43

Schooled

The town of Kreistia, though only a few miles from Breima Manor, was completely hidden by a hilly horseshoe peppered with ancient elms and oaks. The road they took followed a wide and shallow river which narrowed and deepened near the outskirts of the hamlet.

Neither Lottica nor Nick had ever travelled out of the United States before, so Kreistia, with its rustic stone structures, slate roofs, narrow lanes and cobblestones, was only familiar in a theme park kind of way. As the Land Rover neared the town square, they each felt a tremendous urge to wander Kreistia’s medieval streets. This town begged for exploring.

"Where are we going first, Grandmother?" Nick asked.

"We drive to market. I shop. Grandfather take you to school."

"School?” Lottica did a double-take. “I thought we were learning about Lebreima from experiencing it. We're not really going to school, are we?"

Grandfather Breima laughed and pointed to his temple. "School here.” Then he pointed out the window. “Also there"

Lottica relaxed. Her grandparents had become much more playful, much more at ease in Lebreima, as if a burden had been lifted. Or a victory won. Maybe the struggle to bring back their son and his family had made them seem stern and aloof. It was great to finally have interactive grandparents, not the blocks of ice they’d had to skate around in America. She hoped their new relationship would last.

Grandfather Breima soon parked the Land Rover near a grassy bank by the main bridge straddling the river. Grandmother Breima took two empty canvas bags out of the back and nodded to her husband. She headed off down the street towards the movement and colors of various vendors and their wares. Lottica felt a duty to go with her, that it was somehow expected of her because she was a girl.

Grandfather Breima must have seen her hesitation. He took her hand. "Lotteika says you to come with me."

She squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Grandfather." And Grandmother, she thought.

He squeezed her hand back. "First school lesson. In Lebreima, I not Grandfather Breima." He pronounced it in a nasal American way, which made Lottica and Nick laugh. "Here, I am Bopei. Grandmother is Ladamei. It is right way."

Lottica took one of her grandfather’s hands and Nick grabbed the other. grandfather, "Lead on, Bopei,” Lottica chimed. “Teacher knows best."

A few minutes later as they wound through a maze of narrow lanes, Lottica asked Nick, "You getting the same Hansel and Gretel vibe that I am?"

Heavy-timbered buildings cantilevered over the lane, almost touching overhead. Though many of the buildings were brightly colored, the effect was still mildly claustrophobic to Lottica, like being in a dark old-growth forest.

Nick chuckled. "Hansel and Gretel. Are you still hung up on those dead-parent stories, Lottica? I don't think you have to worry that we'll be abandoned.” He gestured around. “This is great. Kind of like Harry Potter’s Wizarding World. Or Cinderella’s Disneyland castle. Or Snow White’s cottage. As long as no one around here starts singing ‘Hi Ho Hi Ho,’ I think we're okay."

“Sure, keep making fun of dead-parent stories. Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you with them.”

They laughed, but their grandfather who’d been listening, gave them a scowl. "Lebreima not Disneyland."

"Sorry, gran—I mean, Bopei." Nick recovered. "You’re absolutely right. This is pretty incredible."

"Damn straight," he shot back, his scowl melting into a bright grin reminiscent of their father.

"Bopei!" Lottica gawked, genuinely surprised. "Where did you learn that? That's swearing."

"American TV is bad teacher. I apologize. Is not polite. But, make us even for Disneyland comment." He held up his hand.

Nick eventually understood his gesture and gently high-fived him. Lottica followed suit.

"Where is everyone, Bopei?" Lottica asked as they came onto a wider, more major road that was as quiet as the backstreets.

"Today is market. Busy for Ladamei. Much talking. Much shopping. In Lebreima, she is talker."

"You too, Bopei," Nick ventured.

"Only for grandchildren." He smiled broadly again and then waved them on. "Come. We getting close."

"To the school?" Lottica asked.

Grandfather Breima did not answer. Instead, he turned a last corner and there before them was a broad cobblestone plaza with large trees enclosing a shimmering fountain, its jets of water creating a fine spray. Beyond the fountain, and the brisk mist it was generating, was a stately old building with a bronze cupola adorned by diamond-shaped panes of leaded glass.

"Is that the school?" Lottica asked, marveling at the sight.

"Soon," he answered and led them down the center of the plaza.

As they approached the fountain, the pumps cycled off and the mist cleared. Right in front of their widening eyes stood a giant bird in the center of the fountain. A huge granite monument of Hawk, its wings spread wide as if landing. Its right claw clasping a brilliant crystal that swam in prismatic blues, greens and yellows in the early morning sunlight and mist.

The mighty sculpture of Hawk was impressive. Yet, as they drew closer, what made Lottica grasp Nick's arm was the rest of the monument. Beneath Hawk’s claws, two human hands, upright and folded as if in prayer, rested on the broad chest of a kingly figure in repose. And one more wonder awaited. Engraved at the base of the statue was the phrase that had brought them halfway around the world: Lebreima lumeinatus de Kareima.

Lottica could’ve blamed it on the mist from the fountain, but the colossal sculpture of Feodeim, the first le Breima with Hawk brought a tear to her eye.

Wow, thought Lottica, brushing the tear away, can Bopei ever teach.