The long hot summer day had turned to a warm late summer evening. The smell of sun baked ground and the sleepy calls of summer birds across the lake drifted in through the open French windows at the rear of the Ordo Chapter House.
Long lace net curtains caught a soft early evening breeze.
Dressed in her usual school uniform, Martha was completing her steady watch and patrol of the perimeter and taking a look across the lake and undergrowth...just in case. Carefully checking, for the third time on her patrol, the ground through the binoculars that hung from a lanyard around her neck.
Seeming content that nothing appeared untoward, she turned her binoculars skyward, taking care to adjust the focus as she tracked the flight path of an ascending plane. She checked the time by the ancient long-case clock in the drawing room and guessed it might be an Airbus 320...certainly the livery was United. She couldn't decide on its likely destination though.
Smiling to herself, she replaced the caps over the lens of her NATO pattern binoculars, returned them to it's carrying case.
Closing the French windows she took another look to the shadows of the grounds towards the lakefront and then locked the doors shut.
Patrol complete she hobbled quietly over to the piano.
The books, carafes of freshly made lemonade and notepads were set out near the semi-circle of sofas and chairs ready for the Dragons whom may join the first Book Club evening.
As she sat down to play something gentle to greet any arriving Dragons.
She felt the opening movements of Phillip Glass' "Metamorphosis" would be suitable...
http://youtu.be/8w6a8pfG0V4
Martha was working hard at the piano and waiting for others whom may join her...