Dr Paley looked at his watch. ‘That’s enough for now, Paul. Why don’t you go out into the garden for a while? I think you could use a little fresh air. Then we’ll watch more of the video.’
Paul left the office and went downstairs. What the people here called ‘the garden’ wasn’t really a garden — at least, there weren’t any flowers or plants. It was just a paved outdoor area with a couple of benches and some lawn chairs, and it was surrounded by high wire fences. But the weather was warm, no one else was around, and the lawn chair was more comfortable than the hard chair in Dr Paley’s office. Paul sat back, closed his eyes, and pondered what he’d remembered. He had a lot to think about.
‘Hey, get up.’
Paul opened his eyes. Three teenage boys, older and bigger than him, had arrived in the garden. Two of them had plopped down in the other two chairs, and the third seemed to want the chair Paul occupied.
‘I said, get up!’ the boy barked.
Paul did as he was told. He rose from the chair. The boy pushed him aside and sat down.
‘Now beat it.’
Automatically, Paul turned to leave. But then something inside him made him stop. It was nice out there, the sun was shining, he didn’t want to go back to his little room. He didn’t want to leave the garden. Why had he just given up his chair so easily? Because the other boy was bigger, and Paul was afraid of him?
‘Beat it!’ the boy yelled. ‘Get outta here!’
And a realization hit Paul hard. He didn’t have to do what he was told to do. He didn’t have to be afraid. Because he had a gift. And now was the time to use it.
He allowed a soft, shivery sensation to engulf him. A moment later a shriek went up from the boys as a huge wolf took over the space where Paul had been standing. The animal opened its mouth, baring large sharp teeth, and let out a howl. The three boys fled the scene and ran back into the building.
A window flew open. ‘Omigod!’ someone screamed. ‘Quick, call animal control! There’s a wolf in the garden!’
Paul let out another howl, louder this time. It felt wonderful, like a cry of freedom. He ran round the garden, leaping over the chairs and benches. Now more people were looking out of the windows and screaming.
‘Get the security guard,’ someone yelled. ‘He’s got a gun!’
Paul froze. He ducked around to the side of the garden, where no one could see him. And he turned back into a boy.
When the security guard appeared, all he saw was a small, thin boy sitting on a lawn chair.
‘Did you see a wolf?’ the guard asked.
Paul shook his head. Then he got up and went back into the building.
CHAPTER TEN
IN THE MEADOWBROOK MIDDLE School canteen, it was traditional for boys to sit with boys and girls to sit with girls. Even if they were friends, even if they were hooked up, boys and girls separated at lunch. It wasn’t a law, it wasn’t school policy — that’s just the way it was.
But this was an opportunity to talk to Ken, and Amanda was going to have to break the unwritten rule. So when she picked up her tray she didn’t go directly to her usual table, where Nina and her other friends were sitting. She waited until Ken emerged from the line.
‘I have to tell you about Harmony House,’ she said.
He didn’t ask why the story couldn’t wait for class. His eyes searched the room. ‘There’s a table.’
Amanda knew people were looking at them as they sat down at the empty table together, and she knew that she’d have to answer for this later, but it was unavoidable. She was impressed that Ken didn’t even look embarrassed. He really was too cool for words.
‘What happened?’ he asked. ‘Did you get inside?’
Amanda shook her head. ‘There wasn’t anyone checking in. But I talked to Doctor Paley.’
‘About Carter?’
‘Not really.’ She reported the conversation she’d had with the doctor. ‘I got this feeling he knows all about the kind of gifts we have. And I think he can help us.’
‘Help us do what?’
She hesitated. She really had no proof of what she was about to say. But she couldn’t help herself. It seemed like a possibility, and Ken would be just as interested as she was.
‘Help us lose our gifts.’
Ken’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You really think so?’
‘He’s a doctor, Ken. I bet he knows more about our conditions than Madame does.’
‘Wow,’ Ken breathed. ‘Wouldn’t that be something. .’ His eyes shifted. ‘Hi, Nina.’
‘Hi, Ken. Amanda, Britney’s got a big problem. We need you!’
Amanda gritted her teeth. What could she do? Ken might think she was selfish if she didn’t rush to the aid of her friend.
‘See you in class,’ Ken said. He picked up his tray and strolled over to a table where some of his friends were sitting. Amanda took her tray back to her usual table, where Britney, Sophie and Katie were sitting.
Nina hadn’t been lying. Poor Britney looked like she was on the verge of tears.
‘He hasn’t even spoken to me today,’ she whimpered. ‘He acts like I’m not even there.’
‘Who are you talking about?’ Amanda asked.
Sophie answered for her. ‘Tommy Clerk, of course.’
Amanda’s brow furrowed. ‘Tommy Clerk?’ She looked at the others. ‘Why is she crying over him?’
Katie frowned at her. ‘Amanda, where have you been? Britney’s been talking about Tommy for weeks!’
Amanda recovered a dim memory of Britney’s latest crush. ‘Oh yeah, right. Sorry, Britney, I forgot.’
Real tears began to flow. ‘How could you forget?’ Britney wailed softly. ‘I’m in
It was on the tip of Amanda’s tongue to remind her that she’d been in and out of love with half a dozen boys since September, but she managed to keep this to herself. Britney looked up to her, the way Nina used to, and Amanda didn’t need any more ‘frenemies’. She had to be sympathetic and offer some advice.
‘Tell me what happened,’ she ordered Britney. At the same time, she handed her a tissue.
Britney blew her nose. ‘He always goes to his locker just before lunch. So I went by there, and I said “hi”.’
‘And then?’
‘He said “hi”.’ Fresh tears began to flow. ‘And that was all! He closed his locker and walked away!’
‘Boys can be so cruel,’ Katie muttered. ‘Forget about him, Brit. You can do better.’
‘But I want Tommy!’ Britney sobbed. She appealed to Amanda. ‘What shall I do?’
The other girls, even Nina, looked at Amanda and waited expectantly for the Queen Bee to speak. Amanda was on the line, and she needed to show them she was still in charge of the clique.
‘You’re not flirting, that’s the problem,’ she told Britney firmly. ‘Saying “hi” isn’t enough. You have to come on a little stronger.’
Nina raised her eyebrows. ‘But you’re always saying we should play hard to get. You said boys don’t like girls who show how they feel.’
Amanda met Nina’s doubtful eyes. ‘Up to a point,’ she declared. ‘Tommy might think Britney’s out of his league. He could be afraid to speak to her. Boys can be insecure, you know.’
Britney gazed at her in amazement. ‘Really?’
‘Absolutely,’ Amanda said. ‘You should go over to his table right now. Don’t sit down, just ask him something. You’ve got a class with him, haven’t you?’
‘Biology.’
‘OK. Say something about that, ask him something.’
