Chapter 3: Meet Mr. Hind
Through the fog that clouded my mind, I heard someone talking. "...she took a huge knock on the head, just after she MOVED the slab off my leg with her"- The man's voice cut off, and a serious, more patronizing voice stepped in. "Mr. Parker, you took a serious knock to the head, and your claims just aren't scientifically possible. Its foolishness to think"-
"I know what I saw"! Hissed my dad. Then I heard heavy footsteps moving towards me and two hands on my shoulder. "Georgie, can you hear me"? I mustered up enough strength to give a nod, and open my eyes.
When my eye's finally focused, I saw I was in a very big, white room, with brilliant lights everywhere. My head pieced itself together enough for me to realise I was in a hospital ward. My dad was staring at me, his eyes full of concern. Behind him, a doctor with russet coloured skin and dark shaved hair was tutting. "Mr. Parker, it isn't wise to give her too much excitement; she is out of the worse, but"- The doctor cut-off after he saw my dad's face. "I'll leave you two alone then" he stuttered, backing away.
The next half an hour was probably the strangest of my life. Dad asked me to do the 'floaty thing' again, but my head hurt too much. "What now" I finally asked, "I can't go back to a 'normal life' if I can do the floaty thing"!
Dad grinned, and reached into his pocket and brought out a letter. "A man, I think his name was Mr. Hind or something, dropped this in for you an hour ago. In fact, he's waiting in the lobby for us". My blood ran cold. I don't know why, but it felt like my life was going to get a whole lot weirder.
The first thing that struck me about Mr. Hind was his eyes. They looked as if they had seen things, terrible things, but somehow that made them more compassionate. The colour reminded me of polar ice caps, and tranquil blue seas. His dark hair was cropped at the top, and he looked like he had been on a permanent vacation, his skin was so tanned and weather beaten. He shook our hands, and then started talking rubbish about how I was 'special'. Throughout his speech, he seemed to be scrutinising me. It was unnerving.
He finally got to the point, and asked my father's permission to take me to Fenton lodge, a place for 'special' children to develop their 'abilities'. Dad shot me a glance that said: Well, do you want do go? Mr. Hind coughed. I thought about it. There was no way I could go back to my old life after last night. But I was a bit unsure about going to a new school, 2 weeks before I ended the school year at Winston high. But every fibre in my body was urging me to say yes, like it was my fate. Like it was meant to be.
"Yes" I blurted out. Mr. Hind grinned. "Right then", Mr. Hind said, "why don't you and me just talk about arrangements, and your activities, on our own for a sec", he asked, looking at dad hopefully. Dad shrugged, and gave me a look that said, any trouble and you just shout, ok? I rolled my eyes at him, and nodded. He gave Mr. Hind a brisk nod, and walked out the door.
"So, you may be wondering why you are going to this school" began Mr. Hind. I nodded, playing along. "Georgia, I know what you can do" he said suddenly, he eyes boring into me. "Do it, we have to be sure you are a COLA to let you into Fenton lodge". He must have seen the look on my face, because he said; "I'll explain everything later, I promise, just wait a sec..." he dug around into his pocket, and then unearthed a pen. "Float this; make it float with your mind". I stared at him, my blood running cold. He knew. But how? I was just about to protest that he must be crazy, and my head hurt too much, when I suddenly felt the strange force press against my forehead. Without realising, I lifted the pen out of his hand, and spun it round his chest. He gaped at me, amazed. Then he grinned, and said; "Show off, though I know you are better than that, I know you lifted the slab of concrete... amazing, you're better than all of the other telle's..." he trailed off, lost in his own thoughts. Just then, my dad and my doctor strolled in.
"Well Miss. Parker, you are free to go, your test results have come back fine, oddly..." the doctor trailed off, and I heard Mr. Hind cough suspiciously. He turned to leave, giving very formal goodbyes. "Mr. Hind", I asked. He turned round. "Yes" he said, raising an eyebrow. "When will I next see you"? I replied. "Tomorrow, when you're leaving for the Lodge. And by the way, my names Owen, Owen Hind". Then he left, leaving me gaping at the doorway...