Page 44 of Dark Endures

Instead of answering, I reach into my desk and pull out a package of earplugs that I bring to the shooting range and hold them out to him. “These will help.”

“That’s it. That’s all you’re going to give me?” He glares at them.

“I have some aspirin if you want.”

“You’re wack. Completely insane. This is the stupidest lesson I’ve ever heard of.”

“Do you want to tap out?” It’s kind of evil of me to challenge him like that. But he isn’t in emotional distress. Everett’s just frustrated and refusing to see what’s in front of him.

“No way.”

“Then I’ll see you in five days.”

He stands there staring at me for a long minute. Probably trying to decide if he wants to hit me or throw another temper tantrum, neither of which would bother me.

Everett stalks off.

Day 4

Everett walks into my office a little quieter. More pensive.

I’d expected to see him yesterday, but he never showed up. Isla reported that he started talking to the kids instead of sitting and glaring at everyone. Is the lesson finally getting through to him, or is he going to give up?

“They’re cute. But I still don’t get it.”

“They are cute.”

“You’re still not going to tell me what I’m supposed to learn.”

“No. But I’ll give you a clue. Ask different questions.”

“What does that even mean?”

“I’ll see you in three days. Goodbye, Everett.”

Day 6

“I have a question.” Everett stands at my door almost waiting to be invited in.

“What’s your question?” I set Petunia on my neck and stand up, giving him all my attention.

“Where do those kids come from?”

“Here.”

“Like here as in Urbium?”

“All the children at the day care center live on The Street or their parents lived here for a while.” We don’t have the staff to open up to the general public.

“All of them?”

“Yes, Everett, all of them.”

“Some of the parents seem so young. One of the girls with two kids can’t be more than fifteen or sixteen.”

He’s talking about Cora. “She just turned fifteen.”

“You didn’t make her give them up.”

---