Proving Troublesome

Writers: Anika, Jane
Date Posted: 15th December 2014

Characters: Gautrek, Tevarn
Description: Gautrek attends a parent/Harper conference to discuss his nephew.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 7

Gautrek

It was with some trepidation that Gautrek entered the Harper's classroom. The
message had been rather vague, but if he understood correctly Geiran was having
some difficulty in class. When he'd ask his nephew he'd gotten very little
information, but what he did manage to pry out of the nine-turn-old led the
vintner to believe the boy had been in some trouble. The Harper was positioned
at his desk, reviewing some hides.

"Pardon me, but I believe you wanted to meet with me. I'm Journeyman Gautrek,
Geiran's uncle and guardian. We met ever so briefly when he started
classes here."

Tevarn got to his feet and smiled at the other man. "Thank you for coming
Journeyman." He edged out from behind his desk to indicate that they should sit
in a collection of chairs near the wall. "Please, have a seat."

Upon taking his seat, Gautrek turned earnestly to the Harper. "I understand
Geiran is having some difficulty in class, or perhaps," Gautrek paused only
briefly before continuing with a rather knowing look, "It's more that he's
proving troublesome."

"Sometimes he's not even here," Tevarn said, curious to know if this was news to
the journeyman vintner. Some parents were happy to keep their children home
with them for a variety of reasons, but that was generally less of a problem
with crafters.

Surprise was evident on the vintner's face, his expressive blue eyes having gone
wide. "Really? I wasn't aware that he'd missed any classes since we arrived.
As he leaves the Hall at the designated time, I suppose he must be getting
distracted along the way. That is something I will have to discuss with him,"
Gautrek's tone had become rather somber. "How many times has he been absent?"

"Twice," the elderly man said, almost apologetically. "It doesn't
seem like very often, though he hasn't been here very long, but I
would like us to see if we can't make sure it doesn't become a habit."

"As would I," Gautrek agreed. "Twice in the first two sevendays is
completely unacceptable. Geiran's father was a Harper and he knows
full well how important his education is."

"His father? I believe you said his father had died. Might I have
known him?" It didn't really affect this discussion about Geiran, but
it might help to give Tevarn an idea of what background - what
attitudes - the boy had been raised with.

"Indeed you might. Journeyman Geirik was his name and he was posted
at a minor Hold outside of Opal Cove. Most unfortunate, he was on a
ship that went down in a storm. It hasn't yet been a full turn since
it happened," Gautrek explained, looking down for a moment with a
shake of his head before shrugging off the brief melancholy and
continuing. "You might also have known my father, Master Glenarik,
who passed away just a few turns ago."

"I _did_ know Master Glenarik," Tevarn said with a nod. "But not
Geiran's father. How long has the boy been living with you? Has it
been just the few sevendays since he started classes with us?"

"No, for the past six months. Just after he lost his mother. We've
only recently relocated to the Hall in the past two sevendays,
though."

Tevarn had been teaching youngsters for some time and he knew that
they were each one of them individuals when it came to how they
reacted to the things that happened in their lives. There was no
predictable reaction and there was no timeline. And sometimes they
just took it into their heads to do unexpected things for no reason at
all. It wasn't as much about _why_, as about what to do about it.

"He's been a little disruptive, too, when he's in class, sometimes out
of class. Nothing bad," the harper assured the younger man. "But
again something it would be easier to deal with before it becomes a
habit. Do you think he _wants_ to learn? Has ambitions to join a
craft?"

With furrowed brow, Gautrek considered carefully before offering his
answer, "He's but nine turns and a very active boy, and I am very new
to parenting so your question is a bit harder than if I'd raised him
from a babe. He's bright, though, and I foresee him eventually
wanting the challenge and stimulation of a craft. I know it's what my
brother would have wanted for him."

"I agree that he's a clever lad - another reason I don't want to let
these small problems turn into large ones. Can I leave it with you to
speak with him, this time? If things don't improve we can all three
of us get together and talk."

"Certainly. I'll speak to him. I appreciate your concern. Please let
me know if things don't improve."

The older man smiled. Some parents didn't care very much about their
children's learning and he had learned over the Turns to value those
who did. "You can trust me to do that," he promised.

Last updated on the December 23rd 2014

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Proving Troublesome