The next day dawned late and dull. Andy woke up and all the conversations that he and Megan had had yesterday came crashing down. It almost felt as if the two days were somehow fused together.
They’d sat up in the attic and discussed.
Megan was silent for a couple of minutes. Andy was reluctant to speak but he spoke anyway.
‘So, I have an offer. Leave Kidlington and then venture out to the Sea. And somewhere in between I gotta attend some school, where I have to learn a little school stuf-’
‘Oh I know..’
Megan looked really put off now. ‘I think you should go you know? Its because you really get to move on to something. I mean, it’s just like Mr. Bennington said right? One “can hardly imagine any prosperity in this place”.. So you should just go. And write to me alright? When you’re in your school?’ she said fiercely, her eyes shining.
‘But I’d really imagined us learning how to split together,’ said Andy quietly.
Splitting was something of an every child under fifteen or sixteen yearned to learn. It was a state of the human body where the emotions of the concerned being would detach or “split” form the body. It was just like a human body, but more emotional, since it was the bare emotion itself.
‘Well, me too. But things change right? And everything happens for your own good too.’
‘I suppose,’ Andy said slowly. ‘Maybe it is a better options after all. I mean we could always meet up right? And maybe after I finish my schooling I can come here and both of us can go to the Sea together!’ and he brightened up and said, ‘Or better yet! I’ll ask Mr. Bennington if it’ possible for you to come too! And I can refuse if he doesn’t agree, and that way he’ll just have to take us!’ he finished triumphantly.
‘Well, I think you should take it a bit easy you know. I mean you’re in no position to bargain, frankly. You just have to ask politely, not just demand,’ Megan said, looking marginally cheerful now.
‘But.. oh alright!’ Andy looked a bit grumpy.
‘And what if he flatly says no?’
‘What? You think he will? But why?’
‘Why would he unnecessarily want to drag the two of us to London? London’s the heart of all the exciting things that are happening. The people who live there are all important in some way or the other. He might just be taking you there out of courtesy because she knows your father! But to drag the whole orphanage there-’
‘Not the whole orphanage! Just you! And come on! He’s filthy stinking rich! You can just make out by the clothes that he wears.. Wonder how his house is like!’
‘Well, I’m not keeping any hopes up. And I think we’d better go.. Potty’ll be wondering where you’ve been.’
The two then got back into their own dormitories. It was very convenient for the two of them to share adjacent rooms with the attic right above them.
Andy got ready for breakfast. Breakfast was always held at seven sharp and lateness wasn’t allowed. Andy felt a pang. Of what, he didn’t know. It would be weird if he had to adjust to new timings in his new school if he decided to go. He felt indecisive as he walked down the stairs to the dining hall- a large, grubby, slightly messy place with many stools. There were about thirty to forty wooden stools huddled around three large tables joined together. It was about six fifty, and there were only about ten children assembled, all of them with sleepy, morning faces. Megan was among them. Andy walked over to where she was sitting and pulled up a stool.
‘Hey,’ Megan yawned, though her eyes were more alert then usual. ‘Sleep well?’
‘Kinda,’ mumbled Andy.
‘C’mon you lot! Set the plates!’ called one of the kitchen maids. The few students rose and sauntered off to the kitchen, where they carried plates to the dining hall and set the plates for everyone.
It looked like Megan had a lot to say, and opened her mouth quite often, but didn’t seem to know where to start.
‘Meg, I’ve already made up my mind alright? Its either both of us or nothing. And besides, we have over an hour to discuss, which I don’t wanna do but since you seem so-’
Just then, Mary, one of the household maids, came scurrying towards Andy and squeaked, ‘Mrs. Potter here wants to see you. Right now. She didn’t tell me why but I saw the gentleman from yesterday come in a coach!’
Andy, who was surprisingly calm, stood up and followed Mary without a backward glance at Megan.
It seemed to be the same scene as the previous day. Mrs. Potter was grim faced and at her desk, while Mr. Bennington had his back to the door, and surprisingly Ms. Evans standing resolutely next to Mrs. Potter.
Andy walked in while the Mary closed the door from outside. Andy sat down next to Mr. Bennington on invitation by Mrs. Potter. Andy sensed Mr. Bennington’s slight discomfort and he knew no one else could.
‘Andy, Mr. Bennington has unexpected plans. He has to leave in a few hours to London. And that’s why he’s here extra early today,’ Mrs. Potter sounded a little cold, as though Mr. Bennington had no right to come an hour early without prior notice. She continued, ‘In fact, he’s got his coach waiting for him outside as we speak. He would like to know of your answer to his proposal immediately. Will you join him and attend whichever school he sends you to?’
Andy felt uncomfortable. He’d rather thought that he’d be alone with Mr. Bennington and he could chat with him genially and somehow pull Megan into all this. But with Mrs. Potter here he felt compelled to put on his best manners. And even with Ms. Evans he felt slightly uncomfortable.
Andy took his time and reluctantly said, ‘Erm.. I think so..’ He didn’t look at Mr. Bennington while he spoke. Instead he gazed at Mrs. Potter’s worn out pen-stand.
‘And are you willing to place yourself entirely in Mr. Bennington’s care?’
‘Yeah.. I guess.’
He was examining the contents of the pen-stand now.
Mr. Bennington spoke softly, ‘Andy, I need a sure answer. Now. You see? I cannot make this offer again. Now’s the ideal age for you to learn what you can about splitting. I’m off to all sorts of places after London in a weeks time. And I can come back only after three or four years. You can learn all this later no doubt, but I insist on you learning whatever you can now; when the time’s right.’ His eyes were blazing again, with that fiery passion Andy had begun to admire in Mr. Bennington.
‘Mr. Bennington, I’d truly like to go with you-’
‘But there’s a problem.’
It was Ms. Evans who spoke, and what was even more astonishing was the fact that it looked like she had Mrs. Potter’s full support.
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