I do not own Race to Witch Mountain
Chapter Six: Reporting
(Sara Point of View)
Sara knew what she had to do. She was scared. And yet, as she went down the stairs she couldn't help but feel that this was the right thing to do. "Jack," she asked when she sat at the table for breakfast.
"Yes," he said a smile on his face. He must love to hear her speak.
Sara looked down. "I'm not sure how to say, this," she began. Then she launched into the story of what she had been thinking about the night before. She watched as the expressions on her host and hostesses faces changed, first to shock, and then to horror, and then to even anger.
"You don't think they'd be bold enough?" Alex asked disturbed.
"I don't know," replied Jack. "They were angry enough to try to kidnap Seth and Sara."
Just then Seth came down the stairs and they turned to face him. Seth frowned upon seeing their expressions. "What?" he asked finally.
Jack stood up suddenly. "I've got to call your parents," he announced.
Seth gave Sara a hard, questioning look and she then turned to explain what her suspicions were. Seth shifted uncomfortably in his seat and when she ended her thoughts he replied, "I'd hate to think of what is happening to our people if Henry Burke has indeed captured them. I know only too well some of what they may be feeling."
Alex placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. "We won't let them get away with it," she murmured to him in a placating tone.
Suddenly Jack came back. Sara flinched; thinking about what her parents would want them to do this time. Did they order them to come home? "They're taking this under consideration," Jack told them, sitting back down. "They're going to let your government know."
Sara relaxed a little. "Did they say anything about us?" she questioned cautiously.
Jack shook his head. "They were concerned but they didn't say anything regarding you and Seth. But I can tell their concerned."
Sara sighed. "That's the last thing I need," she mumbled. And when Jack looked at her questioningly she shook her head and replied, "Never mind."
When they finished their meal Alex stood up. "We're going out in the public again," she announced and the kids groaned. "Do we have to?" Seth complained.
Jack smiled. "It's the only way to get the paparazzi to go away."
Sara heard her brother sigh. She too was frustrated with the problems that fame had caused her, though she could understand how it could be a protection to her, especially from Henry Burke. After all, she didn't want to end up like the poor people Henry was more than likely holding prisoner.
They finished their meal and when they went outside the Bruno's property she was immediately assailed by flashes of light as photographers tried to get the best pictures of them that they could. Sara and Seth immediately tried to hide their faces and Alex even shielded her eyes as a few tried to take photographs of her and her husband. Unfortunately, for Jack, he was driving and couldn't take his eyes off the road. They were lucky that they didn't crash for the flashes were almost blinding.
When they got away from the paparazzi Sara uncurled from the ball she had curled into. "Are they gone, Jack Bruno?" she whispered, almost exhaustedly.
"Yep," Jack grimly replied and Sara could tell that he didn't like the paparazzi either.
"How do you deal with it?" Seth asked, upon observing what Sara observed.
Alex thought for a moment and then said, "I don't know. I guess you just get used to it after a while. That and they don't always follow you. They'll follow you for a while until your old news, and then it will die down. But you have to be out in the public to do that." She turned around in her seat to check on the kids and they smiled wryly. "How are you holding up?" she asked them, in a concerned tone that made Sara almost amazed at how much she was able to pick up merely from their actions.
"Fine," Seth replied. "For now."
Sara stared out the window and as pastures flashed by she suddenly saw buildings in the distant. "Where are we going?" she asked, lacking the enthusiasm that she probably needed to be convincing.
Jack smiled. "You'll see."
(Seth point of view)
Seth was tired of the paparazzi going after them. To tell the truth, he and his sister weren't all that enthusiastic about going outside. But he chose to trust Jack and Alex on this. They would eventually go away.
But he wasn't a fan of secrets. "What do you mean by 'you'll see'?" he asked, suddenly interested in the conversation. "Please don't tell me this is another one of your publicity ideas." Seth searched his thoughts for a moment and then found the perfect excuse, or so he thought. "Sara and I are supposed to be doing a paper on the earthling culture!"
Jack smiled and so did Alex. 'Wait,' Seth thought, upon seeing this. 'Alex is in on this? What is this?'
"We know," Jack suddenly responded. "And your definitely going to have a chance to view some, how did you put it, 'earthling culture' today." Suddenly he pulled into a parking lot. To the side of them Seth saw a giant building with the words 'Museum of Natural History' plastered on the front. It was a big building, an older one that was painted brown and had big glass windows on the many stories. He counted at least five stories. Outside the building was a sign that said 'admission for adults... $5; admission for 5-18... $3; kids 4 and under are free'. Beside the sign and around the building the grass was poorly kept, a lousy brown.
Jack smiled at them when he saw them mesmerized by the sight. "I hope you brought something to write with. This is a great learning opportunity about earth and I'm sure you can include it in your reports."
"Jack," Sara suddenly asked, curiosity saturating her tone. "What is a 'museum of natural history'?"
Alex didn't answer her question. Instead she replied, "Come and see."
They got out of the vehicle and walked up to the building. When they went inside the double doors they immediately came across a booth that was behind glass. A crowd was in front of them and they joined the line. Finally when Jack walked up he said, "Two adults." Then he turned to them. "How old are you, Seth and Sara."
Sara frowned. How to turn this into earth years? "I'm fourteen and Seth's a year older than me."
Jack nodded and the man counted up the total. "$16," the man told them. Jack immediately got out some paper money and Seth observed how the transaction took place. After Jack gave the man at the booth the money he handed them four tickets. They then left the line and went through some doors. A man was standing to collect the tickets. 'So that's how it works,' Seth thought to himself and suddenly Sara entered his mind.
'Did you see that? It looks at the paper things that they're handing that guy, the ones Jack calls tickets, that's what allows someone to pass.'
When Jack handed the man their tickets the man saw Seth and Sara and his eyes widened. "Is that..." he stuttered.
"Yes," Jack replied curtly and Seth had the feeling that he just wanted to pass.
The man lit up in a smile. "Welcome to an earth museum!" he warmly greeted them and stuck out his hand. Seth and Sara stared at it, unsure of what to do. Seth copied the guy's movement and the guy grasped his arm and shook it. Seth stared at the man with curiosity in his eyes.
"I don't understand," finally Sara said.
"It's a polite way of greeting someone," the man replied and then he demonstrated by sticking out his hand to Jack and Alex. "It's an honor to meet you."
Jack and Alex shook his hand firmly. "It's wonderful to be able to show Sara and Seth some things about the earth culture." The man smiled at this.
"Always happy to be of service," he replied.
Finally the guy parted their tickets along a paper line and then they were let through. "Jack," Sara asked. "What was he doing with the tickets?"
Alex smiled, pleased with the question. "He tore the tickets to indicate that we paid and that we are allowed to be in here. They'll do the same with movie tickets to."
"What's a movie ticket?" Seth asked.
Jack shook his head. "That's for another time."
They were led through the museum by a guide who explained the different props and the history associated with them. Finally, after hours, mostly because Seth and Sara kept asking the guide questions, which eventually got to the point that Jack told them that they could ask no more questions, they left the museum.
Seth and Sara were sorry to leave at this. "We didn't learn enough!" he protested. "Especially since you wouldn't let us ask any questions!"
Jack and Alex drove them to a café so that they could have some lunch. When they sat down Seth began to complain again. "We ask questions because we want to learn. Don't you want our report to be good and detailed?"
Jack shook his head. "Look Seth," he told him as politely as he could. "That simply wasn't appropriate, what you were doing. I know you want to learn, but perhaps we should teach you two a little bit of how to interact with others."
Sara looked up, confusion in her eyes. "Others were asking questions," she stated.
"Yes," Alex said carefully. "But they weren't asking as many as you were."
"So asking too many questions is impolite?" questioned Seth, trying to grasp the concept.
Alex frowned. That was not exactly how she would have put it. But, thankfully, Jack stepped in and saved her. "It's not a matter of asking too many questions be impolite. It's just, well, you were occupying the whole time. One to two questions is okay, and if you want to ask more, then come to the director afterwards and ask, as long as you don't take up his time. But you two prevented anyone else from asking questions and the people that give the tours are really busy. They have a limited amount of time to fit their tour in and they need to get people in and out."
Seth and Sara still had a look of confusion on their faces. "Just try to observe what others do and mimic them," Alex suggested. "You can learn a lot about socializing that way. Especially if you interact with people your own age." Suddenly her eyes widened and Seth was immediately hesitant. 'Not another one of their ideas,' he groaned inwardly although he was starting to trust their judgment. But he was tired and just wanted to get things done.
"How about this," Alex suggested. "Why don't you two try attending school? There will be lots of kids your age there and you can learn not only about our world but how to interact."
Jack was nodding at this. "That might be a good idea."
"What is school," Seth asked, skeptically.
Alex smiled. "You're going to find out."
(Seth point of view)
Seth had to admit that this sounded like a good idea. But he was still unsure of it. Sara had been asking Jack and Alex about school so she could subtly look through their minds and search some memories that they had. When Jack told one of his favorite school stories Sara immediately saw that he wasn't telling everything. She didn't like what she saw. Bullies punching people? When she had relayed this stuff to Seth the boy was immediately nervous.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Seth questioned for the one hundredth time.
Jack clapped his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Sure. Don't be nervous. Besides, this is the perfect time. The school year has just started so you won't have to make up anything. And I'm sure the two of you will be very popular."
"And what about the paparazzi."
"Haven't you noticed? It's died down already.
"But this will be another story to them! They'll be all over me and Sara!"
At sensing the boy's distress Jack pulled Seth aside and placed one hand on each shoulder. "Hey," he gently comforted, and when Seth started staring out the window at the end of the hallway – what seemed like a long ways away – Jack gently reprimanded, "Look at me. Look at me, Seth." Seth reluctantly turned to face him again. "Hey," Jack gently soothed him. "It's going to be okay."
"But-" Seth protested loudly and Jack cut him off and placed one finger in front of his lips, hushing him.
"No buts. Don't be nervous, Seth; it will be alright."
"And what about the paparazzi?" Seth asked, concern bleeding into his voice no matter how much he tried to control it.
"Forget them," Jack commanded. "Besides, they won't be allowed on school grounds so they shouldn't be there to harass you."
"And what about when I leave the school grounds?"
"That may be different. But it will eventually die down. Just let them take the photos, act cool, and eventually, like last time, they'll lose their interest and go find another story to cover."
Seth let out a deep breath. "Do you think everyone will like me?" he asked, voicing another concern.
Jack grimaced. "It's not so much about them not liking you. The problem will lie with the fact that they may like you. Too much."
"I don't understand," replied Seth.
"In other words you may not be able to tell who your real friend is and whose just there to get close to you because they want to be next to a famous guy."
Seth winced. "Got any hints? Anything to tell me so that I may be able to differentiate?"
Jack shook his head. "Sorry. You'll just have to learn for yourself how to judge character. But I can tell you this: just be polite and courteous and you'll have fewer problems."
Seth sighed. This was going to be hard and he still wasn't sure how he was going to cope. Jack turned and walked away. As he went down the stairs he called up, "We got things situated for you and we also picked up your schedule. We did that because parent orientation was the other day and I thought, since there are no security guards working before school starts, you never know if the paparazzi might show up."
"Thanks, Jack," Seth called back down.
"Go to sleep," Jack called up the stairs. "School starts tomorrow and you need rest."
I hope that you all enjoy this latest chapter. I hope to see them in school next chapter. Read and review, please!