"Lynn, you can't just pull me out of school like that!" Jack protested once they were in the car. "I need to graduate from high school if I am going to go to The University of Virginia and then on to Law School to become a lawyer like Dad."
"I am perfectly aware of that," Lynn replied patiently as she began backing the car out of the parking space. "And, don't worry, you are going to qualify for admission to the university. Now, let me concentrate on my driving." She stopped to wait for an opening so she could pull out onto the street.
"Wait A Minute!" Jack burst out. "You haven't got your driver's license yet. You only have a Lerner's Permit. You aren't supposed to be driving by yourself. You're supposed to have a licensed driver with you."
"Jack," Lynn responded. "The school called – What was I supposed to do - Take all day to get there? For all I knew you were hurt or dead or dying. So, I made a judgement call. Now, just be quiet until I get us home."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"You are ruining my chances of getting into the University of Virginia!" Jack resumed his ranting as he followed Lynn into the house a short time later. "And I need to go there!"
"I realize that, Jack," was the patient reply. "And I assure you that has been taken into consideration. Now, I have to take Lilly upstairs and change her and then I have to start getting lunch ready. Spencer is going to be bringing Jacob home shortly. You can followed me around and we can talk as I work or you can go to your room and sulk – What is it going to be?" She stared at the defiant teenager.
"I'll come upstairs with you," Jack conceded. "However, I am going to call Aunt Jessica and have her come and get me." He pulled out his cell phone.
"How about listening to what I have to say first?" Lynn suggested as she carried Lilly, still in her carrier, up the stairs. "And, then, if you don't like what you hear, you can call your aunt."
"Okay," Jack reluctantly put the phone back in his pocket and began following her. "Aunt Jessica probably can't come get me until her lunch break anyway."
"Now, as you know," Lynn began once she had Lilly out of the carrier and on the changing table. "Spencer and I have been looking for schools for Jacob for when he finishes the program at the university. As fast as he is moving through it, we thought we had best be prepared for the next step."
"So that's it!" Jack burst out. "I am going to have to go wherever you decide to send The Precious Little Genius so I can keep an eye on him for you! Well, forget it! I'm not his babysitter – Not now and not ever!"
"That's not what I was about to say," Lynn replied. "What you need in a school is completely different from what Jacob needs. You are bright – Above average actually – But your learning style is totally different from his. You two definitely need different learning environments. And, I would never expect you to babysit Jacob. He's not your responsibility."
"What I was about to say," she continued. "Was that during our search Spencer and I came across two schools that we thought would be suitable for you."
"Uncle Spencer was looking for a school for me?" Jack sounded surprised.
"Yes, he was," Lynn confirmed as she lifted Lilly up off the table and put her over her shoulder. "Last year we both realized that you were bored at school. And, if I understand correctly, there were several unfortunate incidents that resulted from that boredom. We knew it was only a matter of time before you would need to be moved to another school."
"And both of these schools are good enough for me to get into The University of Virginia?" Jack questioned anxiously.
"They certainly are," Lynn assured him. "And your Aunt Penelope has double checked that they are financially sound, as well as verifying that their students actually have gone on to attend the universities that they claim they have."
"Aunt Penelope was checking out schools for me, too?" Jack asked.
"She certainly was," Lynn smiled at him. "And you know your Aunt Penelope. Nothing gets by her."
"Okay, what are these schools?" Jack inquired. "Have I heard of either of them?"
"The literature for both of them is in a folder on the desk in the den," Lynn told him as they began heading back down the stairs. "Read through it and when Spencer gets here with Jacob you can talk it over with him. And, then, if you want, I can arrange for you to tour either or both of the schools."
"But, what about my friends?" Jack demanded. "They will still be going to Midtown High."
"You will still be playing soccer with some of them," Lynn pointed out. "And I am sure you will be able to keep in touch with the others. Plus, if you work it right, you should be arriving at The University of Virginia a full semester ahead of them. That means that when they get there you'll be in a position to show them the ropes."
"Cool!" Jack declared as he headed towards the den.
"What about Dad?" he came to a sudden stop and turned around to ask. "What if he doesn't like this or either of the schools or anything?"
"Don't worry about your father," Lynn assured him. "I'll talk to him."