Alison and Alexa were finishing their breakfast when the cousins tromped into the house, covered in mud and full of scratches. One of them had a nasty bruise on his face. The twins’ eyes widened.
“What happened to you?” they asked in unison.
“Shut up,” the oldest one said.
“Mind your own business,” said another.
The third one, the one with the bruise, simply ignored them.
Sarah entered the room and observed the boys. She asked only one question. “Did you find the keys?”
The oldest one reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of dirty keys. As he moved to place them on the table Sarah stopped him with both a look and a word.
“No!”
Sighing, the boys turned and walked to the wash sink. A moment later their faces and hands were covered in suds. The keys had been placed in the sink, the water and soap suds effectively cleaning them. Sarah hid her smile as she watched them. While she was sure the initial wash up had made them feel better, there was no way she would let them sit at her table in their muddy clothes.
“Go shower and change. Then come back for your breakfast.”
Not bothering to protest, the boys headed towards the school. The school’s gym shower had the ability to accommodate multiple persons and the boys quickly stripped and stepped into the hot streams of water. Pulling on sweats from their lockers, they hurried back to the house for their breakfast. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the twins were already gone.
They were halfway through their breakfast when Samuel walked in. He looked at Sarah, who nodded, then at the boys.
“Good. You found the keys.” He hesitated, then asked, “what’s with the bruise?”
“I fell down an embankment.”
“Any injuries beyond the bruise?”
“No.”
“Excellent. Please gather in the schoolyard when you’ve finished.”
He turned and left. The boys looked at each other in confusion. That’s it? No other questions? He didn’t want to know how or when they’d found the keys? They felt cheated of their victory, almost resentful.
An hour later they stood as the center of attention in the schoolyard. A congratulatory sign hung between two climbing poles. A table was filled with small, wrapped gifts and a large cake. Everyone was smiling and offering their congratulations. All resentment disappeared when they realized this was their graduation ceremony. They weren’t being held back as they’d feared.
Samuel gestured for everyone to be quiet. Handing each of the three a large manilla envelope he began to speak.
“Today you enter the world as you were meant to enter it. Inside those envelopes are your first assignments. You will find sufficient funds and other documents to complete your tasks. You are not to tell each other what your assignment is. You are not to communicate with each other while on assignment.” He paused, then continued with some sadness, “You are not to return to this place. This is no longer your home.”
The three looked at him, surprised. No longer our home? As the oldest opened his mouth to speak, Samuel motioned him to remain silent.
“From this point forward, you will have no further contact with us. You cease to exist to us, and we cease to exist to you. I know that sounds harsh, but it is for the protection of all. It has always been this way. The documents in your hand will explain everything. The gifts on the table have been carefully chosen for each of you. They will assist you throughout your life. Keep them close.”
Samuel smiled at each of them. “Now, let’s have some cake and enjoy ourselves. After that, you must rest and prepare. You leave tonight.”
Alison listened to her father with growing alarm. He was sending the cousins away forever? Would that happen to all of them? Or was it just the cousins? After all, they weren’t Samuel’s actual children. He wouldn’t send his own children away, would he? She looked at Alexa who appeared as alarmed as her. She knew without asking that Alexa’s thoughts were as hers. Reaching out for Alexa’s hand, they moved to the table and waited their turn for a piece of cake.