Witherwood Reform School (13 page)

“Did you have a nice talk?” Orrin asked the children.

“Really good,” Charlotte replied.

Orrin smiled. “Marvin has such a nice way of saying things. Now, these orderlies will take you to the kitchen.”

Tobias and Charlotte were escorted to the kitchen where, for the next four hours, they scrubbed breakfast dishes and helped to prep for lunch. They had missed another night of sleep, but due to the lasting effect of Marvin's voice, they smiled the whole time, all their thoughts and memories of the night no longer in their minds. Charlotte couldn't even remember hating Tobias for the trouble he had put them in.

It was late afternoon when Ms. Gulp finally led them back to their room, door number seven. As usual, there was nobody around. Tobias and Charlotte stared at Ms. Gulp as she motioned for them to go in.

“You're like two strong arguments for youth prison. Go in.”

“Thanks,” Charlotte said kindly.

“Don't thank me.”

Ms. Gulp locked them in their room. Tobias didn't bother turning on the light. He and Charlotte shuffled quickly to their beds and fell facefirst onto their cots.

Neither of them uttered a single word for nearly fifteen hours—unless of course you consider snoring a form of talking.

 

CHAPTER 14

A
L
ITTLE
M
ORE
L
EARNED

There is something about getting fifteen hours of sleep that makes a previously exhausted person view the world a lot more positively. There is also something sort of painful about fully understanding how bad your situation is because you are now wide awake. And there is the weird way you might feel if someone's voice had altered your mind and made you forget all your troubles.

Ms. Gulp stepped up to Tobias's cot and put her loud, mushy mouth a few inches away from his right ear.

“Morning!”

Tobias's body sprang upward a few inches and then snapped back onto his cot.

“You too, Pointy Ears,” she hollered at Charlotte.

Both of them sat up slowly and yawned. They looked at each other and shrugged.

“You'll need to wear these,” Ms. Gulp said, throwing a small pile of clothes at both of them. “I'm sick of looking at your filthy rags. You have ten minutes to wash up and change. I'll be waiting in the hall.” Ms. Gulp creaked across the floor and left the room.

Tobias gazed at Charlotte and smiled. “I feel different.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“What happened yesterday?”

Charlotte couldn't remember, so she just yawned again.

Tobias looked at the clothes Ms. Gulp had given him. He held up a small white shirt and a plaid skirt.

“I think those are mine,” Charlotte said.

Charlotte used the washroom first. She took a two-minute shower and then put on the plaid skirt, white blouse, kneesocks, and black flats she had been given. She tossed her old clothes into the corner of the bathroom as if she was tossing away hope. She left her blond hair wet and hanging in front of her ears. When she came out, Tobias wanted to laugh, but his head was still foggy.

Tobias took his turn. As he was taking off his clothes, he was happy to find two pens in his pocket, but he was shocked to see all the scratches on his body. He was most surprised by the large red marks on his shoulder. When he combed his hand through the back of his hair, he discovered a clump missing.

“Weird,” he said while looking at the mirror.

It took him less than five minutes to shower and change. He then joined his sister and Ms. Gulp in the hall. The uniform Tobias had been given consisted of black corduroy trousers and a collared white shirt with a gray V-neck sweater. There was a red-striped tie included, but he had no idea how to put it on, so he had just thrown it around his neck like a scarf. Seeing this, Ms. Gulp pulled it off of him and began to roughly work it around his neck. Tobias choked as she tightened the knot.

Despite her attempt to strangle him, Tobias said, “Thank you.”

Ms. Gulp stared at him with her fat eyes. Her breath smelled like wet garbage, and there were sweat stains showing beneath her armpits. A single long hair was sticking out from her right nostril. “It's obvious Marvin talked to you. Things should run better now.”

“You seemed meaner before,” Tobias said.

“Watch your tongue,” Ms. Gulp warned, her red hair pinned back so tightly that her face looked like a blotchy plastic mask. “I'm exactly the same person. Now, come with me, or you'll be late.”

All three of them walked through Weary Hall to the arched doors leading out into the gardens. Outside it was raining, and the trees and bushes hung their branches, seeming depressed about the weather.

Tobias glanced around as they trudged down the stone corridor that ran alongside the gardens.

“Were we here last night?” he asked, confused.

“Don't ask me that,” Ms. Gulp barked as she marched two paces ahead of them. “I detest inquisitive children. What good can come of a child's question?”

Tobias tried asking Charlotte. “Were we here last night?”

“Don't ask her questions either,” Ms. Gulp snipped.

Charlotte looked at her brother and shrugged.

They entered Severe Hall.

“Just so you don't ask me later, Severe Hall is where most of the schoolrooms are,” Ms. Gulp said. “It's time for you to make something of yourselves—you know … give to the cause.”

It's important to point out that some words seem to have impact beyond their consonants and vowels. Yes, sinister inflection can turn harmless little letters into statements of dread and uneasiness. Had the Eggers kids been clear minded, they would have turned and run because of the way Ms. Gulp had said “give to the cause.” But their minds were still covered in the goo of Marvin's voice, so Charlotte said, “That sounds fun.”

Inside Severe Hall, the walls were paneled with dark wood that ran from floor to ceiling. The windows were filled with textured glass that allowed light through in thin yellow streaks. There were tree-shaped chandeliers hanging from dusty black chains. And a large painting on the wall showed the image of a child riding a lion. At the end of the hall was a single door with a small plaque that read LEARNING ANNEX.

Ms. Gulp opened the door. “Go in.”

Tobias and Charlotte stepped into the classroom, followed by Ms. Gulp. Dozens of desks filled the room, and dozens of students filled the desks. Everyone turned to stare. The other students were dressed in the same uniforms. There looked to be an even number of girls and boys.

The walls in the classroom were covered with fuzzy brown burlap that muffled any noise in the room. Two plants hung in the far corners, their long branches spilling out of their pots and touching the floor like leafy octopi.

In the front of the classroom, there was a man leaning on the edge of an old desk. Behind him was a wall-sized chalkboard with sketches of various animals and numbers on it. The man's arms and legs were as thin as twigs, and his head was sharp and covered with scruffy bark-colored hair. He was obviously the teacher, but he didn't look as ancient as the rest of the Witherwood staff. He had a quick smile that he displayed the second Tobias and Charlotte entered.

“Come, come.” He waved. “You must be the new students I keep hearing about. Have a seat here in the front.”

The teacher pointed to a couple of empty desks in the front row. Tobias and Charlotte shuffled over to them.

“They're spirited, so teach them quickly,” Ms. Gulp said. “Orrin wants them on the fast track. Time matters with these two.”

“I'll have them ready,” the teacher assured her. “Up to speed ASAP.”

Ms. Gulp slammed the door behind her, causing every student in the room to jump.

“Introductions are in order,” the teacher said in a soft voice. “I'm Professor Jacob Himzakity. If it helps, you can remember it by thinking about someone pointing at me and saying, ‘Him's a kitty.' Understand?”

Tobias kind of nodded, but Charlotte just stared at him.

“And your names?” he asked.

“I'm Tobias, and she's Charlotte.”

“Well, Tobias and Charlotte, this is adaptation class. You will be brought here every day by Ms. Gulp until I feel you are ready to come on your own. Okay?”

Neither one of them nodded.

“I will teach you what you need to know. Deal?”

“Yes,” Charlotte said, her ears twitching slightly.

Tobias thought about saying yes as well, but for some reason his brain was acting up, and something wasn't connecting right. Maybe it was the years of being mischievous, or the fact that he had never taken instruction well and now he was getting way too much of it. Maybe it was the déjà-vu–like feelings he was having, the memories of the gardens and of things that may or may not have happened there. Or perhaps it was the odd scratches and bruises he had on his body. Whatever it was, it wasn't sitting well with his brain.

“And you?” Professor Himzakity asked Tobias. “Will you be respectful so I can shape your mind?”

Tobias nodded.

“Fantastic!”

Tobias and Charlotte slowly looked around the room. Right behind them was a large boy with dark skin and no hair. Next to him were two girls who were obviously twins—both had long brown hair and stout pale noses. There were too many other sets of eyes and faces to take in. All the students were quiet, and only the bald-headed boy acknowledged them by giving a slight nod.

“Now,” Professor Himzakity said, “I know it's hard to stay focused with the parade just days away, but we've much to learn and only … well … only your youth to learn it in.” He pulled open one of his desk drawers and withdrew a textbook. He walked over to Tobias's desk and slapped it down. “You'll need to share with your sister.”

Tobias stared at the front of the book. The cover was a collage of different animal pictures. In one top corner was a picture of a frog. The image jogged something in Tobias's mind, and he spoke without thinking,

“Tadpoles.”

“Yes, yes,” Professor Himzakity said happily. “We will study the frog and its adaptive properties starting next month. For now, however, we are thinking about insects.”

Tobias looked at his smiling sister and begged his mind to kick in. He felt contented, but he knew he shouldn't. He scooted his desk a little bit closer to Charlotte's so they could share the book.

Professor Himzakity talked fast and repeated the same facts over and over. “Crickets can hear using their legs. Crickets can hear using their legs…” The professor then made all the students chant what he had said back at him.

After three hours of this unusual recitation, a couple of attendants wheeled in a lunch cart. The cart was filled with food—sandwiches, chocolate pudding, and drinks. One of the attendants clapped, and the students got up and began to pick what they wanted from the cart. Everyone was given two mandatory servings of pudding. Tobias was surprised to notice that his food had no smell. It hardly had any taste as well.

The bald boy looked up from his food and smiled at Tobias. “I'm Archie.”

Tobias and Charlotte nodded in acknowledgment.

“People say I'm friendly, but I can't always remember if I am.”

“You are,” Charlotte said.

“I must have learned that growing up,” Archie said proudly.

“Where'd you grow up?” Tobias asked.

Archie tilted his head and scrunched his forehead. “What do you mean?”

“I mean where are you from?”

“I can't really remember.”

“Maybe he was born at school?” Charlotte joined in.

“Maybe,” Archie said. “I can't remember being anywhere else. Where are you from?”

“I'm not sure,” Tobias answered in a confused tone. “Michigan?”

“That doesn't sound right,” Charlotte said.

“It probably isn't,” Tobias admitted. “I guess I can't remember either.”

A few more students gathered around Tobias and Charlotte and began to point at Charlotte's ears and ask them meaningless questions. The Eggers kids tried their best to answer, but their brains were failing them.

When there was a break in the interrogation, Tobias decided to ask a question himself. “What's Student Morale Day?”

“Just one of the best days of the year,” Archie answered for everyone. “The teachers put on an amazing parade, and you get to clap and wave as much as you want. Two years ago, Professor Himzakity tossed out mints from his parade float.”

“Sounds great,” Charlotte said.

“It was. In fact, people are still talking about it. I know I am.” Archie smiled. “Witherwood really is a wonderful place. You two are lucky to be here.”

“We know that,” Charlotte said.

A bell sounded, and the students shuffled back to their seats. Archie looked at Tobias and smiled. Professor Himzakity called the class to order as the attendants took the cart and left.

“Well,” the professor said smugly, “I hope you enjoyed the food we provided you.”

Charlotte nodded, while Tobias stared at the cover of his book, begging his brain to hurry up and kick in.

Professor Himzakity looked at Tobias and Charlotte. “Why don't you two scoot your desks even closer?” he suggested. “It will be easier for you to focus on the book.”

Tobias grabbed the edge of his desk and jerked it toward Charlotte's. Charlotte, thinking it was her responsibility to move closer to him, jerked hers toward him at the same time. As a result, her desk jammed directly into Tobias's fingers. It was the kind of hit that would make even the toughest person wince—like stubbing your toe hard against a metal table leg on a very cold night and then taking a whack at it with a sledgehammer. The sharp bolt of pain shot through Tobias's arm and up to his brain.

Tobias leapt from his desk, screaming and waving his hand. Professor Himzakity put both of his hands on his cheeks and howled like a sympathetic stick. Everyone else just watched Tobias's embarrassing dance and tried not to laugh.