I offered an encouraging smile. “You’ll do it next time. No one gets it on the first try.”
As soon as the seventh bell rang, Mr. Robbins popped up from his desk, even more cheerful than usual and with a new bounce in his step. “I’ve been told we had our first success.”
Everyone looked around in surprise, but no one came forward. Who could it be? Perhaps Timothy. He was in several of my classes. He could pass for eleven but was a genius. Probably one of those gifted kids who’d been pushed ahead a couple of grades. Or maybe Samantha? She was always distracted but an amazing artist who’d get so into her work our teacher often couldn’t get her attention.
“I want to impress upon you this is extraordinary. In my twelve years at Dickensen, I’ve only had three students successful with their first conveyance. I also want to give kudos to the recipient. Although conveying is the most difficult Dream Management skill, some people are more receptive to dreams, so part of the credit may need to go to him.
“Without further ado, I’d like to ask Ben and Ryan to come forward.”
I couldn’t breathe. It was like a vacuum had sucked all the air from my lungs. I can’t believe he kept it a secret. He could’ve said something during history or language arts. Or what about lunch? Well, that explained why Ryan was missing—he wouldn’t have been able to keep his big mouth shut. Surprisingly hurt rather than jealousy devoured me. Hurt he hadn’t shared such big news with me. I wasn’t as important to him as I’d hoped.
They walked to the front of the room and took a seat facing each other. Ryan wore a cheek-to-cheek smile whereas Ben’s face was bright pink, and he studied the tile floor.
Mr. Robbins stood over them, his eyes dancing like a proud father watching his son take his first steps. He handed a piece of paper to Ben. “I’d now like you to go through your Dream Review Checklist. I won’t make each pair complete this exercise in front of the class, but I’d like to show everyone how it’s done and offer these boys some feedback. They successfully completed the Initial Dream Review this morning. This more detailed checklist will review aspects not discussed earlier and determine the dream’s stickiness.
“Ben, you may begin.”
“Ryan, do you remember the dream?”
Ryan nodded. “Yep.”
“Where did it take place?”
“Near the pond, here at school.”
I sat there watching, trying to calm down, only half-listening. I still couldn’t believe he didn’t tell me and was annoyed with myself for letting it bother me so much.
“What did I talk about?”
Ryan shifted in his seat. “You said you wanted to take me to the beach near your house. Said it’s windy and a great place to fly kites.”
“What did I want to bring there?”
“Your dog.”
Ben smiled.
Mr. Robbins cut in. “Let’s pause there for a moment. Class, the question about the dog was not on the morning checklist. Let’s continue.”
Ben read the next question. “What happened while I was talking?”
“The kite got caught in a tree, so we started to climb. It was tricky, and I—”
“Ryan,” Mr. Robbins interrupted, “remember not to summarize. You skipped past some key details. Only answer what is asked.” He nodded to Ben.
“You said the kite got caught in a tree. What type of tree was it?”
Ryan’s features went blank. “I don’t know. I don’t know trees well.”
How could he not identify the type after all we learned in science? Then again, Ryan wasn’t the most studious.
“It’s okay,” Mr. Robbins said. “In some cases your recipient won’t be able to answer all your questions as intended, so you’ll need to improvise. Ryan, where was this tree located?”
“On the far side of the pond.”
“Can you describe it?” Mr. Robbins asked.
“It was about fifty feet tall and didn’t have many leaves left, except for a few dead ones clinging to it two or three inches wide and kind of circular.”
Mr. Robbins turned to Ben. “Is that your tree?”
“Yes, it’s an aspen. Sorry, I assumed he’d know the type.”
Ryan turned toward the class and raised his eyebrows and shoulders.
Everyone laughed but me.
“This was a perfect opportunity to show the class what to do when you get stuck. Not knowing the answer had nothing to do with a misconveyed dream. Ben, please continue.”
Ben asked a few more questions, and Ryan answered them all correctly. When he was done, he laid his paper on his lap and turned to our teacher.
“Wonderful job, boys! Simply wonderful!” The pride in Mr. Robbins’ voice rang clear. “You may return to your seats.”
A few students gave the pair high-fives as they passed.
“So that’s how the review sessions will go. Now let’s everyone move to their pottery wheels while I call up individuals to help you prepare for your second attempts.”
As everyone gravitated toward the back of the art studio, Ben pulled me aside. “Autumn?”
“Hey. Congratulations.” I forced some enthusiasm into my voice.
“Uh, thanks. I was probably just lucky. Maybe Ryan’s the gifted one.”
“Doubt it.”
“I wanted to tell you but thought we were supposed to keep it a secret until class, and I didn’t want you to think I was bragging or anything. Besides, there was a chance Ryan would forget about the whole thing by now.”
With his words, the tightness in my chest loosened a tiny bit. Enough to breathe again.
“It’s okay. No big deal.” I caught his eye. “Now you’ll have to help me in both algebra and Dream Management.”
Chapter: 20
“Aditi. Aditi. Wake up! You did it!”
She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “No, I didn’t.” She yawned. “But happy birthday, my friend.”
Huh? I should’ve known by now how to detect a regular dream from a created one. And it had been her assigned night. But then a comfortable warmth overtook me. Aditi remembered my birthday.
Fragments of the dream replayed through my mind. I realized it was too complex to have been sent by a freshman. “Well someone sent me a dream. I’m sure of it.”
“Me too.” She grinned. “Mr. Robbins pulled me aside yesterday and told me someone requested Tuesday’s spot to send you a”—her fingers curled into air quotes—“birthday gift. He said I should convey tonight instead.”
“I wonder who sent it.”
“He didn’t say. What do you remember? I bet there were clues.”
“Well, I woke up in a beachfront condo in Maui. My family was there too.” I couldn’t help but smile as I relayed the dream while we got ready. “I had the best day. For my birthday I got to squeeze in all the activities I wanted. Even the expensive ones my parents rarely spring for, like zip-lining and a snorkel trip to Molokini.”
“That’d be the best.”
“I remember going to a luau, and this Hawaiian guy in a bright floral shirt serenaded me with ‘Happy Birthday’ on the ukulele while a girl in a grass skirt brought me a bowl of pineapple ice cream with fifteen candles. I can still practically taste the crunchy coconut sprinkled on top. So delish.”
I flipped through shirts in my closet and pulled one out. “Oh, and we even took a helicopter ride over the island. The pilot kept asking me, ‘Where to next?’ Wait. That’s it!” I chuckled. “The pilot was Principal Locke. He must’ve created the dream. I wonder how he knew I liked Hawaii so much.”
Aditi shrugged. “The Dickensen staff seems to know everything about us.”
****
Back in my room after school, I showed Aditi the big, brown package that had arrived from home. The card read Happy birthday, Autumn. Looking forward to a belated celebration in two weeks. Love, Mom, Dad, Josh, and Zoey. I pulled out a couple of warm sweaters, a music store gift card, and a bag stuffed with my favorite cinnamon bears candy. I popped one into
my mouth, savoring the hot cinnamon taste, and offered some to my roommate.
“Love the sweaters! Those are going to get some good use up here. It’s freezing.”
“Wimp!” I teased, hitting her with the arm of a sweater. “Such a Californian. You’ve been complaining since September.”
“Hey, what are you up to today?” Aditi asked.
I’d just crammed a handful of bears into my mouth and had to swallow first. “Um, nothing much. I’ll probably call home then head over to the library.”
“If you can spare a little study time, I have a surprise for later.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“I’m not saying. Go do your stuff. Be back here by five fifteen.”
****
When I returned to my room after studying, Hannah and Aditi were sitting on the beds with mischief written all over their faces.
“Y’all grab your coats,” Hannah said. “Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“You’ll see,” Aditi said.
When we got down to the main floor, we found Ben and Ryan on a couch chatting with Mrs. Humphrey.
She stood and gave me a warm smile. “Happy birthday, dear.”
My gaze darted back to my friends. I could’ve guessed the guys were involved in their plan, but not my RA. Now I was even more curious.
As we traversed the quad, my gaze strayed toward the parking lot. Perhaps Mrs. Humphrey would drive us to one of the nearest towns. Some of the older students with cars occasionally left campus, but I hadn’t left once.
“It’s not what you’re thinking,” Ben said, as if he’d read my mind.
Soon Mrs. Humphrey fell behind. She was by no means frail, but she had to be close to seventy years old. Ben fell in step with her, holding her arm, as if they were having an intimate conversation all huddled together. For a split second I wished I could be the one needing his help. And his warmth.
Hannah, Aditi, and I strolled with our arms linked together while Ryan kicked his soccer ball alongside of us. My body felt weightless as my friends guided me along the footpath that led to the faculty and staff housing known as Forest Circle. Already the day had surpassed my expectations. So many people had gone out of their way to wish me a happy birthday, and Aditi had even led our lunch table in a round of “Happy Birthday.”
At last, just when I thought my fingers might fall off from the biting cold—I hadn’t thought to bring gloves—we began to see log cabins scattered on both sides of the road. Hannah pointed to one of the smaller cabins. “This is it, number nineteen.”
My friends pushed me to the front as we stepped across the flat stones leading to the porch. I waited a few moments for everyone to catch up. Then I knocked.
A few moments later the door opened, and Coach Kat stood there wearing a wide grin. “Happy birthday, Autumn!”
I looked behind to my friends and smiled as I shook my head. “You guys! I had no idea.”
“Come in. You can hang your jackets on the coat rack right here. Then make yourselves at home.”
The warmth of the house was a relief. We stood on the edge of a room with the living space and kitchen combined. Although it wasn’t big, the vaulted ceiling made it more spacious than it appeared from outside. A crackling fire provided heat and a cozy ambiance, and the log walls gave the room a rustic feel, reminding me of the cabins near Mount Rainier, where my family would stay for ski weekends.
As I tugged off my coat, a shadow caught my eye. A black lab sat beyond us, his dark eyes appraising me while his tail thumped the wooden floor.
I couldn’t help but smile and squatted down on my heels. He trotted right over. I hadn’t been around a dog in months. “Who’s this?”
“That’s Wilson.”
As we all moved toward the couch and chairs, everyone except Aditi took a moment to pet him. He just sat there, enjoying the attention. My dog Zoey would’ve been jumping up and down, running in circles, and barking like a maniac if six strangers showed up at our doorstep.
Coach Kat flitted between the kitchen and the living room while we got settled. My stomach growled when the smell of garlic and oregano filled the air. Italian maybe? She offered everyone drinks, wine for Mrs. Humphrey and soda or water for the rest of us. She even enlisted Ryan to help her serve, and he used a silly French accent, which drove us to hysterics, as he presented cheese and crackers and a tray of vegetables.
At one point Aditi asked, “So have these homes always been out here?”
“Nope. Not until the 1950s.” Coach Kat joined us in the living room. “Back when they were building this academy, the School Board still required the faculty and staff to live on campus full time. You know, to keep an eye on everyone since Dream Management is much more in the open up here. So they created an entire village.”
“They were building the last of these homes when I began school,” Mrs. Humphrey added. “Most are one-bedroom, I believe, but there are some larger ones for the families who choose to stay here.”
“Don’t all the employees live here?” Ben asked.
“Most do,” Coach Kat said. “We’re pretty isolated so it’s more convenient. But when they loosened the rules back in the ’90s, they added bunkrooms to some of the cabins, so when a storm hits, the commuters can stay.”
“Why the change?” I asked.
“Well, it’s easier to attract qualified faculty if they’re not required to stay here full time.” She chuckled. “Don’t need the adults feeling trapped too.”
“I meant, why did the Board change its policy?”
“Technology advancements. With computers and GPS, it’s easier to keep an eye on—”
“Katherine,” Mrs. Humphrey interrupted in a soft but firm voice. “Perhaps we shouldn’t go into all that right now.”
A cold tingle went down my spine. Computers? GPS? Keeping an eye on whom?
Coach Kat stared at Mrs. Humphrey like a rebellious daughter before her face returned to normal. In that moment, I realized my coach wasn’t much older than us. “You’re right, Mrs. Humphrey. But I’m sure these freshmen figured out within a couple of days on campus someone was monitoring the internet.”
Mrs. Humphrey gave a polite smile. “Still. That’s not for us to decide.”
I didn’t know who looked more uncomfortable. Mrs. Humphrey for having to use her authority or Coach Kat for being reprimanded, albeit gently, in front of five students. The ticking clock grew louder in the awkward silence. I felt terrible for my coach and silently pleaded with Hannah for help. I’d already asked one too many questions.
“So, Coach Kat, do you like it up here?” Hannah asked.
She smiled, as if grateful for the change in conversation. “It took some getting used to. Adopting Wilson helped.”
The lab lifted his head at the sound of his name and cocked his head but settled back down once Ben began to rub behind the dog’s ears.
“I feel safer with him, especially out on the trails. So tell me, Autumn, what else have you done for your birthday?”
I described my day and the conversation flowed from there, making it easy to forget the adults’ awkward exchange. As I relaxed on the couch, I felt a connection with these people in a way I hadn’t with anyone back in Seattle. I could be my true self, not always on edge or pretending to fit in. They had accepted the real me who was beginning to blossom.
“What’s for dinner?” Mrs. Humphrey asked at some point. “It smells delicious.”
“It’s Autumn’s mother’s turkey lasagna.”
So that’s why Hannah had asked me about my favorite foods last week. I blinked a few times to keep the tears from forming, touched they went to the effort to plan such a personalized meal. Coach Kat even served red velvet cake. It was like I had a second family stepping in while separated from my own.
Since it was a weeknight, we walked back to campus right after dessert. Although we were still a festive bunch, out in the dark, I couldn’t help but shiver. Not from the cold this time but from
Coach Kat’s words about monitoring dream-makers. I imagined mysterious guardians watching us from the shadows, ensuring their secrets remained protected.
Chapter: 21
Our room was cold and dark. Aditi lay asleep in her bed, her face lit by the faint glow of my flashlight. I’d already attempted to convey twice tonight. Mr. Robbins had assured me in our one-on-one meetings I’d been following the steps correctly, but it wouldn’t hurt to go through them a third time.
Nearly half the class, including Hannah, could convey the simplest version of Dream One. Many of these students were now working on more complex variations by adding in unique artwork creations. The more advanced students, such as Ben, were already altering their settings. Aditi and I, however, continued to work on basic conveyance. She kept reminding me the more I obsessed about conveying, the more difficult it would become. I even worried perhaps she hadn’t been successful because I was a terrible recipient with only the ability to accept dreams from teachers who had advanced conveyance skills.
After completing another short meditation exercise to stop my mind from drifting, I returned my attention to my roommate. Come on, Autumn, you can do this. Stay positive. I glanced at my notes, but the words blurred. So tired. I could barely keep my eyes open. But it didn’t matter. I’d memorized them weeks ago.
I closed my eyes and visualized the pile of leaves below our bedroom window. The cool breeze touched my face. No sooner did I start than I heard Dad’s voice on the wind. “Telepathy is not real. You can’t do this.” I took a deep breath and pushed those negative words aside. Aditi ran toward me. She was laughing as she approached. But at the last minute, instead of jumping into the leaves, she turned toward me and said in a deep male voice, “Shouldn’t you be studying instead of wasting your time on this garbage?”
I took another breath and tried again.
****
During my morning classes, I kept an eye on the snow falling outside the school’s windows, hoping the way it was piling up wouldn’t impact my one o’clock departure. We’d be dismissed early today, and the final bell couldn’t ring fast enough. Between the recent midterms and my growing frustration with Dream Management, I was so ready for a break. The receptionist in the office had coordinated transportation for the Thanksgiving holiday to make it as efficient as possible. A senior named Allison would drive Ben, me, and a sophomore named Tyler home because we lived in the Seattle area. Dickensen preferred to utilize student and faculty drivers to avoid having parents arrive on campus at non-designated times throughout the year.
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