug to her. Maria had always been good at carrying full mugs, but this was something Arrista liked to do for her.

“So, what we learning today, Mrs. D? Couldn’t be as interesting as Miss Canen’s class was today.” Thomas Bradshaw told her as he smiled.

“Wherewolves.” Maria said simply, as she pointed to the spot above the television where a picture of the family wolf sat.

“Scuse me?” Thomas asked, as though he failed to believe the day could be any more shocking than it had been before.

“Today, we’re going to write a play of our own. In this play, there shall be wherewolves, fairies, sasquotch and Welves. Can’t you hardly wait to begin?” Maria asked smiling, as she pulled a small and compact laptop onto her lap.

“Don’t you mean Elves?” Collista teased as she laughed with the class.

“Yes yes yes, Welves. Now, let’s begin. Rumph to you all for making me say it again!” Maria told the class at large as she laughed at her own impediments.