STORIES
157 - Wisdom
2010
Friday morning …
SYRRAH:
It is so good to have you here, Daprima. I apologize for not
beingable to welcome you last night when you arrived.
DAPRIMA:
Our flight was so late, I didn’t expect anyone to wait up.
So let’s get right to it.
DAPRIMA:
… Fin said you needed to speak with me. It must be big
cause he volunteered to take my sister out to breakfast.
SYRRAH:
Is that where Grace is? I was wondering why she had not come
tumbling into my room when the sun rose.
DAPRIMA:
She can’t wait to see you. She insists you’re her best friend.
SYRRAH:
She is sweet. Now that I know we will not be disturbed, I shall tell all.
SYRRAH:
… As you know, since moving here, we have additional housemates.
DAPRIMA:
I haven’t met any of them yet, but I don't sense anything
that would suggest they shouldn’t stay.
SYRRAH:
Ah yes, that empathic gift of yours. I should have known you
would have already evaluated the situation.
DAPRIMA:
Force of habit, but that’s not why we’re having breakfast together. There’s
something you want to tell me and you know I’m not going to like it.
SYRRAH:
Hahaha – yes you are perceptive. All right then, here it is: the One has opened diplomatic relations with the Sea Clan and wants a representative from that clan to move in with us here.
DAPRIMA:
OK, so far so good …
SYRRAH:
The representative is Washi of the Telemmaite. He was
Zyfan’s ex-lover as well as your genie’s former master.
DAPRIMA:
Washi! You mean the bully who broke into our house and tried to
steal Io? The same Washi who assaulted Io, in front of Grace,
and scared the hell out of her?
SYRRAH:
You remember him well.
DAPRIMA:
How could I forget? And you want him to live here
in my house? Absolutely not!
SYRRAH:
Daprima you must understand that my nation is in the
process of negotiating a …
DAPRIMA:
I don’t care about your politics. This man is a threat to Io,
a member of my family …
SYRRAH:
I fully understand your apprehension but I was hoping
you would see the wisdom in this situation.
GRACE:
Oh look Fin there she is. Syrrah! Syrrah ...
GRACE:
... I'm so glad to see you, yes I am.
SYRRAH:
Young Grace, how wonderful to see you too.
Did you have an enjoyable trip?
GRACE:
I did. I flew on a plane, yes I did. It took eleven hours, a real long time. I kept Mez company the whole way by telling him all about my class trip to the museum. You remember Mez, my brother …
DAPRIMA:
Babe, what happened to keeping her occupied all morning?
FIN:
Sorry. I tried, but she insisted on seeing Syrrah right away.
DAPRIMA:
I’m sure it was matter of life or death.
FIN:
That’s exactly what she said.
DARIMA:
Oh babe, she has you wrapped around her little finger.
FIN:
What can I say, I have a weakness for the Inizio sisters.
GRACE:
… And he kept trying to listen to his ipod so I kept pulling those things
out of his ears so he could hear the rest of my story ...
DAPRIMA:
Grace …
GRACE:
Oh hi Daprima. Did you know that Fin took me to breakfast?
We had pancakes - yes we did. They were so yummy.
DAPRIMA:
Syrrah and I are in the middle of a conversation. It’d be a huge favor
to me if you’d excuse yourself and catch up with her later.
GRACE:
Oh sure. I know - I’ll go wake up Mez, yes I will. I’m sure he
didn’t mean to sleep this late in the first place.
DAPRIMA:
Leave Mez alone. I think he had enough of you, yesterday.
SYRRAH:
Young Grace, would you be kind enough to check on Pica for me.
She is with her father in my sitting room. Do you know where that is?
GRACE:
Yes I do.
SYRRAH:
Very good. I will join you there, soon.
GRACE:
OK but don’t be too long. I have so much to tell you, yes I do.
SYRRAH:
She is such a joy.
FIN:
I don't think Mez would agree.
SYRRAH:
Daprima, I ask you to reconsider your decision. Do you not agree that it would be best to have Washi here, where we can watch him? My husband once told me of an old human saying: keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Think on this. We will talk again soon.
Syrrah leaves.
DAPRIMA:
Did you know about this?
FIN:
You mean - Washi moving in? Yes, Karanthir told me.
It’s interesting that you didn’t know.
DAPRIMA:
Interesting?
FIN:
Yes - I thought you would have sensed it or something.
So, I guess that means we have nothing to worry about.
DAPRIMA:
Oh no?
FIN:
Well, usually if there’s something bad coming,
you know about it long before it gets here.
DAPRIMA:
I didn’t sense his coming the first time. Maybe I don’t
sense anything now because he isn’t coming without
my OK - which he doesn’t have.
FIN:
Maybe … I’m a little surprised at you. I thought
you’d jump at the chance to meet Washi face to face,
and really let him have it as only you can.
DAPRIMA:
I do have a few things I’d like to say to him. And just for
the record - I know what you’re trying to do.
FIN:
I’m not trying to do anything except remind you of one thing …
FIN:
… Washi broke in once before looking for Io. So what’s to stop him from
doing it again? If he’s here, with all of us watching his every move …
DAPRIMA:
You think I should let him move in?
FIN:
We have the upper hand. We already know he has no honor.
Syrrah doesn’t trust him so you’ll have all of her resources at your
disposal and most importantly, there’s Karanthir.
DAPRIMA:
What’s he got to do with this?
FIN:
Washi disgraced Zyfan all those years ago. Karanthir would just
love to pay him back. He’s already plotting, I can tell.
DAPRIMA:
… And nothing gets by your brother.
FIN:
That’s right.
FIN:
What?
DAPRIMA:
I didn’t say anything.
FIN:
You’re starring at me.
