‘Don’t jump to conclusions,’ Madame said. ‘It may turn out that Carter can help us.’
‘He doesn’t have a gift,’ Tracey told her.
Madame smiled. ‘There are gifts, and there are gifts. There’s a lot we don’t know about Carter. Thank you, Doctor Paley.’
The doctor left with Carter. As soon as the door closed behind them, people had questions.
‘Can we trust that Paley guy?’ Charles wanted to know.
‘He got me out of Harmony House,’ Jenna replied. ‘He’s OK — I read his mind.’
‘But what if Carter tells him everything about us?’ Emily asked anxiously.
The conversation was stopped by a shrill buzz from the intercom on the wall behind Madame’s desk. Then they heard the voice of Ms Simmons, the office secretary.
‘May I have your attention? I have an important announcement to make. The Board of Education regrets to inform you that your principal, Mr Jackson, will be leaving his position due to personal reasons. Mr Jones from the History Department will be acting principal until the position is filled. I am sure you all join me in bidding Mr Jackson a fond farewell, and offering him our best wishes for future success.’
The intercom went silent, and silence remained in the classroom. But only for a few seconds. Then a couple of people let out a cheer, and everyone was talking at once.
‘Was that part of the deal, Madame?’
‘Is he leaving town?’
‘Where’s he going?’
‘Does this mean we’re safe?’
Madame rapped on her desk, and the voices died down.
‘This isn’t the end,’ she said. Her voice was calm, but serious. ‘And there’s no reason to cheer. Mr Jackson is only one piece of what I think may be a very big puzzle. Even if he’s out of the picture, you are not safe. There will be more challenges, bigger challenges, and we have to get ready to face them.’
‘What kind of challenges?’ Jenna asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Madame replied simply.
‘Then how can we get ready if we don’t know what we’re going to face?’ Ken wanted to know.
‘We’re going to work on the gifts,’ Madame said. ‘Harder and faster than we’ve ever worked before. It’s not simply a question of control any more, of fitting in, of being comfortable. You’re never going to be like other people, and there’s no point in trying. It’s a question of getting better at being yourself.’
‘I’m getting better,’ Martin piped up. ‘At that house, Jenna barely had to tease me at all to make my gift come out.’
‘That’s true,’ Jenna admitted.
Madame nodded. ‘Yes, you’re improving, Martin. You’re all improving. But you can’t just get a little better. You have to find the extent of your gifts — your true potential.’ She paused, and gazed at the room.
‘You can’t waste your gifts on trivialities.’ She looked at Charles.
‘Or run away from your gift.’ She looked at Ken.
‘Or fear it.’ She looked at Sarah.
‘Or—’
She was interrupted by the opening of the door. Tracey caught her breath. Mr Jackson was standing there.
‘Just wanted to say goodbye,’ he said, and smiled broadly. Nobody smiled back.
Madame eyed him evenly. ‘Stay away from us.’
‘Oh, I will,’ he assured her. ‘That’s part of the deal. But you know, Madame. . you can’t protect them for ever.’ He was still smiling as he retreated and shut the door.
Madame turned to the class. ‘You won’t need protection, from me or anyone else. OK, let’s move on. Are you ready?’
Heads were bobbing. Madame smiled a little sadly.
‘No, you’re not. But you will be.’
Tracey wanted to believe her. But deep in her heart she knew that in the end they only had to believe in themselves.
