"Freak show?" Russet notices.

"I'd rather not go this way." I say, a little annoyed.

"But, what is it?" Russet insists.

Papa takes a quick cruise through the freak show.

I fold my arms in defiance.

We pass by the obnoxious portraits: "World's Smallest Woman!" The sign depicts, with a back board portraying a lovely, fairy-sized woman fitting in someone's palm. When in actuality it's an elderly woman who suffers from an extreme case of dwarfism. Her figure is deformed, a hunched back, sunken face and spindly limbs. She's no Thumbelina, she's 2'2. She sits atop a rocking chair on a porch while passersby snap photos of her.

"Gemini Man!" Which shows a two-headed man engaging in friendly conversation with his second head. In reality he's a Siamese twin whose sibling is a living chunk of flesh growing out of his shoulder. The twisted face has a pulled lip, which reveals snaggle teeth, and permanently shut eyes. A bulge of tissue which I assume is its abdomen hangs from the side, along with what is supposed to be an arm. Which is really just a stick of limb with three fingers. It doesn't speak, it doesn't move, it can't even eat or breathe. It's a parasitical relationship- the man it's attached to is perfectly fine in every way, and he does the eating, breathing and heart pumping for the both of them. All I can think about is someone putting the poor creature out of its misery. I don't even sense a consciousness emitting from it, just the fact that it's living tissue.

It doesn't take long for Russet to figure out it's all a sham.

"This is… Awful." E sighs.

"It's all voluntary if that makes you feel better. These people do it because they have to, it pays the bills. Some of them don't even mind." I inform.

After passing "Spider Digits!" Which is a man with eight fingers and toes on each hand and foot, and "The Amazing Bearded Lady!" Who is some unlucky individual who suffers from either one major hormonal imbalance or a gland malfunction- Russet has had enough. We leave.

"Chin up Russet. It's not as if sey're forced to do it." Papa comforts.

"But it's still unsettling. Your fellow human beings are put on display for various birth defects, and instead of offering medical assistance, regular people pay money to stare and point?"

"People are fascinated by them. They get paid for their time. It's not that different from people paying thousands of dollars to admire models and actors for being especially beautiful to look at."

Russet has to ponder this.

"I know vat vill cheer us up- thrill rides."

Finally! "Yeah, it's about time." I agree.

"And vith all sese tickets vee von vee can avoid vaitink in zee long lines for purchase."

"Dear gods protect us!" Russet shouts and we slide down the watery slope in a log-shaped sled.

It's a quick trip to the bottom, then we're splashed with icy water, soaked to the bone. Papa and I enjoyed it so much, we did it three times.

We handle the bumper cars next. Russet clings to Papa's chest like a squirrel on a tree trunk as we crash into each other over and over. Fearing for es life. "What's the point in this?! I thought you said you knew how to drive! Does this teach children good motor skills? No! Where are the morals?!" E panics.

Papa merely laughs it off.

We have to calm em down with cotton candy, drying off in the meantime. "This is not cotton." E frowns.

"It's just a clever name, it resembles cotton."

"That it does." E squeaks suspiciously.

"Just eat it, pull off a little bit, then place it in your mouth. The candy will do the rest."

E eyes me. So to prove my point I pull off a small chunk and eat it. That convinces em to try it.

Russet slowly puts the candy into es mouth and… "Oh! It vanished."

"Told you. It's a sugar-based candy. Once it reaches the heat and moisture of your mouth it dissolves. It's supposed to be more fun to eat than filling, that's why they give you so much."

"This is a novel experience." Russet scarfs down the rest.

"How can you process artificial foods? I thought the fae only consumed things from the natural world."

"Brownies are a little more tolerant to human things than the rest of us. I suppose it's one of the reasons we coexist so well. We are not so sensitive to taint."

"Taint?" I ask.

"We call it "the human taint". That is, the effect humans have on the environment. Your people scrape the earth and leave it bare, then you soil the air and water with pollutants. Humans have the uncanny ability to suck the magick out of a habitat by completely defiling its sanctity- when there is too much taint. Only humans produce taint. No one else."

"Is that why there are so many stories depicting brownies as house-dwelling folk? Every time I've read about one they are said to alive alongside farmers, ranchers and millers."

"Indeed. Brownies have a long and rich history of interacting with humans. Those who have made the pilgrimage to this world anyhow. Our people have been giving your people agricultural advice for centuries. With us being so in-tune with nature and all. Us brownies took it upon ourselves to slow the spread of the taint by sharing faery wisdom. We had to show you what's what in hopes of preserving the Earth. However, it doesn't look like our wisdom was heeded."

"Russet I'm sorry-"

"No, no no. Do not feel the need to apologize for what is not your fault. You are not here to suffer on their behalf. If push comes to shove, the magickal community will intervene if the world comes to dire straits. At least, our corners of this realm will be clean. Let the mundane destroy themselves if they so wish."

I don't know what to say to that.

We approach my favorite ride- the swing.

"My. My." Russet gapes.

"This one is the best for me. You can see the whole park and it's a leisurely ride, not too fast to make you sick. But high enough to give you a rush."

"Those chains look hardly durable. What if they were to break? You would be flung who knows how far- inflicted with terrible injuries."

I shrug. "There are mechanics to assure that doesn't happen. Everything is brought down to an exact science. Weight, friction, velocity, etc."

"Huh?"

"Sche means zat sese rides are built to vithstand great force. Do not be intimidated by seir appeances."

"OH. Well in that case…"

We get on the swing. Pop music begins to play and bubbles are ejected from the tubes on the rim of the machine.

We're off!

I'm all smiles as we ascend higher and higher, until we finally start swinging. I've got a perfect seat on the edge, Papa and Russet right behind me.

"AAAH! Verwildert! Verwildert! We're leaning!"

Again, we laugh off Russet's most recent panic attack. I enjoy the view and ignore Russet's consistent squealing. Until I get curious. I glance back to see the two arguing.

"I'm gonna fall!"

"Hold tight you dunderhead!"

"Who are you calling a dunderhead? You tall, lanky oaf!"

"I ought to slice you up and put in you in zee fryer like zee very potato you're named after!"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A POTATO?!"

I can't help myself. "Pffff-Ahahahahaha!"

Those two insult and argue through the line to my least favorite ride: The Cyclone.

All my life I've been too chicken to give it a go. I'm okay with roller coasters, just not this one. Not this rickety, wooden, damn-near expired death-trap. How is it even standing? Why do people still ride it?! There was a fatal accident two years ago. Yet this ride boasts about how it hasn't changed since Coney Island was founded. When was that? Eighty years ago? I'm probably wrong, but I know this hunk of scrap is old!

I tried to convince Papa to let us ride on the smaller coaster, but he said it was a baby ride. "Aw c'mon Missy. Give it a chance."

I am THIS CLOSE to running. To just hopping the barrier and running all the way home. Across the ocean if I have to.

Then a familiar sensation of sickness smacks me upside the head.

"Nghh." I groan, rubbing my forehead.

"You can't fake your way out of this one Lumie. You were fine not twenty minutes ago. If I have to go on this thing, so do you!" Russet accuses.

"It's not that. It's just… The spirits. There are so many spirits."

They gather around this ride the most. I could handle the stragglers walking around the park- they weren't bothering anyone. But these guys. They stare and holler and try to touch people. I had to shrug one off me not too long ago, which shocked him almost back to life I bet. Some in uniform, workers who died on the job I presume. Others in plain clothes, most of them out of date. Victims of Cyclone's past I guess.

I'm used to this, seeing the dead amongst the living. Slightly transparent figures phasing through the solid figures. As I grew up I learned to differentiate which was which. Lucky for me my white magick must really give them a "Back off!" vibe, because only the bravest ones approach me.

"Are sey givink you trouble? I could spell zem avay."

As much as I would appreciate that, they were here first. That would be rude. "I'll tell you if it gets out of hand. Their energy is just giving me a headache is all."

"I can fix zat." Papa offers. He holds out his cane, then places the other hand on top of my head. I grip it tight, forming a connection, and a few mumbles later, my headache is gone.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it." He whispers. "Now up, up. Get on zis ride. Today I am goink to make you face your fears. No kin of mine is goink to be afraid of a little coaster"

"It's not a little coaster." I complain.

"Hold up, wait a minute, what?! If Lumie is afraid of this thing, I should be too."

"Relax, you little acorn. I'm ANCIENT. If anyone has anytink to fear it is me. And I am not afraid."

"You're a dare devil, aren't you?"

"I am Zee Tempest."

By order of The Tempest, Russet and I are ushered onto the ride. The bars clink, the metal creaks. And we begin to move. My palms are already sweaty, and my heart beat starts to accelerate.

"Easy girl." Papa pats my back.

Here we go…

We're rushed ahead and I lose my breath. The excited giggles and yelps of other passengers not far behind.

"Oh gods and goddesses here my plea-"

"Quiet zat noise Russet!" Papa hushes.

We speed straight, then lean, down, then lean, forward, up, down. All the while leaning dangerously close to the edge, convincing me that I'm going to be thrown off. We make a sharp turn.

"Ayiiieeee!" Russet screeches.

I'm too proud to scream, even though it's apparent by my wide eyes and gritted teeth that I'm afraid. I hold it in, trying to convince myself this is fun.

We zig zag, turn left, right, up, down, zig zag again, we make a round, then we're headed up and up and up. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. Goes the coaster.

"Ohhh no." I whisper to myself.

"Ah. Ah. We're so high." Russet whimpers.

"Zis is zee best part." Papa grins menacingly.

Tick, tick, tick, tick. Tick. Tick… Tick. WHOOSH!

"AAAAAAAIIIYYAAAAHHH!" Russet screams at the top of es lungs.

I'm too struck to join em. Papa is hooting and laughing all the way down. All I can think about is the unsettling creaking and groaning of the wood. This thing sounds like it's going to fall apart any second!

Rattatatatatatatatatatah! Skreeeeeee! Skreeeeee! Skreeeeeeee! Tickatickatickatickaticka! Plus the screaming of the people surrounding me, echoing through the cuts in the wind. I'm being tossed around in my seat. Why doesn't this accursed thing have seat belts?! We spiral so fast my head is tilted back.

I look beside me, Papa is having the time of his life. I can feel my palms ache from gripping the bar so tightly.

We're going faster now, spinning. We're upside down. Now we're sideways. I try to look beyond, but all is a blur. I can feel myself being lifted out of my seat. This is not safe! All that is right and good about roller coasters is not present here. This is bad! This is wrong! This is unjust! I demand justice! MAKE IT STOP!

At last, it does end. With a final FOOSH! of the hydraulics.

I exit the ride, heart pumping, mind spinning.

Russet is so terror-stricken e falls off of Papa, back first, to the ground. Papa picks em up and dusts Russet off. Then perks em back on his head as if he dropped a hat. Russet doesn't even blink.

"Zat vas fun! Vasn't it guys?" Papa chuckles.

I try to nod my head, fighting back my chattering teeth. And I stick out a shaky thumbs up, knees knobbing.

Russet only says "E-eeeE-eEeeeEeeee-EEeep-p."

"Ah, quit you're groanink Russet. It vasn't zat bad. Missy here handled it better zan you! Man up and grow a pair."

"I am not a man. I am an asexual, androgynous, organism. And I will cower and whimper as it so pleases me. *Hiccup!*" Russet begins to moan in nausea, sliding off Papa's head again.

"Fragile little spud." Papa says under his breath, propping Russet over his shoulder.

"I know vat vill make everyone happy. A nice, calmink trip to zee aquarium. How about it?"

"Y-yes please…" I shiver too eagerly.

"Save meeeeee." Russet moans.

We hobble our way over to the aquarium, not far from here, pay admission and enter. The rest of the evening is spent gazing at fish, turtles, mollusks and other creatures swim about gracefully.

For some reason, she returns to my mind, as she always tends to do when it comes to water or sea creatures, but I do not let it get me down.

I point out each and every one I know, Papa remains silent and observant.

Russet is still woozy, but enjoys admiring the animals. E points out which ones taste the best, prepared in what way. "That one is perfect for sushi, and that one makes a mean calamari. Oh, this one makes the most divine soup. You know Lumina, you could just go pescetarian."

"I'll think about it Russet."

Sometime around the jellyfish tank, Russet finally passes out.

"Zee spell vore off. E vill be out all day."

"And night." Until es internal clock sets itself straight that is, which could be the next two days and nights!

Papa places em in his front shirt pocket.

We find a place to sit right in front of the shark tank.

"Papa. I want to hear about these so-called plans that you have in mind for me. What you were mentioning earlier on the train."

Papa beams with self-pride. "For you to understand it fully, you'd have to know how it started and how long I've been plannink. Vell, you see Missy. Ven I met you, I vasn't livink here full-time. I vas actually on holiday."

"O-oh?"

He chuckles. "Yes, I had been stayink in zee city for zee Sommer. Tryink to sell off a property I owned."

"The manor?" I finish.

"Our manor." He corrects. "It vas a piece of land I've owned for quite some time, and I barely ever used it. Zee villa in Germany vas my current home at zee time. A place vere I vould go to rest in betveen my times of magickal vork and to be near my family."

Something about his tone of voice changed. And it bothers me…

"But back to it. By some impossible luck I stumbled upon you and fell for your charms. Didn't even take a year for me to vant to steal you. I began imaginink, gettink crafty, formulatink ideas. As vee grew closer, I started puschink sose ideas into becomink reality, especially as your situation became direr. Oh, I have it all planned out. Sere are so many sinks I have to teach you, and I know you'll enjoy zem too. You love to learn. Not just zee history or literature. Not just your language skills. But your magick. Yes. Your spectacular magick. You are so special Missy. More zan you probably even know. I know right now, you probably see your strange powers as a burden. But do not. You are different. And beink different gives you an edge, it makes you unique. Cherisch your gifts Lumina."

I remain silent, hung on his words.

"It's quite simple. I vant to be a parent. I personally hate children, yet I find myself vanting to be a granddad. Your granddad. I vant to take you to Germany one day, schow you vere I grew up, introduce you to my brosers and seir families- my nieces and nephews and in-laws. I vant to take you flyink and fishink and teach you how to drive a car. I vant to schow you all of our animals- I know you'd like zat. I vas hard on you vith your studies because I vanted my influence to rub off on you. I vanted you prepared for sose days to come, just as much as I vanted you prepared for zee independent vorld." He chuckles again. "Of course, not everysink has gone as planned. Zere have been snags. And you've even turned my life around."

"How so?" I ask quietly.

"I didn't move to zee states, boser vith acquirink citizenschip and purchase a pricy piece of land to pick up a random girl off zee street and make her a part of my household."

Oh. Right.

"But I did. And I loved it."

That makes me smile.

"Now, vee both know how zat turned out. Zee biggest obstacles I have faced for seven years now is your magick. Vell, not your magick so much as zee nature of your magick. It has been a frustratink vaste of time avaitink zee day you vould be admitted into school. A conundrum zat still irks me!"

Me too. I can understand why after those missed years the academies would be skeptical about housing an adult freshman. But what the both of us still don't understand is why it took them so long to notice me. Why was I forgotten? No one came to me and offered me The Choice on my thirteenth birthday. I might have never gotten The Choice at all if it wasn't for him.

Papa grumbles. "I vas in constant touch vith many contacts, askink questions, gettink opinions, searchink for answers. You didn't know it at zee time, but I did not sit sere tviddlink my thumbs. I vas vorkink 24-7 to at least get an explanation as to vhy such a sink vould happen. A flaw zat huge vould not go unnoticed- and you told me a vhile back you could still do magick vith zee Seal on you? Impossible, if zee proof vere not in front of my eyes." He shakes his head. "All I could do vas tutor you academically, it inhibited me from so many sinks. So many vonderful sinks zat are long overdue."

"But we still spent time together, and more so when I moved out. Why would it-?"

It hits me.

"M-missy?"

"You kept your distance from me."

"Ah…"

"You had to. That's why you didn't do all of things you said you wanted to do. Why I know so little about your personal life up until now. Why we couldn't dabble in magick."

"Missy-"

"It all makes sense now. You were protecting me. From you. I mean, that would explain why you didn't offer to adopt me years ago! You could've at least told me you wanted to. I could've been ready, I would've prepared."

"But you don't get it." He tries to stop me.

"No. I do. The pieces are coming together. We don't know why I wasn't tracked by the system. It's because of that, whatever it is- allowed me to be overlooked. I'm sure of it. You've told me about The Seal, how it works. And if what those rejection letters said were true… I was at risk of getting my mind wiped."

He frowns.

I stand up. "That's it, isn't it? You couldn't tell me too much about magick-even though I'm wildseed, because you didn't want to waste your breath. You couldn't adopt me, or reveal too much about yourself, because… What if I got attached? What if I got my hopes up, only for them to be taken away? All of those times you kept telling me 'When you're older.' 'When you get into school.' 'In due time.' It was because you didn't want to lie to me. You didn't know if I was going to last that long… And as a former Council Member, and the same person who placed The Seal on me-"

"It vould be my sole duty to strip you of your magick and erase your memories."

I slump back into my seat.

Papa sighs. "Yes. Zat is zee truth. It vould be my responsibility to remove you from zee hidden vorld. Zat is vhy I kept comink up vith sose excuses." He puts his arm over my shoulder.

"But you kept me around. You kept in touch with me anyway. You didn't have to- it would be a lot less painful if you never took me on as your student and watched me from afar."

He shakes his head. "It's because I'm selfisch…" He whispers. "I couldn't do zat. I vouldn't. I loved you too much…" He has to pause, but he continues. "I knew I vas gettink attached. And I knew you vere too. But I did not possess zee vill to break zat link. To sever our bond. So I took you on as a mundane student."

My eyes widen.

"Erasing memories is complex. But zat complexity is vat makes it convenient. You get to choose vich specific memories to retain and vich to discard. You can even keep certain memories and altar zem so zat a few truths remain vhile zee gaps are filled vith fabrication. Zen zee council makes it so, taps into zee mundane vorld to apply zat fabrication and make it legitimate."

My mind races. "So that means… Even if the ultimatum occurred. I would still have some of my memories. The lessons-"

"You vould just not be avare of zee magick you vere born vith, zat magick itself ever existed. And you vouldn't know who I vas. Not personally. Just zat I vas your grumpy old teacher."

I'm stunned. "That was your small way of keeping you present in my life. Wasn't it? I'd never know the whole truth. But for the rest of my life I'd carry the skills you gave me into the world. And I'd even still know your face."

He nods, looking very morose. "You could even visit me from time to time. For furser instruction. Or simply to catch up as old friends."

He looks at me, guilt ridden. I scrunch up my nose and punch him hard in the shoulder.

"Yowch!"

Before he retaliates, I swoop in for a hug. "You're so stupid, Papa." I say muffled into his shirt.

He relaxes, then begins stroking my hair. "I know."

We remain in the aquarium until nightfall, to our delight fireworks are blasting outside. Papa and I grab a bench while I enjoy roasted corn on the cob, he a hot dog. I let my feet go bare against the sand, digging my way in, wiggling it between my toes. It's so warm and relaxing, and even against the fireworks I can hear the waves crashing against the shore. I can smell the beautiful scent of salt water. Lori would've loved this.

Russet gets a glance at the sky display, woozes something about it being "Prettyyy…" Then slumps back into Papa's pocket.

Papa holds out his camera and shows me the pictures he's taken all day. I didn't even see him whip out a camera. More for the album, I bet.

We return home breaching the early morning hours. I'm holding open the front door. "Where were you?"

"We have mail." He answers.

I yawn. "Oh, we'll check it in the morning."

He hands me my letter, which wakes me up. As soon as I touch the envelope this feeling of anxiety runs through me.

Papa kisses my forehead and bids me goodnight. He's going to work on the scrapbook for a while. I slowly creep up the stairs, wash, undress, and head to bed. The letter feels cold and numb in my fingertips. I'm extremely curious, but something about the vibe this letter is giving me tells me its bad news.

I don't really need that stress right now. I had a nice day, I almost died this morning- but other than that I had a really nice day. I shouldn't look at it now anyhow. Serves him right for being two weeks late.

I fall asleep easily. But as I'm drifting into deep sleep, a dream disrupts my comfort. It's very short.

I see colors, dark and icy colors. Then I see myself, standing. I look to my left and there is…

Professor Grabiner! I-I'm so happy to see you. You have no idea how much I've missed you.

I hurry over to him, the scene switches to Iris, in the courtyard. He's his usual self, grumpy, a little stoic, tall and brooding, but I could care less. I walk beside him, he begins a lecture I cannot hear or remember, but I'm just happy to hear his wonderful voice. In the midst of our walk, the scene gets cold. I can sense something is very wrong. Professor Grabiner is unaware of the danger, but I feel as though we're being watched.

No. Hunted.

I look to him, only to see him fall. Fall and fade out of existence, through the ground, far away from me. The ground has opened up into a tunnel, an endless chasm that swallows him.

No! I must save him! I reach for him, but I cannot touch him.

Hieronymous!

Just as I call out his name, the image of a manus forms in front of me. He laughs and bares his teeth. Then with a quick thrust he claws his way into my chest, goring me.

I gasp in disbelief.

He grips something tight, something that I know is precious. And begins to pull. It cracks me open. The pulling, the tearing, the tugging agony of my resistance. I scream-

"Aaah!" I shout. Panting, gasping. I-I'm in my room. I exhale. It was a dream again. …I place a hand to my chest, still feeling that horrible pain. What do these dreams mean?!

I lie there, thinking. Overthinking. Like I usually do when things like this happen. I sigh.

These dreams don't necessarily have to mean anything. I slap my forehead. Duh! I'm stressed! I shift around in my bed. Of course, that has to be it. I saw my best-friend die, I've been abused by my family for as long as I can remember, I've been bullied in school, attacked by a manus, forced to marry my professor and then I went into cardiac arrest a day ago!

Maybe this is similar to PTSD?

Maybe I'm traumatized...

That has to be it. Yeah… This would happen to anyone.

Okay Lumie, you got it. They're nightmares. Nothing more. You're on vacation. You're going to be fine. You've earned this. Life is going to get better from now on, you'll see. Relax, and go to sleep.

First thing in the morning, I open the blinds, tidy up my room and get washed and dressed for the day. I feel better after my revelation last night. I can quit panicking now.

I pick up my letter and place it on the counter, I'll read it after breakfast is done. I whip up some delicious pancakes and bacon, and serve glasses of orange juice. Papa gets his regular coffee in addition to that.

Russet is still suffering from the effects of the spell yesterday, or well… The after-effects. E won't be up again until sundown.

We eat and giggle at the pictures of our adventures on the thrill rides yesterday. Russet's various screams of terror look especially hilarious. My face is so serious on the Cyclone ride, though. Papa also got some decent shots of the fireworks.

Finishing off my last pancake, I decide to open my letter.

"I vonder vat zey have to say now. Didn't zey tell all zere is to tell you?"

You don't know I keep in touch with my… Husband. Wait a minute. This isn't from him. The script is too large, the letters aren't sharp, in fact, they're a bit bubbly. And the ink isn't thick or dark it's shiny and pink. Potsdam?!

I hurriedly open the letter. I am not greeted with the euphoric scent of expensive parchment, but instead I'm smelling an intense, flower-scented stationary. It's a blush color with rose vines bordering the page. Pretty, but not what I wanted. What is she writing to me for?

"Vat's vith zee face, Missy?" Papa wonders.

"I don't know yet, let me see." This is definitely her handwriting.

"You must follow my instructions precisely-

be sure to tell Mr. Atchung that Petunia has requested you return to Iris Academy. As far as he is concerned, you will be participating in rigorous study to hone your skills with a catalyst. We wish to analyze your abilities first-hand. Assure him that your instructors will provide personal guidance and assistance. Should you show any kind of progress with a catalyst, then the ban on free-casted magic will be lifted for the upcoming year and you will additionally be offered a seat in the Magical Honor Society.

This letter has been triple-enchanted to only relay what I have previously mentioned should Mr. Atchung try to read it himself.

You must not waste time. You are in danger, and you need to reach the safety of Iris Academy. There is a newfound complication with your marriage contract. One that Mr. Atchung must not know of. In the envelope is your plane ticket, your flight leaves at exactly 6:00am on Saturday morning. I will be awaiting you at the airport."

…I go pale.

"Vat's vrong?" Papa worries.

"I-I'm nervous." I admit.

"Vhy? Vat did it say?" He says stuffing more pancake into his mouth.

"I've been told to return to the academy."

"VAT?! But it's only about two months into vacation!" He spews.

"I'm going to be examined. The instructors want to give me a chance to grow accustomed to using catalysts before the new school year starts. If I show progress, the ban on my free-cast magick will be lifted and I'll be dubbed a member of the Magickal Honor Society."

This stops Papa in his tracks. "Hmmmm." He mumbles. "Zis is only a trial period, correct?"

I shrug. "I guess so, the letter is really short." I'm trying to tell as most of the truth as possible.

He thinks about it long and hard. He scratches his chin, taps his fingers on the table, closes his eyes. All while muttering to himself.

I finish my last pancake is silence.

Finally, he speaks. "Zey must be quite vorried to advise such an extreme. But you can tell zem zat you're already trainink here vith me. And zat zey can gauge your progress from my testimony."

Uh-oh. Quick! Say something convincing! "Actually, I want to go."

He's shocked. "You don't trust me to train you?!"

"It's not that! I do. But you and I will have more time to train later. They want to look at me up close. I think they have an idea of what to do, why else would they offer to lift the ban? And well... I'm interested in that spot in the honor society."

There's a glimmer in his eyes. I've caught his interest.

"I see." He folds his fingers.

"I want to see what they have in mind. Maybe it's different from your approach? And think about how desperate they are. First they send me that other letter, but then they send me this one? Something changed their minds. This could lead to an advantage."

He smiles. "You could be onto sometink."

I don't know how I did it, but I find myself packing. Saturday is tomorrow!