7. Work in the house.
August woke up abruptly. He hadn't expected such an awakening. He somehow fell out of bed, from a comfortable bed, August wants to notice. Slowly getting up and looking around, he realized why he had fallen.
--- Get up, boy, it's time for you to get to work. But first, breakfast. Follow me.
Miss Peregrine woke him. She stood there and looked at him, but the strange thing was that instead of being in a wheelchair, she was standing on her own two feet with a cane in her hand.
--- I remember you were in a wheelchair
--- None of your business !
She raised her cane and poked him in the stomach.
--- Ouch ! What was that for ?
--- You'll know how to respect your elders. Now go to the bathroom, do your chores, and go down to the kitchen. We'll teach you how to cook.
--- Yes, yes. Whatever you say.
She poked him again, but this time it felt much stronger.
--- Ah ! Why?!
--- Just like that, now get up. I won't wait long for you.
And as it abruptly appeared, so it abruptly disappeared.
" She's pretty fast for her age. I'd better go and do it quickly, or she'll start poking me with her cane again. "
Going into the bathroom, he quickly brushed his teeth, took a shower, and then he went down to the kitchen. The kitchen was vast, it felt as if there were a lot of people working here, because this kitchen would fit 6 people.
--- Okay, you're here. But I'll ask you first. Can you cook ?
--- A little
--- Yes or no.
--- No
She looks at August with intense eyes. You could feel her words right there.
[ God, who did I hire ? ]
After standing for a while, she exhaled and turned to the stove.
--- Look carefully, because I won't do it again.
She quickly began to cook. Her hands were so fast that August could barely keep up with them. Her movements were precise, without slowing down, as if she had been cooking for years and was a chef. And then, a few minutes later, there was a plate of breakfast on Augustus ' table. The smell was so delicious that Durg August, the belly, quickly wanted to eat.
--- Eat it. It's your breakfast today.
Augustus quickly began to eat his breakfast. It was delicious. He's never eaten anything like this in his entire life, and he's supposed to learn how to cook ? Is he supposed to learn how to cook ? It was impossible ! But while he was eating and thinking, Miss Peregrine began to talk.
--- From tomorrow on, you will prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for us on your own. Also, today I will show you the house, the place of work, the garden, in general, I will show you your territory where you will clean.
....
--- We'll spend this whole morning teaching you how to cook. And we'll do it for as long as it takes to get it in your head. Do you understand ?
--- Yes, Miss Peregrine.
--- All right, finish your meal and let's get started.
And she wasn't lying. All morning, and almost lunch, Augustus learned how to cook. Of course, it got better with each dish prepared, but the first attempts were very unsuccessful, you could tell from Miss Peregrine's comments.
--- Terribly
--- Disgusting
--- Raw
--- Why is it moving ?
--- Hmm, not bad...I was joking, it's still awful. Again.
And now, after all morning, many attempts, a lot of wasted ingredients, he succeeded. He waited for a positive comment.
--- It'll do
--- It'll do ?
--- Yes. It's still bad, but it's something.
" Finally, I was able to do it. It's been a long time. "
--- But don't get excited too soon. You still have a lot to learn.
--- Yes
--- Good. Because of you, my refrigerator is almost empty, now I will give you a list of products and money, when you buy everything, come back immediately. Got it ?
--- Yes
She handed him the list, the money in small bills. And when he was about to go out, he was hailed.
--- Hey,boy !
Quickly turning around, he caught two things. Key and cylinder.
--- The key will allow you to enter and leave the house. And the hat is a small bonus, it still gets dusty.
--- Thanks !
--- Go now.
Donning his top hat, August quickly left the mansion. He's finally free for a while, until he buys some groceries. But she didn't say exactly when he should buy them, did she ? And since lunch has already passed, you can walk until dinner.
" Right now, my main goal is to find out about the crystal gems. I already know one of them, and I also met Stephen, but I don't know anything about the others. We need to do some scouting. "
Augustus had the right idea, but our thoughts sometimes don't match our actions. And instead of asking people, he went back to the place where he met Stephen and Amethyst. He didn't know why he had come here, but he didn't care anymore when a voice called out to him.
--- Hey, August !
It was Stephen and he wasn't alone
--- Hi, Stephen. I promised you we'd meet again, didn't I ?
--- I thought you weren't serious. But I'm still glad to see you. So...What are you doing?
--- Let me think. Hmm..nothing. I'm free until dinner.
--- Cool, let's hang out again.
--- I don't mind.
--- Okay, let's start with...
--- Khm !
August and Stephen had become so talkative that they had forgotten about the other person next to them
--- I'm sorry, Connie. So August is Connie, Connie is August.
--- Nice to meet you.
--- Mutually.
Connie was just as much a child as Stephen. She had dark hair, tanned skin, and glasses. She was wearing a light dress, just an ordinary girl.
--- Cool hat, by the way.
--- Thanks
After a quick introduction to Connie, you all went to a local amusement park together. The land of fun. Augustus had always wondered what it was about these amusement parks, he had never been there and did not understand the people who returned there over and over again, but now he had this opportunity.
It was an amazing place. All these rides, slot machines, cotton candy, hot dogs, all this lured August. His eyes gave off a small glow as a sign of joy. Now he understood, and he didn't want to leave.
He, Connie, and Stephen spent several hours here. All the time they'd been here, August's smile hadn't left his face. Before they knew it, it was pitch-black night. And they all sat together on the pier, looking out at the ocean.
--- I will tell the truth\. Connie.Stephen. I haven't had this much fun in a long time.
--- Yeah, it was especially fun when Steven threw up at the races.
--- Hey ! It wasn't my fault, they were moving so fast ! I felt dizzy.
--- Hahahahaha
--- Hahahahaha
---- Hahahahaha
When they laughed, for the first time, Augustus felt a strange sensation. He had never experienced it, it was a first for him, but he liked it very much.
" Is this friendship "
An agitated cry roused him from his reverie.
--- Steven !
Turning around, he noticed an old friend, Amethyst, and two other women who were with her.
The first one was very long. She had an afro hairstyle, her clothes were flowing from red to dark, and she had glasses on her eyes. She looked cool.
The second one was a little strange. She was dressed in a ballerina costume, with a jewel in her forehead and fear in her eyes. She hurried over to their table and put her arms around Stephen.
--- Stephen I was worried ! Where have you been ! It's already night, and you're not home.
--- I'm not a little pearl anymore. I told you I was going out with Connie.
--- You said you'd be back at 18: 00, and it's already 20: 00.
--- Okay, I'm fine. Oh ! I want to introduce you to a new acquaintance. Garnet, Pearl, this is August.
And then they turned their attention to August . Although he couldn't see Garnet's eyes, but you could feel that she was looking directly at him, it bothered him a little, but something else caught his attention. Pearl's reaction was more interesting.
There was a look of fear in her eyes. It wasn't the kind of fright you get when you see his eyes, no. This fright was different, it was more...ancient. There was recognition in her eyes, too, and that was what caught his attention the most.
There was tension in the atmosphere. He decided to slow it down a bit by turning to a friend.
--- Hey, Amethyst.
--- Hey, August.
--- Amethyst, do you know him ?
This time it was Garnet who spoke.
--- Yes, we just met yesterday. He's a traveler.
--- Hmmm....good.
--- A traveler ? Never mind, Stephen, it's time for you to go home
--- Oh, man, okay. Bye August, bye Connie.
--- Bye, Stephen
Then he left with them. It was just him and Connie.
--- Well, Connie, I think I should go, too. We'll meet again.
--- Bye
After saying goodbye to Connie, August headed for the mansion, but on the way he remembered about the groceries.
" Heck ! "
It was already night and it was unlikely that a store could be found, but he was very lucky, because another store was not closed. He bought everything from the list and literally ran to the mansion. Just as he was about to enter it, he felt the impact of the cane again.
--- Ah !
--- Too long. I sent you for groceries, not furniture. Go to the kitchen and cook. Then go to bed.
Then nothing interesting happened. Augustus cooked dinner as best he could, ate it, washed the dishes, brushed his teeth, and went to bed. Today, he definitely felt something new, something intriguing. He was also at an amusement park, and it was an interesting day. But no matter how interesting he was, he was still exhausted, and therefore instantly fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
[ Meanwhile, in the house on the hill. ]
--- Garnet, did you see his eyes?! They were Lozenges ! Lozenges, Garnet !
--- Stop panicking, Pearl. And what if he has diamond-shaped eyes ? That doesn't mean he's a villain.
--- You don't understand Amethyst !You weren't there yet ! I've only ever seen those eyes in one creature, and it's because of them that all our friends have become corrupted.
--- You mean...
---Yes! Only Diamonds have such eyes !
The room fell silent. Everyone thought about their own things. Suddenly, Garnet's voice rang out.
--- Good. From now on, he will be under close scrutiny. We need to know if he's working for the Homeworld. Do you understand ?
--- Yes
--- Yes
--- That's it, end of the meeting. We're starting surveillance tomorrow.
This is how August's first encounter with the crystal gems took place. This was certainly not their last meeting, there will be many of them ahead. And not just with crystal gems. But also with someone worse.