Max stared at the table while Miss Boon and Mr. Vincenti answered or deflected questions about grades, room locations, class awards, and school supplies. For Max, the only bright spot was when they mentioned that Rowan had no curfew, but his excitement diminished when he realized any free time would be spent studying. They were dismissed and told they would be free to explore the Manse and grounds until dinner.
Max stalked back to his room and flung his schedule on the bed. Walking downstairs, he wet a towel at his vanity and scrubbed the gels and sprays out of his hair. The sky dome was darker and the constellations had brightened since the morning.
Dinner was soup and sandwiches, as Mum and Bob were busy preparing for the next evening’s feast. The dining hall was dark, the candles of one chandelier providing the only light as thunder rumbled outside. Max saw Nigel stride briskly down the stairs accompanied by several other adults before they disappeared out another door. The girls sat at a separate table, shooting angry stares at Jesse, who had loudly predicted that the boys would sweep the class awards. Feeling a tap, Max jumped at the sight of Mum standing behind him.
“Phone call for you, love. In the kitchen.”
“Oh! Thanks, Mum,” said Max, pushing up from the table and following her through the swinging door.
Bob was hunched over an enormous tray of pastries, applying delicate waves of icing to chocolate ladyfingers. He looked up and smiled at Max, his crooked grin softening his craggy features.
“I think you have a phone call,” he said.
“He already knows, you dolt! Why do you think he’s back here?” hissed Mum, running to the phone on the far wall. The hag spoke into the receiver in clipped, snobbish tones.
“Yes, sir, we have notified Mr. McDaniels for you, sir. He shall be arriving presently.”
“Mum…,” Bob warned, turning from his ladyfingers.
Mum clamped her hand over the phone and jumped up and down, making hideous faces. Bob sighed and turned away to mix another batch of icing. Max reached for the phone, but Mum ducked below his reach.
“Back again, sir. I think I hear him arriving as we speak, sir. He’s been enjoying a cocktail on the ve-ran-da—”
Max snatched the phone away. His dad’s voiced boomed from the other end.
“—oh, well thank you very much.”
“Dad!”
“Hey, Max! I thought the receptionist was still on the phone. She’s, er, very professional.”
“Yeah, she’s great,” muttered Max as Mum clapped her hands and giggled. She rushed past him to shoulder an entire side of beef and disappear into another room.
“Well, I just got back from another trip to KC,” said his father. “Home again, home again, as your mother would say. How are you? How’re things?”
“Things are…okay.” Max faced the wall and traced a crack with his finger.
“What’s the matter, kiddo?”
“Nothing. It’s just…it seems like it’s going to be really hard. And I miss you.”
Max squeezed his eyes hard. There was a long pause on the other end of the line.
“Well, I miss you, too.”
Max was struck by a sudden longing to be back at home, his feet planted on the fort ceiling as he lay on his back, sketching throughout the afternoon.
“Dad, do you think it’s too late to come home?”
“No,” said Mr. McDaniels. “It’s not too late, but that’s not the issue. The issue is seeing through a commitment you’ve made. You made a decision—a tough decision—and I’m very proud of you for making it like a man. The first couple weeks will be tough, but I expect you to stick it out. If you hate it, next year you can go to school here.”
Max nodded, before realizing his father could not see him. Hearing an urgent whisper behind him, he turned to see Lucia beckoning from the doorway.
“Max, they’re asking for you,” she said. “We’re getting our books and uniforms.”
She disappeared behind the swinging door.
“Dad, I have to go. They’re handing out our books and stuff.”
“Okay, then. Be a good boy and do your best—for me and your mom.”
“Okay,” said Max quickly. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, kiddo. I’ll call in a couple days.”
Max hung up the phone and walked around the long island toward the door. Just as he reached the exit, he felt Bob’s enormous hand reach out and tap him on the shoulder. The ogre extended a specially decorated pastry. Icing spelled WELCOME, MAX in a beautiful, delicate script. With a wink, Bob placed the treat in his hand and ushered him out the door.
The next morning, Max paused outside Room 301 as he heard laughter inside the bathroom.
“Aw, man, you gotta be kiddin’ me, Jimmy!” said a deep voice with a heavy Southern accent.
Jimmy’s voice cackled something unintelligible in reply. Max opened the door slowly. Jimmy was sitting on the counter, his legs dangling over the side while he spoke with an older boy wearing a towel and flip-flops. They turned as Max entered.
“There’s one of ’em!” Jimmy roared, leaping off the counter and hobbling at Max, who backed against the door. “There’s one of the thieving ingrates!”
Jimmy’s face was purple as he came at Max, but the fit-looking blond boy intercepted the little man, stooping to place his hands on Jimmy’s shoulders. Max sighed with relief.
“Whoa, Jimmy!” the blond boy drawled. “Relax. Relax, man.”
Jimmy glared at Max, his chest heaving as he stabbed an accusatory finger.
“That tadpole let me slave over ’im! Insisted on the ol’ Jimmy treatment to get ’im spiffed up for the ladies! I told him I was busy, but he begged for a little zing of the good stuff! And does he have the decency to thank me properly? Not on your life! Not one of ’em gave me a present!”
The blond boy turned; his grip was still firm on Jimmy’s shoulders.
“Is that right?” he asked Max.
Max turned red. “I didn’t know! I-I’m sorry!”
The older boy winked at Max.
“Well, Jimmy,” said the boy, “you leave this kid to me. I’ll take care of him for you.”
Jimmy suddenly looked concerned, alternating worried looks between Max and the older boy.
“Promise not to be too hard on ’im, Jason!” pleaded the little man. “He’s just a tadpole, after all!”
Jason frowned and shook his head. “You know my ways, Jimmy.”
“Don’t you lay a hand on ’im!” roared Jimmy. “If you do, you’ll have me to answer to!”
Jason released Jimmy and put up his hands in a defensive gesture.
“Okay, okay. I’ll let ’im go!”
With a snort, Jimmy brushed past him and beckoned Max to lean in close.
“Sixth Years,” he whispered. “Think they run the place. He bothers you, you let me know, eh?”
Max raised his eyebrows and nodded, glancing over Jimmy at the grinning boy. Jimmy patted him on the shoulder, then went to retrieve a mop from across the room. Jason put out a hand to Max.
“Hey, bud, I’m Jason Barrett. You must be a new Apprentice.”
“Yeah,” replied Max, shaking his hand. “I’m Max McDaniels.”
“Good to meet ya, Max. Welcome to Rowan.”
Glancing over his shoulder, Jason lowered his voice.
“Listen, Max,” he said. “Jimmy might be a lot of bark, but you’ve still got to bring him a present if he does something for you. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Anything will work, really—a piece of gum, half a bagel, a stamp, whatever. He just likes to be in your thoughts, you know what I mean?”
Max shot Jimmy a wary look as Jason continued in a lighter tone.
“Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about Jimmy too much. You see, this here is the ‘Big Daddy’ of the boys’ bathrooms at Rowan. We kind of reserve it for the Fifth and Sixth Years. Apprentices use the one down in Room 101.” Jason patted Max on the shoulder and steered him gently out the door. “Start small, Max—it’ll give you something to look forward to!”
Max found several of his classmates huddled outside the door, looking tense.
“We heard Jimmy shouting,” Omar whispered. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. But I guess we’re supposed to use a different bathroom. Room 101. This one’s for the Fifth and Sixth Years.”
“That’s ridiculous,” muttered Jesse, making for the door. “This bathroom’s on our floor.”
Jesse bulldozed through the door. The others stayed put, jumping as they heard Jimmy’s voice bellow from within.
“Another one! Out of my way, Jason—leave him to me!”