Working with difficult children

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 9th June 2008

Characters: J'gen, Irlani
Description: Irlani steps up as the new carer for J'gen's daughter, Gyta
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 4 of Turn 4

"I just don't think I can deal with this." Trayla turned her mug of klah around and around on the table. Irlani sipped at her own, watching the woman's nervous gesture.

"Is the child that much trouble?" Irlani asked softly.

"No, no, she's no trouble it's just...she's...she's not _right_." Trayla shook her head and finally took a sip of her klah. "She doesn't speak. Not a word. Not a sound! It's..it's freaky. Whenever I talk to her she just looks at me."

"Really?" How odd. "You mean she can't speak?"

"No, no, she can, she just doesn't, won't." Trayla shook her head again and returned to her nervous gesture with the mug. "It's creepy. I've tried dealing with it, but I just can't. I'm so glad that I don't have to keep her at night too. Her father takes her then."

"So you want me to take over her care?" Irlani set aside her mug, only half empty, but she didn't want anymore.

"Yes. Please. You're so patient, you can take this sort of thing."

"I can, hm?" A soft, musical chuckle escaped, "I suppose I can. My last fosterling impressed at the last clutch. I must say, I've found myself at a loss of what to do with myself." Well, that wasn't quite true. She had been helping as the headwoman's assistant since then. But Irlani loved children and missed having them. She had never borne one of her own, but had loved every single one of her fosterlings as if they had come from her own womb. "You will speak to the father, of course?"

"Of course!" Trayla nodded enthusiastically. "I mean...I'm due in a few sevendays, surely he'll understand."

"I think you need to be more frank with him regarding the reason."

Trayla's mouth quirked to the side in doubt. "I suppose. I'll speak to him. Do you think you could speak to him yourself this afternoon?"

"Certainly. J'gen you said his name was?" Irlani queried.

"Yes. He's a dragonhealer, so he shouldn't be too hard to find." Trayla's hands continued to turn the mug and already she was forming what to say to the bronzerider when she met with him.

"All right. Then I'll go find him after mid meal."

****

There was no thread that day, but that didn't mean that the infirmary wasn't treating anyone. Threadscores weren't necessarily mild and recovery from them could take a long time. Irlani had lived in a weyr all her life - she had seen what thread could do even though she herself had never impressed.

A dragonhealer met her and she put in her request to see J'gen. She waited patiently, sitting in a chair, legs crossed at the ankles, hands folded in her lap. When he arrived, she stood and smiled to him, his scarring not even causing her to think twice. She had seen such before - even worse. "Dragonhealer J'gen? I'm Irlani. Trayla said she was going to talk to you this morning."

"Er, yes. Please, come this way..." he helpd out his hand, directing her into his office at the rear of the dragon infirmary. "I must admit, I'm surprised you offered to take over Gyta's care after hearing what Trayla had to say." he said, gesturing for her to take a seat, and pulling his own out ont he opposite side of his desk.

"Really?" Both of Irlani's eyebrows shot up as she passed J'gen and stepped into his office. "I don't see why I wouldn't." Irlani sat down in the chair indicated and smiled to the brownrider. "I've worked with difficult children in the past, Bronzerider. I've been bitten, kicked, screamed at, cursed at, punched, hair pulled. I've seen many things over my turns since I started fostering. What Trayla had to say was nothing compared to what I've seen and experienced."

"I didn't consider my daughter to be difficult." J'gen replied, more than a little put out at the description. "She suffered a great shock when she saw her mother die. The healers say she will recover, its just a matter of time, and for now, we just have to treat each day on its own."

"I understand." Irlani nodded slowly. Trayla had told her the story about that and it had made the woman's heart ache for the girl. "I'm prepared to deal with that, and be patient. I will take good care of her. And, of course, if you are unsatisfied with my care, I will do my best to assist you in finding someone else to your liking."

"Okay then." he nodded slowly, "I would like to see you with her, before I make my final decision. WOuld you care to join us for the evening meal, tonight? Would that be convenient?"

"Certainly, I would enjoy that." A smile crossed over Irlani's lips. "What time?"

"Around the eighteenth candlemaark?" he asked. "We'll meet you there?"

"I'll meet you at the door." Irlani suggested. "It will be easier to find one another than if we try to do so in the hall itself. Is that all right?"

"That's fine with me." he nodded, then stood, "We can discuss more in a less formal environment, if you like?" he really needed to get the hidework finished if he were to meet her on time.

"Certainly." Irlani followed the bronzerider's lead. "Until dinner, rider J'gen." She bobbed her head politely, then turned to go.

Last updated on the June 15th 2008

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Working with difficult children