Bright and early on Monday morning, the Great Room was full of school-aged initiates, shouting and rushing about as they got ready to go to Brooklyn Academy for the Gifted.
"Ah! I forgot to do my English homework!"
"Oh no! I can't find my school tie!"
"Can I borrow someone's science notes?"
"I call shotgun for the boat!"
As I ate my breakfast, I saw Alyssa trying to tie up Shelby's hair as Shelby attempted to break free, Cleo pestering Jaz for a doctor's note that would exempt her from PE class, and Sean and Julian arguing over a schoolbag that they were both convinced belonged to them (until Walt intervened, pointing out that, according to the name tag, the bag actually belonged to Felix.)
Not for the first time, I was extremely grateful that Zia and I were allowed to be home-schooled here at Brooklyn House, rather than going to school with the others.
Then Sadie raced up to me, asking me if I knew the whereabouts of her history textbook, I suggested that she go and ask a shabti, and she thanked me and ran back inside, pulling her BAG jumper over her head as she went.
Yes, very grateful.