Addressed to Jamahl of the Isle
Dear Jamahl,
I hope this letter finds you in better spirits than when we last parted. I must beg your forgiveness for coming off so strong headed in our parting meeting. You, more than any other, know how much this venture means to me. But my own desires give me no excuse for treating your opinion in the matter lightly. I will take your warnings into consideration and trust that you know best in this matter. You have grown up with these people, after all. I bow to your wisdom in this matter and have already done so by enlisting extra security around my person, at least until the both of us deem it wise to remove these precautions.
I've received news that your friends will be joining us within the next day or two, depending on weather conditions. Perhaps they have already reached you? Charm is closer to the coast, so I thought perhaps you could give me news of the four new students you have received.
Yes, I am impatient. We've been planning for this for a long time now. I'm anxious to get to work. I expect you to write the very moment you have time to sit down and do so.
In the meantime I will catch you up on events here in Aspell, since you've been away for nearly a month now.
Kassim is already anxious for your return. He frequently tells me I am "no fun". You've forever spoiled my reputation, you know. People used to think I wasn't too bad, but since you came around showed them all what a good time they'd been missing, I've become the stodgy, old prince. So thanks to you I hardly get invited to the parties around here. And I'm only partially in jest. But in all seriousness, I'm going to have to find some good work for Kassim to do. He's taken to flipping himself up and down the school buildings and trying to pick the pockets of all the teachers. Fortunately his conscience is strong enough that he makes a point of returning his findings at the end of each day. Or maybe it's his pride that wants acknowledgement. Either way, he hasn't ended up in our dungeons yet.
Charlie and Beth send their best wishes, and Beth has charged me to tell you to tell Mei, Addie, and Rosie that she misses them immensely and hopes they won't forget to do that one thing they promised. Don't ask me what they promised. Beth just smiles in her way and blows me a kiss when I ask. I don't mind the latter part, but sometimes I think I'll go crazy trying to figure out what women mean.
And lastly, LoLo is sending you this charm she braided over the summer. She gave it to Else to give to Beth to give to me to send to you. Don't ask me why she didn't just send it herself! Women.
Seriously though, Jamahl, you've got to kindly but firmly tell that girl that you don't think of her that way. She's one of Beth's best friends, but I'm going to go crazy if I have to deal with her giggling and blushing every time she hears your name around her. Send her a card or something. Friend zone her. Seriously.
We are all preparing for the school year still, hoping your progress is better than ours. Master Grumpy has quit again. Third time this year. But father thinks I'd better take it seriously and hire a new mathematics teacher. Do you know how hard it is to find a maths teacher at this time of year?! No one wants to take on the position after Grumpy has left such a bad reputation, but I've got to find someone because school starts next week!
It's fine. It'll all work out. But if you think of anyone, please let me know as soon as possible! I've nearly exhausted all my resources.
The last bit of news I have is not so lighthearted as the rest. Father told me this morning that King Eugene has called for another convention next month to discuss the Isle situation. He didn't seem too positive about it. A lot of people are coming for this convention. I'm fighting for more time, but I'm afraid that they'll want to make the decision now and stick with it forever. "Always prepared" kind of people. But that's very bad for us. We need until at least the end of the school year to present the results and convince them to change their minds. It took you a solid six months before you started softening at all. We just need more time.
It will work out. It has to. We'll just keep working and talking to the right people. Right?
I'm off to Mother's birthday party now. I'll send her your best wishes, knowing that's what you'd want.
Cheers!
Ben
I hope this letter finds you in better spirits than when we last parted. I must beg your forgiveness for coming off so strong headed in our parting meeting. You, more than any other, know how much this venture means to me. But my own desires give me no excuse for treating your opinion in the matter lightly. I will take your warnings into consideration and trust that you know best in this matter. You have grown up with these people, after all. I bow to your wisdom in this matter and have already done so by enlisting extra security around my person, at least until the both of us deem it wise to remove these precautions.
I've received news that your friends will be joining us within the next day or two, depending on weather conditions. Perhaps they have already reached you? Charm is closer to the coast, so I thought perhaps you could give me news of the four new students you have received.
Yes, I am impatient. We've been planning for this for a long time now. I'm anxious to get to work. I expect you to write the very moment you have time to sit down and do so.
In the meantime I will catch you up on events here in Aspell, since you've been away for nearly a month now.
Kassim is already anxious for your return. He frequently tells me I am "no fun". You've forever spoiled my reputation, you know. People used to think I wasn't too bad, but since you came around showed them all what a good time they'd been missing, I've become the stodgy, old prince. So thanks to you I hardly get invited to the parties around here. And I'm only partially in jest. But in all seriousness, I'm going to have to find some good work for Kassim to do. He's taken to flipping himself up and down the school buildings and trying to pick the pockets of all the teachers. Fortunately his conscience is strong enough that he makes a point of returning his findings at the end of each day. Or maybe it's his pride that wants acknowledgement. Either way, he hasn't ended up in our dungeons yet.
Charlie and Beth send their best wishes, and Beth has charged me to tell you to tell Mei, Addie, and Rosie that she misses them immensely and hopes they won't forget to do that one thing they promised. Don't ask me what they promised. Beth just smiles in her way and blows me a kiss when I ask. I don't mind the latter part, but sometimes I think I'll go crazy trying to figure out what women mean.
And lastly, LoLo is sending you this charm she braided over the summer. She gave it to Else to give to Beth to give to me to send to you. Don't ask me why she didn't just send it herself! Women.
Seriously though, Jamahl, you've got to kindly but firmly tell that girl that you don't think of her that way. She's one of Beth's best friends, but I'm going to go crazy if I have to deal with her giggling and blushing every time she hears your name around her. Send her a card or something. Friend zone her. Seriously.
We are all preparing for the school year still, hoping your progress is better than ours. Master Grumpy has quit again. Third time this year. But father thinks I'd better take it seriously and hire a new mathematics teacher. Do you know how hard it is to find a maths teacher at this time of year?! No one wants to take on the position after Grumpy has left such a bad reputation, but I've got to find someone because school starts next week!
It's fine. It'll all work out. But if you think of anyone, please let me know as soon as possible! I've nearly exhausted all my resources.
The last bit of news I have is not so lighthearted as the rest. Father told me this morning that King Eugene has called for another convention next month to discuss the Isle situation. He didn't seem too positive about it. A lot of people are coming for this convention. I'm fighting for more time, but I'm afraid that they'll want to make the decision now and stick with it forever. "Always prepared" kind of people. But that's very bad for us. We need until at least the end of the school year to present the results and convince them to change their minds. It took you a solid six months before you started softening at all. We just need more time.
It will work out. It has to. We'll just keep working and talking to the right people. Right?
I'm off to Mother's birthday party now. I'll send her your best wishes, knowing that's what you'd want.
Cheers!
Ben
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