Streaks of Purple Saga Volume Four, Heather Ray [accelerated reader books txt] 📗

consequence, while there is a great deal of travel during the thirteen-month program, schedules will be too full for regular visits home. All participants get two weeks of free time in the spring and late summer, but few decide to go home during this time. More often than not, participants journey to one of Europe's more famous vacation spots."

Carlos nodded, and took his seat.

"That's all the time we have for this afternoon," Mr. Caplan announced, "No dilly-dallying; third period begins in precisely two minutes."

"And I'd like to thank you all for your attention," Dr. Kuiperi stated, "If any of you have further questions, feel free to visit us. We have set up temporary offices in the auxiliary gymnasium, and will operate from there for the next two weeks."


Chapter Six

"That was so incredible," Trini sighed, hands clasped tightly, "Dr. Kuiperi is such a powerful speaker..."

"Funky program," Zack confessed, "It'd be pretty cool to travel the world, try and get a new perspective on things."

"Sure

," Kim drawled, nudging the Black Ranger, "and I'll bet it'd look better than 'Hip-Hop Kido' on a college application."

Zack responded with a Cheshire grin. "I'm the man, Kim. I can do both!"

Billy quirked his head. "Can you?" he wondered, "The word 'martial arts' implies war. While it is true one doesn't need to be warlike to participate in most schools of martial arts, the most basic use would be self-defense. That might be problematic to pursue such a course of study in an environment professing absolute and uncompromised pacifism."

As the conversation grew philosophical, a short, elderly man watched the tight-knit group walk passed. A scornful smirk pulled his lip as he walked in the opposite direction, towards the school library.

Silly creatures. Don't they realize it's a moot point? There are far more dangerous forces with which to contend than mere opposing nations.

He stepped into the small library, the scent of paper and leather tickling his adept sense of smell. He looked around curiously, tightly clutching his laptop against his plaid blazer, when the librarian emerged from the stacks.

"Dr. Fin!" she greeted, "So good to see you again."

"Good morning, Barbara," he responded, nodding in greeting.

Barbara approached him, tucking back a lock of red hair that had fallen from her French braid. "I take it you're here for more Halloween research?"

He smiled his unique, insincere smile. "I intend to conclude my research today, so I can begin my analysis when I return home."

"Let's check out the stacks," she decided, beckoning him to the history section. Dr. Fin sat his laptop on one large desk, and followed the taller woman into an aisle.

"So, did you happen to attend the conference?" she inquired, making small talk.

Dr. Fin scoffed. "The world peace thing? It's simply impossible for humans to achieve such a goal."

Barbara's smile fell. "Do you really believe that?"

"Humans are not peaceful creatures," he analyzed, burying his nose in a particularly old volume, "The irony of it all doesn't escape me, either. Did you note that this World Peace affair is being held on Devil's Night? Once the sun sets, the very same youths spouting peace and tranquility will be tormenting neighbors, tossing eggs, and draping toilet paper over their homes. And that is just a precursor to Halloween, when children demand candies and treats, threatening to perform harm if their desires go unsatisfied!"

Barbara couldn't help but stare at the quirky teacher. "Halloween is just for children's fun. A little harmless mischief."

In response, Dr. Fin revealed a toothy, mocking grin. "As you say, my dear." He then closed the volume he was studying, and placed it back on the shelf. "Is there another section on holiday traditions?"

Chapter Seven

"Now here's an interesting question... 'What is your definition of peace?' And I have no more than one hundred words to answer."

She took another bite of her veggie pita, wiped her hands of the sloppy dressing, and began jotting notes. "Hmm... do you think it'd be good to include a quote? Dr. King is an obvious choice, so maybe something more obscure?"

When she didn't receive an answer, her dark eyes slid to her companion. "Billy?"

She released a quiet sigh when she noticed Billy hadn't even touched his hamburger. Gently, she touched his shoulder, chasing away his distraction.

"I didn't realize I was such dull company," she quipped.

"I apologize profusely-"

She leaned against her palm. "You only slip into Techno-Babble when you're

upset. Holiday Blues again?"

He bit his lip. "Again, I apologize. Seven years have traversed since the... event, yet I still seem to repeatedly fall into a depression around most holidays."

She squeezed his hand. "Billy, it's nothing to be ashamed of. You lost your mother when you were a kid... that kind of thing stays with you forever."

His free hand reached to his glasses, pulling them off and reducing the world around him into a fuzzy blur. "It's Christmas and Halloween that hurt the most. I remember her taking me Trick or Treating, or thwarting my every attempt to locate my Christmas presents prematurely. Ever since the... the accident... our entire family entity has disintegrated. My father seems to alienate me more and more as the years progress."

He then shook his head, freeing himself from the oft-traveled train of thought upon which he was about to embark. He offered Trini a soft smile. "In any event, your company is hardly dull."

His comment was rewarded with a soft giggle, a sound very few individuals have heard Trini Kwan make. "It's incredible how charming you've become," she realized, shaking her head, "No wonder Laura couldn't resist you."

Billy felt the heat rise on his cheeks. While he'd always felt awkward around girls, she was the only one still able to make him blush. "Your tone seems to suggest you don't fully approve of the change."

Trini blinked in surprise. "I hope I didn't imply that. I'm glad you've come out of your shell." She bit back a small grin. "But

, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the thick-framed glasses, blue overalls, and complete lack of coordination. Not to mention the incomprehensible Techno-Babble!"

As he watched his dearest friend smile at the memories, something brightened Billy's eyes. "You were the only person who ever understood me, Trini."

He hadn't consciously intended to inflect a deeper meaning to that statement... but something in his tone resonated. Trini glanced at Billy in surprise, and found herself speechless when her friend avoided her gaze.

The pair of friends was saved from the unsettling silence by a rather rude voice, shouting, "Hey Ernie! Are our sandwiches ready yet?"

The pleasant restaurant owner appeared from the kitchen, and threw Bulk a disapproving frown. "There's no need to shout. They're in the back."

Trini and Billy watched as Ernie disappeared into the kitchen, emerging with four large sacks the size of grocery bags.

Billy's eyes widened in astonishment as Bulk and Skull began foraging through the bags, counting heaps of deli sandwiches, bags of potato chips, and boxes of bite-sized cookies. "Phenomenal," he observed, "I had no idea even you were capable of consuming such an enormous lunch."

The young genius hadn't meant to sound insulting, but the larger of the two misfits fixed him with a steady glare. "For your information, this isn't my lunch. This here is lunch and dinner, for a bunch of us. It's gonna be a long night."

Trini smirked wryly. "So I take it you won't be going back to school after lunch period," she noted.

Skull answered with a snort. "This is Devil's Night!" he informed her. "Can't be bothered with schoolwork when there are pranks to plan!"

With that, the leather-clad pair gathered their purchase, and left the Youth Center.

Trini rolled her eyes. "Like those two need a holiday to start trouble."

Chapter Eight

Barbara stopped imputing returned books to glance at the only other person of the spacious, silent library. Dr. Fin remained in the seat he had occupied for the entire day, thoroughly examining some eclectic text while entering notes into his laptop.

At least twelve thick books rested in piles on the table, along with numerous photocopies of newspaper articles and other materials strewn around them.

The librarian shook her head in disbelief as the old scholar adjusted his lens to read small print. Just what does he do at this school that he can take an entire day off for research?

Finally, when the final bell of the day rang, Dr. Fin closed his laptop, and readily walked out of the library without a word.

Barbara frowned as she began picking up the books he had used. "Goodbye, Barbara," she grumbled, "'Thank you so very much for your help. Here, let me help you carry these.' Honestly, that man is so...!"

Unable to come up with a word to describe him, she only sighed in defeat.