(no subject)

[fry_sandhu]

It's early afternoon, and Frogspawn is about to start her school run.

"Right, Fry's and Coral have band practice, Brooke's going to Karate, and I'm picking Rahne and Gil up to bring home. You're welcome to join any of them." she says to Remy. "Your choice."

Comments

[numbered_doctor]

Remy looks up at Frogspawn after a moment of thought, Wagon perched in her lap.

"C'n I go with Fry and Coral today?"

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"Sure you can." Frogspawn says. "So long as you stay with Fry or Coral and don't wander off, okay? Let's hop in the car, I'll drop you off."

[numbered_doctor]

She nods, and moves Wagon from her lap carefully before standing and putting on her shoes.

"Yes'm. I won't wander."

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"I know you won't, you're a good girl." Frogspawn says.

When they get in the car, she starts the engine.

"Now, just to warn you, you might have heard it mentioned that Fry goes to a special school for autistic kids. So some of his friends might seem a bit odd if you're not used to them, but they're good kids and you've nothing to be afraid of, all right?"

A few of the kids in Fry's school get into fights now and again, but not the ones Fry tends to hang out with.

[numbered_doctor]

Remy nods as she listens, buckling up and looking up at Frogspawn.

"Does that mean they have no touching rules, too?"

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"Well, some of them do, but they have their own idiosyncracies." Frogspawn says. "Jo doesn't like being touched, I think; she and Fry dated for a bit. Maurice will allow touching but he'll go and wash his hands as soon as it's over. Candy's actually the opposite, she gets too close sometimes. The others don't mind either way, far as I know."

She starts the car and heads out.

"People on the autistic spectrum have difficulties in social rules and communication. And also sensory differences. Many remain in mainstream education, but most of the kids at Fry's school were bullied in their old schools, or couldn't work at their own pace."

[numbered_doctor]

There's more nodding as Frogspawn, and Remy looks out the window as they drive.

"So it's different for everyone. maybe let them make the first move?"

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"Yes, just say hello and tell them who you are. Fry and Coral will look after you, the others will chat to you at their own pace. James doesn't talk much at all but he usually listens."

It's only a few minutes drive before they get to the first school. Rahne is sitting on a bench outside, while a bunch of other kids are arguing at her. She's pretty much ignoring them. Frogspawn winds down the window.

"Rahne, you okay sweetie?"

Rahne gets up, pushes through the other kids, and gets in the car without speaking to them.

"Hey Auntie Fran, Remy."

Frogspawn turns around and looks at her in concern.

"Were they hassling you?"

"I wasn't allowing myself to care." Rahne says. "They were annoyed because I got caught reading Bronte under the desk instead of the juvenile book the rest of the class was supposed to be reading out loud at idiot pace."

"Did you tell them that?" Frogspawn asks.

"Yes." Rahne says.

"If you call people idiots they're going to be mean." Frogspawn says, setting off again. "I know it's frustrating going slower than you want to, but try and make it less obvious? You'll be in secondary school soon, that'll be more challenging."

[numbered_doctor]

Despite Frogspawn's chastisement, Remy grins as Rahne describes her day, offering a subtle thumbs up as she twists in her seat to listen.

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

Rahne gives her a grin in return.

Frogspawn drives a few more streets to another primary school. Gil is outside with another little boy, playing some sort of card game. Brooke is standing with a teacher, looking a teensy bit mutinous and a teensy bit pleased with herself.

Frogspawn winds down the window.

"Mrs Patel? Is there a problem?"

"I'm afraid I've had to confiscate this." Mrs Patel says, holding up a plastic box with some holes in the lid, containing a rather large tarantula.

"Brooklyn!" Frogspawn groans. "I told you not to bring Killer to school."

"It's not in the school rules." Brooke protests. "And Alisha wanted to see her."

The car behind beeps. Mrs Patel gives Brooklyn the spider back and the two kids get in the car.

"Hi Remy. That's the school you can come to with us next term." Brooke says to Remy. "They're a bit strict but you won't get beat up or anything."

Even if that was common, they wouldn't get past Brooke.

[numbered_doctor]

"I'd like to see them try," Remy says with a bit of confidence. Though it's not certain if she means to take whatever potential bullies on herself, or if she knows Brooke wouldn't let them that close in the first place.

She grins.

"Did your friend like Killer?"

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"Yes, we had her under the table in maths. Well, until Mackenzie snitched on us." Brooke says.

"Well she did scream so loud the next class could hear." Gil points out.

"You'd better hide her when we get to Fry's school." Rahne points out.

"Kids are such wussies. Killer wouldn't hurt anything bigger than a rabbit." Brooke says, rolling her eyes. "Anyone want a cuddle with her?"

"Not in the car!" Frogspawn says, turning into another car park. "Right you 'orrible lot, the Sandhu Bus is now at Fry's school, Remy and Rahne this is your stop. Uncle Guppy will pick you up after band practice, okay?"

"Okay, thanks for the lift, bye." Rahne says, grabbing her bag again and stepping out. Remy might notice she's naturally protective of her bag, which is hand made and matches most of her hand made brown dresses.

[numbered_doctor]

Remy says her goodbyes as well, twisting to talk to Brooke before clambering out of the car after Rahne.

"We can play with Killer when I get home?"

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"Sure." Brooke grins. "I'm going to video her with some of Coral's dollies and make it look like she's giant."

There are a couple of kids milling around the playground, wearing the school's purple blazer. Rahne leads Remy towards the main building. Some of the kids give them little glances before breaking eye contact again.

A boy with blonde hair, aged about twelve, bounds up to them.

"Knock knock!" he announces.

"Who's there?" Rahne answers, obediently.

"Ollie."

"Ollie who?"

"Ollie and the Ivy." the boy announces, then grins and looks at Remy.

"Who are you? I don't know you."

[numbered_doctor]

A little used to abruptness from Fry, she answers without batting an eye too much.

"You wouldn't. I'm Remy. And new."

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"I'm Ollie." Ollie says.

"We have to go, bye Ollie." Rahne says, giving him a friendly smile and wave then nodding to Remy to keep going.

"If he realises we're going to band practice he'll follow us." she whispers. "He asks every day if he can be in the band. At one point Fry tried to work out a way to include him, but Ollie's had a seizure on stage each time they tried to audition him."

[numbered_doctor]

Remy waves her goodbye to Ollie, and as they walk, her eyebrows raise in response to Rahne's statement. She nods her agreement, though, that not letting Ollie know where they're going is the best course of action.

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

As they go into the school, Remy might notice that there are coloured lines on the floor, and that the wall is fairly minimalistic with signs and notices, so that the important ones stand out. There's some art and photos up though, at various points.

Rahne takes them through to the main hall, where the band are already setting up. Coral is on stage, and waves at Remy and Rahne as they come in. Fry is busy explaining something to a boy at the piano. An older, tall boy is texting on his phone.

Coral jumps off the stage to join them.

"Hi, let me introduce you to the band." she says. "That's Maurice on the drums. James is our lead singer - the big boy sitting on the side of the stage. The boy with the flute is Nimesh. Candy is our other singer, she's gone to the loo... Jamie's the boy at the piano, and that's Lenny, he conducts."

[numbered_doctor]

Remy pays careful attention as she's introduced to the group, nodding a head in greeting as she tries to put as many faces to names the first time around.

"What do you play?"

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"I sing." Coral says.

"I just watch." Rahne adds.

[numbered_doctor]

She smiles.

"It'll be nice to hear you guys preform."

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"We're very good." Lenny informs her, getting off the phone. "Who are you?"

"This is Remy, she's our sister." Rahne says. Lenny, familiar with how Rahne joined the family, nods.

"Remy, do you play an instrument?" Fry asks, coming over. "We could get you some percussion if you want."

[numbered_doctor]

Remy perks up a little at the mention of joining in, looking over curiously.

"Percussion?"

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"Instruments that are hit or banged." Fry says. "Like tamborines or maracas."

[numbered_doctor]

"I know what percussion instruments are," Remy says, a brow raising. "I was asking what kind of instruments you have."

[sandhu-kids.livejournal.com]

"Tamborines, maracas, triangle, glockenspiel, or xylophone." Fry offers.