Belinda, Maria and Constance knew that they had better make sure that Jacquelyn's steps were covered for she had just started dancing. They were at the top of their class which was the class above Jacquelyn.

Noreene had to concentrate on leading the whole group into the the village.
Her performance was flawless and she ended at the stage where she slide off to one side silently as possible to wait for the rest of the caravan.



Noreene was exhausted as she climbed inside and was glad that she did not need to drive the wagon yet. She took off her dress and hung it up in her closet and laid down on her bed.

Finally, the long, drawn out torture that is the dance ended. Jacquelyn had never felt so embarrassed in her life, not even when she was caught mid pickpocket once with her hand in an older man's pants. She quietly exited along with the other girls, hanging her head in shame.

Sean noticed the way that Jacquelyn held herself and knew she felt bad but he needed to attend to the wedding proceedings at that time.
After they had set up camp and food was warming up. Sean knocked on the girls wagon.
"Young ladies, may I come in?"

"Are you going to let uncle in?" Jacquelyn asked, motioning towards the wagon door.

"Come in, father. I am resting and so are the other girls." Noreene spoke as she simply laid there.

"Thank you, Noreene. I am here mostly to make announcements and to congratulate you.
Caroline, your performance was excellent, particularly for your age. You may now start thinking about what craft you wish to pursue. Talk to your mother tomorrow about it.

Jacquelyn, your performance was very good according to Viollca. Belinda, Maria and Constance are more than excellent shielders. They were paced in front of your and the other young ones to cover up your mistakes. Viollica thinks that you might be a good dancer in the future since you had almost had the steps down pat. I am proud of you. You too are now permitted to learn a craft. See your aunt tomorrow.

Now for you Noreene. I simply don't know what to say except that you were above expectations. You did the Wedding is Coming to perfection and with a full weight of 250 tingling bells. That dress weighed 75 pounds. You will receive the title of young lady and receive compensation. There will be a class for you to attend when it can be arranged. You will be receiving a few extra items from your mother tomorrow. I am very proud of you, my daughter. You may take the next three days off to rest and do some studying.

Good night, to each of you. Sleep well." Sean walked out of the wagon and closed the door quietly.

Jacquelyn was now questioning what craft she should take up. Sometimes, she would voice those thoughts out loud. Usually the more dangerous ones. " . . . How about forging axes? . . . Dinsed carving? It does sound fun, carving a stone with a knife so sharp it cuts right through without resistance."

"Jacquelyn, try a more feminine craft such as sewing, needlepoint, cooking, knitting, crochet or something like that. Women aren't allowed to do dangerous crafts. Also we are now considered the young ladies which you won't like like at all nor will I." Noreene spoke as she got into bed.

Jacquelyn couldn't decide out of the options she had been offered. They all sounded so repetitive, so boring. Also, there were plenty of women out there doing male crafts. Somewhere. Maybe. Hopefully.

"Do you have any viable crafts that you do? If you have any craft skills you might be one of the few exceptions. Or you could find tools for the craft that you want to do like carving then make a few little things for gifts such as dolls for the younger girls, you might be allowed to do the craft. But you must be sneaky to do this. Just dream on it.

Oh! There have been several women doing traditional men's crafts.

I'm gonna work on doing bead work then maybe I can get my own stones from places where we go to barter. I'll have to get a hand drill and something to polish them. I saw a tumbler once. It looked easy to do but a bit boring. And tiring. I'll have to think on it.

Good night....." Noreene spoke.

"Alright, good night," Jacquelyn yawned as she blew out her candle. All the good crafts were on the boys side. Well, the socially accepted ones anyway. Her "craft" was open to anyone with a deft hand. But she had been out of practice for a few days. She'll need to sharpen her skills at the next town they enter.

Noreene was soon asleep and slept hard the whole night. It was not until morning that she woke up. She stretched in the bed before telling the other two that it was time to get up.

"Hey there you two sleepy heads! Time to get up. In fact we are late in getting up. I hear others stirring about." Noreene spoke quickly.

All around the camp people were getting ready for the day.

"Just one more hour," Jacquelyn mumbled sleepily as she rolled over, turning her back to Noreene. "Or two. Or three or four or five."

"Jacquelyn, I wouldn't suggest sleeping in. You are to see your aunt this morning. So if you don't want a thrashing, I suggest that you get up. Besides that being lazy won't help you get what you want around here. Caroline, you better get up as well." Noreene spoke in a tired voice.

She dressed in a dull ragged dress and simply pulled her hair back in a pigtail then helped Caroline finish getting ready.

Jacquelyn got up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Well, today was traveling day. Time to meet that mysterious friend of uncle's.

Surah was angry. Once again, the Dinsed university had rejected his offer, despite the fact he clearly meets every requirement. He sat down on the steps leading up to it, head in hands, just gazing at the people go by.

A knock on the door and Bridget walked in.

"Come along Jacquelyn and Caroline. You will be riding with me today. I'll be teach you two a craft or two. Noreene, you will be driving this wagon. We need to get more males so that we females can get our own work done. Here is your breakfast and a small keg of water. I'll be getting you more beads so that you can do more beading. But after this time, Noreene, you will be buying your own beads. It is time for you to earn your own way. How old are you now?" she asked.

"I'll be 10 in two weeks, mother. Then I will be a preteen." Noreene smiled proudly.

"That is correct. You are the eldest here. You will need to set an example by keeping your hands busy. Remember that idle hands can and often get themselves into trouble. Jacquelyn and Caroline, come." Bridget spoke sharply as she left.

"Come on, then," Jacquelyn quipped as she motioned to Caroline. "Wouldn't want to keep family waiting. Unless they want to talk about something boring, of course." She then stepped out the door and plodded over to the adult's wagon.

Bridget went to the wagon where she held the door open for the girls before she went inside.

"Ok now, I am going to show you how to do beading first. Each of you will have a large box of beads. This box has drawers and the beads are sorted into colors and sizes. The third one is for Noreene. This long drawer has your tools and threaders in. Now choose what leader you want......" Bridget began the first lesson of the day.

Sean came to the door and knocked sharply.

"Noreene, I'd like for you to meet Leon." Sean spoke.

Noreene went to the door to see a 7 year old male next to her father.
"Hello, Father, Leon." she spoke softly.

"Leon, will show you how to care for your horses. You will get those days off but I want to leave soon. Leon may be young but he is good with the horses. You will be sitting next to him on the trip. He will show you how to do everything. Learn well for you will be driving your own wagon soon." Sean spoke firmly.

"Yes, father. I shall...." Noreene spoke.

"Let's go get the horses first thing." Leon spoke and headed off.
"Keep this safe. Leon is good but hates females." father hands her a leather strap with a key on it then left.

"Girls like to dawdle way too much. Come on now.' Leon spoke harshly.

"You will have to wait until I am properly ready. I need boots on. And this was to be my day off...." Noreene growled back at Leon who stopped and stared at the door closing behind Noreene's back.

Jacquelyn was really excited about learning a craft. She found a bead she liked, then looped a piece of string around it trying to imitate what Bridget was doing. "Like this?" she asked.

"Actually, you start with a loop and knot that in such a way that the end bead will barely fit through. Then string your beads, using your end bead last. Once you have made several of these kinds, I will show you how to make the slide kind and the macreme kind." Bridget spoke as she kept an eye on the two girls.

Leon went to the corral and pointed out the two horses.
"I'm not sure why Sean is giving you a pair of the best horses being a girl and all. Maybe we should start with a couple old horses first. Then you can see how hard it is to drive a pair of horses." Leon spat towards Noreene who smacked his face.

"You should have better manners than that, Leon. Would you spit in front of my mother?" Noreene asked in anger.

"Of course not but you do not need to slap me either. So go figure out how to hitch your own horses up." Leon stalked angrily away.

Noreene whistled and the horses picked up their heads and came over to her. She fed each one a sugar cube which she had done for years. The matched pair was hers by inheritance from her grandmother who died last year.

"Lady and Shadow, come. It's time for you to pull my wagon and become truly mine." Noreene smiled as she lead them out of the corral and to her cart, making sure that the gate was closed. Sean was watching from afar and saw everything.

Noreene soon had the two hitched up with no problems. Noreene had already learned from her grandmother who taught her a good many things before she passed on.

Leon came along to see how Noreene was getting along and Sean headed over behind him.

"I doubt that you have anything done right. Like this rein doesn't go through there but" Leon began to pull the rein out when a large hand landed on his smaller one.

"Noreene has been hitching up horses before you was born, boy. We have a discussion with your father and rest of the Elders. Noreene, you are on your own from now on. In fact, you and Jacquelyn will be in one wagon. You will start your own lessons with Madam Mary. She will be along shortly to talk with you." Sean spoke calmly.

"Yes, sir. Thank you sir!" Noreene spoke happily.

Jacquelyn followed closely, and soon she had her very own bead string. However, by then she had gotten quite bored with the whole thing. "Can we get started on the sliding thing now?" she asked.