101 questions in 106 (open)

[sepia]

"Ah, that explains it, then. He really does have the look of an old schoolmaster." Philip had seen him around in the stables, of course, and had been convinced into giving the old trooper a few carrots every now and then, thinking even as he did so that this pony looked like one who'd been around the block a hundred-and-one times. Tonka had confused him a little, at first, until he'd learnt about Monique's young daughter, when everything had slotted into place.

"New ponies, hmm? You must be improving," he commented, with a smile, at Aurora's revelation. "Riding new animals is always fun," he added, in a confiding tone of voice, rider to rider. She might only be four, but she was still a rider, and that always accorded a certain amount of respect. Falling silent as Monique switched into 'mother-mode', he hid an amused grin at Aurora's attempt to pretend that she wasn't tired in the least, and hoped that his appearance into their little apartment wasn't proving too disruptive.

"Yes," Philip agreed, when it seemed that Monique had turned her attention back to him. "You're right - there are quite a few relatively small students who ride ponies." Two of the girls in his history class came to mind, Cara and Jessica, and there were probably more. "And some people do prefer, if they remain small enough, to keep riding ponies their whole lives." He shrugged. "I managed to grow out of ponies very quickly, but a lot of people I knew as teenagers kept riding ponies. It's nice that the cater to all sorts of riders, here. And non-riders, too," he was quick to add.

[Ω-Admin-Cara-Ω]

Monique nodded her head. Her eyebrows rose as she watched Aurora pull a book out of her bookcase, carried it over to the sofa and held it out with a hopeful look on her face. "Green eggs and ham?" The drama teacher asked. "Okay, come up here." She patted the sofa beside her and picking the blanket up from the back of the sofa she wrapped it around her daughter's shoulders. She gave Philip a grin. "Can I interest you in a story session?" She teased as she held the book up. "Rory has loved this book since pretty much the day she was born. And by now, I'm sure she could read the book to me."

"Mom?"

Monique laughed as she opened the book. "I am Sam. I am Sam. Sam I am. Sam I am, that Sam I am. I do not like that Sam I am. Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam I am. I do not like green eggs and ham. Would you like them here or there? I would not like them here or there, I would not like them ANYWHERE. I do not like green eggs and ham. I don not like them Sam I am."

OOC: And yes, I do know the entire story.

[sepia]

"I haven't read that book in years, and if you don't mind the company, I'd love to stay," Philip replied, with an easy grin and, with an internal shrug, settled himself on the sofa besides Aurora and Monique, careful not to catch Aurora's blanket as he sat. Neither of them seemed to mind his company, and that would have been the perfect excuse for Monique to get rid of him, so he didn't feel that he was overstaying his welcome - not yet, anyway. And, for himself, well, he was finding himself enjoying this - having some interaction with people who weren't students... and Aurora was as cute as a button, no doubt about it, while he just liked Monique - she was friendly and charming and this whole experiences was just... nice.

Glad that he'd found that abandoned little pony in the corridor, he settled back onto the sofa and listened to Monique read, smile remaining on his face as she emphasised certain words. Ah, yes, he could remember his dad reading the book to him (and didn't that say something, that Dr. Seuss was still being read?) and how they'd then moved on from Seuss to chapter books, Philip's dad doing voices for every character... Ah, those had been the days.

Keeping respectfully silent as Monique read, he found himself observing both the woman and her daughter, gaze thoughtfully content.

((Green Eggs and Ham!! *excited bouncing*))

[Ω-Admin-Cara-Ω]

Monique smiled as Philip made himself comfortable on the sofa and settled in for the story session. After allowing Aurora to snuggle in more, she continued. "Would you like them
in a house?
Would you like them
with a mouse?

I do not like them
in a house.
I do not like them
with a mouse.
I do not like them
here or there.
I do not like them
anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you eat them
in a box?
Would you eat them
with a fox?

Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not eat them here or there.
I would not eat them anywhere.
I would not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you? Could you?
In a car?
Eat them! Eat them!
Here they are.

I would not,
could not,
in a car.

You may like them.
You will see.
You may like them
in a tree!

I would not, could not in a tree.
Not in a car! You let me be!

I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I do not like them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like gren eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

A train! A train!
A train! A train!
Could you, would you,
on a train?

Not on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! Sam! Let me be!

I would not, could not, in a box.
I could not, would not, with a fox.
I will not eat them with a mouse.
I will not eat them in a house.
i will not eat them here or there.
I will not eat them anywhere.
I do not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Say!
In the dark?
Here in the dark!
Would you, could you, in the dark?

I would not, could not,
in the dark.

Would you, could you,
in the rain?

I would not, could not, in the rain.
Not in the dark. Not on a train.
Not in a car. Not in a tree.
I do not like them, Sam, you see.
Not in a house. Not in a box.
Not with a mouse. Not with a fox.
I will not eat them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere!

You do not like
green eggs and ham?

I do not
like them,
Sam-I-am.

Could you, would you
with a goat?

I would not,
could not,
with a goat!

Would you, could you,
on a boat?

I could not, would not, on a boat.
I will not, will not, with a goat.
I will not eat them in the rain.
I will not eat them on a train.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! You let me be!
I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I will not eat them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them ANYWHERE

I do not like
green eggs
and ham!

I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.

You do not like them.
So you say.
Try them! Try them!
And you may.
Try them and you may, I say.

Sam!
If you will let me be,
I will try them.
You will see.

Say!
I like green eggs and ham!
I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!
And I would eat them in a boat.
And I would eat them with a goat...

And I will eat them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so good, so good, you see!

So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!" She stopped there, but the silence did not last for long.

"I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!" Aurora finished for her with a big grin all sleepiness now gone. As she was now almost four, she bounced back quite quickly.

Monique glanced over at Philip. "Does Mr Grey have any requests for the next book?" She asked in a teasing voice.