Chapter 16

Part I

Very quickly Miss Peregrine has recovered completely from her illness and all their lives go on like before. By now it's already November and the children are once more busy in school and with their hobbies. Furthermore, Enoch has to go to his driving lessons regularly.

Miss Peregrine spends a lot of time with Ethan. He has even managed to convince her to stay at his house for a night. In the beginning, Alma has been quite nervous and had to call her children twice but soon Ethan found a way to distract her completely for the rest of the night. And she had to admit that it wasn't as bad as she had thought and all her children were still alright in the next morning.

One Saturday afternoon the children are all at home. They have completed all their chores and even played their instruments. Now after they had a lovely lunch with their ymbryne, they are sitting in their rooms or the living room, talking or playing something, while Miss Peregrine is in the living room, folding some clothes, she has just ironed.

She's just relaxing to the sound of the radio as Millard and Hugh storm into the room loudly, followed by the twins.

"Can we go outside to play soccer on the big sports field a few streets away? Some other boys of our football training will be there, too," Millard asks and all the children look at their ymbryne expectantly.

She takes a deep breath before looking at them and answers.

"No, I'm sorry boys. I don't want you to go there alone and Jake and Enoch don't have time," she explains her decision.

"But why, Miss P.?" Hugh asks shocked. No one of them would have expected such a response. Of course they know that Miss Peregrine can be quite protective sometimes but she has been really relaxed lately and even today she has been in a good mood.

"I've just told you why," Miss Peregrine answers annoyed. She folds the rest of the laundry and stands up. "And besides, there are still a lot of things you could help with here in the house," she adds harshly before going towards the children's rooms to distribute the clothes.

The four boys are left behind, looking at each other in disbelief and speechless. But no one of them dares to contradict their ymbryne, especially not in the mood she's in now.

Disappointed they go back into their room, sulking.

None of the other children have noticed this little argument, so they spend the rest of the afternoon happily in their rooms.

Only Miss Peregrine feels guilty very soon. She can't explain what triggered her reaction and doesn't understand how it could end like this so quickly. With her head held low, she knocks at the boy's room and apologizes, telling them that they can go there very soon. The boys who have calmed down enough while playing cards or reading, accept her apology, happy that she's not angry anymore.

Relieved, Miss Peregrine lets them play their games and goes into the kitchen to prepare the dinner. After a joyful meal with Ethan, who has come after finishing in his office, they decide on another movie. The little ones have suggested one but as the older children didn't want to see it, Miss Peregrine decided on a compromise. Ethan laughs about these little fights in a family, knowing it from the time with his siblings.

But the mood changes again quickly, as Miss Peregrine passes the kitchen. She sees that Claire hasn't filled up the food and water bowls of the cat as she was supposed to do. Angrily she gets back into the living room and reprimands her girl.

"I've told you multiple times today to do it, Claire," she says sternly. Claire looks at the ground and doesn't say a word. She always fears this reaction of Miss Peregrine and tries to endure the situation until it's over.

"I didn't want the cat living with us and I told you that you have to take care of her. This is really irresponsible, the cat needs to eat and drink and if you can't see to that, maybe the cat has to live elsewhere after all!"

"But Miss P.!" Claire wants to argue but Miss Peregrine just holds up her index finger and the little girl falls quiet immediately. All the children have learned obedience as one of the first things while living with their ymbryne. Ethan has always admired Alma for the respect she receives from her children even though they love her dearly at the same time.

"Go and do it now! Otherwise we don't start watching the movie," Miss Peregrine states and Claire runs into the kitchen as quickly as possible. "The same goes for you Bronwyn," Miss Peregrine continues and turns towards her other girl. "I've told you to clean up the cage of your guinea pigs. Do you want me to go into your room now and see if you've done it?" Miss Peregrine asks angrily while Bronwyn stammers something incomprehensible.

Miss Peregrine is close to shouting at her children for not doing their duties reliably lately but Ethan quickly takes her hand to pull her back down onto the couch.

"I think Bronwyn already feels guilty enough and I'm sure that she will do the cage first thing tomorrow. It's too late today, so let's just enjoy the movie and calm down again, alright?" he says insistently so Miss Peregrine sits down reluctantly while Ethan embraces her into his arms.

Bronwyn is just happy that she could avoid a big conflict and didn't have to do the cage now.

Soon Claire joins them again, getting another glare from Miss Peregrine which soon turns into a nod as Ethan strokes her arm.

"Come here!" Miss Peregrine calls Claire and motions for her to sit on her lap. Happily, Claire jumps onto her ymbryne's lap and hugs her.

"I'm sorry, Miss P.," she apologizes again. "It's alright, Claire and I'm sorry too. I didn't want to overreact. I guess it just was a long day and I'm really tired," Miss Peregrine explains and looks towards Bronwyn, smiling at her as well.

Having resolved the second argument for today, Miss Peregrine lies back into Ethan and they all start the movie.

The other children are happy that they didn't get into trouble with their ymbryne while at the same time pitying their younger siblings. But soon all the children have forgotten about it and concentrate on the movie.

Shortly after the beginning though, Miss Peregrine falls fast asleep in Ethan's arms. He's really happy that she can rest now as she has looked really tired and also her earlier reaction indicated her exhaustion. All the children who notice her sleeping form, have to smile lovingly before looking back at the TV.

After the movie, Ethan sends them to bed, reads another story to the younger ones - especially the girls to distract them from their disagreement with Alma - before carrying the latter into her bed.

The next week passes by very quickly, more or less without any big arguments.

On Friday Enoch has his big driving test. He has been really nervous for the last days and spends most of the time in his room, rereading all the books from the driving school. Only the prospect of being allowed to drive on his own and going onto a joyride with Olive gives him enough strength.

On Friday morning he's sitting on the small table in the kitchen while Miss Peregrine says goodbye to the other children at the front door. As Enoch's test will be in an hour, he can't go to school this morning. Maybe if everything will be alright, he may go back to school afterwards.

But now he's deep in thoughts and a bit scared, even though he would never admit that. Yawning, Miss Peregrine enters the kitchen and sits down next to Enoch, a cup of coffee for both of them in her hands.

"How do you feel?" she asks her boy and slightly touches his hand before pulling back again.

"I'm ok," Enoch mumbles and then drinks his coffee to avoid talking to his headmistress.

Miss Peregrine takes the hint and stops interrogating him.

"I'm sure you will do alright. And even if not, you'll get the chance to do it again, so don't worry," she encourages him.

Enoch nods and then gets up to put the cup into the dishwasher.

"I have to leave now to be on time," he says and walks out of the room to get his things.

Miss Peregrine follows him, stifling another yawn.

"I wish you luck," she says and hugs Enoch before he leaves through the front door.

"Thank you Miss P.," he answers gratefully. "And get some rest while we're all gone, you look like you could need it," he adds winking before he walks around the corner to the bus stop.

Laughing Miss Peregrine waves him goodbye. "I know," she says, maybe more to herself.

She doesn't know why she's feeling so damn tired all of the time. Annoyed she goes back inside to get some work done before her children return and maybe she will even find some minutes to lie down as Enoch had suggested. But first she needs to finish the cake for him. Even if it may be possible that Enoch won't pass the test, Miss Peregrine needs to be prepared. She has bought a little keychain in the form of a car. Enoch may use it for the front door key or any other key but it's really meant for when he will have a car key on his own one day. Furthermore, Miss Peregrine has planned to bake a big chocolate cake in the shape of a car.

Quickly she goes into the kitchen to start with everything. And that's good as she's just ready as the door bell rings and the first children enter the house. Claire is really excited to see the magnificent cake in the kitchen and can't wait to see how Enoch will react.

And very soon she gets her wish as Enoch returns, beaming from one ear to the other. He can barely tell them all about the test as all children as well as Miss Peregrine storm towards him and start a big group hug.

Then Miss Peregrine goes into the kitchen and comes back with the big cake. After Enoch has freed himself from the others, he can't believe his eyes. Only being able to drive now has been good enough and now all this. Happily, he approaches his ymbryne who has placed the cake on the dining table and gives her a tight hug.

"Thank you Miss P.!" he says and even gives her a quick kiss on her cheek. "And not just for the cake but for everything you do for me, all the time."

"You're welcome Enoch," Miss Peregrine answers, touched and even a small tear escapes her left eye. She quickly wipes it away and pulls a small package out of her pocket.

"But it's not all," Miss Peregrine says and hands it to Enoch.

"Another present?" Enoch asks astonished. "But that wasn't necessary"

"I know," Miss Peregrine says as Enoch rips apart the wrapping paper. "But I wanted you to know that I'm really proud of you," she adds and this time she can't hold back her tears. Happy about his little present and touched by his ymbryne's reaction he hugs her again.

"Thank you!" he says again and Miss Peregrine has to smile.

Together they all spend a wonderful afternoon, eating the delicious cake and celebrating together, not caring about their duties for the day. Ethan has come as well after work, happy that his birthday present for Enoch turned out so good.

But way too soon the mood changes suddenly. As they have cleaned up everything from their little party and have eaten something small for dinner, Enoch wants to go for a ride with Olive in their car. Only Miss Peregrine suddenly doesn't want to keep her promise anymore and thinks that it's way too dangerous, especially as Enoch has no experience at all.

All the other children roll their eyes at another sudden mood change of Miss Peregrine but they quickly disappear into the girl's room to get out of the way. Ethan stays in the living room but doesn't say anything.

Enoch and Miss Peregrine keep shouting at each other for some time until their discussion ends with Enoch running out of the living room, slamming his door on the way. He just can't believe how Miss Peregrine changed her opinion all of a sudden, she has promised him some days ago that he can do it and now she just won't allow it at all. In her opinion it's too dangerous, especially when it's dark outside and wet. But at the same time, Enoch feels guilty for treating her like he did after all she has done for him. But he's still too angry at her for going outside and talking to her again.

Meanwhile the other children sit in their room and keep talking about their ymbryne. They are all confused about her reactions lately and don't understand her anymore.

Emma and Jake report that they had an argument with her too during the last days as they wanted to spend another night together and Miss Peregrine just didn't allow it even if she hadn't been so averse to it before. While they keep discussing it further, Fiona sits in the corner of the room and stays quiet.

As Olive notices it she asks her about it. So Fiona starts talking to her siblings about her problem. She has a lot of friends and usually spends many afternoons with them. Therefore they always meet somewhere. And as she has always been at her friend's houses they all want to come to her place now.

For a long time she has been able to avoid this subject but during the last week her friends have gotten more insistently. But Fiona has always been scared of asking Miss Peregrine. She knows that Miss Peregrine doesn't want other children in the house, being afraid that someone would notice anything about them. Unfortunately, Fiona's friends have talked her into a meeting this weekend and Fiona has tried to talk to Miss Peregrine for the whole week but was put off more than once by her bad mood.

And now it seems that she won't get the chance anymore. It's already Friday and Miss Peregrine is angry again. Fiona is really sad and all the others try to comfort her, especially Hugh who offers to be with her when she asks Miss Peregrine.

"Go on and ask her," he says. "The only thing that can happen is that she says no and when you don't ask at all it's the same thing." Fiona knows that he's right but is still too scared.

Together they all decide to let Ethan take care of Miss Peregrine for the night to give her time to calm down again and tomorrow they will all help Fiona with her request.

After they all leave the girl's room they pass Miss Peregrine and Ethan in the living room. Quietly they tiptoe into the bathroom.

While the younger ones get ready for bed, Ethan keeps talking to Alma who has placed her head into her hands and just listens to him. At first he tried to mediate between Enoch's as well as Alma's needs - Enoch's anticipation to drive alone and Alma's instinct to protect her boy. But then he got the impression that the source of this problem lies somewhere deeper.

"What's wrong with you lately?" he asks in a soft voice while taking Alma's hand in his.

"What do you mean?" she asks unsure, looking up at him.

"You've been agitated and unbalanced lately, always getting into fights with your children about nothing. You must have noticed that."

Alma nods shyly. Maybe she hasn't been as conscious of it as Ethan but she has noticed it as well.

"I don't know, I'm sorry," she sighs and lets her head fall back down again. "I just feel very tired all the time and before I even notice that I've overreacted it's already too late," she tries to explain. Understandingly and compassionately, Ethan walks around the table and takes her into his arms as Alma starts crying silently.

As she's calmed down again she looks back up at him. "Do you think I still feel like that because of the illness?" she asks, desperately looking for a plausible explanation.

"It's very likely that it's the reason for your exhaustion," Ethan answers honestly. "And we all know how feeling tired messes with one's emotions. So don't feel too guilty about it, we just have to get your exhaustion under control, alright?"

Sighing, Miss Peregrine nods. "Thank you!" she says relieved and plants a kiss on Ethan's hand while he just keeps stroking her back soothingly.

After all the children are in their beds, Miss Peregrine takes a look into every room to wish them a good night. Eventually she also knocks at the boys room, where Enoch is still on his own as Jake didn't dare to enter yet.

After Enoch lets her in, he and Miss Peregrine keep talking for a bit. Both of them are sorry for their fight and don't really understand how it escalated so quickly. Nonetheless Enoch sees Miss Peregrine as the guilty one and can't understand why she changed her mind as she has allowed it before. But as also Miss Peregrine herself can't explain it, they agree on a truce and Miss Peregrine assures him that he will be allowed to go for a drive on the weekend - at least during the day when the weather is good.

Relieved both of them go to bed but especially Miss Peregrine keeps thinking about it a lot before she finally falls asleep in Ethan's arms.