Susan and Lucy greeted the boys excitedly when they finally reached the train station. After their hugs and animated chatter, they sat on a bench and awaited the train that would take them home. On the journey home, they all talked and shared stories of their experiences at school, and with the four of them together, they felt complete once again.
Awaiting them at the London station was their mother and cousin Eustace. Their mother ran to them with open arms as soon as she saw them, but Eustace just shuffled behind her, sulking. "You have all grown so much!" their mother exclaimed, after she had kissed them all on the cheeks.
"Oh, come off it, Mother," said Edmund, laughing.
"Are you all finished yet?" Eustace muttered. He went on to say how he had been pushed and shoved all day long in the station (he'd only been bumped twice) and how desperate he was to get out of there. No one took any notice of him, for this was his normal attitude.
After everybody had gotten their things, they flagged down a cab and piled in. "Oof!" said Eustace. "We never have this problem in the country. But, anything to get away from this beastly air; no doubt it's thick with pollution."
"Eustace, please…" sighed Susan. "The London air is not as clean as in the countryside, but it will not kill you."
"Over time, it will," began Eustace, and everyone, including the cabdriver, groaned as Eustace began one of his long lectures that he had learned at school about how the quality of the air would ultimately affect their lungs and health. Everybody knew he was just showing off, but trying to quiet him would only have made him lose his temper.
With Eustace moping around and their parents eager to know about school, the children did not get any privacy until that evening, when they gathered in Peter's room to talk. Naturally, the conversation drifted to Narnia. The boys had forgotten about Susan's behavior months before (or, at least, they didn't bring it up), and Lucy still believed that Susan had gotten over her pain, so the conversation came rather easily.
"So, Lucy, have you had any new adventures lately?" Edmund asked. Lucy laughed.
"No, I've been too busy working on my swimming lessons. How about you?"
"I'm afraid not. With all the professors watching us like hawks, there's no way I could sneak off anywhere."
Peter joined the discussion. "If either of you do manage to make it back to Narnia, make sure you tell us about it when you come back."
They then went on to talk about their past adventures. Susan, meanwhile, sat on the edge of the bed, feeling snubbed by her siblings. She had not participated in the conversation. She believed more and more that it was only their imaginations that had carried them to Narnia, and she was already getting tired of the subject. She didn't want to ruin their vacation, so she didn't bring up her real feelings; however, sitting there was continually making here more awkward.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore and stood up. "Where are you going, Su?" asked Peter.
"Oh, just to get a drink," said Susan. However, as she opened the bedroom door, Eustace came tumbling through. Everybody heard a thump and a howl from Eustace.
"Ow! Ow! You've broken my nose!" Eustace whined. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Oh, stop it, Eustace. Your nose is not broken, and you know Susan did not do that on purpose. Anyway, why were you listening at the door?" Peter asked.
"I wasn't listening! Why would I be interested in anything you have to say?" moaned Eustace, still rubbing his nose.
"Then why were you pressed against the door?"
"Hey! Are you accusing me of spying?"
"I'm not accusing you of anything!"
"Well, at least I don't go talking about imaginary countries! I know my geography, and there is no country in the world called Narnia!"
Edmund joined in the argument. "Well, technically, it's not in this world," he began, but Susan interrupted.
"Stop it, all of you!" She turned to Eustace. "Go put ice on your nose and go to bed."
"You're not supposed to put ice on it. You're supposed to…"
"Okay, then! Attend to your nose however you wish, and then go to bed!"
"I ought to report you for assault," Eustace muttered as he left the room. Everybody was relieved when they heard his door slam shut.
"Can you believe that boy?" said Lucy. "Making all that fuss over nothing…"
"And then having the gall to say that Narnia doesn't exist!" Edmund said, angrily.
Susan turned to them. "I think we should all go to bed. We've done enough talking." But as she moved to her room, Susan couldn't help but think that in spite of his annoying personality, Eustace was the only one in that room that night who had any common sense.