Chapter 6 A tragedy means we're going to school

Tony's point of view

We homeschooled 5 days a week. Who was the lead teacher determined whether we stayed at the Stark house or the Stane house. Dad said it was good preparation for when we were older if we were to go to boarding school. We either stayed at one house 4 days one week and 3 the next or 5 days one week and 2 the next depending on the adults' extracurricular responsibilities.

4 years after we started homeschooling, my Godmother got very seriously ill.

It was my turn to help Mrs Jarvis with bedtime. I was rounding up the little ones and taking them upstairs when my godparents arrived.

"Tony, if you want to go and greet your godparents, you can"
"OK"

I galloped downstairs to greet my godparents and to help Mr Jarvis make tea, but something was very wrong…

My godmother was bawling her eyes out, my godfather had an expression of utter shock on his face. His eyes were clouded with rage.

I carried the tea tray into the dining room with the cups, saucers, milk, sugar, biscuits and teaspoons on it. Mr Jarvis followed with the teapot which was hot and very heavy and which I wasn't allowed to carry yet. Little Jane was fast asleep on my Godmother's lap.

"Would you like me to take her upstairs?" I asked

My godmother nodded mutely. I picked Jane up, took her upstairs and put her in my bed, tucking the quilt firmly around her and putting pillows by her in case she rolled over in her sleep. She wasn't quite 5 years old yet, but she was small for her age.

No one would tell us what was going on, and there were times when no one could teach us at all. We called a kid meeting and then staged a sit-in, in the living room. Mr and Mrs Jarvis acted as our liaisons. One afternoon, Aunt Maria collapsed and got rushed to the hospital.

We asked Mr and Mrs Jarvis to find out what was going on. Both of my parents and my godfather came through to the living room.

"Kids, I know you're wondering what has been going on and why we've been so distant lately"

"We have to tell you something."
"It's something to do with Aunt Maria isn't it?"
"Yes dear" said Mom

"She's very ill. She's been very ill for a long time. She's not going to get better." said Uncle Obie. His voice was weak and low, and he looked like he was about to break at any second.

"We have decided. I'm sorry we couldn't consult you, but the circumstances did not allow for it"
"You will all be going to boarding school. Joey, Clint and Cookie will be going to Military School, and the rest of you will be going to Phillips Academy."

3 weeks after this announcement, Aunt Maria died. Uncle Obie flew out to California because he needed a break and the office out there was in big trouble, and he had promised Dad he would fix the issues. Mom and Dad handled the arrangements for Aunt Maria's funeral. We were enrolled at Phillips Academy and from the moment we got there until something happened which changed everything 2 years later, it was chaotic.