Rufus Coppertop
Who pinched my --ing harp?
Any feedback welcome, particularly regarding likability of characters and likelihood that you would keep reading.
Nathan spotted Rufina crossing the cobblestones. She was about a block and a half away.
Hoping to catch her, he took off, sprinting past the temple of Ares, the hardware shop and the police tower.
With boots pounding on the pavement, he was charging towards the corner when a gaggle of robed figures spilled out of the alchemists’ guild house ahead.
“Look out!” he cried and tried to stop.
He skidded on the pavement and overbalanced.
Plunging forward, he flung out his hands to break his fall as the largest of them caught him.
“Good morning, Master Entwhistle,” said the alchemist, steadying him.
“Morning sir!” Nathan panted, recovering his balance. He glanced at the corner and saw that Rufina had already disappeared. “Sorry sir! Thank you!” he said and took off again.
“It’s only a quarter past eight, you know!” the alchemist called after him as he reached the corner.
And there she was in her green bustle dress, pausing to admire the fashions in a clothing shop window.
Nathan leaned against a fluted lamp post and took a few deep breaths as a steam lorry went by. He called out to her and sauntered across the street.
She looked around as he approached and waited for him.
“Hello Nathan,” she said. “Have you been running?”
Nathan shrugged. “I saw you crossing the street. I’ve got something to ask you.”
“It’s nice to know we’re almost on holiday,” she said.
“Yeah, isn’t it? Hey, Rufina! Could we maybe …?”
“And we don’t have to lug books around today,” she said.
“True,” said Nathan. “Hey ...”
“Meeting Donald?” she asked.
Nathan clicked his tongue and said, “Yeah. I’m a bit early. Thought I’d meet him at his dad’s workshop. Listen, would you like to …?”
“Nathan!” she said, “you have to get him to take the day off. It’s holiday break-up, yeah? It won’t matter.”
“But why?”
“The Zimmerman twins,” she said, referring to a pair of fourteen year olds in their class.
“Oh right,” said Nathan with a sneer. “They’re going to beat him up, I suppose.”
“Yes, they are. Definitely.”
“Rufina,” said Nathan, shrugging, “those idiots are going to beat him up every day. Never seems to happen though.” Wiping his palms on his baggy trousers, he tried to quell his fluttering stomach. “I don’t suppose you’d like to …”
“It’ll happen today, Nathan!” Rufina declared. “He really shouldn’t ...”
“But their dad’ll get into trouble too! Rufina, could you and I …?”
“Oh! So you haven’t heard about Mr Zimmerman?”
“Oh!” Nathan slumped his shoulders and sighed. “All right then, what about him?”
“Today’s his last day,” said Rufina. “He’s moving to the carpenter’s guild.”
“How d’you know?” Nathan said, tilting his head.
“I sat behind Odo and Gaius at the electric theatre last night. They were raving on about it between the news reels.”
Nathan began to tune out as she droned on and on, detailing the Zimmerman twins’ objection to the way Donald walked, the high marks he got in every subject and the even higher pants he always wore.
Squirming within himself, Nathan wondered how long it would be before she started turning blue. She really should have stopped for breath by now. And how could a bloke kiss a pair of lips that never stop flapping?
What the hell was I thinking?
“So?” she said.
Uh oh!
“Well?”
“Eh?”
“Did you hear a single word I said?”
“Course I did,” said Nathan faking the best look of sincerity he could manage.
“So, what are you going to do about it?” she asked, looking him up and down suspiciously.
With a shrug, Nathan ventured a possibility. “Ahh ... tell him not to come?” He waited with bated breath. Rufina could be quite creative if people didn’t take her as seriously as she thought she deserved.
She nodded with approval. He’d gotten away with it, but only just.
“He’ll come anyway,” she declared. “You know what he’s like!”
“Do I ever!” said Nathan, thinking the gods themselves would need to work overtime to stop Donald today. They were only having three classes, but marks for the term were being read out.
“By the way,” said Rufina, reaching out and giving Nathan’s bare forearm a gentle squeeze. “I’ve got something to ask you.”
“Really, what?”
“Do you think Donald would go out with me?”
Feeling both cheated and relieved at the same time, Nathan shrugged. “I dunno, do you like him?”
“Of course I do,” she said. “He’s absolutely gorgeous and such a classy dresser.”
Nathan shrugged and nodded. “Yeah well, that’s why Odo and Gaius pick on him.”
“They think he’s a homosexual,” said Rufina.
“They don’t really,” said Nathan, “They just say that because he ...”
“Well anyway,” said Rufina impatiently, “just ask him if he likes me! Please Nathan?”
Nathan nodded. “Of course.”
Eyes fixed firmly on the pavement ahead, Nathan stalked along Cato Street, not bothering to look up as a skyship droned overhead.
Was Rufina serious? Nathan and Donald had been born on the same day. Their mothers were twins and so were their fathers. They looked like twins themselves. How then, was Donald gorgeous and Nathan not?
It had to be Donald’s clothes. Rufina was a fashion freak. That had to be it.
Had to be!
And the talking? No wonder she had the nickname 'Steamjaw'!
He imagined being married to her and putting up with the incessant talking and being cut off every time he tried to say something.
Gods below! I’m well out of that!
Turning into a street lined with craft workshops, he headed for an arched doorway with a sign above it that read, Cornelius Entwhistle - Harpsichord Builder.
A twelve year old boy with short, strawberry blond hair and green eyes stepped out from the open door, spotted Nathan and beamed at him.
“Hey Nathan!”
“Donald!
“You know the electric theatre’s showing a new light-story tonight?” said Donald.
“I heard,” said Nathan. “Captain Hieronymous and the Persian Sky Pirates.”
“We have to go!” said Donald. “And it’s off to Rome tomorrow, too.”
“Good start to the hols,” said Nathan as they headed back towards Cato Street. “Hey listen, I saw Rufina just before. I was going to ask her to go out with me and …”
“Forget it, mate!” said Donald. “She’s out of your league.”
“What?” said Nathan indignantly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“She’s a fashion freak, Nathan,” Donald said with a knowing look. “You need to dress up a bit more. And getting higher marks might help.”
“You think I could manage it?”
“Course you could, you git! Do a bit of work and you’ll get straight A’s like me. Get some proper clothes,” Donald said, with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, “and you’ll be irresistible ... like me.”
“Oh yeah,” said Nathan, “must be lonely, being perfect!”
“Yeah well, get cracking and join me! I could use the company.”
They turned into Cato Street and Nathan decided to try again. “Listen,” he said, putting out a hand and stopping Donald. “Rufina said Odo and Gaius are going to beat you up today.”
“Oh please,” said Donald with a sneer. “That just gets tired.”
“Apparently, they think you’re a homosexual.”
“Well I must be,” said Donald drily. “Let’s face it! I get good marks and dress up a bit.”
“A bit?” Nathan said. “You dress up a bit?” He looked Donald up and down, noting his crisp, shirt and close fitting, pinstriped shorts. With their long fly and ultra high waist, they came up well above his navel. The suspenders were completely unnecessary and the short tie with its perfect knot was just ...
“Donald,” said Nathan, shaking his head. “This is why they pick on you.” He glanced down at his own baggy trousers, tucked into boots and belted around the hips.
"You should ..."
“I’m not dressing down for those idiots,” said Donald, shrugging. He unbuttoned one of the sleeves on his fawn shirt and began rolling it up.
“That's a great look for patrician boys in Rome, mate. But not here,” said Nathan.
“It’s my look, Nathan! This is me. This is what I wear.”
Nathan shook his head. “Listen Donald, let’s just take the day off school!
“No way!” said Donald. He unbuttoned the other sleeve and went to work. “I’m not hiding from those witless plebs.” he said, looking up.
“I don’t want to see you get beaten up.”
“I’m not missing a minute of school because of them,” said Donald. “And I'm not going to hide from them, either! I swear that by Apollo’s arrows!"
“Bloody hell, Donald! You’ve just blown it.”
Donald clicked his tongue. “Blown what? What do you mean?”
“You can’t go back on an oath like that.”
“I don’t intend to.” Donald said. “Besides, didn’t their old man nearly lose his job because of them?”
“That’s just it. Today’s his last day.”
Donald raised an eyebrow and stared at Nathan. “Uh oh!”
“Yeah!” said Nathan. “And you’ve just sworn ...”
“All right, Nathan! I get the picture!” said Donald and started checking his rolled up sleeves to make sure they sat evenly above his elbows. “I’m keeping the oath,” he added, looking at Nathan again.
“All right,” said Nathan doubtfully.
Donld held up his elbows. “Look all right?
“Yes mate,” Nathan said with an exagerrated groan. “Perfect. Very neat.”
“Right then,” said Donald, “that’s today sorted. Now, are we going to school, or what?”
CHAPTER I
Where Nathan and Donald’s school holiday begins and promises to be a bit of a worry.
Nathan spotted Rufina crossing the cobblestones. She was about a block and a half away.
Hoping to catch her, he took off, sprinting past the temple of Ares, the hardware shop and the police tower.
With boots pounding on the pavement, he was charging towards the corner when a gaggle of robed figures spilled out of the alchemists’ guild house ahead.
“Look out!” he cried and tried to stop.
He skidded on the pavement and overbalanced.
Plunging forward, he flung out his hands to break his fall as the largest of them caught him.
“Good morning, Master Entwhistle,” said the alchemist, steadying him.
“Morning sir!” Nathan panted, recovering his balance. He glanced at the corner and saw that Rufina had already disappeared. “Sorry sir! Thank you!” he said and took off again.
“It’s only a quarter past eight, you know!” the alchemist called after him as he reached the corner.
And there she was in her green bustle dress, pausing to admire the fashions in a clothing shop window.
Nathan leaned against a fluted lamp post and took a few deep breaths as a steam lorry went by. He called out to her and sauntered across the street.
She looked around as he approached and waited for him.
“Hello Nathan,” she said. “Have you been running?”
Nathan shrugged. “I saw you crossing the street. I’ve got something to ask you.”
“It’s nice to know we’re almost on holiday,” she said.
“Yeah, isn’t it? Hey, Rufina! Could we maybe …?”
“And we don’t have to lug books around today,” she said.
“True,” said Nathan. “Hey ...”
“Meeting Donald?” she asked.
Nathan clicked his tongue and said, “Yeah. I’m a bit early. Thought I’d meet him at his dad’s workshop. Listen, would you like to …?”
“Nathan!” she said, “you have to get him to take the day off. It’s holiday break-up, yeah? It won’t matter.”
“But why?”
“The Zimmerman twins,” she said, referring to a pair of fourteen year olds in their class.
“Oh right,” said Nathan with a sneer. “They’re going to beat him up, I suppose.”
“Yes, they are. Definitely.”
“Rufina,” said Nathan, shrugging, “those idiots are going to beat him up every day. Never seems to happen though.” Wiping his palms on his baggy trousers, he tried to quell his fluttering stomach. “I don’t suppose you’d like to …”
“It’ll happen today, Nathan!” Rufina declared. “He really shouldn’t ...”
“But their dad’ll get into trouble too! Rufina, could you and I …?”
“Oh! So you haven’t heard about Mr Zimmerman?”
“Oh!” Nathan slumped his shoulders and sighed. “All right then, what about him?”
“Today’s his last day,” said Rufina. “He’s moving to the carpenter’s guild.”
“How d’you know?” Nathan said, tilting his head.
“I sat behind Odo and Gaius at the electric theatre last night. They were raving on about it between the news reels.”
Nathan began to tune out as she droned on and on, detailing the Zimmerman twins’ objection to the way Donald walked, the high marks he got in every subject and the even higher pants he always wore.
Squirming within himself, Nathan wondered how long it would be before she started turning blue. She really should have stopped for breath by now. And how could a bloke kiss a pair of lips that never stop flapping?
What the hell was I thinking?
“So?” she said.
Uh oh!
“Well?”
“Eh?”
“Did you hear a single word I said?”
“Course I did,” said Nathan faking the best look of sincerity he could manage.
“So, what are you going to do about it?” she asked, looking him up and down suspiciously.
With a shrug, Nathan ventured a possibility. “Ahh ... tell him not to come?” He waited with bated breath. Rufina could be quite creative if people didn’t take her as seriously as she thought she deserved.
She nodded with approval. He’d gotten away with it, but only just.
“He’ll come anyway,” she declared. “You know what he’s like!”
“Do I ever!” said Nathan, thinking the gods themselves would need to work overtime to stop Donald today. They were only having three classes, but marks for the term were being read out.
“By the way,” said Rufina, reaching out and giving Nathan’s bare forearm a gentle squeeze. “I’ve got something to ask you.”
“Really, what?”
“Do you think Donald would go out with me?”
Feeling both cheated and relieved at the same time, Nathan shrugged. “I dunno, do you like him?”
“Of course I do,” she said. “He’s absolutely gorgeous and such a classy dresser.”
Nathan shrugged and nodded. “Yeah well, that’s why Odo and Gaius pick on him.”
“They think he’s a homosexual,” said Rufina.
“They don’t really,” said Nathan, “They just say that because he ...”
“Well anyway,” said Rufina impatiently, “just ask him if he likes me! Please Nathan?”
Nathan nodded. “Of course.”
* * *
Eyes fixed firmly on the pavement ahead, Nathan stalked along Cato Street, not bothering to look up as a skyship droned overhead.
Was Rufina serious? Nathan and Donald had been born on the same day. Their mothers were twins and so were their fathers. They looked like twins themselves. How then, was Donald gorgeous and Nathan not?
It had to be Donald’s clothes. Rufina was a fashion freak. That had to be it.
Had to be!
And the talking? No wonder she had the nickname 'Steamjaw'!
He imagined being married to her and putting up with the incessant talking and being cut off every time he tried to say something.
Gods below! I’m well out of that!
Turning into a street lined with craft workshops, he headed for an arched doorway with a sign above it that read, Cornelius Entwhistle - Harpsichord Builder.
A twelve year old boy with short, strawberry blond hair and green eyes stepped out from the open door, spotted Nathan and beamed at him.
“Hey Nathan!”
“Donald!
“You know the electric theatre’s showing a new light-story tonight?” said Donald.
“I heard,” said Nathan. “Captain Hieronymous and the Persian Sky Pirates.”
“We have to go!” said Donald. “And it’s off to Rome tomorrow, too.”
“Good start to the hols,” said Nathan as they headed back towards Cato Street. “Hey listen, I saw Rufina just before. I was going to ask her to go out with me and …”
“Forget it, mate!” said Donald. “She’s out of your league.”
“What?” said Nathan indignantly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“She’s a fashion freak, Nathan,” Donald said with a knowing look. “You need to dress up a bit more. And getting higher marks might help.”
“You think I could manage it?”
“Course you could, you git! Do a bit of work and you’ll get straight A’s like me. Get some proper clothes,” Donald said, with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, “and you’ll be irresistible ... like me.”
“Oh yeah,” said Nathan, “must be lonely, being perfect!”
“Yeah well, get cracking and join me! I could use the company.”
They turned into Cato Street and Nathan decided to try again. “Listen,” he said, putting out a hand and stopping Donald. “Rufina said Odo and Gaius are going to beat you up today.”
“Oh please,” said Donald with a sneer. “That just gets tired.”
“Apparently, they think you’re a homosexual.”
“Well I must be,” said Donald drily. “Let’s face it! I get good marks and dress up a bit.”
“A bit?” Nathan said. “You dress up a bit?” He looked Donald up and down, noting his crisp, shirt and close fitting, pinstriped shorts. With their long fly and ultra high waist, they came up well above his navel. The suspenders were completely unnecessary and the short tie with its perfect knot was just ...
“Donald,” said Nathan, shaking his head. “This is why they pick on you.” He glanced down at his own baggy trousers, tucked into boots and belted around the hips.
"You should ..."
“I’m not dressing down for those idiots,” said Donald, shrugging. He unbuttoned one of the sleeves on his fawn shirt and began rolling it up.
“That's a great look for patrician boys in Rome, mate. But not here,” said Nathan.
“It’s my look, Nathan! This is me. This is what I wear.”
Nathan shook his head. “Listen Donald, let’s just take the day off school!
“No way!” said Donald. He unbuttoned the other sleeve and went to work. “I’m not hiding from those witless plebs.” he said, looking up.
“I don’t want to see you get beaten up.”
“I’m not missing a minute of school because of them,” said Donald. “And I'm not going to hide from them, either! I swear that by Apollo’s arrows!"
“Bloody hell, Donald! You’ve just blown it.”
Donald clicked his tongue. “Blown what? What do you mean?”
“You can’t go back on an oath like that.”
“I don’t intend to.” Donald said. “Besides, didn’t their old man nearly lose his job because of them?”
“That’s just it. Today’s his last day.”
Donald raised an eyebrow and stared at Nathan. “Uh oh!”
“Yeah!” said Nathan. “And you’ve just sworn ...”
“All right, Nathan! I get the picture!” said Donald and started checking his rolled up sleeves to make sure they sat evenly above his elbows. “I’m keeping the oath,” he added, looking at Nathan again.
“All right,” said Nathan doubtfully.
Donld held up his elbows. “Look all right?
“Yes mate,” Nathan said with an exagerrated groan. “Perfect. Very neat.”
“Right then,” said Donald, “that’s today sorted. Now, are we going to school, or what?”
* * *
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however I hold no malice for this piece as a result.
