11. Outreaching To You
episode three , friend or woe
"ALL STUDENTS will report for their volunteer jobs at 10:00 a.m. sharp, followed by a community lunch at 1:00. As you know, this year Outreach Day culminates in a very special event, the dedication of a new memorial statue in the town square, which will also include performances by Nevermore students." The Principal Weems' voice was as clear as day, and her voice rang through the quad. "As representatives of our school, I trust you will all put your best face forward." Principal Weeks practically demanded as she heard some students yell 'yeah' or 'yes principal Weems'.
"Yes! I got Pilgrim World. I have natural people skills and a love of performing, so it's kind of the obvi choice." Enid screamed into Josephine, who wanted to put her hands around Enid's neck and wring it.
"Calm the fuck down, dog." Josephine looked at Enid with a glare as Wednesday placed a hand on Josie's shoulder.
"What'd you get?" Enid turned to Wednesday, ignoring Josephine's clear displeasure with the girl.
"Uriah's Heap, whatever that is." Wednesday shrugged and rubbed some circles on Josephine's back like she had seen her father do back home when her mother was upset. "Wait, am I doing something my father would do for my mother?" Wednesday thought to herself in shock.
"Ew. It's this weird, creepy antique store." Enid filed her nails before staring at them. Enid looked up at a disgruntled Josephine and a shell-shocked Wednesday. "You'll love it, though. I'm crossing my claws Ajax and I will be outreaching together." Enid screamed again and Josephine gave buff huff of air.
Principal Weems walked over and gave Josephine a smile before turning to the dark haired girl behind her. "Wednesday, don't worry about your cello. I'll have it brought to the town square this afternoon." Weems looked at Wednesday, who had her arm around Josephine's waist. Wednesday and Josephine looked remarkably like Gomes and Mortisha.
"My cello?" Wednesday inquired with a harsh gaze.
"I caught your rooftop serenade the other night. It was very impressive. I volunteered you to accompany the Jericho High School marching band at the ceremony. I'm sure it won't be too challenging to play an uplifting Fleetwood Mac melody." Weems affirmed as Wednesday's eyebrows bushed together, creating tension in her forehead.
"As long as you promise to hang me as a witch afterwards." Wednesday had nearly gotten the words out of her mouth before Josephine hit her harshly on the side of her arm.
"Thats offensive! Millions of witches died, not just in American but around the world. What if there was a witch going to the school?" Josephine was more or less peeved at her acquaintance. Wednesday merely shrugged.
"Miss Monroe, I need you to go to pilgrim world and hang out in a few tourist places, there is a deaf woman coming and they need an interpreter for any speaking information." Weems turned to Josephine, who nodded lightly. Josephine gave a quick okay before Weems left.
"I need you to switch assignments with me." Josephine had forgetting that Enid was with them. The blonde girl then proceeded to whine about how she wanted to be with Ajax and how they could be with their assignment together. "Thing had a look at his assignment, he got Uriah's Heap— but if you don't want to trade." Wednesday's sentence trailed off as Enid snatched the card from her hand and replaced it with the 'Pilgrim World' card.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Enid jumped up and down as she went to hug Wednesday (who gave a deep scowl).
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"Welcome, welcome, Nevermore Academy." The mayor— Josephine didn't even know what his name is nor did she care, chirped as he spread his arms out. "Now, on behalf of the entire Jericho community, we are so, so pleased to have you all here today. Your generosity and hard work are truly, outreachous!" The mayor (Mayor Walker) cleared his throat as Principal Weems smiled at everyone, it was unsettling. "Okay, everyone. We'll see you back here at one o'clock for lunch. Enjoy!"
Josephine and Wednesday walked down to Pilgrim World where they saw a huge sign and someone yelling, "Welcome to Pilgrim World! Witch trials every day! Two o'clock, four o'clock!" Josephine exhaled as she heard this.
"I can't believe they're doing 'witch trials' it's supper offensive and the term the correct term for that actions is 'the Lilith Period'." Josephine signed aggressively, Wednesday just nodded before turning to Eugene— who had just been standing there oddly enough.
"Hey, Wednesday, want to grab a Hummers group photo?" Wednesday just blinked at the younger boy. "Guess not." Eugene sighed with disappointment before they were gathered up by some volunteers before a strawberry blonde woman came before them.
"Good morrow, my young Nevermore kin. I am Mistress Arlene. A real OC." At the blank looks the Nevermore student clarified. "Original colonist. Now prithee, put your cell phones on vibrate and make haste, for you are about to travel back in time to the year of our Lord 1625, to Jericho's first pilgrim settlement." Mistress Arlene watched as the students put all their phones away hastily. "Yonder. Behold, the meeting house. Inside is a collection of artifacts related to Jericho's most beloved and pious founder, Joseph Crackstone." Mistress Alene spoke Crackstone's name proudly.
"Colonist." Josephine gave Wednesday and eager look. Wednesday watched her before she gave a small quiet chuckle.
"And beyond is our privy, America's first gender-neutral restroom." Mistress Arlene had finally stop talking, and the moment she did Wednesday raised her own hand. Arlene nodded for her to say whatever she would say. "Pray, be quick, child."
"I haveth a query. In the meeting house, which of Joseph Crackstone's artifacts are on display?" Wednesday spoke swiftly, she grasped Josephine's hand with her now lowered one.
"It is truly a treasure trove, including original farm tools, tableware, even the Crackstone family chamber pot." Mistress Arlene was visibly getting annoyed.
"Sounds fascinating. Josephine and aI volunteer to work in there." Wednesday gestured to the girl next to her, who was looking at her well manicured nails.
"Pray, no. That exhibit is being renovated. Today, thou will all be working at the beating heart of Pilgrim World. Ye olde fudgery." Mistress Arlene lead the ground of students to a building with a huge sign.
"Ye Olde Fudgery?" Eugene echoed Mistress Arlene's words, not only that but reading the sign above them aswell.
"More like ye olde diabetes in a box." Wednesday muttered under her breath in a angsty tone.
"Volunteers, prick up thine ears. Fudge is the lifeblood of our humble community. And samples equal sales, so grab a uniform and a box and make our forefathers proud." Mistress Arlene shoved a uniform into Josephine and Wednesday's arms.
"Are these for muzzling tourists?" It seemed that Wednesday was in a particularly feisty mood today. When they had finally gotten into the costumes, she watched as Josephine animatedly talked to the deaf woman she would be signing for— this was the woman's last stop. "Enjoy your 'authentic' pilgrim fudge made with cacao beans procured by the oppressed indigenous people of the Amazon. All proceeds go to uphold this pathetic whitewashing of American history. Also, fudge wasn't invented for another 258 years." Wednesday's german slowed down as she looked at the tourists. "Any takers?" Wednesday watched as Josephine signed what she had said word-for-word, the sounds of disappointed tourists filling her ears. Josephine followed the woman out, as that was her assignment, Wednesday was almost sad to see her go.