The Adventures of Kandy Kaine

The sunrise broke through the window right onto my face, and I woke up to find that I was still at Mockingbird Manor, still in a princess bed. My princess bed.  It wasn’t a dream, it really did happen. I was really here. The day couldn’t have started any better than that.  As usual, Mom had all ready laid out my school uniform, clean and pressed, ready to wear. It was the standard issue Morningside Academy uniform, Black skirt and jacket, gray vest and tie, with a white shirt. Above the left jacket pocket, the Morningside crest. On the sleeve, my Science Club Badge. Most kids at the academy had several uniforms to wear, but I had just the one. I may have only had the one, and maybe it was getting a little worn, but Mom always made sure it was clean and pressed every morning. She sent me out the door every morning looking sharp, and looking forward to the day.

Washed up, dressed and ready, I headed downstairs. In the light, this place was still a little creepy. I think part of what made it creepy was the size of the place. It had been built almost 200 years ago. Back when it was common to stick columns, and gargoyles all over the outside of the houses. Back when they included a tower in every house. There was so much to explore here, and many things to poke through. All along the hallway walls were pictures. Mostly portraits, mostly old, spooky looking people, staring at the camera in a way that suggested they would rather not be there. At the end was one of Uncle Mike. Must have been taken a long time ago, he was a young man in the picture. I thought he actually looked kind of dashing in the suit he wore. ‘Curious’ I thought, ‘that’s a Morningside Academy uniform.’

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked into the kitchen. Mom had opened the curtains, and the sunlight poured through the windows. Mom must have worked all night. The walls and floors were cleaned. The whole room had been scrubbed and polished. Up to Mom’s standards, as we would say. The smells and sounds of breakfast cooking, of coffee brewing, filled the air.  Where last night, it seemed cold, dark and maybe just a little spooky, this morning, it was bright, warm and welcoming.

“Morning, Sweetheart,” Mom said, “ Get up to the table, breakfast’s ready, and you’ll have to walk to the corner to catch the bus. For some reason, the bus driver won’t come up the street.”

If you could ever see my Mom at work, you would be amazed, arms and elbows flying. The things she could do, and the things she could make would leave you scratching your head. I had seen her work so hard in the past, for such ungrateful people that it made me sad inside sometimes. But this morning was different. True she was still going a mile a minute, but for some reason it actually looked like she was enjoying this. I sat at the table and just watched as she was cooking eggs in one pan, bacon in another, getting toast from the toaster, buttering it, while still sipping on a cup of coffee, and pouring me a glass of juice.

She placed a plate right in front of me. I could only stare. I don’t remember my last hot breakfast, and here I was being served a breakfast that must be served in palaces around the world. This day is just getting better. I don’t know how long I just looked at it. I think I might have been afraid that if I took a bite it would evaporate into the cold cereal I usually had to make for myself, because Mom usually had to be at work early getting the other people’s kids ready in the mornings.  I shouldn’t complain; that’s what taught me to take care of myself, and get myself to school.

“Eat up, Sweetheart, before it gets cold” Mom admonished. I obliged.

Uncle Mike came rushing through the kitchen, “Just coffee for me, I’m in the middle of something.”

Mom turned to him, and was shaking a finger at him. “ You will get up to the table Mister, and you will eat a proper breakfast. The secrets of the universe can wait ten minutes while you eat.” She was using her stern voice. You know the one, the one that says, I’m the boss here, and you will do what I tell you. The one that says you will do what I tell you NOW. Yeah, you know the voice, that one.

I didn’t know what was going to happen now. How could Mom speak to the man that was actually her boss that way? But to tell the truth, I wasn’t surprised when he came over and sat down. When Mom put a plate in front of him, he looked at it the same way I did. I think it had been awhile since he had a hot breakfast too.

He looked over to me, gave me a wink and whispered “ I guess we both know who’s running things around here now.”

‘I guess we do’ I thought.

I headed down to the corner to catch the bus, and barely made it in time. All the kids were staring out the window, down Raven’s Head Road, wondering why they were making a stop there. You should have seen their faces when I was the one who got on the bus. They stared with open eyes, and dropped jaws as I took my seat next to Billy Powers. To me, Billy was cool, kind of a bookish nerd, but cool. He was in the Science Club too, and we had been friends ever since I got into Morningside.

“What are you doing here, Kandy?” Billy asked, “Why are you getting on the bus here today?”

“We moved into Mockingbird Manor last night. That’s where I live now.”

You could hear the collective gasp come from the bus.

“There! You live there?” He said, in that way people do when they are saying something they don’t believe, even as they are saying it.

“Yeah, that’s my new house”

“COOL!” he exclaimed, “So tell me all about it, I want to know everything, especially about the zombies.”

‘Well, I haven’t seen the zombies yet, but I’ve only been there one night.” I told him. I went on to tell him about Uncle Mike and my new bedroom, and the books. You should have seen his face when I told him there is a real laboratory in the house. He’s a real science freak like I am, so I knew he’d find that cool.  I promised him I would introduce him to Uncle Mike, and maybe together we could talk him into letting us look around the laboratory.

When we got off the bus, Stormy was waiting for me by the flagpole as usual. Stormanda Weathers, my BFF. You would never know it by looking at us, but we’ve been best friends for as long as I can remember. But you would never see two people more opposite. Where I like my books, she likes her sports. Where I am cool and collected, Stormy would fly off the handle at people in a flash. While I want to be the best in cerebral pursuits, she wants to run faster, jump higher and outplay anybody on the planet. She’s the Captain of the Basketball team, and the Hockey team. She was even once on the football team, but the other players were afraid to play with her. ‘She hits too hard’ they told the coach.

“I thought you told me this was a contact sport.” she told the coach when he cut her from the team. You know, maybe if they let Stormy play, they might not lose like every game they play. But, she is my best friend. They say opposites attract, and in this case it’s true. I admire the way she is driven to be the best at sports, as she admires how I’m driven to be the best in the classroom. When we are at PE, she tells me, ‘if brains were muscles, you would be the strongest in the school.’ But when we are in class I’ll tell her, ‘if muscles were brains you’d be the smartest in the state.’ And we’d laugh. Stormy could always make me laugh. She knows all my secrets, and I know hers. She calls me Kiddo; I call her Stormy.

So anyway, we meet at the flagpole every morning to catch up on things, I help check her homework; she gives me the latest gossip.

“So, Kiddo, I hear you got a new house” She said, “and what a house I hear. But at least you don’t have to stay at Randy’s house anymore. Living in zombie town has got to be better than that.” She laughed, and made me laugh too.

It was all over school in a minute that I now lived at Mockingbird Manor. The kids would stare, and point, and speak in whispers when I went by. I was the talk of the school.

You should know that Morningside Academy is the largest private school in the state. The admissions are quite hard; you have to have one of two things to get in there. You can get in on academic scholarships, by being in the top 1% in the state, or you can have money and buy your way in. That would lead you to believe that there are two polarized groups at the school. But it’s not really that way. Most kids really just get along, except for a few. Like Randy and her gang of snobs. Her mindless minions we call them. They don’t get along with anybody except themselves. Their parents are Patrons of the Academy, and give big donations to build things like libraries, and gymnasiums, and stuff like that. That means the school pretty much kisses their butts, usually they never get in trouble for the things they say and do to people here. I was in my fourth year here. I was proud of my school, and pretty well got along with my teachers, except Mr. Benson. But that’s another story for another time.

Morningside Academy does have the reputation of excellence, and very high academic standards. That’s a big reason they give scholarships to us smart, poor kids. For us to keep the GPA high. And so we can win the state competitions that will put another trophy in the display case. Those trophies attract the parents of the rich kids to enroll them here, thinking their brats can be turned intelligent. But it doesn’t always work. Like with Roman Rogers. He has two tutors, a homework consultant and “special” classes all day. Rumors around the school say the tutors do his work for him while he sits in an exempted-ed classroom and picks his nose and reads comic books all day. We call it the swamp, and Roman and his group are the toads.

Randy and her group belong to the snobs. You can tell the snobs from the normal kids as soon as you pull into the school in the morning. Most of the snobs drive up in limousines. They hold up all the buses while the snobs get unloaded and escorted in the building. Most of the normal kids, even the normal rich kids, just ride the bus in. Their friends are on the bus. Just because your parents have money doesn’t mean you’re a snob. It’s when you think your parents’ money make you better than anyone else that you belong to the snob crowd.

Well, most of the school day was pretty uneventful anyway. At morning assembly, we were reminded of the Science fair coming up, and that the Science Club was expected to win it again, we almost always do.  We lost last year to Eldridge Academy, a fact that didn’t sit well with Mr. Draggett, our principal. So the extra pressure is on us to bring the trophy home, “to it’s rightful place”. And since I’m considered the smartest in the middle school, everyone wants to know what I’ve got planned this year. To tell the truth, I haven’t figured out yet what I want to do.

All morning in the halls between class, kids would point and whisper. I could usually make out they were talking about my new house. Some of the kids thought

that it was really cool I lived there. Some thought it appropriate for me to live there, because they thought I was a little weird anyway. My friends thought it was cool, and wanted to come over. I said I would ask permission to throw a party someday and invite them.

Lunch was interesting though. We were in the cafeteria eating at our usual table. Me, Stormy, Billy, Alice Walker and Zack Armstrong, just like always. We belong to the science nerd group. As I said Billy belonged to the Science Club, as did Alice. Stormy was just Stormy. But Zack, that was the odd one out so to speak. He chose to hang out with us. He’s one of the most popular boys in school, and could sit at any table he wants. He chooses to sit with us. He’s sort of cute, and really nice. He’s president of the student council, and plays on the football team. Plays a great game of chess, too.  His parents do have money, but he’s certainly not a snob. Most of the girls call him dreamy, and I guess for a boy, he’s not so bad. We couldn’t figure out why he chooses to sit at our table. One time I asked Stormy why she thought he sat with us.

“Silly Kandy, don’t you see it? All of the book smarts in the world and you don’t see it. He likes you, Kiddo, that’s why he does it. To sit with you, not us.” She answered. I don’t know about that, I just think it’s because we were the first people he met when he came here last year, and he sits with us out of loyalty. I think it’s this and nothing more. Not that I would admit that I think he’s cute, or nice or anything, I mean after all I’m Kandy Kaine, ”the Human Brain”, and don’t have time for such foolishness.  

“So tell us about the new house,” Zack said, “ I’ve always wanted to see inside the place. Are any of the stories true? Maybe I could come over after school and look around.”

Right then Randy and her minions came by. She looked a fright. Her hair was a mess, her uniform wrinkled, like someone didn’t press it this morning.

“ Hey Kandy, I heard about your new house. How fitting, the Human Brain in the House of Horrors. Did a Zombie eat your brain last night?” Her minions laughed, I guess they thought somehow that was funny.

“What happened to you?” I asked, “Did you have to dress yourself this morning?”

“Ha Ha”, she retorted. “ Well at least our garbage cans smell better now that you and your Mom are gone.”

“Yeah, it shows in your clothes.” I snapped back. I don’t know why I let her get me mad like that. She’s just not worth it.

She was about to open her mouth again, when Stormy stood up.

“If you don’t get out of here now, I’ll take that wrinkle off your jacket myself and put it up your nose.” She growled. Stormy doesn’t like Randy AT ALL. I bet if Randy hadn’t started to walk away, she would be wearing that wrinkle up her nose.

“Oh, I was just leaving anyway. Hey Zack, why don’t you leave this Loser Table and join us. We’re more your type than these losers are” She sniffed and stuck up her nose at us.

“ I’m fine here, Randy,” Zack told her, “Just like I tell you everyday, I’m fine right here.”

She was about to open her mouth again, but I think she saw that Stormy was starting to turn red, and thought better of it. She left. Her minions tailing close behind.

“That Randy makes me so mad, and I know I should just blow it off. Just once, just one time though, I wish I could put her in her place.” I said, shaking my head as she walked off. “Just once…”

In Science class, Mr. Higginboom wanted to hear all about the new place. He had asked if I met Dr. Mortis yet.

“Do you mean Uncle Mike? Yeah I met him. He’s kind of nice.” I replied. Mr. Higginboom seemed amused that I called him that, and suggested I talk over my upcoming science fair project with him.

“So are you going to tell us about your project yet? Or are you going to keep us in the dark about it. You know we’re expecting big things from you this year.”

“ It’s a secret still” I answered. “ I want it to be a big surprise on everyone.”

To tell the truth, I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do. With everything going on, I hadn’t had a lot of time to think about it.

Mr. Higginboom also asked if I could get Uncle Mike to come in and speak to the class on career day. I told him I would try.

 Not much else to tell about the rest of the day, it went as school days do. Ms. Rosenbloom’s class was fun, it usually was. She teaches World Literature. We were studying Dante’s Inferno, and she would always play the parts out, using funny voices, and goofy expressions. I like Ms. Rosenbloom. She has a way of making those dried up old stories new and exciting. She’s always trying to get me to take myself a little less seriously. She tells me that learning, and indeed, life itself, is more than facts and data and formulae. She says there is as much to learn in fairytale books, as there is in my science and math books. I don’t know about that, but she sure makes it fun to believe so.

     But what happened when I got off the bus to go home is worth telling. The bus pulled up to the corner, and I jumped off, sort of giggling at the bus driver as he spun the wheels getting down the road as fast as he can. Dust flying, smoke blowing out the exhaust, I thought that bus would shake apart as fast as he was driving. ‘Interesting’ I thought, “I wonder if I should act like a zombie tomorrow when I get on the bus’. I decided I would, and turned to walk up the road to home. About halfway up the hill I could see all kinds of things going on at the house. There were trucks and vans all in a line up and down the street. The house was a hive of activity. There was a crew doing the lawn, a crew replacing windows, another crew taming the thorn trees. I walked in the door, and an army of maids was scrubbing the house, another army polishing the walls. In the center of it all was Mom, directing traffic like a police officer. She would point and a group of maids would run over and clean whatever it was she was pointing to. She saw me come in the door.

  “Hi, Sweetheart.” She smiled, “Everyone! Take fifteen minutes.” The army of gardeners, maids and repair crews all shuffled off to take a break. Knowing the way Mom expected things to be done, I’m sure they needed it. Getting things up to Mom’s standards is no easy task.

   “How was school? Come tell me about your day.” She sat in the big chair near the door, and pulled me into her lap. She sat and smiled as I told her about it. I know she looked forward to this time every day, and to tell the truth, so did I. No matter where she worked, or whomever she worked for, this was our time. Just her, and me, sitting and talking about our day. Most of the time though, I did all the talking. She would listen, and smile. Occasionally offering a “Goodness”, or an “Oh My My”, at just the right time.  Sometimes, this was all the time we would get together in the afternoons, as she had to usually rush back to work.

    I told her how the kids reacted to us moving in here, and I told her about the Science fair. I also told her what Randy looked like today. She tsk’ed. Mom didn’t hate Randy the way I did. She said one time if you don’t like the soup, don’t blame the soup, look to who put in the ingredients. That made sense; Mom always had a way of making sense.

   “One day though,” I told her, “ I’ll find a way to put that snooty ol’ Randy Rogers in her place though. I will.”

     “ Well, sweetheart,” she said, “Randy is all ready in her place. She just doesn’t know it yet. What Randy is now is what she will always be. While you, my dearest Kandy, have many different things ahead for you. You’re someone very special, destined to do great things one day. We haven’t yet found out what you’re going to be.” I think Mom pitied the Rogers kids more than anything. I don’t think Mom could hate anything if she tried.

    “Now, put your things away, and come to the library. We have something of a surprise for you.” And off she went. The army of help jumped to their feet as she passed, and the scurrying and shuffling began all over. She was a blur going through the house, directing how things were to be done, and how well something was to be done. I headed up the stairs.

 I couldn’t believe my room when I walked in. It was spotless, not a speck of dust anywhere. The frame of my bed was polished so much that it shined in the afternoon light. I went to put my backpack in the closet, and couldn’t believe my eyes. A row of uniforms, all fresh and crisp hanging there.  The floor had five sets of shoes there, all polished, all black. FIVE sets of shoes, all my size. I had never had more than two sets of shoes before. The black flats that went with the uniforms, and a pair of sneakers to run around in. I never expected in my whole life to own FIVE pairs of shoes. You could have blown me over with a bubble. I couldn’t believe it.  I thought Mom said the surprise was in the library.

I put my homework on the desk. Since it was early, it could wait a bit before jumping into it. Usually, I would jump right into my studies, as it was important to me, plus, I usually didn’t have anything else to do. I was looking around the room, and just enjoying the feeling of belonging there, in my room. MY room. Then I saw it. There, over in the corner, facing the bed. A TV. Not just any TV, but a 42” Flatscreen, Hi-def no less. Surround sound, it had all the bells and whistles. When Mom sets out to buy a TV, she doesn’t kid around. I wanted to turn it on and watch something, but I was in a hurry to get to the library. If this wasn’t the surprise, then I couldn’t wait to see what it was.

The library was off the hallway downstairs. I went in. Uncle Mike was sitting at his desk, looking over some papers with a small, suited man. A small suited man with a big hawkish nose and a bowler hat. Uncle Mike looked up as I came in, and he winked at me. He stood up. The suited man stood up and bowed.

“ Come on in Kandy, sit down” He pointed to one of the large chairs facing the desk. I sat down and sank into the chair.

“ This is Mr. Ligget, the attorney on retainer for Mockingbird Manor. I’ve been having him check into something for you.”

 Mr. Ligget extended his hand. I shook it. “  A pleasure, Sir.” I sat back down.

Uncle Mike continued. “ I don’t know how much you know about Mockingbird Manor, or it’s history, outside of the rumors and ghost stories you and everyone else has heard a hundred times. Well, perhaps I should let Mr. Ligget explain”

Mom had come in and was standing behind my chair, her hand on my shoulder.

Mr. Ligget turned to me, holding a huge stack of papers in his lap.

“ Well, Miss Kaine,” He started, “ We have been working since yesterday morning on this. Since Dr. Mortis called us. All though we can’t say with a 100% accuracy, yet, we at the Ligget, Prigger, and Jones Law Firm can safely assume, with Dr. Mortis’ insistence, that you are the only living blood relative of Dr. Mortis. As such, we can safely confirm unto you the title of Mistress of Mockingbird Manor, with all due rights, and obligations assumed by you. Sign here.”

He held out a paper, I signed it. “Please make sure I get a copy for me to look over.” I told him.

“Of course, Miss Kaine.” He replied.

He continued. “In assuming the said title of Mistress, you will agree to assume possession of all lands, deeds and assets upon the passing of Dr. Mortis, and execute all duties and responsibilities inherit thereof. Do you accept the terms?” I nodded. “Sign here please” He held out another paper. I signed it.

“Do I get a copy of that, too?” I asked.

“Of course Miss Kaine, of course.” He looked at Uncle Mike. “ You were right, she is a sharp one. She has Mortis blood in her for sure.”

Uncle Mike smiled. Mr. Ligget looked down at the stack of papers again, and started to read some more.

“Hold on Ligget,” Uncle Mike stopped him. “Just leave the papers, she’ll read them, sign them, and get them back to you. Let’s not dump too much on her all at one time.”

“ Yes Sir, Dr. Mortis.” He handed Uncle Mike a stack of papers the size of the Oxford Dictionary, turned to me and said, “And a good evening to you, Mistress Kaine.” With that he was gone.

I wasn’t too sure of what I believed of what I think just happened. I turned to look up at Mom, “ What does all this mean, Mom?”

She looked down at me and I could see a small tear in the corner of her eye.

“ What this means, Sweetheart, is that one day, you will be the Lady of Mockingbird Manor. You have just agreed that you are the last living Mortis, and have accepted title and responsibility for the estate if something happens to Uncle Mike.”

 I still wasn’t too sure about all that, and I know I didn’t like the idea of talking about something happening to Uncle Mike. He was starting to grow on me. I gave Mom a puzzled look. She took my face in her hands, and I could see she was really letting a few tears out now. But she was smiling too. She had that look she gets, when something good happened to me. The same look she had the day she brought home Bert.

“What this means Sweetheart, is that one day this will all be yours. All that you see right now, and so much more you haven’t learned about yet. One day it is all yours. Your house, the estate, and no one ever again can take it away from you.”

“You mean I’m rich?” I asked.

Uncle Mike winked at me, and said, “ Richer than you ever imagined.”

Talk about shocked. I was still having a hard time grasping everything that was going on. And really, everything that had happened since yesterday. ‘Strange how a person’s life can change in less than 24 hours” I thought. ‘Very strange indeed.’ I still wasn’t too sure about everything they had told me, I never concerned myself with titles and things like that, never had much cause too. But I did get the sense that this was just the beginning of another adventure.  All I knew is that Mom was happy, Uncle Mike was happy, so I figured this must be a good thing.

The next day is when things started to get really weird.

Mom outdid herself on breakfast. That was one of the changes that had happened, that I’m going to enjoy getting used to. I had to run to the corner to catch the bus. Uncle Mike and I sat talking over breakfast a little too long, I think he’s going to enjoy getting used to a hot breakfast, too. He said I could invite a few friends over on Saturday for a pool party. For someone who is supposed to be mad, he’s pretty agreeable.

While some things were going to be fun getting used too, running to the bus stop every morning won’t be. I barely made it, and as soon as I got on the bus, it sped off down the road. This wasn’t going to be fun at all.

I saw Stormy at our usual spot. I told her that I could have a party on Saturday with a few of our friends. Since we really only had a few friends, keeping a guest list small would be pretty easy.

“I’m worried, though,” I told her. “I have never hosted a party before, so I wasn’t sure what I needed to do.”

“Don’t worry, Kiddo, I know what has to be done.” She grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it for you.”

 OK, I don’t know why I do this, but I do it every time. Every time Stormy says ‘don’t worry, I’ll take care of it’ I need to worry. Sometimes, Stormy’s plans don’t work out exactly  as she plans them. I know this, she knows this, but still I do it. I do it every time.

“You will? Great!” I told her. See, I did it again.

    As we walked into first period, Ms. Kinderplatz called me over to her desk.

“Kandy, I have a note here that says you are to report to Mr. Draggett’s office IMMEDIATELY. From the tone of the note, I would suggest you get yourself there as fast as you can. Don’t stop anywhere.”

I hadn’t done anything wrong, so this was curious. Maybe Randy was up to her usual hi-jinks, and got me in trouble again. Probably something like that. I was walking down the hallway when I heard a kid crying. I looked down the east hall and there he was. There was a small kids sitting on the floor, crying, and a bigger kid, looked like a high-schooler, standing over him. The big kid was teasing the little one. This wasn’t right. Someone had to do something. Since there was no one else around, that someone had to be me. I set myself to brave and walked right over.

“Hey”, I hollered at the big kid, using the biggest voice I could, “Pick on someone your own size.”

  “Oh, Yeah,” He looked down at me, “What are you going to do about it?”

I stood between him and the little kid, and I tried as hard as I could to make myself look bigger.

“Whatever I have to.” I said looking him in the eye, and using the biggest voice I could.

“AHHH, whatever…” The high-schooler said and turned and walked off.

‘Whew’ I let out. I turned to the little boy and told him it was ok, and he was safe. He told me this was his first day at the school, and he was lost. He didn’t know where he was supposed to be. He had a note saying who his teacher was, and where he was supposed to be, but the big kid tore up the note.

I looked at all the scraps of paper. I started to piece them together, and quickly noticed this was in a small child’s writing. Trying to put the letters into words wasn’t working, something’s not quite right here.

As I was trying to piece them together, the thought of how late getting to Draggett’s office I was getting. Laying out the scraps of paper I noticed the letters were written backwards. Once I laid them out in proper order, and read them backwards, it appeared the kid belonged over in the west hall, on the other side of campus. There was only one thing to do, I had to take him there.

‘Oh, boy’ I thought, ‘I’m going to be SOOO late getting to Draggett’s office. Oh well, if I’m all ready in trouble, it’s just going to added onto that.’

It took 15 minutes to get the kids to his class, and off I ran to Mr. Draggett’s office.

I walked into the school office, and was ushered directly into Mr. Draggett’s office. Mr. Ligget was there. They both stood as I came into the room.

“Good morning Mistress Kaine.” Mr. Ligget said and he nodded his head.

“Please Kandy, come in and sit” Mr. Draggett said, pointing to the chair in front of his desk.

I started to say how I was sorry I was late, and trying to explain about the lost boy, and the big bully, but Mr. Draggett just held up his hand, which in school principal language means just be quiet.

I guess you should know, Mr. Draggett is considered to be tough but fair. He expected nothing short of the best from the students here. As long as he knew you were doing your best, he would be satisfied with the outcome. You didn’t have to be the best, but he insisted that you always do your best. I kind of liked that about him.

“ Mr. Ligget has informed me that you are now officially the Mistress of Mockingbird Manor.”  He said, in a matter-of-factly way. All business, very serious this was I guess. “ As such, you are a member of the Founder’s Board. The Mortis Foundation actually built the Academy all those years ago, and the Mortis Endowment provides almost 100% of our annual operating budget. Such a lofty position requires a few changes in your status at the school. You will be moved from the general student body, if you so desire, and be provided with a private tutor of your choosing. It is also provided that every morning the Academy will send out a limousine to pick you up and bring you to school. It is also provided that…. well, let me just say, you have become a very important student here. You can arrange with Mrs. Stevens any arrangements the Academy will need to provide for you.”

“Well, if it’s all the same,” I said, “ I’ll just stick with the bus for now. My friends ride the bus.”

“ Mistress Kaine,” Mr. Ligget said to me, “It’s just not fitting that someone of your status ride to school on the bus. I insist, if for security reasons alone.”

“ That’s OK, Ligget, if she wants to stay on the bus, she can” Mr. Draggett said. “ I’m sure Morningside Academy can accommodate her in whatever ways will make her comfortable, and assure she will get the most out of her time here.”

“ I’ll accede the point as to what Mistress Kaine prefers,” Mr. Ligget replied, (I was learning that this guy always seemed to talk funny.), “However, as the executor of the Mortis Foundation, I remain at her disposal to correct any issues that may arise.”

“ I’m sure you do.” Mr. Draggett answered, “I’m sure you do. Now at this point, Kandy, is there anything we can do at this time for you?”

Thinking it over for a minute, I could think of a million things I wanted done, but that was mostly TO Randy, and not FOR me.

“Well, can you have the bus pick me up at my house instead of at the corner?”

“ I sure that will be arranged. Anything else?”

“ Maybe, if you could stop them from serving meatloaf in the cafeteria? It’s kind of gross.”

“I’ll look into that, and see what we can do.” Mr. Draggett replied, then he leaned across the desk and whispered, “ Yeah it is terrible, isn’t it?”

Mr. Ligget stood up and shook hands with Mr. Draggett, then turned to me, and tipped his hat.

“ Good day to you Mistress Kaine. Be sure to inform me if I may be of any service to you.” He said. Out the door he went. Mr. Draggett and I both kind of giggled watching him leave. Mr. Ligget was a smallish, thin man. When he set himself to motion, he always seemed to be in a hurry. It was kind of funny to watch his short legs trying to keep up with the pace his mind was setting.

“Well, Kandy,” Mr. Draggett said after Mr. Ligget was gone, “ Or should I say, Mistress Kaine?”

“Kandy’s fine,” I told him.

“ What an interesting turn of events we have here. You are the first Mortis we have had here since Dr. Mortis graduated thirty-five years ago. This is quite an honor for the Academy and for you too. I do have to tell you, that since you are on the Founders Board, your Academic Scholarship will have to be revoked. You are now here under the Mortis Foundation Grant. The grant covers more than your books and tuition, and provides for much more than the academic scholarship could. Plus, that means we can give your scholarship to another deserving child. Who knows, we might just uncover the next Kandy Kaine out there.”

Well, I didn’t know how to take that. I was proud of that scholarship. I worked hard for it. But if it will help another kid, then I guess it was OK.

“ Well, Kandy, as I said, you can arrange any requirements that come up with Mrs. Stevens. And by the way, the new uniform looks sharp.”

“Thank you, Mr. Draggett.” I said

Then he leaned across the desk again, looked me in the eye, and smiled, well, at least as much as Mr. Draggett was capable of smiling.

“ Way to go, Kandy, I’m really happy the way things are turning out for you. Are you going to let me know what you have come up with for the Science Fair yet? I’m anxious to find out.”

“You’ll know soon enough, Mr. Draggett. I promise.” I told him. ‘As soon as I find out myself’ I said in my head.

I left Mr. Draggett’s office in kind of a daze. So much has happened lately, that even I was starting to get a little overwhelmed. I sat down on the bench, and tried to recap everything. Let’s see, two days ago, Mom and I were living in the maid’s quarters out behind the Rogers house, wondering where our next dollar was coming from. Today, not even 48 hours later, we were living in a giant house, that was ours, and we never had to worry about money again, as apparently, I’m now quite wealthy. Where two days ago, I was a typical science nerd student here, wearing a uniform that had barely met the minimum standards, to me standing here, in my brand new, custom tailored uniform, with brand new shoes, and if I understood Mr. Draggett correctly, to being quite a big-shot here. Can life get any crazier than that? Little did I know how soon that question would be answered.

Billy was walking down the hall, and hollered at me.

“Come on Kandy, we’ll be late for Science class. Today’s the test on improbability factors; we don’t want to be late.”

“ On my way, “ I hollered back. After everything that has happened in the last two days, I could pass any improbability test they could possibly give.

When we got to Mr. Higginboom’s class, we took our seats. As soon as the bell rang, he stood to address the class.

“Class, books away. Papers down, pencils ready. Test today.” He clapped his hands together. A chorus of groans arose from the class.

“All except you Kandy, you are excused from class today, and are to report to the Lecture Hall. Come forward please.”

I got up and went to his desk. He handed me a note.

He spoke quietly, “ I’ll just mark you down for an A today, as we both know you would probably ace this test anyway. Wait until you are outside to read the note, and Kandy, congratulations on this. I can’t think of a more deserving student.”

Outside in the hall, I opened the note. It said I was to come to the back entrance of the Lecture Hall, and knock seven times on the door. No more, no less, seven knocks. And then wait until the door was answered.

‘ Now what could this be about?’ I wondered as I headed off to the Lecture Hall.

 I arrived at the back door as it said, and knocked precisely seven times. Then I waited. I didn’t have to wait long. The door flew open and four sets of hands grabbed me, and pulled me through the door. I was rushed over to a chair in a darkened room. All of a sudden, a bright light was shining in my face, right in my eyes. It was so bright that it blinded me.  I couldn’t see what was around me. I could make out shapes, and pick up some sounds. Enough to know that there were eight people in the room, all talking low, and pointing to me. From the voices, and what few hints I could overhear, I figured these were older students, from the High School side of the Academy. Then silence.

Suddenly a voice spoke to me. “Well, Kandy Kaine, we’ve been expecting you.”

“We’ve been expecting you for quite some time.”