The Gentle, Chapter Two

I have quick typed up Chapter Two. I have been on the computer a lot lately, mainly because I am taking care of a lot of stuff before Easter break. I hope you enjoy the second chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything in here, except for Susan's chums. I also do not own this disclaimer, as I have stolen it from Viola who hopefully won't mind.

Susan returned home later that evening. Her friends had been very sympathetic: they had listened to her crying, listened to her stories, listened to her complaints, her regrets, her problems. Susan left out some of the details, mainly the ones concerning Narnia. She didn't want to feel like a fool on top of being grief stricken. The house was noticably empty. Susan recalled the instructions she had received from Margie's mother before she left.
"Your grandmother offered to let you stay with her."
"But Grandmother lives out in the country. I would have to quit school!"
"Your other option is to stay in the house on your own."
"Alone?"
"I would have you stay with us, Susan, honestly, but... There's something... Perahps Margie will explain it all to you on a different occasion."
"Please excuse my ignorance, but I think I would rather get it over with now."
"Our family is moving this summer. Once Margie graduates, she's received a wonderful job offer in America. She plans on leaving this summer as well."
"Oh."
"Margie was going to tell you once it came closer to graduation, but..."
"That's really quite alright. I should be going."
"Would you like the girls and I to go with you?"
"I'd prefer to be alone for now, thank you." Susan had left right then and there, leaving her friends without a 'good-bye'.
The house was so empty and quiet. Susan looked around the living room. "My house," she said, hoping that the new responsibility would make her feel a bit better. Instead, she felt worse. Susan paced, talking to herself.
"What about money? How am I supposed to pay for food? Good thing I don't have to pay for the tuition. I never thought I'd be so grateful for school to be over. What about everyone's things? Do I... do I... give them away?" Susan was suddenly overtaken by anger. She crossed her arms and flopped into her father's old armchair.
"Narnia! Who ever heard of such a thing? Peter's a full grown man, he should have talked Ed and Lu out of it a long time ago. And dragging poor Eustace and Jill into their game." Susan stood up suddenly, clenching her fists. "Darn it all! They were all such children anyways. Lucy was always immature. She started the game anyways, and just wouldn't let things go. Why did the Professor play along? He must have thought he was doing a good deed. He always was saying stupid things about logic: why didn't he use it!"
Susan felt even more furious now. She grabbed a pillow and threw it at the wall to prevent herself from breaking something valuable. "What were they thinking!? Mum and Dad didn't need to leave anyways. They would be just fine right here. But they have to do everything, take every trip." Susan's face was growing redder and redder by the second. "What I don't understand is why they all actually paid to go on such a stupid, pointless trip!" She was back to Narnia again. "Why would they actually waste their time? It's Lucy's fault. She probably convinced them all that one good game would convince their sister Susan to play. It was probably Edmund's fault too, the little brat. Everyone thought he had matured so nicely, was growing up. I'll bet he was playing a prank on me, some big prank where everyone was really just going on vacation." Susan returned to the armchair again. "No, no. It had to be Peter. He's supposed to be an adult. He's gone to school, and he of all people should know that there aren't any other worlds. And Eustace! Playing along, probably to bother me. But dragging in Jill? She was probably in on the whole joke too, and the Professor and Aunt Polly were stupid enough to let themselves in on this whole plot."
Susan jumped up, screaming at no one in particular. "Oh, just blame them all and all those made up places and made up people and made up animals! There is no such thing as witches or sea monsters, and certaintly not fauns. I don't know what Eustace was talking about, a swampsquirm was it? No, a marshwiggle. It doesn't get more childish than that. There are no talking bears, no talking mice, no talking leapords, and no talking horses. Centaurs and nymphs are all mythology. Remember, Peter? You learned about that, didn't you! You can't have more than one King and one Queen: just trying to fit us all in the game. You can't have a hundred years of winter, you can't turn people to stone, and animals can't talk. And most importantly, there is no such thing, NO SUCH THING, as Aslan!"
Susan suddenly felt a shiver race down her spine and she collapsed in the armchair. She hadn't realized that she was sweating and that her dark hair was wet and sticking to her face. Her mouth was dry, her stomach hurt. Her eyes were dry as well, and she had no more tears. The house felt emptier than ever.

I hate to ruin the suspense after Susan's little breakdown, but I must conclude with a single sentence.

"A lady of Narnia must control her anger when she really wants to take someone and turn them into a quivering puddle of people pulp."