I am still working on my post. I see that Oregano posted, so I'll post after her post.

//Eli//

Kataira and I stepped off the bus. I clutched my notebook to my chest. Kataira, the neat one, held hers in her purse. Alamea was waiting in the courtyard for us. "Hi, Alamea," I greeted our friend.

"Hi," she responded. "Did you hear Mrs. Hale's announcement this morning?" Kataira and I shook our heads. Alamea slapped her forehead. "Of course," she laughed. "You were at church! I knew that!" Kataira and I laughed with Alamea. Then she continued, "Anyways, she told us about some MadrianaGusic that's coming up soon. I thought I heard you two talking about it, but I forgot to mention it to you." Kataira and I exchanged looks.

"Oops," I said, "we were supposed to keep it secret. Oh, well, everyone knows about it now."

"Anyways," Kataira started, "Miss Laira said that it was some sort of competition throughout the whole kingdom of Kyriah. Each school has a sort of fun exhibition. Each class picks someone to represent them by singing or playing piano or something like that."

"Or each class puts together an exhibit like for art or writing," I put in.

"Then the principal and some directors pick one student or group from each class to represent the school for the competition," Kataira said.

"Where is the competition going to take place?" Alamea asked.

"In the city of FariSayah," I told her. Alamea gasped, just like Kataira and I had when Miss Laira had first told us. The city of FariSayah was the most beautiful city in the whole kingdom of Kyriah! Approaching travelers could easily see the city from afar, as it shined very brightly. But what made the kingdom amazing was not its wondrously paved streets, nor its beautiful buildings, but the Palace of FariSayah, the greatest palace in the history of Kyriah. It was completely made out of pure gold, decorated with many types of precious jewels. The Palace of FariSayah's gardens were splendid and were sometimes considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, though they weren't very ancient at all. King Antadomon the first had paid for the construction of the palace and the gardens. He had wanted it to be built in FariSayah, the capital of Kyriah, also know as the king's own city. Every king from King Antadomon the first to the present king, King Antadomon the fourth, had lived in the Palace of FariSayah and enjoyed its wonders. There were many rooms to explore. There were multiple dining rooms, bedrooms, and dancing rooms, not to mention the many rooms filled with treasures. There was one room that had mirrors for walls, and another room was like a treasure chest; it was filled with royal robes, golden goblets, old knight's armor, and much, much more. Not many people got the chance of visiting the palace, though. It was off limits to everyone but the king and his guests. Visiting the Palace of FariSayah was a chance of a lifetime, a chance many Kyriahians would not be able to have.

"Do you think we'll be able to see the palace?" Alamea asked. She was still gaping at the thought of visiting that beautiful city.

"Yes! That's one of the prizes!" Kataira exclaimed. She, too, was very excited.

"So if we win the exhibition here at GenkuSuh, we will get to compete in the national competition and visit the city of FariSayah, and seethe palace?" Alamea asked. I nodded and excitedly added,

"And, we are going to be able to stay in the palace while on our visit there! We'll be able to explore it! They've even offered to give us a tour around the palace!" I practically shouted, I was so ecstatic. Alamea looked excited, too. She looked thoughtful for a minute, and then her face turned solemn.

"We have to win this competition," she said, and Kataira and I wholly agreed.

Sorry I haven't posted much, I've been grounded. Dang, I missed your birthday Elizabeth M!! Really sorry, I hope that it was totally awesome!!

//Callen//

I piled my plate with Kyrian mangoes. "CALLEN!" Jabob poked my back and yelled at me, which almost caused me to throw my plate into the air. "What. Could. You possibly. Want?! Oh my gosh, Jacob, you are so annoying sometimes. Scratch that, ALL the time." I was ready to drone on and on and on, until he shoved my hand over my mouth. "Okay, I have to make this quick before you bite me." He's right, if he took to long I might've bit him. "The MadrianaGusic is soon and GenkuSuh is being included. It's being held in *insert city here*'s arena! The contestants stay in *insert palace name here* and the winner stays there for another month and gets a free tour, and might meet the king! Now, don't bite me, I have a date tomorrow." He pulled back a slobbered-on hand and wiped it on my jacket. "Ew, Jacob, I'm gonna kill you. Do you know how long it takes for me to wash--wait, seriously, you're not kidding?! We'll be able to go to *insert city here*?! And compete in the arena?! Seriously?!? No way! Don't lie to me! I will kill you, if you lie to me. Are you lying to me? Shut up, you're lying to me! No, you're not. Are you? TELL ME!!" He rolled his eyes and walked away, leaving me to look like a crazy ape in the middle of the lunch line.

//Callen//

Gosh, people just sometimes have to pull you out of shock, don't they? I mean, being in shock is perfectly fun, isn't it? Anywhoozle, she dragged on my arm and pulled me to table 16. "So, do you want to join?" "Gosh, I'd love to and all, but I was thinking about joining the archery group and the ostrich racing group. Sorry, but I'm really good at those. And honestly, I don't think that my parents would like to see photographs of me on a stage belly dancing." She laughed, and I stabbed a mango with a fork, shoving it in my mouth. "Cool. Oh, and if you see Jaz, I know you don't like her and all for taking your date and all, but please, tell her about the belly dancing. Please?" I nodded, pouring foreign syrup on my waffles. "All righty then, I'll be off. I'm meeting the rest of the girls to practice for MadriannaGusic. Catch you later, 'kay?" "'Kay," I said, or tried to say, while balancing my waffles on my fork. As I was swallowing, I saw Darius, Jacob, Banier, and Leif enter the cafeteria and go towards the lines. I waved to them, Darius avoiding my view, Jacob looking like he doesn't know me, and Banier and Leif smiling and waving. I lost my appetite so I stood up to throw my trash away. Just as I was, I ran right into Jasmine. "Oh, hullo Jasmine." "Don't call me that. What do you want?" "Well, Alamea, the twins, and some others are starting a belly dancing group. You in?" "Sure, I guess. Hey, are Jacob and Elizabeth still seeing each other?" I then realized that she wasn't over Jacob yet, and just went with Darius just to go with someone. "Yeah, I think. Though they've been argueing a lot lately, I think that they'll break up soon." She looked a bit hopeful at that. "Oh, ok. Thanks, Cal." She walked away and towards the lunch line. I tossed everything in the trash can and walked back to my room, ready to nap for 5 hours, then to homework. Best weekend ever, eh?

Banier—

The boys and I stood in the line waiting for our lunches. Ifinally got to the “Hot Food” counter and ordered a hamburger.

“No hamburgers, deary. Only on Junkfood day!” The lady smiledat me really sweetly. I’d forgotten the whole “Junkfood not allowed rule” andso on.

“What do you have instead?” I inquired.

“Lasange or chicken with organic curry.”

“Chicken with organic curry.”

The woman gave me a plate of something dipped in dark redsauce. It smelled like… Like curry.

Jacob wrinkled his nose. “Yuck.” He murmured.

We scooted into our seats. I noticed Eli walked into the roomwith Kataira. Her blond hair was in its usual braids and her blue eyessparkled. Eli…

“Hey Jacob!” An all too girly voice popped my thoughts.

Jasmine pushed a dark ringlet behind her ear and smiledsweetly. She was leaning near Jacob. Darius almost spit his lasagne on thefloor.

Jasmine had gone to the dance with him not Jacob! Now she wasusing the number one flirting tecniques on Jacob.

“So, how’s your life? School, Friends, Elizabeth…” The lastword came out harshly.

Jacob looked at her with a weird expression. “I’m doing fine.Elizabeth and I are going strong.”, he lied. I lay on my bunk every night andlistened to them yell at each other outside the door.

“But you looked at her! How could you?!”, or, “You promised,dear! You promised!”, or, “But you put your arm around my shoulders and not myhips! How could you?”

There are to many to say. Anyway, going strong is like sayingthat Jupiter is nearest to the sun.

“You know the MadrianaGusic, I wanted you to ride my ostrichwith me.” Jasmine turned red as she said this.

“You what?” Jacob turned around and gave me a: “Help!” look.

“Hey Jas! You know that Darius is looking for you.”

“Oh really. Where is he?”

“In the courtyard.” I told her.

She rushed off without noticing that Darius was right in frontof her.

//Callen//

I swivled in my chair and looked at the overwhelming stack of homework. Then, a clink sounded. Then another, and another. I opened the window curtain and saw Jacob standing with a handful of pebbles. He looked up at me with pleading eyes, did the begging thing, pointed at his watch, a number 5, and pointed at the fountains. I sighed, looked at the time. 1:45. I still had enough time to finish homework, and it would only take 5 miuntes. I grabbed a jacket and flew out of the building, wondering what Jacob was up to this time. I grabbed a seat next to him near the biggest fountain and he clasped his hands together. "It's about Jasmine. She wants to ride an ostrich with me, in the dual rice. And, I don't know. Elizabeth and I are on the verge of ripping each other's heads off, so she'll murder me if she catches me on an ostrich with Jas. But, I really want to. I really do. And, I don't know how to break up with Elizabeth. I mean, you're a girl, right? Help me, Cal." "Gosh, Jacob. Thanks for noticing. But just break up with her. There's that. Go in on the dual race with Jas, but you'll have tough competition. I'll be in solo, but still. I'm also doing archery, are you doing anything else?" "Oo, I think that Darius is also doing archery. But nah, I'm not doing anything else."

Elizabeth M.--Sorry I wasn't able to say this earlier, but I don't think the twins are the type to do a belly dancing group. They are the sort of girls to do like a piano, chorus, art, writing group. Maybe a different kind of dance, though. I hope you don't mind. Do you want to do an Irish dancing group? ZB, does Callen want to do it, too? If it is a yes to both, then, without further ado, here is my post:

//Kataira//

Callen had agreed to form an Irish dancing group with Alamea, Eli, and myself, so we were now on our way to find Mrs. VierGahn, the woman in charge of the MadrianaGusic  competition. We soon found Mrs. VierGahn in the cafeteria. She had a line of about ten children waiting to be signed up for the competition. We got in line and chatted while we waited.

"How has school been going?" I asked after frantically, thinking up some way to start a conversation.

"Good," replied Callen. "I've only gotten about five SoliFaras in the last week." We all laughed. The teachers gave out SoliFaras for being late in class, handing in homework late, or doing pretty much anything wrong. Eli had gotten one SoliFara for being late to class because she was talking with Banier. Thankfully, I had not yet gotten any SoliFaras this year.

"Have any of you ever done Irish dancing before?" Alamea asked.

"No, I haven't," I admitted.

"Not me," put in Eli.

"Me neither," said Callen. "Have you?"

"I did it a little bit last year. For some reason, they took it out of the classes and replaced it with Jazz," Alamea said.

"I think they switch it around a bit. You know, so that kids don't get bored or anything," I suggested. By now, we were at the front of the line.

"Hello, girls," Mrs. VierGahn greeted us.

We all replied at the same time, "Hello!" Callen greeted Mrs. VierGahn.

"Hi!" Alamea said.

"Good morning!" Eli and I said together as usual.

"Would you happen to have a slot for an Irish dancing group?" Alamea asked.

Mrs. VierGahn scanned her clipboard. "Actually, we do," she replied.

"You sound surprised," I commented. "Is there a reason for that?"

Mrs. VierGahn arched her eyebrows. "Why, yes, I am. The directors recently voted to add it this year. There are currently no students here at GenkuSuh interested in making a group, though there is one group from a boarding school in FariSayah. They were thinking about canceling that subject, but if you four would like to join, they would be able to keep it in."

"Let's do it!" Eli and I yelled together. We laughed with the others.

"I'll do it," said Alamea.

"Count me in!" Callen said.

"I guess that settles it," Mrs. VierGahn said. "Although, I have to say, that the FariSayah group is pretty good so you might have your hands full with winning."

"We can do it!" Callen said confidently.

"Okay, then. I'll sign you girls up," said Mrs. VierGahn.

"Thanks!" Callen, Alamea, Eli, and I said as a group. We giggled and ran out of the room together.

I'm hoping that this won't interfere with anyone else's post. If it does, we'll just work it out later. Okay?

I don't think that Callen would be the type of person to do a dance, any type of dance. I guess that she's sort of a tom-boyish person, so she'll just be doing Archery and Ostrich Racing.