by P. J. Hoover
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I had to grow back my fingernail on my left pinkie,” Gary said.
“No, actually that doesn’t make me feel any better, Gary,” Benjamin said. “My leg is still sore from the break.”
“Well, so is my fingernail,” Gary said. “It’s not fun having it pulled out you know.”
“You had it pulled out?” Heidi asked.
“Well, no, the grader actually teleported it out, but it still hurt,” Gary confessed.
With the results delivered, homeroom turned into chaos. Proteus cleared his throat multiple times, but it took him blackening the room before the students finally settled down.
“Before I can dismiss you for the day, there are just a few basics to go over,” Proteus began once everyone was quiet.
Andy rolled his eyes. “What now?” Benjamin knew that Andy, like himself, was probably itching for homeroom to be done so they could enjoy the rest of their day.
“When you arrive at summer school next year, you may or may not have me as a homeroom teacher,” Proteus said. “You’ll also be required to take one elective. This does not include an additional recreational activity. Use your sheaves, which you are free to take home, to review the electives and activities offered over the next year.”
“And also a word of caution. Please practice over the year. But only practice in the privacy of your own homes. The fact that you are now old enough to know about Lemuria only makes it more important for you to always keep your abilities secret.”
With thinking about home and thinking about his family, Benjamin finally started to relax. He tried not to think about what Helios had told him. He had the whole year ahead to think about his parentage, to ask his parents about it. There would be plenty of time for that.
Sunday morning came around quickly. Benjamin hurried to pack his bag, excited to see his parents, Derrick and Douglas, and little Becca.
They had agreed to meet Iva and Heidi for breakfast before heading for the main atrium teleporters. Benjamin didn’t eat much and noticed that his friends didn’t either. Everyone was looking forward to going home.
Yesterday, Benjamin had explained to Andy, Gary, Iva, Heidi, and Jack everything that had gone on during his trip to Shambhala. Andy couldn’t believe Mr. Burton had turned out to be evil, trying to bring down the shields.
“Are you sure it was really Mr. Burton,” Andy had asked.
“Yeah, it was him,” Benjamin replied. “He said he’d been watching me my whole life.”
“Sounds kind of creepy to me,” Heidi said, shivering.
“Yeah, it was,” Benjamin agreed. He was still trying not to think too much about everything. He knew what had to be done. All he had to do to keep the shields from coming down around Lemuria and Atlantis was find his two brothers. Shouldn’t be too hard, should it? But even he had a hard time believing himself.
“So, where do you think your brothers are?” Gary asked.
“I don’t know,” Benjamin admitted. “You’d think I’d have some sort of idea or something.”
“Maybe you should focus on practicing your telegnostic powers over the next year,” Iva suggested. “It might help you to locate them.”
“Maybe,” Benjamin said, “but how do I practice?”
“Well, I’ll see what I can do,” Iva said. “We can talk on the telecom. Proteus did say we could use them.”
Benjamin noticed that Andy looked up at the mention of Iva talking to Benjamin, but didn’t say a word.
They finished eating and began the long walk toward the main atrium. Their bags had already been taken to the teleporters via the luggage terminals.
“So, maybe we can all get together over Christmas break or spring break or something,” Heidi suggested.
“Yeah, that’s a great idea,” Gary said. “We should ask our parents right away so we can make plans.”
“Cool,” Andy said. “We could try to meet here.”
They reached the main atrium and got into a line for one of the teleporters.
“Well, I guess it’s goodbye then,” Benjamin said when it was his turn to depart.
“Not really,” Andy said, laughing, stepping back from the teleporter. Benjamin noticed that as Andy stepped away, he moved closer to Iva.
“You know, you can call any time you want,” Heidi said.
“Yeah, let us know how you’re doing,” Gary agreed.
“I’ll be waiting to hear from you,” Iva said, “and, if I don’t, you better have a pretty good reason for it.”
“Hurry, hurry, hurry,” the teleporter operator said to Benjamin. “We don’t have all day, now do we?” Benjamin turned to look at the man. It was the same old man with the super-sized ears who’d greeted him when he first arrived in Lemuria eight weeks earlier. A lot had happened since then. Benjamin felt older, more responsible.
“Oh, sorry,” Benjamin said. “I’m not trying to hold up the line. I’m just saying goodbye.”
“Goodbye?” the man said. “But you’ll be seeing your friends in no time at all.”
“In no time at all?” Benjamin said. “I may not see them until next summer. That’s forty-four weeks away.”
“Sonny, when you get to be my age, forty-four weeks is no time,” the man said.
Benjamin stepped up onto the teleporter pad. His suitcase arrived just as he did. He reached down, picked it up, then turned back and smiled. He waved a final goodbye just as the teleporter operator punched in the code for his home.
Whatever lay ahead, Benjamin wasn’t sure. But there was one thing he did feel sure about—he would have friends by his side. Friends who would support him and help him. Friends who would be there for him. Summer school may not have been what Benjamin had planned for the summer; but now, with all that had happened, he could hardly wait until next year.
The Emerald Tablet
The Forgotten Worlds
Book 1
Text Copyright © 2008 by PJ Hoover
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without express permission of the copyright holder.
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CBAY Books
PO Box 92411
Austin, TX 78709
First Edition 2008
ISBN: 978-1-933767-13-0
eBook ISBN: 978-1-933767-16-1
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Children’s Brains are Yummy Books
Austin, Texas
www.cbaybooks.com
