[Firefoot]

Willy Burrows was not so happy this time around at approaching the Green Dragon as he had been that day of the party. This time, his Ma had dragged him here upon hearing about the new school and was even now holding the door impatiently for him to enter. Reading, 'riting, and 'rithmatic. Don't need to know those. He knew naught of the Elven lore and and history the sign had promised, else he may have been more excited.

"I say, Willy, you go everywhere else fast enough. Hurry up; you're going to be late," his Ma said, ushering him through the door. Willy wished his brother Nick might have had to go along as well, but Ma said he was too young. Willy thought he knew the real reason, though: Ma just wanted to keep him out of trouble, but Nick never made trouble unprovoked.

"Look, that seems to be the classroom. Why don't you head in there while I go talk to Miz Bella about getting you signed up." It wasn't a suggestion; it was an order. Willy dragged his feet some more to get there, and glanced around to see if his Ma was watching. Shoot. She was; she knew him too well. So much for making a break for it.

So he stepped into the room and looked around. He wasn't late, that was for sure. First he saw the lasses organizing the books on the bookshelf. Willy wrinkled his nose. Great, a bunch of girls. Then he saw the lads at the back of the room and his face lit up. Marbles! He liked marbles, and was quite a fair hand at it. And... was that an Elf? It was! The other lads seemed to be pretty nonchalant about it, though, so Willy decided not to say anything about it. He went over to the other lads, walking faster than he had all day, and realized with delight that they were just starting.

"Hi... I'm Willy," he said. He fished around in his pocket for his marble bag - currently about half full. "Mind if I join in?"