It was a cold day. There was no mistaking that. Lirssa, however, was warm with the run to the Teas 'n' Tomas as well as the news she was eager to share with her tutor. People were as objects to her while she dodged through the afternoon traffic, the bells in her braids jangling wildly. A tiny fairy found a moment's amusement flying beside the girl and making the bells ring even more. It must have been a fleeting amusing, as the fairy did not even stay long enough for Lirssa to get annoyed by it.
The jingling bells were echoed by the ones above the door as Lirssa pushed her way inside. The running did not stop as she flashed a smile and wave to the young lady behind the counter, made a funny face at the old man grumbling about running, and took the steps up two at a time, calling to her tutor, who just assumed would be there. "Mr. Jolly! I've got the most fabulous news!"
Jolyon had arrived early, per usual, to the tea shoppe in preparation for tutoring the spunky tumbler. Lirssa had been his most challenging student to date, full of bargains, rebuttals, and odd logics. She certainly kept him on his toes mentally. His own sister had always been a rather quite, studious, and secretly wicked child. This youngster had no qualms about speaking her mind when she felt the urge. It was that among other things he had taken on as part of the instruction.
Today, however, he had a special surprise. The two glasses had been set out, and the bottle he had been taking with him from resturant to merchant across the city, emptied the near last of its offerings into the glasses. One glass held little more than four sips, while the other a usual glass. Jolyon smiled with pride again. In a year's time and the venture he had promised to succeed had come to fruition. The wines, the bulk of them at least, ready within the next month to be shipped out. His time had been consumed by finding buyers, and buyers he had found.
It would do no harm, he thought, in sharing the winnings with his young student who was at the age when he had first started his samplings of wine under the direction of his parents.
When Lirssa saw the layout of glasses and wine, she did not even think one of them was for her. Instead, she felt completely crestfallen. "Oh, you already know." She dropped her bag of books on the floor next to the seat and plopped down into the stuffed upholstery.
Complete confusion, not unusual with Lirssa, made Jolyon give a fish like impression of not knowing just what to say. Finally, he mustered up, "I know what exactly?"
"That Mrs. Sianna had her babies. Isn't that what you've got wine for?" She was, afterall, accustomed to trying various teas, ciders, and other drinks that all became part of their study hours.
Jolyon sat in his seat and smiled then laughed. "Well, yes, Lirssa, I know, but that does not mean you the news is any less an exciting thing. But these tastings of wine are not in celebration of the births."
It was time for Lirssa to be confused and excited all over again. She sat forward eyeing the glasses. "What are they for?"
The jingling bells were echoed by the ones above the door as Lirssa pushed her way inside. The running did not stop as she flashed a smile and wave to the young lady behind the counter, made a funny face at the old man grumbling about running, and took the steps up two at a time, calling to her tutor, who just assumed would be there. "Mr. Jolly! I've got the most fabulous news!"
Jolyon had arrived early, per usual, to the tea shoppe in preparation for tutoring the spunky tumbler. Lirssa had been his most challenging student to date, full of bargains, rebuttals, and odd logics. She certainly kept him on his toes mentally. His own sister had always been a rather quite, studious, and secretly wicked child. This youngster had no qualms about speaking her mind when she felt the urge. It was that among other things he had taken on as part of the instruction.
Today, however, he had a special surprise. The two glasses had been set out, and the bottle he had been taking with him from resturant to merchant across the city, emptied the near last of its offerings into the glasses. One glass held little more than four sips, while the other a usual glass. Jolyon smiled with pride again. In a year's time and the venture he had promised to succeed had come to fruition. The wines, the bulk of them at least, ready within the next month to be shipped out. His time had been consumed by finding buyers, and buyers he had found.
It would do no harm, he thought, in sharing the winnings with his young student who was at the age when he had first started his samplings of wine under the direction of his parents.
When Lirssa saw the layout of glasses and wine, she did not even think one of them was for her. Instead, she felt completely crestfallen. "Oh, you already know." She dropped her bag of books on the floor next to the seat and plopped down into the stuffed upholstery.
Complete confusion, not unusual with Lirssa, made Jolyon give a fish like impression of not knowing just what to say. Finally, he mustered up, "I know what exactly?"
"That Mrs. Sianna had her babies. Isn't that what you've got wine for?" She was, afterall, accustomed to trying various teas, ciders, and other drinks that all became part of their study hours.
Jolyon sat in his seat and smiled then laughed. "Well, yes, Lirssa, I know, but that does not mean you the news is any less an exciting thing. But these tastings of wine are not in celebration of the births."
It was time for Lirssa to be confused and excited all over again. She sat forward eyeing the glasses. "What are they for?"