Things That Go Bump in the Night

Simona: I hope it's not too uncomfortable, sleeping out here on the couch, Prudence.

Prudence: No, it's just fine, Miss Simona.


Simona: Well, soon enough we'll have the bunk beds finished and then you can move in with the other girls, in the main room.

Prudence: Oh... um... thank you.


Simona: Is everything okay with the other girls? Are they treating you all right?

Prudence: Yes, yes m'am. Everything is fine.


Simona: Okay, then I'll let you get some sleep. Maybe you'll feel up to playing with them tomorrow, if you get some rest.

Prudence: Yes M'am.

Simona: I'll leave the lamp on for you, all right?

Prudence: Yes please. Thank you.

Simona: Good night, Prudence. Sweet dreams.

Prudence: Good night, Miss Simona.


Prudence: (settling in)


Prudence: *deep sigh*


(THUMP)

Prudence: *gasp*


(THUMP THUMP... whisper)

Prudence: *whispering* Oh!

Prudence: *whispering* You'd better come out.


Prudence: *whispering* It'll be safer for you out here, MacFie, if it is a ghost. Maybe it's Margot. She was always a nice ghost.

(SWISH... SWISH.... SWISH)


Prudence: *whispering* Shhh, don't say anything. It's coming closer. It'll be okay.

(SWISH... DRAG... DRAG)


Prudence: *whispering* I promise it'll be okay, MacFie. It's probably just a nice ghost who wants to talk to us and... it'll be okay. I promise. Don't be scared, okay?


(THUMP... giggle)

Prudence: OH! Lenore!


Lenore: Shhhh. You'll wake up Miss Simona, if Calla didn't already. I swear you stomp even in socks.

Calla: *whispering* Hi, Prudence!

Prudence: Uh... hi?


Lenore: I hope you don't mind, we thought we'd sleep in here tonight, if it's okay with you. Louisa is a terrible snorer on the best days, and tonight she's EXTRA awful.

Prudence: Uh... sure... um.

Calla: Look, Higgins likes you!


Prudence: You really WANT to sleep on the floor?

Lenore: You haven't heard Louisa snore.

Calla: Nah, this is great. It's like being at camp. Only without ghost stories.

Prudence: Uh.... I know a ghost story... would you like to hear it?




Lenore & Calla: YEAH!!!

Prudence: Okay... I'll tell you a ghost story that was told to me BY a ghost.

Lenore & Calla: Ooooooooh.

Tears for Stuffies Fallen

Louisa: Ugggghhh....


Calla: Louisa? What's wrong?

Louisa: Calla? Is that you?


Louisa: Oh, dear Calla... I.... ugh... I'm dying. I want you... to have all of my toys when I'm gone...

Calla: Oh No!!!

Prudence: Is she really dying?


Lenore: *snort* Dying? Hmm, I don't think people die of indigestion. I saw how many cherry tarts you ate at breakfast.


Lenore: Explode, maybe. Die, unlikely.


Louisa: It's easy to mock when you HAVE your health, Lenore. Ohhhhhh....uggggh.

Calla: Poor Louisa, you'll be okay.


Prudence: So she's not really dying?

Lenore: Nah.


Lenore: You'll have to excuse Louisa. She's a bit for the dramatic. And she tends to be "dying" every couple of weeks, or whenever we have tarts at breakfast. She'll be fine.


Prudence: Oh.


Lenore: Did you sleep okay on the couch?


Prudence: Yes, it was fine. Thank you. Your bed is very nice. It's big.

Lenore: Yeah, it's all right.


Prudence: You don't have to share it with anyone?

Lenore: Calla sleeps in the bottom, trundle bed thingy, but otherwise no. Why, did you want to sleep in here tonight?

Prudence: Oh, NO! No. No, thank you.


Lenore: Hey, while you're standing there. Would you mind handing me those stuffed animals? They go up here on the back of the bed.

Prudence: Uh... okay. It's okay for me to touch them?


Lenore: Of course it is. You can play with them too, if you like. I collect monkeys, but I don't mind if you play with them too.

Prudence: Really?


Lenore: Yeah, really. Why?

Prudence: I just... there weren't that many toys at Bleakwood, and... I wasn't to touch them. They all belonged to...

Prudence: Oh no! I dropped one! I DROPPED ONE! OH NO!

Lenore: What?


Prudence: I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! *sob* I'm so sorry! I'm really so sorry! *sob* Sorry!!


Lenore: Woah... wait. Prudence, it's okay. I got 'em.


Lenore: See? They're fine. They're just stuffed animals, they don't shatter or anything. It's okay.


Lenore: Did you think I'd be mad at you?

Prudence: I have to go. Bye. I *sob* I have to go.


Lenore: Wait, Prudence.

Prudence: *crying and running*


Calla: That was weird.

Lenore: Yeah it was. I hope she's okay.

Louisa: Poor little thing.


Louisa: Ugggh... Calla, when I'm gone... please see to it that that little Prudence gets some of my toys too... *gasp* Oh! I see the light!

Lenore: Oh, for crying out loud!

The New Girl

(one rather rainy Monday evening...)

Calla: *Laughing*

Lenore: Okay, I've got another cat video to show you, since you liked that one. It's one of my favorites.


Calla: I'm so glad you're not grounded anymore. It's great that Miss Simona gave you back your computer.


Lenore: I'm glad too. Being grounded was BORING.


(huge flash of lightning, followed by a loud roll of thunder.)

Higgins: YELP!


(thunder rolls and fades)

Calla: Wow, that was really close. It must've hit a powerline or somethin'.


Lenore: Yeah, maybe we'll just turn the computer off for now. Just in case.

Calla: Yeah.


Louisa: Wow, that was kind of scary.

Calla: Yeah, poor Higgins is really upset.

Higgins: *whimper*


Simona: Girls? May I have your attention, please?

Lenore: Of course, Miss Simona.


Simona: Girls, I would like to introduce you to someone very special. This is Prudence Permelia. She will be staying with us for a while.


Simona: For now, she will have to sleep on the couch. So, while Ahma and I are getting the couch ready for her, please introduce yourselves and help her feel at home. All right?

Girls: Sure!


Lenore: Hello! I'm Lenore.

Prudence: *quietly* Hello.