Chapter 166 - Plaigarism (1/2)

Once the snow was no longer deep enough for Abby to end up waist-deep if she took a wrong step, she braved the outdoors more frequently. She had taken a leave of absence from the school with the excuse that Katie needed her.

While this was true, it was also true that she didn't want to go outside. But Maeva, one of the teachers, came over for a standard congratulatory visit about a month after Aza was born and told Abby that the children missed her terribly.

She had been getting bored at home anyway so she agreed to come back. The students all tackled her when she walked through the door, letting her know how true Maeva's words were.

Abby was less involved in the curriculum now because Maeva and her assistants Carlene and Vashti had gotten things down to a system at this point. She let them do their thing, helping as needed, and when school was over she headed to the printing office and decided to work on ill.u.s.trating some children's books.

Because this was now one of Kanta's most prevalent exports, older children were learning how to draw under the tutelage of the few people here with that skill. It was an apprenticeship of sorts since they would be able to work here once they had the hang of things.

The printing office had less than twenty people on staff including those interns of sorts. A few of the interns were actually from Raisha and were staying with friends or relatives throughout the winter so they could learn.

Come spring, they would be knowledgeable enough to take their work home with them. Al could bring the completed products back here when he made his usual visits.

”I wanted to make a picture book version of the play we did,” Sidi's older sister Janna confided. ”But I didn't know how to draw the Balrog and other things like that. You know the story better…could you make one? I think it would be really popular. All the kids here loved it.”

Abby sent a silent apology to J.R.R. Tolkien for ripping him off out into the void before replying. ”Sure. I'll do my best.”

All of the apprentices crowded around her excitedly as she worked. It was difficult getting anything done with so many people hovering over her! Abby blew out a frustrated breath and kept working.

Drawing the line art took about a week but it took even longer to color all of the tiny details with colored pencil. After she finished it, she wondered how many other books from home she could rip off with no one being any the wiser (except Katie, who wouldn't rat her out).

Apprentices and older artists alike crowded around it to see how it turned out.

”Ooh, it's beautiful Abby!”

”We need to make engraving plates and start copying it right away; I can tell this will be a bestseller.”

”You have the most amazing imagination. Where did you come up with this?”