Chapter fifteen.

I don't own Neopets. Tamara and all them are mine.

The Boss's Verdict
Chapter Fifteen

My heart was pounding like a big, bass drum behind my sternum. Butterflies fluttered around in my stomach and I felt a wild twisting like someone was knotting my entrails. I couldn't breathe. I was shaking.

Kara was absolutely ecstatic. There was an extra spring to her step and she couldn't help but smile. She bit her bottom lip and her cheeks turned a bright pink. Both our Lupes panted uncontrollably at our heels.

There were seven of them. Three men and four women. Each one had a different neopet on their shoulders, at their sides or hips. The head boss was wearing a long cloak made of violet satin clasped to the shoulders of his red vest. He was flanked by a massive, blue Draik. The boss stood forward and spread his arms wide; head thrown back for dramatic effect.

"Welcome, students of the Academy. For this last year, you both have been tried and tested; taught how best to train your neopets. Today, you have proven yourselves to be among the best that this academy has to offer." He reached out and touched us on our heads. To me, this sounded a little to routine. Too ritualistic. "We—I mean, the bosses—have decided to grant you both early graduations due to your courage, means of winning, and trust in your neopets." He stepped back and his female deputy stepped in. She had a green Mynci hanging on her shoulder.

Opening a folder marked with Kara's name, she looked at me. "Kara?"

I shook my head, wordlessly. My eyes on her Mynci; for a moment I was remembering China and tears came to my eyes as I thought of the yellow Mynci. I was thinking of all the fun times I spent with Maya and China that I almost didn't hear what Kara was talking about.

" . . . I was going to apply for the year-end competition last year but, as you can see, my neo is a Dire Lupe." Kara said.

"Yes. We have noticed that you own an illegal neopet." The she-boss said.

"Technically, it's not illegal if you can actually tame it. And I did manage to tame Callaban." Kara argued.

"True." the she-boss said. "You still didn't not answer my question about why you didn't enter the competition last year."

Kara sighed, then hung her head, admittedly. "When I first got Callaban, he was nearly impossible to control. He would attack anything that moved and I had to use drastic measures to teach him manners. I was afraid he would kill any neopet he came up against. So I decided to wait a year before entering him. I just worked with him extra hard this year."

"A wise decision." the boss said. "And wisdom is something we expect all Neo-Trainers to use." She looped a medallion around Kara's neck. "You graduate next Sunday in the afternoon. Better be prepared."

Kara blushed, nodded her thanks, and backed up with Callaban to stand against the wall.

The boss now turned to me and I felt my throat tighten with nervousness. "Tamara. You have also done well. Quite unexpectedly for a First-Year student."

I nodded my thanks but suspected there was more to her praise than what I heard.

"Unfortunately, Tamara, your file mentions that you're a year too young for the Academy. We normally don't allow people under thirteen to enter. How did you manage to come in at such an early age?"

To me, twelve wasn't that early. I could've come in at age nine or ten but guess that would be pushing my luck.

I quickly explained how Fangore and I came together and what the Neopian Counsel had done to let me in. It surprised me that they changed my records back after my acceptance into the Academy.

The boss nodded, understandingly. "Makes sense since your neopet is one of the fighting ones." She crossed her arms firmly over her chest. Her Mynci copying his mistress. "Well, Tamara. Are you going to graduate early?"

I looked at all the interested faces of the people around me. I could see all of my closest friends. For a moment, I thought about saying yes—just like I intended to when Jess suggested I sign up for the competition. But, for some reason yet unknown to me, something was holding me back.

I thought about Maya. I thought about how she would feel if I was going to graduate and she wasn't. Though, I doubted that the bosses wouldn't let her graduate early. Maya was extremely talented. I wondered if maybe, just maybe, we would be graduating together.

I could imagine us hugging and jumping around, excitedly. I could almost see myself—with Fangore of course—wearing the bright, red vest of a fully fledged Trainer. I could see myself working with neopets of all kinds; teaching them to fight and obey any order that was given to them. Indeed, I did want to be famously known as the youngest Trainer Neopia has ever seen.

But, there was something about graduating early with only two years education under my belt that didn't appeal to me. Yes, I did know more about neopets than most kids my age. I knew their anatomy. I knew the races. I knew how to control them. But, something just didn't feel right about an early graduating.

"Will you graduate early?" The boss demanded again.

No. I thought.

"What?" The bosses were all surprised. I hadn't realized I had said the word aloud.

I straightened up; boldly looking the she-boss in her hard, green eyes. "I said 'no'." I repeated.

Teresa walked around to face me; her face a mask of disbelief. "Tam, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You do realize you're throwing that all away, right?"

"I know, Teresa." I said, nodding. "But, unlike most people who would jump the gun at the first opportunity, I can't graduate early. I won't be satisfied on only two years education. I need to full three."

"We congratulate you on your wisdom. At least think about it." The she-boss said.

I nodded, though in my mind, I had already made my decision.