I got put to bed because of the lump on my head. Mom and dad didn’t feel like I needed to see a doctor, as I wasn’t having memory problems or nausea or anything. I did not eat a lot of supper, but I guess none of us had an appetite from the stress of the day, so I didn’t stand out. Stenway was invited to dinner; Mom and Dad were super grateful for how he took care of me and Sydney, and I think he was also relieved to be around other people. I'd be scared to sleep in that mansion- Stenway had poked around and looked at some of the doors and entrances and couldn't figure out how I'd been brought into the house.
I was not looking forward to explaining the past few days to the fellows. Since school was out, I guess it wasn't super necessary to find them and let them know everything, but I ad a hunch that the more time that passed between my two adventures and when I finally got around to telling the fellows, the more trouble I'd be in. I wasn’t sure how to get up with them, now that the gazebo was closed off though. Plus, Sydney was not letting me out of her sight, both on mom and dad’s orders and Stenways, and her own.
The problem of how to find the fellows was solved fairly easily, as it turns out. There was a moving library that came to the school every two weeks in the summer, and I figured the fellows would at least flip through all the options to see if there was anything useful to them. Sydney agreed to take me on the next Wednesday that it was in town.
We got to the school around 10. I had kind of a little bit been milking my injury, mostly just taking my time doing tasks and getting around the house. I think Sydney suspected me a little bit, but I would remind her that I had definitely been drugged and conked on the head, and who knows what else in between, and that usually stopped her up. I took my time walking up to the van, and seeing that there weren’t any other kids around, I stopped to “rest” at the picnic table outside.
Sydney sat down next to me, but I could tell she was antsy. She didn’t like being out away from the house, around no other adults. Eventually she got up and started pacing around. “I’m not trying to rush you, T.J., really I’m not. Are you about ready?”
I sighed and rubbed my head. “Yeah I’m about ready, but where are you in a hurry to get to? It’s the middle of summer. And the weather is perfect. Don’t you want to get some sun?”
“Don’t talk about my tan, nerd.” Sydney rolled up her sleeve and looked at her upper arm.
Distracted for the moment. I looked around- a few kids were walking down the street. But none of them were the fellows. Sydney recognized one of the older siblings and went to talk to her. I waited for all those kids to get their books and get out of the van before standing up. I nodded to Sydney, who was still deep in conversation with her friend.
“Ms. Kelly. Please, come in.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
I stepped backwards off of the steps into the van. “How do you know my name?”
“I am sorry, I did not mean to startle you. Please step just a step closer- I do not want anyone to recognize me.”
I didn’t step, but I leaned forward and stuck my head inside the van.
“Dr. Telivar?” I recognized the little bearded face, behind the glasses. “What are you doing running the mobile library?”
He chuckled. “We called in a few favors.” He gestured me into the bus. “Please come in. We must speak quickly.”
I hopped up the steps and into the van. It smelled like dust and paper, a little bit like gas. Even though it smelled dusty, it looked pretty tidy. There were shelves of books along both sides, and at the back of the van were two file cabinets, with pens and library cards and stamps scattered around on the tiny desk between the cabinets.
Dr. Tellivar reached out his hand and I shook it. “How are you feeling? Please, we must speak quickly.”
“I’m fine. I mean, I kind of have headaches? But that may just be life now.”
He looked at me hard. “You are no longer seeing things?”
I shook my head. “Haven’t seen anything since that day. In the lab thing.”
“I am glad you’re doing better.” There was a knock at the door behind us. Dr. Tellivar glanced over my shoulder, then handed me a slip of paper. “This is my telephone number, you can reach me in my office or someone can connect you at most times of the day. Please, you need to call me if you have any symptoms.”
“Will do, doc.” This time there was a banging on the door. I stomped over and yanked it. “What?”
Donny stumbled back down the steps. “I’m sorry, I didn’t… hey, T.J.”
“Oh, hey Donny.” I stepped out far enough to close the door behind me. “How’s the new hideout?”
“Got kicked out.” Donny kicked the step in front of him. “Actually we just can’t get back in. All of the siding underneath the gazebo is really set in place. Can’t pry it loose. Haven’t tried a crowbar yet, Clive is working on getting one.” He rocked his head sideways. “How has your summer been?”
The door behind me creaked open. Dr. Tellivar’s head poked out. “Excuse me, young miss. I believe you forgot your book.” He held out a book and I took it. “Young man? Are you coming in to the library?”
“Yes, I was, that was my plan. I’m coming.” Donny and I awkwardly shuffled spots.
“Well, come in then.” Dr. Tellivar took Donny’s elbow and helped him up the last step. “Remember young lady,” he called back over his shoulder, “that volume is due in two weeks!”
Didn’t look like I was going to talk to Donny. If they weren’t meeting at the gazebo, I wasn’t sure how to find them.
“Ty? You ready to go?” Sydney stepped over to me and glanced down at the book in my hand. “Aquatic Habitats?”
“Yeah…” I looked at the book Dr. Tellivar had handed me. “I think looking at fish is pretty calming.”
“You do need to take your mind off of some things.”
I tucked the book into my bag, slipping the piece of paper Dr. Tellivar had given me inside the front flap. I wondered if this was the same phone number Stenway had for the doc. I also wondered what he would pop up as the next time, if he was on “watch Tyler” duty.
