CHAPTER 4
Alan took to the work Mr Winter assigned him like a bee to honey. He actually enjoyed the raking and trimming to get things ready for the very near winter season. On the saturday mornings he worked in the sun room where Mr Winters developed and grew many of the beautiful plants he placed around the school grounds.
Alan proved himself as not only being trustworthy to compleate his work without supervision, but that he could be depended on to make sure the tools were picked up, cleaned and put away.
Saturday mornings Mr Winters was pleased that Alan could understand his experimenting with different mixing of seeds looking for stronger and more durable perennials. Alan shared some of the things Kyrano had taught him and the two were fast becoming good friends.
After the three weeks of 'punishment' Alan would often come in on a saturday morning just to visit. This helped immensly with the bordom that Alan usually felt.
Unfortunately William and the thugs still bumped or tried to trip him at every given chance. Though evan this decreased as the boys made good on their idea of traveling in a group as much as possible. This left William and the others frustrated to say the least.
J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J
It was the last weekend in September that the school promoted as a family get together. Brains managed to come, but as per usual at Alans other school functions, his father and brothers were absent.
Grandma had sent him a nice card with her own appology for not being able to fly due to a bad cold. The Dr had advised against travel lest she end up with pnuemonia. She assured him she would be fine and would hopefully beable to be with all the family at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then she went on to tell him how proud she was, and how much she loved him.
Alan sighed as he read the card. Oh how he missed his grandmother. Brains gave him his father and brothers message of appology. Alan thanked him, but only visited for a short time, then went off so Brains and Fermat could have some real family time, dispite their assurances that he was family.
"That's okay I can find plenty to do," he said as he ran off.
Brains and Fermat sighed, worried as they whatched Alan rub off.
Many of the other boys families would also visit on the weekends, this was how Alan had met Toby's family. They had hit it off on their first meeting and he would often visit with them when they came. Toby's mother always brought the most fantastic treats for them to eat. Toby and he had become close freinds and often he would just sit and listen as Toby practiced on the piano, much the way he used to listen to Virgil.
On this particular visit Toby's older brother had come with and had brought his guitar with him. Alan could hardly keep his eyes off of it. A fact that did not escape Toby's dads watchful eye.
"Do you play the guitar Alan?"
"I used to play for my grandmother sometimes, but havn't even touch one since grandma had her stroke."
"She's better I hope," said Mrs Curry.
"Oh yes mame. She wanted to come, but the doctor wouldn't let her travel due to a cold."
"Well that's good. How about you play a little tune for us?"
"No. No like I said it's been over a year and..."
Toby's big brother cut him off, "It's like riding a bike Alan, it'll come back to you quickly enough."
"No, that's okay I'd rather not right now." his voice giving away his nervousness on the matter.
"Alright now let's not pressure the boy. May be another time, eh?" said Mr Curry.
"Yeah, uh sure."
Trying to change the subject he told Mrs Curry, "you should open a resturant. This is really good!"
"Mom's thought about it but..."
"Now Toby let's not be bringing up old business. Would you like another cookie Alan?"
"Yes, thank you." Seeing that Toby's mom did not want to talk about the possibillites, he decided he would talk to Toby about it later.
"Your family couldn't make it Alan?" asked Mr Curry.
"No sir. They,...they were busy with the family business."
"It's a shame. They missed out on a beautiful day. Maybe next time."
"Yes sir. Maybe next time." replied a quiet Alan.
After saying goodby, Alan and Toby headed back to the dorm just in time so that Alan could say goodby to Brains.
The boys watched him drive out of sight, then headed back to their rooms.
"Maybe next weekend we could rent some bikes and go exploring."
"A-Alan you kn-know we are n-n-not suppose to l-leave the sc-sch-school g-grounds. We w-would be in b-big t-tr-trouble." said Fermat worry lines showing on his forehead.
"Yeah Alan and you can't afford to get into anymore trouble," added Toby.
Alan turned to them with arms crossed. "That will only happen ...if we get caught. I for one do not plan on letting that happen."
"A-Alan y-you never p-plan on t-tr-trouble, b-but f-face it..."
"Trouble has a way of always finding you!" finished Toby.
Alan sighed, "where's your sense of adventure?"
"M-May be w-we will h-have too m-much h-homwork, th-then, we w-won't h-have to w-wo-worry."
Toby laughed "maybe I don't have much adventure in me, but I don't need extra homework either!"
Alan and Fermat joined in the laughter as the boys headed to the mess hall.
J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J
The week went by fairly uneventful. Alan was in the last class of the day on friday, social studies and today they were talking about world religions.
As per usual Alan never gave any of his classes his full attension, though he did this class, in part because he and Kyrano had talked of them in their many talks when he would help him in the garden.
Kyrano had always exppressed that all were a part of the make-up of the world at large and that all should be tolerated. Unfortunatly it was many small infractions of each that uasually led to the intolerence and violence around the world. So on this particular day even though he was daydreaming about the 'ThunderBirds' he had still kept a ear to what his teacher had been saying. Even so he was still startled when he heard his name being called.
Okay Mr Tracy, I see your mind is everywhere, except where it should be, focusing on important issues."
Alan quickly looked up giving his teacher, Mr Neilson a sheepish smile, his cheeks becoming bright red as all eyes now focused on him.
"So here's what I'm going to do, this will also help get all of you ready for mid-terms coming up in two weeks." A few groans were heard.
"Alright now that's enough. Mr Tracy I will give you a question and you will answer to my satisfaction. Otherwise, you and your classmates here will do a ten thousand word report on the five major, recognized religions of the world."
Immediatly the moans and groans were loud, showing the dispair and disapproval of his classmates, "man were doomed!"
"Totally dead."
"Thanks for daydreaming again ALAN."
Fermat leaned over, "y-you can d-do this."
"Okay, that is enough...Now Mr Tracy you will name all five of the major world relegions and give a short diversified account of each."
More groans were heard.
"Stand up Mr Tracy."
Alan stood and took a deep breath... "Sir. The first would be Judaism, thought to be the oldest. Followers are known as Jews. Their God's will is a fundamental tenet. Their laws are contained in the Torah; which, comprises the first five books of the Christian Old Testament. Another is Hinduism. Followed primarilyin India. The main laws are the Vedas. That one's own actions determine the reward or punishment of being reincarnated in a higher or lower form of life. The next is Buddhism. There are no gods, it's followers follow the philosophy expressed in the Buddha's Four Noble Truths."
Alan took another deep breath trying to think of the last two. "The fourth is Christianity. It grew out of Judaism 2,000 years ago. It is based on the belief that Jesus
Christ is the son of God. The holy book is the Bible, divided into the old and new testaments. The fifth is Islam. Its god is called Allah, founded by the prophet Mohammed. Their holy book is the Koran. All of them have many subdivisions within them."
Alan sat down quickly, his knees feeling very weak. Hoping this would be enough to satisfy Mr Neilson.
Mr Neilson walked back and forth across the room then down the isle where Alan sat, stopping at his desk. Alan looked up as his teacher stood towering above him. He began to feel nauseated and could once again feel his cheeks growing redder by the minute, knowing all eyes were again upon him.
Finally Mr Neilson spoke. "Your classmates owe you, Mr Tracy. Alright no report, but don't let that stop you from reviewing for mid-terms in two weeks."
The last few words lost in the hurrahs and congradulations of the other boys and the dismissal bell. Many patted Alans' back as they left. Alan was totally taken back when Benjamin also stopped and said, "nice going Tracy." William and the other two were not in this particular class.
As they were filing out Alan was called back by Mr Neilson, who also taught his math class.
"Yes sir?"
Mr Neilson tapped his pencil on the desk, then finally said, "Alan,... for as little as you pay intention in class your abillity to answer as you did tells me that it is most probable that you are NOT putting forth your true abilities. I'm no councilor, so I won't try and find out why you are not working to your full potential, but I can tell you this much; from now on in my classes I will expect a lot more from you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir." Alan gave a small smile as he left.
"Way to go Alan!"
"Who'd a known!"
"W-We-Well done Alan."
Alan for his part just smiled, then quietly said to Toby and Fermat. "So no extra report, huh? Guess we can go exploring on Sunday then. Can't we?" Arching his eyebrows as he did.
Toby and Fermat just groaned.
J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J*S*J*V*G*A**J
Sunday finally came and the three boys headed over for an early breakfast, and to finalize their plans for the day. Being Sunday few others were up at this time a day; which, would make it easier to sneak off campus.
Luckily both Toby and Fermat were able to get their homework done on saturday while Alan arranged for mountain bikes and helmets, with water bottles and a first aid kit. Fermat and Toby looked at him questionally, "expecting trouble?"
"No. I just like to be prepared. There's a Subway at a truckstop about ten miles out of town. We can pick up lunch and then pick a direction."
"Okay then Alan, lead on "O" fearless leader." laughed Toby and Fermat.
Alan laughed and off they went.
This became the norm every other week. The other week Toby's family and one more time Brains came to visit.
"Your f-ffamily is p-pl-pleased that the p-p-pr-prob-complaints have r-really d-de-decreased."
"Well why wouldn't they? Father did tell the headmaster he could handle things on his own." Alan replied somewhat sarcastically.
Brains was a little taken back. "Is th-there s-something I n-ne-nee- should t-talk to your f-fa-father about?"
Alan sighed, "no Brains, sorry everything is fine. I'm handily it."
Brains looked over at Fermat just as he roll his eyes. "S-Son anything y-ou need?"
"N-No d-dad. Things are g-ge-getting b-better."
"W-What about the b-boys who w-were g-giving you a h-hard t-time?"
"They r-re-really do-don't b-bother me anymore. N-Not s-since m-my ankle w-was injured."
"Just tell my family not to worry I'm handiling it."
Brains was a little worried at Alan's aloofness, but decided he would not push anymore, but would talk to Jeff on his return to the island.
Toby had talked to his parents about the bullying, but had asked them not to intervene right now, but to wait and and see if the boys could work it out themselves. Reluctantly they agreed, but Toby's father was not happy and had wanted to go straight to the headmaster about the problem. He warned the boys that these things usually got worse, but they wanted to do this on their own if possible and begged him to wait. Telling him their staying in groups seemed to be working.
"Okay,...b-but you k-ke-keep me informed."
"Yes sir we will." All three boys had promised.
"O-Okay, I g-gu-guess we will see y-you at Th-Thanksgiving in t-two w-we-weeks then."
"Two weeks."
"Okay dad, Love you mom." Toby gave his parents a hug as did Fermat give Brains.
Alan just watched. Brains came over and gave him a one armed hug. Then Mr Curry gave him a hand on his shoulder as Mrs Curry gave him a full hug causing him to blush. Everyone laughed and waved goodby. Brains told the boys they would be in touch as to who would pick them up for Thanksgiving vacation.
They watched as the parents drove away.
"Well then we have one more weekend to go exploring." exclaimed Alan.
"Do we have too? Finals are that week. We need to study."
"Y-Yeah A-Alan, you r-re-really s-should too!"
"Well if you guys don't want to fine, but we haven't been north yet and it might be snowing by the time we get back."
"Alan, come on, we need to study."
"C-Come on Al-Alan. W-Why d-do you always h-have to m-make th-things harder than they n-ne-need to b-be. If you g-get ca-cau-caught you'll g-get g-gr- grounded again."
"I've got news for you...dad already said I'd be grounded when I come home. He said so when he gave the headmaster permission to give out whatever punishment he deemed neccessary."
"Maybe he'll forget by that time," said Toby.
"My dad does not forget!"
Fermat just nodded in agreement.
"Hey it's okay. I can go by myself. Something is telling me I need to go that way, I can't explain it, but I'm going no matter what."
"Now what? You getting psycic on us Alan." both Toby and Fermat laughed.
Alan was getting a little irratated at being laughed at, but just said, "fine, go ahead and laugh, but I know I'm suppose to go that way and I will, with or without you."
The teasing continued as they walked to the dining hall, but Alan's mind was made up. He would go... with or without them.