Room for one more (Ayita) on Cascade Hall

Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

June 22, 2012 9:15 PM

Room for one more (Ayita) by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

When Kiva had first become a Professor, she had dealt with a few rather delicate situations before with a couple of other students. She knew that one of them had turned out okay, but the other student had transferred school, so she had no idea whatever happened to her. Kiva hoped that the girl had gotten out of her home the way Irene had been able to find shelter from her abusive father and had been able to live with her uncle, but there were things that Kiva would never really know. After a while, Kiva knew that it was all part of her job as a teacher. She was there to look out for her students both at school and outside of it.

It was this thought that had her passing her office at the current moment. Last year, when Kiva had first taken the role as Headmistress, Kiva was only just getting used to the new administration role and had not yet fully grasped all the little things that landed on her desk that she hadn’t had the time to really look at. Some of those little things were returned mail from owls. In fact, Kiva hadn’t even noticed the small pile until the end of last year. Looking at it before summer, Kiva had realized it was only for one family. The Blys’. All of the school notices, brochures, and report cards had been returned unopened. She had no idea why this was, but she knew the Blys were different. A tribe of some sort and assumed that maybe they were nomads and the owls could not locate them.

When summer had ended and Kiva found that Ayita was still enrolled at the school, she dismissed the returned mail and went back to administration business and dealing with the school board and governors. When Midterm arrived and school reports and updates had once again been returned unopened, Kiva began to become suspicious. She had spoken to one of the representatives who visit Muggleborn homes prior to coming to the school to see if she could seek out the Blys’ and figure out what was going on.

And that’s where it all went crazy.

The representative came back about a week later and informed Kiva that Ayita’s father no longer recognized her as his relation. She was not welcomed back to their tribe and was not his daughter. This now involved Child Protective Services for magical children. Kiva did not want to deal with them again. She knew how difficult it was to place a magical child and Ayita’s background would not make matters any easier. The CPS person advised Kiva that there was a chance that Ayita would be pulled from school, it would depend on the family in which she would be placed. For now though, Kiva was her guardian while Ayita was at Sonora. They would let her stay here until the term was over and then CPS would take her.

Kiva did not want Ayita to fall into the system.

Earlier this year, Kiva had asked Jeff to open their home to Angel Shield. The boy was an orphan and for the last few years, he had been raised by his Healer. Normally, this situation was sad, but not to the point of getting involved. However, Angel’s life was full of abuse and neglect and Kiva had stepped in to be a foster parent. Jeff had been patient with her as she had explained her reasoning for this choice and in the end, agreed that they could provide a better home for Angel. She, again, had to have this conversation with her husband and her children. Jeff was less agreeable with Ayita, but only because he felt that Kiva was opening her heart too much for these students. There were others who could be good parents to them and there would be at time when she wasn’t going to be able to bring them home. But, they still had the room and he agreed to take Ayita in as their own. Their house held five bedrooms. They already had five people occupying four of the bedrooms. They wanted a baby of their own. So, they were one bedroom short. That meant, they were remodeling their basement. It was a finished basement, so they were cutting it in half. One side would be the entertainment/playroom and the other would become Ayita’s bedroom. Jeff would take care of it while Kiva and Ayita were in school. Once they were home for the summer, Ayita would be able to do as she pleased with it. A clean slate of sorts. They had the financial means and the room, they wanted to do the right thing.

But now she had to explain everything to Ayita and Kiva had no idea if the Fourth year would even want to live with her and her family. Kiva had summed the girl by owl asking her to join her in her office. Now she was waiting for the girl to arrive so that they could have a chat about everything that is happening.

0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau Room for one more (Ayita) 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 1 5

Ayita Bly

June 25, 2012 6:17 PM

...Me? by Ayita Bly

Ayita had never been summoned to the Headmistress’s office before, and she was a bit worried at the idea. Being summoned was not always a good thing, and while she did not recall any misbehavior on her part, she was afraid to get into trouble. She was a good student, and she did what she was told. Her curiosity occasionally got the better of her, but it was rarely in a way that could lead to punishment.

As she walked, she ransacked her memory. Had she misbehaved? The brunette was fairly certain she had adjusted herself to this society’s customs, but was there some rule she had forgotten about and consequently disobeyed? Ayita did not believe so. Still, there was a chance she was wrong.

On the other hand, there was potential that she was being summoned for something positive. Perhaps she had somehow earned an award or praise. Ayita was a fairly talented witch, and her grades reflected it. She had never been awarded anything before, but she had been disciplined, and given the experience, she imagined she would much prefer being rewarded.

Twisting her braid nervously, the tan-skinned girl knocked gently on the door to the headmistress’s office. Ayita was certain she was in there, but she did not want to appear rude by just barging in. “Excuse me?” she called meekly. “It is Ayita Bly. May I enter?”

0 Ayita Bly ...Me? 0 Ayita Bly 0 5

Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

June 26, 2012 8:10 PM

Yes, you. by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

“Yes, come in, Ms. Bly.” Kiva commented, standing and indicated the open seat across from her for Ayita to take once the young girl came into the office. After spending midterm with Angel and still trying to learn him (he seemed to have taken a liking to Jeff, which was good), but Kiva knew that taking in another student was going to be that much more difficult for her family. Angel was a complicated case though and since they all seemed to still be fairing, she hoped Ayita would be easier to bare. At least, Kiva had not heard any negative thoughts on the fourth year and there weren’t any medical issues to contend with like there were for Angel.

Kiva smoothed her pencil skirt against her out of a nervous habit (this kept her from running her hands through her massive brown curls instead). “Ms. Bly… Ayita.” Kiva wanted to keep this informal because she didn’t want to frighten the girl too much and if Kiva spoke to her on a friendlier level, it might keep Ayita relaxed. Kiva had to repress a sigh though because she really wished the school still maintained a counselor who could mediate these sorts of things. She thought for sure she would fumble this up. If Jeff were here, he’d be fabulous at putting any anxiety off. Oh well, no room for wishful thinking.

“I’ve come across some disturbing information regarding your home.” Kiva started and then realized the word ‘disturbing’ probably wasn’t the best one to use. “Or, as I should say, the lack of home.” Kiva corrected herself. “Over the last year and a half, the school has sent owls to parents regarding school functions, report cards, and other important documents, but these letters sent to your parents in particular have been returned, unopened or unanswered.” Kiva was watching the girl’s expression to see how she handled what Kiva was telling her.

“For awhile, I had simply assumed your parents either moved their location or didn’t care for the school information. However, after the last report card and the Concert invitation were returned, I felt it was best to be more assertive and sent our school representative to your family’s location” Kiva sighed and sat down. “What was found was that your family… your tribe, has basically disowned you.” She stopped talking there and let that information settle. Kiva was aware that Ayita must know this or something to this effect because the Child Service Representative and school representative both advised that Ayita had not returned to the tribe since she left her first year.

“We were also made aware that you have no family outside of the tribe and have not returned to them, so… I’m not sure where you have been staying during the summers and Child Protective Services is now involved because of this.” Kiva explained to her what exactly CPS was and what their role currently was in Ayita’s life. “Basically, it’s their job to keep you safe, which means that they need to find you a place to live with a good family. Now… usually this would mean placing you with a foster family. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. At the moment, you are a child of the state, so they can take you and place you wherever they have available to them. I don’t want that for you.” She told her rather bluntly.

“My family and I offer our home to you. We have an extra room that you are free to do as you wish with. Of course, you are free to say no and go to the foster families that you are assigned to, but CPS has given us the okay to take you in if that is what you want.” Kiva knew that this was probably a lot to take in, but she had no other way of saying it any simpler than that.

0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau Yes, you. 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 0 5

Ayita

June 26, 2012 11:52 PM

I.... am speechless by Ayita

Ayita did as she was told; she entered the office and occupied the seat she was directed to take. ”Ms. Bly… Ayita.” Her grey eyes blinked; the headmistress was calling her by first name? She thought first names were only for use by equals. At least, that was what she had observed. Children called other children by first name. Adults called other adults by first name. The fact that an adult—and not just any adult, the headmistress—was referring to her by her first name was in and of itself a bit puzzling.

From what she understood, the headmistress was the equivalent of a king. She might have thought queen, what with the gender, but her experience with queens was very slight. She did not remember her queen, her mother, but queens rarely did anything. The headmistress ran a school. She had power. She was Ayita’s superior.

The headmistress spoke to her in a friendly manner, and the Pecari did her best to listen. Apparently, she was not in trouble after all. This was about her family, how they had not looked at any of her school reports and claimed dissociation. Ayita nodded along; she hadn’t known exactly what would become of her reports, but she assumed correctly that they would be returned. She did, however, know that she had been disowned. For all her father was concerned, she no longer existed.

CPS was a new concept to her, but she felt she understood it sufficiently. It was an organization that took the children no one wanted. Ayita was not sure what it meant to be a “child of the state”—was sue supposed to refer to Arizona as her parent?—but that apparently meant she didn’t have a real home. She was just going to be put somewhere, moved if convenient.

”I don’t want that for you.”

Ayita blinked her grey eyes. Now suddenly the headmistress was offering her own home, and the fourth year wasn’t sure what to do. Saying no would be rude, but saying yes felt like taking advantage of the kindness being given to her. “I have spent the summers on the streets of whatever location I choose,” she admitted. “The people have been generous and kind. I did not know it was mandatory to live in a set location.”

“If I were to stay would you, would this be…” she paused, seeking the correct words. Ayita knew her English well—her words were always crisp and perfectly pronounced, strained to be so—but sometimes it took a bit of effort to find which word would best suit her needs. Eventually, she found it. “Inconvenient? I would not wish to be a burden to you and your family.”

0 Ayita I.... am speechless 0 Ayita 0 5

Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

June 27, 2012 8:17 PM

I seem to have that affect on people by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

The reaction Ayita supplied her after the news of her family’s feelings towards her only confirmed Kiva’s suspicions about the whole situation. The knowledge this girl held in her for so long must have made her completely lonely. To know that one’s family no longer wanted her must have been devastating to take. Kiva could never understand how parents could do that to a child. She understand, on a basic level, that Ayita’s tribe was different, but her father was still her father. Did he not have any sort of connection or feelings towards her? Kiva could never just let her son go any more than she could have let Chloe go or Angel live with that woman any longer. Kiva did not give birth to Chloe, but she had helped raise her and she had not given birth to Angel, but she did not want him to suffer any longer. The same feelings were for Ayita. She did not give birth to her, but no child should ever have to live their life alone.

Ayita’s confession surprised Kiva and the naivety of the girl was a bit of a shock to her. “You were lucky to have found safe homes, Ayita, but not everyone is kind. And this nation is set to protect our children. Law has it that what your parents did is something called neglect. That is a form of abuse. I’m not sure how your tribal laws work within our own laws, but if charges are drawn, they could have any remaining children removed and possibly spend time in jail.” Kiva informed her matter-of-factly. “None of that is up to me though, that’s out of my hands. My job now is to keep you safe.”

Kiva smiled, a mother’s smile. Once she found herself using more and more at this school. “An inconvenience, no. It’ll take time for my other children to adjust, but they’ll be alright. Chloe is looking forward to having an older sister in the house, so that’ll be interesting. My husband, Jeff, is remolding your room, if you want to stay with us, that is. I won’t force you to. You can go with CPS come summer. But, I do have to warn you that if CPS places you in a family, they have the right to remove you from Sonora completely and there won’t be anything that I can do after that.”

0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau I seem to have that affect on people 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 0 5

Ayita

June 28, 2012 12:44 AM

That isn't necessarily a bad thing. by Ayita

Ayita’s grey eyes widened at the mention of jail. She did not want that at all! If her parents went to jail—namely her father—their entire society would descent into utter chaos. There would be no leader. Wars could result over who would be the new leader, whose family line was worthy of the crown. And that was only assuming the CPS people could even take her parents. Obviously the people of the Kingdom would not surrender their king and queen without a fight.

No, if there would be arrests, there would be blood.

Of course, there was no real point in worrying. The headmistress said that was not up to her. If it would be, then it would be. The Pecari could not stop it. She was powerless as usual. It was unfortunate, though, for all those who might suffer.

As the headmistress smiled and promised that she would not be an inconvenience, Ayita found herself smiling a little herself. She didn’t want to bounce around in the homes of strangers; while she had previously relied on strangers, living in their homes would be… wrong. Plus, there was no guarantee that they would let her come back to Sonora, and she really, really liked Sonora.

The fourth year thought for just a moment. “I would like to live in your home,” she grinned. Her eyes sparkled a bit at the mention of a girl named Chloe. Ayita had always felt rather lonely growing up. Families only brought life to one child, and as the future queen, she was not allowed to interact with other children. “If you do not mind… what is this Chloe like?”

0 Ayita That isn't necessarily a bad thing. 0 Ayita 0 5