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Back on Earth, I killed time before lunch in the library by checking with my project group online. I had sent them text messages confirming that we would meet with the second person on the list, a retired teacher by the name of Stanley Oakland later that afternoon. I emailed Abby my notes from Hannah Smith and promised we would all regroup right after school.
“This project is such a freaking drag,” I grumbled, plopping down next to Nia at the lunch table. The cafeteria was bustling as usual, the den of students talking and laughing making it almost impossible to have a full conversation without yelling. Somehow, though, Nia heard my complaint and chuckled.
“College credit is never a bad thing.” She gave me a playful nudge. “Especially when you’re a, er, relaxed student.”
I stuck out my tongue and took a bite of my sandwich, grateful that Grandma had packed our lunches. Her barbeque pulled pork always put me in better spirits. In between bites, I filled Nia in on my newest assignment with Rowena. “I think she’s onto me,” I concluded. “I’m getting really nervous.”
“Don’t be,” Nia said, taking another forkful of salad. “She’s just trying to look out for you.”
I balked. “By having secret assignments and splitting me up from Rena?”
“Honestly, you are so paranoid.” Nia rolled her eyes. “I don’t think Rowena is up to anything nefarious.”
“What?”
“Nefarious, Kay. I think that’s an SAT word. Have you been studying?”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Get to the point.”
“The point is: I think she’s just trying to help you realize your full potential.”
“But that’s a bad thing, Nia!”
“Not in her eyes, Kay.” Nia huffed. “She’s a teacher. All good teachers want to see their students excel.”
I thought about it. Nia had a point. But my gut told me that Rowena was aware of the Senior Council’s interest in the Akearman legend and my part in it. The bell rang, signaling it was time to get a move on to the next class. The rest of the day was uneventful, and I even managed to make it through Mrs. Temely’s class without being called out. That plus Grandma’s lunch perked me up enough to offer a smile to my project group when we all met up, despite being so grumpy about having to do the stupid project.
Mr. Oakland’s townhouse was located right in the middle of the city, near all of the bus stops, so we didn’t have a long commute with lots of bus transfers. His house was all brick with beautiful white plantation shutters framing his windows. One of them had a little picture of Spock from Star Trek sitting in it. Mr. Oakland was waiting for us on his stoop with a bright smile.
“Hello, students!” he beamed, clasping his hands behind his back. I walked up the steps and shook his hand, noting that I towered over the round man by at least three inches. “Come in, come in.”
We filed in behind him, taking in his earth-toned furniture and plush carpets. He ushered us into his sitting room, offering us sweet tea and lemon cookies. We all politely declined, so he took a handful instead, plopping down on a small armchair.
“I’ve been trying to give sweets up myself, but I just can’t help it.” He smiled, patting his stomach. “My doctor says I need to lose weight, but where’s the fun in that?” We all laughed. He took a generous swig of his tea. “So, you’re here to learn more about my work?”
“That’s right, sir,” I said, speaking up. Jacob fished a pencil out of his pants and poised to take notes.
Oakland leaned back and studied me over his tea cup. “Well, I don’t want to hold you kids up. I know how hard it is to have to do extra homework! My work is in multiverse theory. Have you heard of that?” Everyone shook their heads. Oakland continued. “Scientists believe that our universe is a part of a package of parallel universes. Creating a multiverse.”
“What happens in these other universes?” Abby asked.
“No one knows for sure, dear. There are a lot of guesses. It’s been theorized that each universe has a unique set of physical laws and parameters that are unique to its living creatures just like ours is.”
He took another sip of his tea before locking his grey eyes with me again. “For example, a hypothetical universe might have people who can do what would be considered extraordinary on this planet, given our laws. Some might call it magic.”
I glanced nervously around my group, but no one seemed to notice that Mr. Oakland had focused on me. I let out a nervous chuckle and looked down at my list of questions.
“Mr. Oakland, how did you become interested in multiverse theory?” I asked.
“Oh, good question.” He smiled. “I’ve always been interested in science fiction, even when I was a kid. One night, while out camping with my family, I got lost in the woods. While I was trying to make my way back, I came across an odd-looking tree. I must have been dehydrated by that point because I had been gone for hours, but I could have sworn the tree spoke to me.”
By this point, my heart was beating so loudly, I could barely hear Oakland. Did he realize how close he was to the actual truth about alternate worlds? What would he say if he found out that I could really make trees talk on other planets? I shifted in my chair and refocused on him.
“And the tree asked its friends to help me find my way back to my family,” he continued. “They did. When I got back, my mother told me that I had been gone eighteen hours and they had set up a search and rescue for me. But my life had been changed. I could never shake the feeling that those trees were really alive. I started studying about alternative universes and eventually decided to pursue an education in it.”
Nathan raised his hand.
Mr. Oakland chuckled. “You don’t have to raise your hand, you know. I’m a retired professor. Ask away.”
Nathan blushed. “Sorry. Er, what would you say to anyone who says that you’re crazy?”
We all laughed again.
“Well,” Mr. Oakland began, chuckling, “maybe I am crazy. But maybe not. Each year, we discover more and more about the universe we live in. And a lot of times we have things happen to us that we can’t explain. Ever feel a sense of déjà vu?” He looked at us as we nodded. “Who’s to say that you aren’t remembering a past life? On another planet?”
Once again, he looked at me before continuing. “I would tell the person who insists that I’m crazy that I feel sorry for them for not keeping an open mind. It would be incredibly arrogant to dismiss theories just because they haven’t been proven yet. For a long time, it was a widely known fact that the Earth is flat.”
I frowned. “But the Earth isn’t flat. Everyone knows that now.”
“Ha! Well, maybe not everyone. But you’re right, most people now accept the theory that the Earth is round as fact. Our perception of reality has changed.” He finished his tea and gave me a wink. “Who’s to say it can’t be changed again?” We asked him a few more questions and then thanked him for his time before packing up to leave.
“So what’s everyone doing today?” Abby asked.
“I’ve got no plans,” Jacob confirmed.
“Shocking,” I teased. He laughed and crossed his eyes at me.
Nathan piped up. “I’m free, too. You guys want to hang?”
Abby shrugged. “Sure, why not? Pizza?” Everyone made noises of agreement and looked at me.
“Eh, I’ve got chores back at home.” I shrugged. “Raincheck?”
“You’re more of a loner than I am, Kay.” Jacob laughed. “You gotta get out more.”
“I get out plenty,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about me.”
He batted his eyes playfully and tweaked my nose. “I’ll try.”
I gave a nervous laugh as my bus pulled up. Since when were we friends enough to playfully touch each other? “I’ll send you guys my notes. Have fun.” They waved me off, and as the bus pulled away, I could hear through the open window Jacob ask Abby, “So what does a guy have to do to get a date with one of you cheerleaders?”
After an early dinner and a movie at home with Grandma, I collapsed on my bed, my mind racing with Mr. Oakland’s interview. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was trying to tell me something. What were the odds that I would meet someone outside of Nia who knew about Turgor? I rolled over to my side and stared out the window. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow in my room. I could hear Grandma getting into her pajamas, no doubt ready to snuggle in and watch old westerns until she fell asleep. Before I knew it, my eyes were closing as I flew to my second home.
I opened my eyes and groaned. I hated how groggy I felt waking up here. Why couldn’t I be a light sleeper like Nia?
I rolled over and gave a shriek. Two pairs of bright red eyes stared back at me, worried. I sat up, clutching my sheets to me until I realized that those eyes belonged to Rena and Jala.
“Sorry to scare you,” Jala said, moving closer to my bed. “We didn’t want to attempt to wake you, but I wanted to be here as soon as you were up.”
“What’s going on?” I croaked. Rena handed me a glass of water. I chugged it, grateful, and handed it back to her before continuing. “Why are you here? Is everything OK?”
Rena shook her head. “No, it’s not! It’s awful, Kay. The KaKonians have attacked people in Brozek Square!” I stared at her with my mouth open for a few seconds, my mind processing what she’d just said.
Finally, I managed, “How?”
Jala hugged Rena to her side, her eyes filled with tears. “They’re using the Death Walkers, Kay. They’re using them against us.”