[Nurumaiel]

(Edmund at school)

If Kali, paired with Edmund on that first day of school, was looking a little nervous, there is no reason to blame him. The scowl on Edmund's face was terrifying. Being paired with a Hobbit was bad enough. Being paired with Kali was worse. The little crybaby! And this whole idea of a school was silly, anyway. The only good thing about it was that he didn't have to help Cook in the kitchen. But, of course, helping Cook in the kitchen would be better than this. That silly little crybaby wasn't in the kitchen.

And then there was his wounded squirrel. Kali might have found some temporary relief as Edmund's stern eyes softened a bit. It was on its way towards recovery. It had a beautiful greyish-red coat, and how close its leg was to being fully healed! It was an absolute miracle it was getting better at all after he had had to sit in the kitchen all day unable to take care of it. Of this Edmund was sure. And now, at the crucial time when good care would keep it healthy and bad care would make it drop back to illness, Edmund was forced to sit next to this little crybaby while his squirrel sat back at home, waiting for him to return. Poor little suffering creature...

"M-may I see the slate, Edmund?" Kali asked, his voice trembling and uncertain.

Edmund turned his head for the first time towards Kali and scowled at the hobbit child for a moment. Kali averted his eyes, remembering the time he had been so cruelly teased. "No," Edmund said at last, his voice low so his mother wouldn't hear but still very rude. "No, you can't. I'm using it. Anyway, you're too stupid to learn how to read and write, anyway." Edmund didn't care that he had used the word 'anyway' twice in his sentence. He didn't care that he had been rude. He just wished Kali would go away.

His mother was coming towards them now. Surely she couldn't have heard what had been said? Smiling kindly at Kali, she took a seat next to him. "Would you like some help with your alphabet, Kali?" The little hobbit boy nodded, and at his mother's request, Edmund was forced to hand the slate over. Her eyebrows raised when she saw the drawing of the squirrel, but she said nothing. Listening with some cruel delight to Kali's attempts at the alphabet, he hoped recess would come soon. Then he wouldn't have to be next to the crybaby.