I Consider Cats and Insane Squirrels
RSCM, or Royal School of Church Music, headquarters are at the Old Baker dorms at Rice. When I arrived, I got sorted into the Leopard house, and then went to my assigned room. I was lucky enough to know my roommate, a girl who went to my school, but sadly, she was sick, and didn't arrive until Thursday. So I was all alone.
At RSCM, a good portion of time is spent singing, which is a real shocker, I know. This year, we had some very interesting pieces by Benjamin Britten, including a long collection of poem-song things written by Christopher Smart, who was in an insane asylum when he wrote it.
It was by far the best song I've ever sung, including the solos I didn't sing, "For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry", and "For the Mouse is a Creature of Great Personal Valor".
One additional drama was the window episode. I woke to a tapping at my window. Still half asleep, I thought, You know what, if they're going to start tapping on the windows to wake us up- I then remembered I was on the third floor, so no one could tap on the windows even if they wanted to. I raced over to the windows to see a squirrel with a rat-like tail scrabbling at the glass. I stared at it for a minute, and then decided to take a video.
As I was recording, the squirrel decided to leap, backflip in the air, and then land back on the window. I screamed, sure it was trying to open the window latch. This was becoming a problem, so I called some friends over.
We decided to use a stupid hat I'd brought to make it leave. Eventually, the squirrel caught sight of the ridiculous thing and FELL off the window ledge. I didn't mean to kill it!
I didn't need to fear, though, because later, as I walked back to the dorms, I saw it laying spread-eagle on the pavement. I got closer, hoping this was how squirrels sleep, and that it wasn't dead. I leaned over, and it jumped up, hissed at me, and then ran off.
This was not the only squirrel incident I've had at Rice, and I honestly think that a race of mutant squirrels live on campus. Beware.
Every year at RSCM, we decorate our doors. I had nothing, so I improvised. Using miniature British flags I borrowed, and a box of British candy, I made a sort of collage of British things. You will be astonished by this, but I didn't win.
At the end of camp, we gathered to announce the winners of the House Cup, and my house won!!!
I will definitely be returning to RSCM, though I'm hoping to avoid manic furry creatures next time.
The tale continues. . .
". . . convinced we would drown, and at a camp where the main activity was swimming!"
"We didn't even have two of every animal. We were woefully unprepared for Armageddon."
"A long, dark shadow crossed the water."
". . . civil war awaited. . ."
At RSCM, a good portion of time is spent singing, which is a real shocker, I know. This year, we had some very interesting pieces by Benjamin Britten, including a long collection of poem-song things written by Christopher Smart, who was in an insane asylum when he wrote it.
It was by far the best song I've ever sung, including the solos I didn't sing, "For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry", and "For the Mouse is a Creature of Great Personal Valor".
One additional drama was the window episode. I woke to a tapping at my window. Still half asleep, I thought, You know what, if they're going to start tapping on the windows to wake us up- I then remembered I was on the third floor, so no one could tap on the windows even if they wanted to. I raced over to the windows to see a squirrel with a rat-like tail scrabbling at the glass. I stared at it for a minute, and then decided to take a video.
As I was recording, the squirrel decided to leap, backflip in the air, and then land back on the window. I screamed, sure it was trying to open the window latch. This was becoming a problem, so I called some friends over.
We decided to use a stupid hat I'd brought to make it leave. Eventually, the squirrel caught sight of the ridiculous thing and FELL off the window ledge. I didn't mean to kill it!
I didn't need to fear, though, because later, as I walked back to the dorms, I saw it laying spread-eagle on the pavement. I got closer, hoping this was how squirrels sleep, and that it wasn't dead. I leaned over, and it jumped up, hissed at me, and then ran off.
This was not the only squirrel incident I've had at Rice, and I honestly think that a race of mutant squirrels live on campus. Beware.
Every year at RSCM, we decorate our doors. I had nothing, so I improvised. Using miniature British flags I borrowed, and a box of British candy, I made a sort of collage of British things. You will be astonished by this, but I didn't win.
At the end of camp, we gathered to announce the winners of the House Cup, and my house won!!!
I will definitely be returning to RSCM, though I'm hoping to avoid manic furry creatures next time.
The tale continues. . .
". . . convinced we would drown, and at a camp where the main activity was swimming!"
"We didn't even have two of every animal. We were woefully unprepared for Armageddon."
"A long, dark shadow crossed the water."
". . . civil war awaited. . ."
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