Snippet 1h

Spock's face lit up and he clambered down from his chair to dash into the living room. "Father!"

Spock's squeal of happiness reached the kitchen just as Sarek came into view with Spock held securely in his arms. "Good morning Amanda, Sybok."

"We saved you swabewies!" Spock said in delight, wriggling down onto his chair and lifting the bowl up to him. "Sybok tried to eat them though."

Sarek raised an eyebrow at Sybok as he took the bowl from Spock.

"I was merely teasing him," Sybok assured his father, eating the last bit of his pancake before standing to take his plate to the sink. "Spock, do not forget your dishes."

"How was the meeting?" Amanda asked Sarek as she approached from behind, briefly touching two fingers to his before setting out a plate for him. "Besides being much longer than usual?"

"Productive." Sarek replied, sitting in his seat as Spock grabbed his dishes and managed to jump down from his chair. "Your fork, Spock." he reminded his son as he handed him the utensil.

Spock reached for it and put it carefully on his plate before walking over to the sink.

"Well, the boys are ready for their first day of school," Amanda said, smiling over at her sons as they put their dishes away, before she suddenly glanced at the sun and was brought back to...well, Vulcan. "Oh - and it's almost time to go! Hurry up, boys! Get your books!"

"Do not worry, Mother. We will leave in time," Sybok said, walking over to pick up his books from a chair near the wall. "Spock - your books are by the door."

Spock dashed by him, grabbing the books carefully from the chair.

Sarek rose from his chair to join Amanda in the living room as the boys prepared to leave. "You are certain you have everything, Sybok?"

"Yes," Sybok said, his voice trailing off slightly as he fought briefly to juggle the armload of books he was picking up. "I have my books and Sam's. I do not believe we need anything else."

"And remember that you're getting lunch at the cafeteria this year," Amanda said, watching them go and clasping her hands almost a bit anxiously. "You won't have to carry your lunches to school every day - Spock, darling, don't forget Jim's book, please."

Spock nodded, biting his tongue as he reached for the last book to add to his stack.

"All right, well, you both have a good day," Amanda said, stepping forward quickly to give them both a kiss on the cheek before escorting them to the door. "I want to hear all about it when you come back - and be careful that you don't take the back paths, Sybok, you know how they've been this past year..."

"Yes, yes, Mother," Sybok said, giving her a glance before turning to walk out of the door, nodding to her and Sarek. "We will see you this afternoon."

"Listen to your brother, Spock," Amanda instructed the littler Vulcan, kneeling down once more to kiss his forehead. "And don't let Jim get lost!"

"O'tay." Spock said responsibly, hurrying after Sybok. "Bye Mama!"

"Goodbye, sweetheart," Amanda said, sounding a little emotional as she watched the two brothers go. Every first day of school got harder. She didn't care what other mothers on earth may have claimed about it...

-

It took Sybok and Spock only a minute or two, going down the path, before they met Sam and Jim. The two human boys were coming down the opposite end of the path, both of them dressed for the school day in the attire they were supposed to wear. Obviously, Masva had had a hand in coaching Winona on what they should wear.

"Hi, Th'pock!" Jimmy's happy voice reached them as soon as the little boy saw them coming, running forward eagerly ahead of Sam to meet the two Vulcans. "I'm all ready fo' school! D'you haff my books?"

"Hi Jimmy!" Spock said happily return, hurrying forward before leaning over and putting the books gently on the ground. "I haf yours heow..."

"I'm not gonna ask if you have mine because I know you do." Sam said with a grin, walking up and patting Sybok heartily on the back. "Ready for school to start again Sybok?"

"Of course," Sybok said, narrowing his eyes slightly at the human boy before shoving half of the books toward him. "These are yours."

"We'w gonna be in da same class!" Jimmy said happily to Spock as he picked up his books. "'Kin I sit by you?"

Spock nodded with a smile, picking up his books before looking at Sybok. "Weady?"

"Of course," Sybok said shortly, already beginning to walk again - straight past Sam. "Stay close, little brother."

Sam gave Jimmy a secretive smile as they followed behind the Vulcans. "So what's school like at this place, Sybok? Is it all logic and no crying when you can't find out the answer to something?"

"You would conclude something like that," was all Sybok answered as they continued to walk.

"You didn't answer my question," Sam pointed out with a smile as he closed the distance between them. "What's it really like?"

"It is an environment of learning," Sybok said loftily. "The instructors are strict, the lessons complex but enlightening. You will need to listen closely and keep your attention on the course matter at all times."

Jimmy blinked. "Sounds ha'wd," he said, looking over at Spock.

Spock turned around, nodding gravely.

Sam saw the look and returned Spock's look with wide eyes. "You mean, we have to know stuff already?"

Spock nodded with wide eyes, looking at him. "Wots of stuff."

Sam looked with wide eyes at Sybok. "What kind of stuff? Will they beat me if I don't know the answer?"

"No, but you will fall behind," Sybok said simply. "And that will be humiliating, at the very least. The other boys will mock you."

"And let me guess, you'll be one of them." Sam said cheekily.

"No," Sybok said, glaring suddenly at him - as though the idea of mocking were completely offensive to him. "I do not mock. That is reserved for those individuals who believe they are superior to others, and cannot keep their opinions to themselves."

Sam raised his eyebrows with a nod. "I respect you for that."

Sybok gave him a look, but gave no other response to the statement. He still seemed ruffled by the accusation.

"Is that it, Th'pock?" Jimmy asked, his eyes wide as they came down to the end of the path - and into view of the tall, looming building in the distance that stood out, somehow, from the rest of the city buildings around it. "Is that th'chool?"

Spock nodded, pointing. "That's where we go in."