Page 14 of Mistaken Magic

"Iwant to say someplace like this, but it's unrealistic,"Iadmitted.

"Whatdo you mean, 'like this?'" she pressed.

"Therolling hills, so much open space, but lots of trees,"Iexplained. "Like, not a wild forest, but not an open meadow.Like, um, kinda in the middle?Granted,I'velived in southernIowamy entire life."

"There'snothing wrong with that," she assured me. "Ifyou could have any pet in the world - with no worries about practicality - what animal would you choose?"

Ok, that one was easy. "Ithink a crow.Maybea raven, butI'veonly ever met crows."

"Good," she told me, making a mark. "Ifyou could have any magical ability in the world, what type would you want?Anythingyou've ever heard of," she explained.

Yeah,Ihad to stop and think about that one. "Um, immortality,Ithink."

"Ok, now this one is harder.Mymiddle name isDawn.Mymiddle name isHazel.Whichone is a lie?"Shesmiled, her eyes hanging on me.

"Canyou say them again?"Iasked.

Shenodded. "Mymiddle name isDawn."Thenshe paused, but her face was completely expressionless. "Mymiddle name isHazel."

"Hazelis the right one,"Iguessed, simply because it sounded better in my opinion.Ihonestly had no clue.

"Pickthe one that sounds the most interesting," she went on. "Earth, air, fire, or water."

"Fire,"Isaid without hesitation.

Thenshe changed tactics. "Isthere anything about this room that surprised you?"

"Thedesks are clear withUSBplugs."

Thatgot another mark on the page. "Ok.Now, we get to do a few more preferences, but these will be tactile."

Ms.Rhodesset down the papers and opened a drawer in the desk.Pullingout a box, she carried it around the front.Thething was bigger than a shoe box, but shaped more upright.Iwatched while she removed the top and reached inside.Liftingout two things wrapped in cloth, she set them on the desk before me.

"Youcan unwrap those and look at each as much as you want.Whichone do you like more?" she asked.

Ipulled back the black cloth to reveal a simple hunk of metal.Therewas a bit of rust on the smooth surface, clinging to the edges, but that was the most exciting thing about it.ThenImoved to the other.Whenthe cloth fell back, it revealed a piece about the same size and shape, but it was a very different metal.

Ilifted both, surprised to find the rusty one was definitely heavier.Theshiny one, however, seemed almost iridescent in the light.Curious,Itilted it, watching hints of colors play on its surface.Itwas almost like anodized aluminum or something, but the colors were reflections, not a part of the actual metal.

"Thisone,"Itold her. "Theother just looks like iron."

"Nowwrap those back up," she told me, "andIwill get you the next."

Afterthat came flowers, then liquids.Sheasked me to pick whicheverIliked most, regardless of why.Thenthere were a pair of broaches.Nextcame knives, then pieces of wood.WhenImade my choice between the last two, she put everything back in the box and moved it into the drawer once more.

"Andthat's it," she told me. "I'llhave to analyze the results, but you can wait for your uncle in the atrium if you want."

"Really?"Iasked. "Nomath orEnglishstuff?"

"None," she promised. "Wewant to see how you think, not what you've been taught.Yousee, we can't help every student, so we've focused our attention on those who would excel with a slightly different type of instruction.Itwill probably take about half an hour for me to go through this, so feel free to explore the plants.Wehave a few that are unique, and nothing is poisonous."

Ieased myself out of the chair, knowing a dismissal whenIheard one. "Justout the door and to the right, yeah?"

"Exactly," she agreed, smiling at me untilIwalked out of the room.

Butas the door closed,Isaw her let out a sigh and drop her head.Thatdidn't look good.HadIfailed a test on my opinion?Wasthat even possible?Andwhat wouldIdo ifIcouldn't go to school here?Fora split second,Iwanted to rush back in and beg her to give me another chance, butIknew it was pointless.

Liamhad said this place was elite, prestigious, and special.Withthat many posh words, the chances of me actually getting in had to be impossible.Nevermind that college was my dream.Forme, this was a chance that could give me a solid head start on the rest of my life - but my luck didn't work that way.Inother words,Inow had half an hour to figure out what the hellIwas going to do with the rest of my life.

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