1953, Exactly one year since Jason Lennox began at CHERUB Campus.
"What do you want to do today, Jason? It's a pretty special day, you know."
"Yeah, don't I know?"
Jason Lennox had been at CHERUB Campus for exactly a year now. Since then, he'd made two very close friends: Terence McAfferty and Johan Urminski. Terence, who preferred to be known as 'Mac', was twelve years old. Johan was thirteen. The three of them shared one hut together. They couldn't wait for the plans for a five-storey main building to be passed. They themselves had created the blueprint. It was very detailed, and the art teacher was amazed that any cherubs had been able to make such detailed plans.
"I dunno," said Mac. "We could go shopping in the town."
"I want to get some work done with my architecture class." Johan was always interested in architecture, and had secretly admitted to wanting to become an architect when he grew up.
"Is there actually anyone else in your architectural class?" asked Jason.
"Actually, no. Come to think of it, I've never even noticed that there wasn't anyone else with me in that class. Oh, Mr Branson asked me to ask you if you were interested in going to the architectural class. You may not want to become an architect when you grow up, but you do show great skill in the subject."
"I'm not sure if I have any room." Jason was very true in saying that.
"What subjects do you have at the moment?" asked Mac.
"Level Eight Literature, Level Nine English, Level Four Indonesian, Level Two Russian, Level Six Mathematics, Level Ten Spanish, and I teach Level Three Spanish and Level Four English. The Chairwoman was considering putting me up to Level Four Spanish, and I want to learn French. Apart from that, I help to teach a few classes as well."
"What the –?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't even have that much. How do you get through your days?"
"Very busily. But it's an issue I have. If I'm not busy, it makes me very – I dunno how to explain it."
"I understand. Most people have something wrong with them. Like I say: If you're not mad, you're boring."
"Really?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"Okay. Should I be worried now?"
"No."
"Okay then. And how busy is your timetable, then?"
"Pretty busy, but nowhere near as busy as yours. Level Four Literature, Level Seven English, Level Six Spanish, Level Four French, Level Eight Mathematics, and I teach Level One English. I also help to teach Level One French. I'm about to get a promotion to Level Five French."
"Cool. What's not to love about that timetable?" asked Johan. "Nowhere near as busy as mine. Though, I must say, it's nowhere near as busy as Jason's."
"What's wrong with learning seven subjects and teaching around about five?"
"We seriously need to draw up our subject lists."
"Yeah." There was a knock at the door. 'Come in.' No-one answered, but a letter had been slipped under the door. Jason opened it and read it:
To Jason Lennox, Johan Urminski and Terence 'Mac' McAfferty
The three of you have been chosen for a special miniature mission (a training mission, to be precise) to prove yourselves worthy of more difficult missions. The three of you, having been at CHERUB for different lengths of time and all being different ages, will receive three different, but rather identical, small training missions.
Your requirements are as follows underneath:
Terence 'Mac' McAfferty – You are to meet Paul Clarke near the Nissen huts at 0700 on December 11. You will be given further information by Clarke when you reach your destination. You will be leaving for your mission at 1000 on December 11.
Johan Urminski – You are to meet PT Bivott near the training area at 0830 on December 11. You will be given further information by Bivott when you reach your destination. You have been asked to wear warm clothing. You will be leaving for your mission at 1200 on December 11.
Jason Lennox – You are to meet me, Eileen McAfferty, at the chapel at 0900 on December 11. You will be given further information when you are there. Seeing as this will be your first mission after your training, you will be given more time to prepare, and some time with Paul Clarke. Your meeting with Clarke will be at 1400 on December 11, and you will leave for your mission at 0900 on December 12.
I sincerely hope that all of you succeed in your missions, and I am very proud of you all. Mr Branson has shown me all of your hard work with the blueprint of the idea of a main building. After all of you have successfully completed your missions, please visit me at my office together. You are not in trouble.
Yours sincerely,
Eileen McAfferty.
Dated: December 8, 1953.
"Cool!" said Johan, breaking the silence. "A training mission! It's been ages since I've had one of these!"
"This'll be my fifth mission overall, and my third training mission," said Mac.
"My fourth overall, third training, same as you," called Johan.
"My first of everything," said Jason, with a noticeable nervous crackle in his voice.
"Don't worry so much, Jason," said Johan. "You'll get over your nerves and have a great time. Training missions are a bit of a laugh compared to real missions. You'll get over it."
"I really hope I do, Johan. I really hope I do."
"Jason, if you can learn and teach as much as you do, and you're literally as good at your martial arts and combat training as I've seen, you can easily outdo most of the senior agents. I'm amazed you haven't been put on a mission yet – training or proper."
But no matter what happened Jason couldn't stop the butterflies from leaving his stomach. Thinking about butterflies in his stomach made him rethink: maybe it would be better to call them flying saucers…
