Chapter 20 Getting To Know You

The following day, there suddenly seemed to be a lot of new things going on. The reunion competitions and activities were replaced by classes on many different topics. Jeff signed up for History of the Ming Dynasty, something he knew nothing about. Between working with the filly and attending the class, Jeff's days passed quickly. He was surprised on the first day of class, to find that Stan Fuller walked in and sat beside him.

Phineas joined a choral group that met every day in between his therapy sessions. He and Jeffrey met for all their meals and they enjoyed telling each other about their various activities, though mostly it was Jeffrey, excitedly telling Bogg about the latest thing he'd learned about China. They also spent at least an hour every evening in the large living room of the lodge visiting with whoever was there and Jeffrey got to meet even more people. Every evening, after they retired from the living room, Jeff continued to read The Call of the Wild, while Phineas stretched out on the bed to relax.

Jeffrey found out very quickly why Stan had graduated second in his class. As they completed the course work together Jeff came to realize that Stan was brilliant. He had a photographic memory, coupled with an analytical mind and a love for history. He was able to grasp concepts almost as quickly as they were introduced.

They always seemed to end up as partners for the classroom activities too, but neither complained, they were enjoying themselves. After one particularly interesting activity, Stan spoke as he closed the book, "Phineas could never understand this stuff."

Jeff's smile suddenly fell, he didn't like anyone criticizing Bogg. Stan caught his expression and immediately tried to back off of his comment, "don't get me wrong, I like Phineas, he's a great guy, it's just that he's different from us. We're a lot alike, don't you think?"

Jeff paused, realizing it was true, they really were a lot alike.

"I mean come on, we got the same answers on this activity. You know Phineas pretty well, would he have answered this way?"

Jeff hesitated, then smiled and finally laughed as he thought about how Bogg would have tackled the problem, "no, I guess not."

"And there's nothing wrong with that. You're your own person after all. Some day you might even want to voyage with someone else to see how different voyagers handle things."

"I doubt that," Jeff said emphatically.

Stan shrugged, "you mean you'd never want to voyage with anyone else?" he asked in an astonished tone, emphasizing the word 'never'.

"Well," Jeff hesitated, "maybe someday, I've never really thought about it."

ooOoo

A few days later, the classes ended and the choral group performed that evening. Jeff was mesmerized by the four part harmony. The voices blended so well together that Jeffrey almost couldn't pick Bogg's voice out of the group. The last song was done a capella and when it was over, Jeff went up to his partner.

"How come you never told me you could do this?" he asked, clearly impressed.

Phineas shrugged, "it never came up I guess."

"You sounded amazing, I never knew voices could sound like that," Jeff said in awe.

"Thanks," Phineas said and smiled. It felt very good to hear such a sincere compliment from Jeff.

"You can read music too, can't you?"

Phineas nodded, "yeah."

"You learned that here?" When Bogg nodded, he continued, "but you told me that it's hard to read books for fun because you didn't learn to read until you were 18 and became a voyager."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Then how can you read music so well?" Jeff asked cocking his head to the side.

"Well, I always sang with my parents and they harmonized with each other, so I just started doing it too. All I had to learn was which note on the page was which tone so I could do it the way the composer wrote it. It was easy for me."

"Your partner is one of the best at sight reading that I've ever met," the choir director stepped up and added. He had overheard Jeffrey's comments. "I'm glad he finally got around to joining one of my classes this time around," he said, clapping Phineas on the shoulder as he turned to speak with another of the singers.

"You've never said anything before about your parents, what were they like?" Jeff asked.

Phineas put his hand on Jeff's shoulder as they walked toward the stairs. "They were good people who loved me very much."

As they made there way to the room, Jeff smiled to himself. It was nice to think that he and Bogg had something else in common.

Many of the voyagers were leaving, but Phineas and Jeff had to remain until his therapy was over. Jeffrey began spending all his extra time with the filly, and between treatment sessions during the day, Bogg joined him there. Tom often met them for supper, and one of those days, just as they were finishing the meal, another messenger delivered a note to Phineas.

"What does it say?" Jeff asked as he finished his ice cream.

"We've been summoned to a hearing at the Tribunal," Phineas read aloud in a subdued voice. His arm was no longer in a sling, but he still didn't have all his strength or motion back.

"We? I mean, me too?" Jeff asked in a surprised tone.

This can't be good, Bogg thought to himself, "yeah, both of us."

"Why? When?" Jeff asked.

"Tomorrow morning, and it says 'To consider a petition for a change in status'."

"A change in status?" Jeff repeated, "I don't like the sound of that."

Bogg smiled, "it'll be okay, probably just some paperwork we have to file," but he wasn't so sure. "What do you think?" he asked Tom.

Tom shrugged, "I guess you'll find out tomorrow."