It was two days before River Tam's departure to the government sponsored school called the Academy, their slogan was: It is a haven for the gifted and extraordinary children of the Alliance. River could hardly contain her excitement. River's parents were equally thrilled for her.
River and her family were eating lunch outside on the patio that overlooked their luxurious flower garden.
Through The Tam family had heard nearly nothing about the school for it had just started around four years ago what they did know was that the school was extremely exclusive and had the most challenging educational programs.
Before being enrolled in the Academy River went to the the Gen Ed school for the gifted children of Osiris. However when River heard about how challenging and advanced the Academy's programs were she immediately asked her parent's permission if she could be enrolled. Although Gen Ed had good programs River always felt that she was being educationally stifled in the school. After discussing it with her family River had made the decision to go. The only person who wasn't excited for her was Simon, her older brother. Ever since she could remember River had always been able to pick up on how other people were feeling. It was as if she could almost sense their feelings sometimes even before the people were aware of those feelings themselves. She discovered, over the years if she concentrated hard enough, she could even read people's thoughts.
Now she was looking across the table at her brother and felt that he was feeling very sad, Even people without my gift can see he's troubled, I need to talk to him alone. River thought, clearing her throat she addressed her parents.
"Baba, Mama, may Simon and I have a little time to ourselves, for a while please?"
Their father Gabriel Tam replied " Of course Baio bay, you too are going to be apart for a long time, your mother and I understand that you want to spend as much time with your brother as possible before you leave, come now dear let's leave them alone for a time ." Gabriel stood up and walked into the house.
Their mother Regan stood up as well before she went to follow her husband inside she said to River "Hanyu pinyin, make sure before you go to bed tonight that you have everything packed for your trip to the Academy. Baba is going to send it on the freighter that is coming tomorrow evening. All of the Academy students luggage is going ahead of them and will be set up in their rooms. So make certain that everything you need is packed because the freighter will not make a second trip back here, Dong ma? "
River nodded and said "Yes Mama I have everything, Simon and I will be in, in about a half a hour, I want to take one last walk with him through the garden. I am going to be too busy double checking everything for my trip to the Academy tomorrow to spend any more time with Geg-Geg " Regan smiled at them warmly and said "Certainly Xiao- neu your father and I will be inside."
River stood up and said to her brother pulling his hand impatiently, " Simon we're going for a walk, something has been bugging you for a while now, I can tell and before I leave for the Academy I'm going to figure out what it is!"
"Now come on Geg-Geg let's go!"
Simon sighed and said "All right Mei-Mei, I'm coming."River hauled Simon to his feet and pulled him all the way down the patio stairs and into the garden.
The two of them just walked in the garden in silence for a few minutes. River was keeping very close to her brother. She found out that in order for her to get a good read on how a person was feeling she had to be close to them. Finally after twenty minutes into their walk River finally picked up on how truly sad her brother was feeling. She cleared her throat breaking the silence and replied intuitively "Your sad about my leaving aren't you Geg-Geg?"
Simon stopped turned to River and said unconvincingly "What do you mean I'm not sad I'm very happy for you." River gave her brother her you-are-so-lying-right-now face. She then said "I can sense you are very sad." Seeing her expression and hearing what she had just said Simon sighed slightly. He then replied "It's true I am going to miss you, but it isn't just that. There is something about this Academy that's unsettling to me, Mei-Mei. I mean why wouldn't they let you have visitors, that just doesn't seem right, Are you sure you've thought this through?"
River smiled she wrapped her arm around her brothers shoulder and said "The Academy doesn't allow visitors because they want their students to concentrate on their studies.I have already done my homework. They have really amazing programs far more demanding and noteworthy than Gen Ed has. Simon, I want to go to this place to further my education and future. Xin sǎ kǒng pà wú cài huò Simon!."
Simon laid his hands on River's shoulders looking directly in her eyes said "I know your not,River, Mei-Mei if this is what you truly want then I support you, I'm dui bu qi that I was upset earlier"
River smiled she gave him a warm hug and replied "It's all right Geg-Geg I understood why you had those feelings. I'm very happy that you feel better now and can support me, that makes me feel really great" The two started to walk again. After a while more walking they were reaching one of River's favorite places in the garden.
It was a swing that was attached to the biggest and oldest cherry blossom tree that was in the garden. After they had let each other know how they were really feeling River could already sense her brother lightening up and becoming less sad. The garden was quite large and the two of them were about a yard to the swing
River said to Simon happily "I'll race you to the swing Simon!" Simon for the first time that day smiled then he broke into laughter. After he stopped Simon replied "Sure,Mei-Mei, on your mark, get set... Go!" Simon was off before he had finished saying set.
River shouted at him "Hey no fair, you are such a shă qì cháo Geg-Geg!" River then sprinted after her brother, she ran and sprung forward she used the momentum form her running and hand sprung all the way to the swing she then flipped gracefully onto it.
Simon stopped in awe by her speed and grace as he always seemed to be. He wasn't even bothered that he had lost. Simon who was a few feet form the swing jogged up to her.
After taking a moment to catch his breath he said "Wā, Mei-Mei, that was liao bu qi, really, liao bu qi! I'm sorry, I shouldn't of cheated" He went behind her and gave her a push.
As she was swinging back and forth River replied "It's xíng Simon, I'm over it, Besides I need to get as much practice in movement as I can" Simon gave her a puzzled look and said "What do you mean?"
River pushed off hard with her feet, and swung higher, as soon as she was at the altitude she wanted to be at she answered him"When I went to be interviewed for enrollment at the Academy before I accepted to become a student I asked them if I would still be able to continue with my dancing, they said that they would be happy to adjust my school lessons around my dance schedule."
River calculated that she was at just the right height to show Simon her new trick, "Simon can I show you this new trick I learned form Ling-Ling Man-Chu, in the park the other day?" Simon nodded and said "Sure River just be careful"
River said "I will, now watch !" River stood up on the swing and flung herself forward then she bent her body inward and did four somersaults in the air then twisted her body to the left and spun landing softly and smoothly on the ground.
River turned and saw her brother was staring at her open-mouthed in disbelief. She giggled and said "Well what do you think?" Simon shook himself then said "River, how did you do that?"
River said simply "With mathematics of course" Simon again looked puzzled " How is that Mei-Mei?" River got back on the swing she kicked off , then said "You see Simon I sped myself up and calculated the perfect time and altitude to thrust myself forward, which meant I had enough momentum to propel my body at the right time , which in turn gave me the right amount of velocity to complete the movements I just did" Simon shook his head again and replied jokingly
"In other words you did it just to show off!" River put her hands on her hips and said mockingly "Simon how could you say such a horrible thing to me!" Then River said "You are going to pay for that!" Simon laughed and said "Oh really how?"
River giggled and said "Like this!"She jumped off the swing and tackled her brother playfully to the ground. The two of them wrestled in the cool dry grass of the garden. River then pinned her brother and said happily "Ha, I got you. Admit it your defeated!" Simon laughed and said "Okay okay you win." River giggled and said smugly "I knew I'd win!"
Simon replied "Oh really?" With that he started to tickle his sister. River laughed and said "Geg-Geg stop it. Ha ha, stop Simon, Geg-Geg quit it Simon stop!"
Simon continued to tickle River and said "Only if you say I am going to be the greatest trauma surgeon Osiris has ever had!" River gasping said defiant "Never!" Simon said happily "All right then" River grabbed his hands and said "Okay you will be a great fantastic surgeon!"
They then heard their father yell for them "Simon, River were in the tian xiaode are you both doing, It's time for dinner come along now!"
River shouted back " Shi, Baba we're coming!" Simon got up and offered his hand to River he then pulled her to her feet "Thanks Simon, that was very fun, perhaps we can do it when I get back form the Academy?"
Simon replied "Of course we will do what ever you want when you come home Mei-mei I promise. Come on how about I give you a lift back to the house piggy back style like I used to do when we were kids?"
River nodded and said "Yes that would be wonderful" She climbed on Simon's back and he carried her back to the house.
It was finally the morning of the day of her departure to the Academy and River couldn't be happier.
She dressed special for this exciting day. River was wearing one of her favorite and most formal dresses, a near floor length light pink silk dress, with a red moonstone encrusted necklace that her grandmother had given her. River had her long dark waved hair down tied through it were deep red satin ribbons. She gathered her luggage and went down stairs slowly and smoothly so as not to damage her dress.
When her family saw her her mother said" Oh River you look piào liang !" Gabriel snapped a holo photo and replied "My little Sī wàn w dào jiā, how yàn"
River smiled and said "Dá cí Mama and Baba, I wanted to look special today" Gabriel went over to River and hugged her "Dí què you did Xiao- neu, you look most special"
Simon went up to her and gave her a warm and comforting hug. Still tightly embracing his young sister Simon whispered "You are the most yan looking girl on Osiris right now." River whispered back " Dá cí, Geg-Geg." River then basked in the wonderful and pure moment that was her brother's hug and compliant.
Finally Gabriel said "Well we must be heading off now Dearest your shuttle has been waiting at the docking bay, let's not keep it any longer shall we?"
River nodded, Simon pulled her aside and said "Remember Mei-Mei write to me as often as you can. I want to hear all about what you've been learning, Okay?"
River said "Shi Simon I dā ying, I will " They gave each other one last hug and Simon said "I love you so much Mei-Mei, never forget that all right?" River nodded and replied "I won't I love you too Geg-Geg"
Gabriel said "Come along Xiao-neu, we must be going" River shouted "Shi, Shi Baba!"
With that River Tam left her large, familiar estate for the uncertainty and challenge of the Academy.
She was happy, sad, scared and excited all at once. River couldn't shake off the feeling that as soon as her feet touched the floor of the Academy's shuttle that she had just spent the last two normal days of her life.
When River sensed the passengers feelings , she noticed that none of them were feeling the way she felt. That made her quite uneasy she tried to shake it off but something deep inside her said to keep herself on high alert, she couldn't stop thinking that she would need her gift to survive the Academy
Mandrian Translations
Mei-Mei- Little Sister
Geg-Geg- Big Brother
Baio bay- Sweetheart
Hanyu pinyin- Darling
Wā- Wow
Liao bu qi- amazing
shă qì cháo - foolish person
duì bu qi- sorry
Xing- okay
Baba- Father
Tian xiaode- what in god's name
Shi- Yes
xiao- neu- my daughter
Piào liang- beautiful
Sī wàn w dào jiā- Swan Dancer
dá cí- Thank You
yàn- lovely
dí què- Indeed
dā ying- promise
Dong Ma- Understand
Xin- Trust
Sǎ- Me
Kǒng pà- I'm
Wú- No
Cài huò- simpleton
River and her family were eating lunch outside on the patio that overlooked their luxurious flower garden.
Through The Tam family had heard nearly nothing about the school for it had just started around four years ago what they did know was that the school was extremely exclusive and had the most challenging educational programs.
Before being enrolled in the Academy River went to the the Gen Ed school for the gifted children of Osiris. However when River heard about how challenging and advanced the Academy's programs were she immediately asked her parent's permission if she could be enrolled. Although Gen Ed had good programs River always felt that she was being educationally stifled in the school. After discussing it with her family River had made the decision to go. The only person who wasn't excited for her was Simon, her older brother. Ever since she could remember River had always been able to pick up on how other people were feeling. It was as if she could almost sense their feelings sometimes even before the people were aware of those feelings themselves. She discovered, over the years if she concentrated hard enough, she could even read people's thoughts.
Now she was looking across the table at her brother and felt that he was feeling very sad, Even people without my gift can see he's troubled, I need to talk to him alone. River thought, clearing her throat she addressed her parents.
"Baba, Mama, may Simon and I have a little time to ourselves, for a while please?"
Their father Gabriel Tam replied " Of course Baio bay, you too are going to be apart for a long time, your mother and I understand that you want to spend as much time with your brother as possible before you leave, come now dear let's leave them alone for a time ." Gabriel stood up and walked into the house.
Their mother Regan stood up as well before she went to follow her husband inside she said to River "Hanyu pinyin, make sure before you go to bed tonight that you have everything packed for your trip to the Academy. Baba is going to send it on the freighter that is coming tomorrow evening. All of the Academy students luggage is going ahead of them and will be set up in their rooms. So make certain that everything you need is packed because the freighter will not make a second trip back here, Dong ma? "
River nodded and said "Yes Mama I have everything, Simon and I will be in, in about a half a hour, I want to take one last walk with him through the garden. I am going to be too busy double checking everything for my trip to the Academy tomorrow to spend any more time with Geg-Geg " Regan smiled at them warmly and said "Certainly Xiao- neu your father and I will be inside."
River stood up and said to her brother pulling his hand impatiently, " Simon we're going for a walk, something has been bugging you for a while now, I can tell and before I leave for the Academy I'm going to figure out what it is!"
"Now come on Geg-Geg let's go!"
Simon sighed and said "All right Mei-Mei, I'm coming."River hauled Simon to his feet and pulled him all the way down the patio stairs and into the garden.
The two of them just walked in the garden in silence for a few minutes. River was keeping very close to her brother. She found out that in order for her to get a good read on how a person was feeling she had to be close to them. Finally after twenty minutes into their walk River finally picked up on how truly sad her brother was feeling. She cleared her throat breaking the silence and replied intuitively "Your sad about my leaving aren't you Geg-Geg?"
Simon stopped turned to River and said unconvincingly "What do you mean I'm not sad I'm very happy for you." River gave her brother her you-are-so-lying-right-now face. She then said "I can sense you are very sad." Seeing her expression and hearing what she had just said Simon sighed slightly. He then replied "It's true I am going to miss you, but it isn't just that. There is something about this Academy that's unsettling to me, Mei-Mei. I mean why wouldn't they let you have visitors, that just doesn't seem right, Are you sure you've thought this through?"
River smiled she wrapped her arm around her brothers shoulder and said "The Academy doesn't allow visitors because they want their students to concentrate on their studies.I have already done my homework. They have really amazing programs far more demanding and noteworthy than Gen Ed has. Simon, I want to go to this place to further my education and future. Xin sǎ kǒng pà wú cài huò Simon!."
Simon laid his hands on River's shoulders looking directly in her eyes said "I know your not,River, Mei-Mei if this is what you truly want then I support you, I'm dui bu qi that I was upset earlier"
River smiled she gave him a warm hug and replied "It's all right Geg-Geg I understood why you had those feelings. I'm very happy that you feel better now and can support me, that makes me feel really great" The two started to walk again. After a while more walking they were reaching one of River's favorite places in the garden.
It was a swing that was attached to the biggest and oldest cherry blossom tree that was in the garden. After they had let each other know how they were really feeling River could already sense her brother lightening up and becoming less sad. The garden was quite large and the two of them were about a yard to the swing
River said to Simon happily "I'll race you to the swing Simon!" Simon for the first time that day smiled then he broke into laughter. After he stopped Simon replied "Sure,Mei-Mei, on your mark, get set... Go!" Simon was off before he had finished saying set.
River shouted at him "Hey no fair, you are such a shă qì cháo Geg-Geg!" River then sprinted after her brother, she ran and sprung forward she used the momentum form her running and hand sprung all the way to the swing she then flipped gracefully onto it.
Simon stopped in awe by her speed and grace as he always seemed to be. He wasn't even bothered that he had lost. Simon who was a few feet form the swing jogged up to her.
After taking a moment to catch his breath he said "Wā, Mei-Mei, that was liao bu qi, really, liao bu qi! I'm sorry, I shouldn't of cheated" He went behind her and gave her a push.
As she was swinging back and forth River replied "It's xíng Simon, I'm over it, Besides I need to get as much practice in movement as I can" Simon gave her a puzzled look and said "What do you mean?"
River pushed off hard with her feet, and swung higher, as soon as she was at the altitude she wanted to be at she answered him"When I went to be interviewed for enrollment at the Academy before I accepted to become a student I asked them if I would still be able to continue with my dancing, they said that they would be happy to adjust my school lessons around my dance schedule."
River calculated that she was at just the right height to show Simon her new trick, "Simon can I show you this new trick I learned form Ling-Ling Man-Chu, in the park the other day?" Simon nodded and said "Sure River just be careful"
River said "I will, now watch !" River stood up on the swing and flung herself forward then she bent her body inward and did four somersaults in the air then twisted her body to the left and spun landing softly and smoothly on the ground.
River turned and saw her brother was staring at her open-mouthed in disbelief. She giggled and said "Well what do you think?" Simon shook himself then said "River, how did you do that?"
River said simply "With mathematics of course" Simon again looked puzzled " How is that Mei-Mei?" River got back on the swing she kicked off , then said "You see Simon I sped myself up and calculated the perfect time and altitude to thrust myself forward, which meant I had enough momentum to propel my body at the right time , which in turn gave me the right amount of velocity to complete the movements I just did" Simon shook his head again and replied jokingly
"In other words you did it just to show off!" River put her hands on her hips and said mockingly "Simon how could you say such a horrible thing to me!" Then River said "You are going to pay for that!" Simon laughed and said "Oh really how?"
River giggled and said "Like this!"She jumped off the swing and tackled her brother playfully to the ground. The two of them wrestled in the cool dry grass of the garden. River then pinned her brother and said happily "Ha, I got you. Admit it your defeated!" Simon laughed and said "Okay okay you win." River giggled and said smugly "I knew I'd win!"
Simon replied "Oh really?" With that he started to tickle his sister. River laughed and said "Geg-Geg stop it. Ha ha, stop Simon, Geg-Geg quit it Simon stop!"
Simon continued to tickle River and said "Only if you say I am going to be the greatest trauma surgeon Osiris has ever had!" River gasping said defiant "Never!" Simon said happily "All right then" River grabbed his hands and said "Okay you will be a great fantastic surgeon!"
They then heard their father yell for them "Simon, River were in the tian xiaode are you both doing, It's time for dinner come along now!"
River shouted back " Shi, Baba we're coming!" Simon got up and offered his hand to River he then pulled her to her feet "Thanks Simon, that was very fun, perhaps we can do it when I get back form the Academy?"
Simon replied "Of course we will do what ever you want when you come home Mei-mei I promise. Come on how about I give you a lift back to the house piggy back style like I used to do when we were kids?"
River nodded and said "Yes that would be wonderful" She climbed on Simon's back and he carried her back to the house.
It was finally the morning of the day of her departure to the Academy and River couldn't be happier.
She dressed special for this exciting day. River was wearing one of her favorite and most formal dresses, a near floor length light pink silk dress, with a red moonstone encrusted necklace that her grandmother had given her. River had her long dark waved hair down tied through it were deep red satin ribbons. She gathered her luggage and went down stairs slowly and smoothly so as not to damage her dress.
When her family saw her her mother said" Oh River you look piào liang !" Gabriel snapped a holo photo and replied "My little Sī wàn w dào jiā, how yàn"
River smiled and said "Dá cí Mama and Baba, I wanted to look special today" Gabriel went over to River and hugged her "Dí què you did Xiao- neu, you look most special"
Simon went up to her and gave her a warm and comforting hug. Still tightly embracing his young sister Simon whispered "You are the most yan looking girl on Osiris right now." River whispered back " Dá cí, Geg-Geg." River then basked in the wonderful and pure moment that was her brother's hug and compliant.
Finally Gabriel said "Well we must be heading off now Dearest your shuttle has been waiting at the docking bay, let's not keep it any longer shall we?"
River nodded, Simon pulled her aside and said "Remember Mei-Mei write to me as often as you can. I want to hear all about what you've been learning, Okay?"
River said "Shi Simon I dā ying, I will " They gave each other one last hug and Simon said "I love you so much Mei-Mei, never forget that all right?" River nodded and replied "I won't I love you too Geg-Geg"
Gabriel said "Come along Xiao-neu, we must be going" River shouted "Shi, Shi Baba!"
With that River Tam left her large, familiar estate for the uncertainty and challenge of the Academy.
She was happy, sad, scared and excited all at once. River couldn't shake off the feeling that as soon as her feet touched the floor of the Academy's shuttle that she had just spent the last two normal days of her life.
When River sensed the passengers feelings , she noticed that none of them were feeling the way she felt. That made her quite uneasy she tried to shake it off but something deep inside her said to keep herself on high alert, she couldn't stop thinking that she would need her gift to survive the Academy
Mandrian Translations
Mei-Mei- Little Sister
Geg-Geg- Big Brother
Baio bay- Sweetheart
Hanyu pinyin- Darling
Wā- Wow
Liao bu qi- amazing
shă qì cháo - foolish person
duì bu qi- sorry
Xing- okay
Baba- Father
Tian xiaode- what in god's name
Shi- Yes
xiao- neu- my daughter
Piào liang- beautiful
Sī wàn w dào jiā- Swan Dancer
dá cí- Thank You
yàn- lovely
dí què- Indeed
dā ying- promise
Dong Ma- Understand
Xin- Trust
Sǎ- Me
Kǒng pà- I'm
Wú- No
Cài huò- simpleton
