playing beer pong, Mom,” said Alex.
“How do you know about beer pong? Do they allow drinking at—”
Alex waved his hands. “They don’t even allow video games at this school. And you know what else? The Polidorium doesn’t let me use a gun. Everyone’s looking out for me, okay?”
“I’m sort of surprised at that about the guns,” Dad said.
“Right, because of the Revolutionary War,” Alex retorted. “You know, I saw a picture of you in, like, Prague, with a gun and rubble and stuff.”
“That’s a pretty good description of my time there.”
Alex found himself laughing. He looked at them both. What he said next had to be good. It had to sound like he had his wits about him or the discussion would be over. He took a moment, looking down the mental chessboard again, and then laid it out. “When I found out there was such a thing as the Polidorium, it was like a light went on. It was like this was what I had been looking for. I wanted in. The truth is, I didn’t tell you guys because I was afraid of what this talk here could become. I didn’t want you to swoop in and take me home.”
“And now?” Mom asked.
“Look, I know I’m fourteen and it’s not really normal for me to say there’s a job to do, but it’s very close to that. This is what my life is supposed to be. I can feel that. I have friends here, and I’m learning here.”
Dad nodded. “Alex, I’m not a part of the Polidorium life anymore. We have five children, and two of them are still small. If this is what you want to do for now, we won’t force you to come home. But I have to urge you: Use everything. Pay very close attention. Listen to your instincts. We’ll be staying in Geneva tonight, and then we’re out of here before dawn—we have to be in London for a trust meeting tomorrow afternoon. But look, the instant you want to give up or it gets too hot, call us.”
“What your father is saying,” Mom said, “is that your family has been a part of a war for a long time, but you don’t have to be a part of it.”
Dad chewed his lip. “No, no. No, he probably does. But it’s up to him whether it’s time.”
“Now,” said Mom. “We all have to go to the library, because apparently there’s something called the Pumpkin Show.”
Chapter 16
It was time for the second Pumpkin Show, but a pall lay over this one as parents filed into the library—guests impatiently waiting for their real purpose, a conference with the administration that would follow the performance.
Alex left his parents to mingle and found Minhi, Vienna, and Paul standing around some empty seats near the front. Minhi was thumbing through the program. “Sid’s last,” she said excitedly. That was a prime spot. There were only ten students competing tonight: some songs, some monologues, a dancer, and Sid’s story. It was a new one; they had no idea what about. The yodeler hadn’t made it, but Alex noticed her chatting with Sid near the big chair. Well, go, Sid.
Alex looked at Vienna. “Are you okay?” He meant about Steven.
She bit her lip. “I’m trying not to think about it.”
The various parents looked somewhat agitated, not surprising considering most of them were here to decide whether to let their sons stay. Inviting them all to a school event probably had made sense in a decorum sort of way, but there was palpable anxiety in the air.
Sangster was looking through some papers at a table next to the bookshelves and Alex caught his eye. “You talk to any of the parents?” Alex asked, coming over.
“A few. They’re not sure we’re doing this transition right.”
“It’s been less than a week,” Alex said. “What do they want?”
“Alex, it’s impossible to overstate how traumatizing an event like that can be for people. Lots of parents want to pull their kids out,” Sangster said. “How about yours?”
Alex shrugged. “They’re letting me stay. Look, we have to talk about what happened at the hospital. There’s a dead doctor. And the Scholomance was there; Elle was with them.” Suddenly Alex had a thought and looked around. “Are the Merrills’ parents here?”
Sangster shook his head. He seemed to consider something for a moment, then pulled out a sheet of paper. “Look at this,” Sangster said as he handed it to Alex.
“Are you listening to me? We had another