Written on May 6, 2015
Rain puttered about on the sidewalk, dripping off the glass overhang of the Seattle Public Library which shielded Sophia and her history book. The sounds of the city surround her; cars, construction, the steady stream of rain. She perched on a cement planter outside the front door, awaiting the arrival of her "students" and reading up on the mortals' description of the Great Seattle Fire, looking through the few black-and-white pictures. Her pupils began trickling in one by one, finding seats on the damp ground or beside Seattle. She checked her watch when it felt about time; it was, so she shut her book and looked around at the heckle of college age kids around her. Her eyes strayed on a particularly familiar face, but one she hadn't seen at one of her unofficial classes before; Phillis sat cross-legged directly in front of her on the mostly dry sidewalk, a strange smile on her face.
"Phillis! I didn't expect to see you here, are you joining my class? I was about to begin," Seattle said with a genuine smile.
"I might, actually. I have a question first, though. I was doing some research here at the library- looking through some archives and such, some pictures- when I found this particularly interesting photo." At this she pulled a small photo out of her pocket. It looked a bit faded, and was definitely older than Phillis was, but was in otherwise spectacular condition. It depicted the Great Seattle Fire; a few people in particular working hard to fight it, while one kneeled among them, clearly quite distressed. "Do you know who this person is? I thought she looked familiar, and you're a huge Seattle history buff, so I figured you might know," Phillis asked, pointing to the woman sitting on her knees with her hands gripping her silky black hair. Her face was just barely visible in the photo, lit by the flames. It looked like Seattle.
Hell, it was Seattle, but of course there was no way for Phillis to know that, mere mortal as she was. And Seattle wasn't sure she could tell her. "No idea," she responded.
"Really, Sophia? I don't know, man, she looks awfully familiar. Take another look." Phillis' tone told Seattle all she needed to know; Phillis was sure it was her and was angry that she wasn't owning up to or explaining it. Shit.
Seattle lowered her voice so only Phillis could hear. "…Alright. I'll explain when I get home. When we're in a more private setting. I have to teach my class now." Phillis took back the photo and nodded curtly, already turning to leave as Seattle commenced her informal lesson about the history of the Seattle Underground, burn scar aching on her side at the memory of the Fire.
"Phillis! I didn't expect to see you here, are you joining my class? I was about to begin," Seattle said with a genuine smile.
"I might, actually. I have a question first, though. I was doing some research here at the library- looking through some archives and such, some pictures- when I found this particularly interesting photo." At this she pulled a small photo out of her pocket. It looked a bit faded, and was definitely older than Phillis was, but was in otherwise spectacular condition. It depicted the Great Seattle Fire; a few people in particular working hard to fight it, while one kneeled among them, clearly quite distressed. "Do you know who this person is? I thought she looked familiar, and you're a huge Seattle history buff, so I figured you might know," Phillis asked, pointing to the woman sitting on her knees with her hands gripping her silky black hair. Her face was just barely visible in the photo, lit by the flames. It looked like Seattle.
Hell, it was Seattle, but of course there was no way for Phillis to know that, mere mortal as she was. And Seattle wasn't sure she could tell her. "No idea," she responded.
"Really, Sophia? I don't know, man, she looks awfully familiar. Take another look." Phillis' tone told Seattle all she needed to know; Phillis was sure it was her and was angry that she wasn't owning up to or explaining it. Shit.
Seattle lowered her voice so only Phillis could hear. "…Alright. I'll explain when I get home. When we're in a more private setting. I have to teach my class now." Phillis took back the photo and nodded curtly, already turning to leave as Seattle commenced her informal lesson about the history of the Seattle Underground, burn scar aching on her side at the memory of the Fire.