Stroke of Luck

by Mary Ruth Pursselley -

Celia was out the classroom door before the last bell had even finished ringing. She pulled her book bag over her shoulder and headed for the superintendant’s office. She knew he could help her, the problem would be convincing him he should. Somehow, she had to talk to Robin Corpsman.

She slowed down as she neared the office, trying to buy more time to plan, but no ideas were forthcoming. She might just have to wing it.

She was five steps away when the door opened and Robin Corpsman stepped into the hall.

Celia caught herself mid-gasp; her heart felt like it had stopped completely this time. He was right there. This was her chance!

Robin passed her without speaking and started down the hall towards the exit.

“Hey.” It was the only thing Celia could get out of her mouth in time to stop him.

He paused and looked back, eyebrows raised.

“Uh…” Celia blinked, trying to collect herself. “I was in your lecture today.”

He smiled. “Oh? I hope you enjoyed it.”

His tone said he’d already fended off all the girls he cared to today. Celia knew she’d have to make her case fast.

“I wanted to talk to you about my sister,” she said. “She’s—an archaeologist.” Basically.

Robin turned around and cocked his head. “What’s her name?”

“Celeste Harper.”

Robin frowned. “I don’t recognize it. Who’s her sponsor?”

Uh-oh. No, wait—maybe that was it! “Um… I think she’s been having trouble with that. Something about lack of interest.”

“Lack of interest?” Robin’s tone was disbelieving. “Maybe landside, but aristocrats on the Avenir pay big for Eclectian artifacts. She’s just not applying in the right places.”

There was an opening, and Celia went for it. “So… could you recommend someplace she might apply?”

“Where’s she working?”

“Adagio.”

Robin dug in his pocket and pulled out a scrap of paper. “I’ll do better than that, then. Give me her address and I’ll contact her. Maybe I can help her out.”

Celia’s hands trembled as she wrote Celeste’s address and gave the paper back to Robin.

He glanced at the address and returned the paper to his pocket. “I’ll be passing through Adagio in the next week or ten days. I’ll look her up. Take care.”

And with that, he was off.

Celia watched him go, her heart pounding, unable to believe the luck that had just struck like a bolt of lightning. She hadn’t dared to even dream things might work out like this!

Now, she just had to figure out how to tell Celeste what she’d done.