A Break from Life

[Pat Connelly]

"Nice to meet you." Pat smiled and held out her hand for Jewels. She'd never heard of that name and wondered about it. "That's a cool name, how'd your parents come up with it? Mine is just Patricia, plain and boring."

[writingchic212]

Shaking Pat's hand Jewels said, "Well it was originally Julie. But according to my mom when I was younger whenever I would get angry or happy or any really strong emotion my eyes would glitter...something like that. But every since they call me Jewels cause of my 'sparkling eyes' Whatever, it stuck." Jewels smiled and let go of her hand, "And Patricia's a cool name! Although I like the nickname! It's like classy mixed with spunk."

[Pat Connelly]

Pat smiled and wrinkled her nose. "I've never cared for it much, but it could be because it always sounded so proper to me. I've always been somewhat of a tomboy so Pat fits me so much better. All my friends have called me that. I think I started going by it cause it was easier to yell. Well, that and because my parent's didn't like the nickname. So where's your father when your mother is traveling?" She asked, then realized it probably wasn't a good idea. She didn't even know this girl, and had no idea if it was a sore subject since she hadn't mentioned him at all.

[writingchic212]

Jewels knew that question was coming up. By now it had become easier to talk about. Jewels tried to remember how long it had been.....he had died the year before her first year at Magic International..that made it about four and a half years, something like that. "He died when I was ten. Some muggle killed him...we live in a big muggle city and he was walking home one day and a car wasn't paying attention and went through a light." Jewels fell silent. What else should she say? He died instintley and her mom refused to say anything more about the subject. Maybe she felt responsible? Maybe that's why she always traveled...to escape her conscience, "But yeah, that's pretty much it," Jewels changed the subject, "So, when you aren't at school where do you live?"

[Pat Connelly]

Pat knew she had a confused look on her face. She'd heard of muggle cars, but didn't understand why going through some light would cause someone to die. "I'm sorry to hear that." She didn't know what else to say about the subject and was grateful Jewels had changed it. "My parents have an estate in Kent, I would go back and forth with my mother during the sumer between that one and the one my father was at. Over the winter holidays we stayed at the estate near Durmstrang."

[writingchic212]

Jewels couldn't help but smile to herself when she saw Pat's confused expression. She kept forgetting that not everyone lives in a muggle city. But where Pat lived seemed fascinating! "How is Kent? I've never been there before, are you estates beautiful?" Having never been in a real estate Jewels pictured elaborte staircases and huge rooms.

[Pat Connelly]

Pat smiled as she remembered all about her family estate. "I love it there. My father owns a large amount of land which gave me plenty of room to cause mischief on. We had horses to ride, though I know most wizards don't ride them. I usually prefer my broom. I even made my own quidditch pitch on one of the back gardens and would invite my friends over for games. The manor is very large too. I don't know what the purpose of having so many rooms though. We've never even filled up a quarter of them. I guess they used to a long time ago, it's been in my family for generations, but you'd never tell looking at it. The spells and house elves keep it looking like new."

Pat realized she had been rambling about her house and smiled at Jewels. "Sorry. I get a bit excited about the property. Some day it will be mine since my parents didn't have any boys to pass it on to, as much as they tried."