“Yes,” said Rosemary. “And to go visiting my aunt and uncle outside Boston.”
“Well,” said Professor Thorn, tapping a pen against his desk. “We sure can’t make you spend your whole life at Misty Peaks — and we don’t know enough about the guy who took you from your room to know if it’s gonna be any safer come summer vacation, or next summer vacation for that matter. Or the one after it. And for that matter, we don’t even know if he’s specifically gunning for you or he just picked you ’coz you were by yourself.”
He paused for a moment, thinking, before he continued. “But on the other hand, this soon after what happened, it would be remiss of us to let you go without taking some precautions to assure your safety.”
“So can I go?” asked Rosemary.
“Well,” said Professor Thorn, “I’ll see what precautions can be taken — and I’ll get in touch with your parents to discuss the matter with them too. And that way we’ll figure out if it’s safe for you to go.”
“Okay,” said Rosemary, a little bit disappointed at the possibility of not being able to go visit Rafi and Elisa.
* * *
It didn’t take Professor Thorn very long at all to get in touch with Rosemary’s parents, though. It was Wednesday during study hall when Rosemary learned of this. She was studying from ‘Magical World History for Young Witches and Wizards’, learning about the origin of magical secrecy in the High and Late Middle Ages when a paper envelope floated down and landed on her book. On the envelope was written her dead-name, Simon, in her mother’s handwriting. She winced at the name — but otherwise was glad to hear from her parents.
She opened the envelope, took out the letter, and read it.
Dear Simon,
We have just gotten off a call with Professor Thorn. He told us a little more about the incident that happened earlier this month. We are glad to know that you are in a school where such incidents are taken seriously.
We discussed what is being done to keep you safe at school, as well as what measures can be taken to increase your safety as much as possible while away from school. He will discuss with you in detail what these measures are, but rest assured we are committed to adhering to those measures 100%.
As for the trip to Boston this winter break, we will talk to Rafi and Elisa to see if these measures can be taken while we’re staying with them. If they can be, we will go. If not, we will postpone the trip for another time when it is safer for you.
Love,
Mon & Dad
P.S.: We went shopping with Brent and Karen Lawson (Clara’s parents) and got you a birthday present. We hope you enjoy it. Also, we plan to be at home on your birthday, and we have arranged with the school that you will have time on the correspondence mirror should you choose to use it.
After reading the letter, Rosemary folded it up, put it back in the envelope, and placed the envelope in her satchel. She tried to get back to her studies, but found herself somewhat distracted as she wondered what her parents had gotten her for her birthday.
She also was curious what measures Professor Thorn had recommended to keep her safe while on winter break. However, when she happened to run into him on her way to dinner at the Great Hall, he simply told her that he’d tell her as soon as it was ready. And so she went the rest of the week with no idea what the plan was.
On Friday, at homeroom class, after the school-wide announcements were done playing, Professor Hathaway made an additional announcement just for the class. “Oh, tomorrow is Rosemary’s birthday,” she said. “How old are you going to be?”
“Twelve,” said Rosemary.
“That’s right,” said the Professor. “Be sure, y’all, to wish her a happy birthday some time tomorrow.”
This birthday announcement, of course, came as no surprise at all to Rosemary, as both Ricky and Samantha had previously had their birthdays announced in class in a similar manner. Still, Rosemary still wondered what her parents had gotten her for her birthday — and why it hadn’t arrived yet.
These questions were answered the next morning. Immediately, when she opened her eyes, Sarah began singing Happy Birthday to her. By the time she was done, Rosemary, with a big smile on her face, was awake enough to sit up on her bed and see a gift-wrapped box on her chair. It was in red wrapping paper and yellow ribbon, complete with a yellow bow.
“Is that for me?” she asked.
“Yes,” said Sarah. “Came in Tuesday, actually — but with instructions not to give it to you till today.”
Rosemary got up and pulled out an envelope that was held to the box by the ribbon. Inside it was a card with a picture of a birthday cake and the number 12 on top of it. She opened the card and read:
To our lovely son, Simon, with best wishes on his birthday!
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Love,
Mom & Dad
Rosemary smiled as she realized that her much-anticipated birthday gift was inside. Eagerly, yet carefully, she unwrapped the box. When she opened it, she saw that inside of it were two items. The first item was a box with a picture of a broomstick on it. She picked that box up and read the label on the side, in flashy letters, “2002 Skyblazer”.
“It’s a Skyblazer!” exclaimed Sarah.
“A Skyblazer?” asked Rosemary.
“Yes,” said Sarah. “Probably one of the better broomsticks anyone would buy a first-year.”
“Doesn’t look like this box is big enough to hold a broomstick,” said Rosemary, examining the box. “Definitely not one that I’d be able to ride.”
“Well, of course,” said Sarah. “It’s obviously in its collapsed form. Much easier to ship them that way. There should be instructions how to deploy it and collapse it back — but I could talk to Professor Feng about letting us go over that together some time if you’d like, and maybe even let you try flying it. Do you want that?”
Rosemary didn’t say anything, but nodded with a huge smile.
“Let’s see what else you got,” said Sarah.
Rosemary got the other item out of the box. It was a small carrying bag, almost like a camera case. The exterior of the case as well as the strap were one solid piece of black woven fabric with threads of red and green.
“Is that a flying sidepack?” asked Sarah.
“What?” asked Rosemary. “You mean, it flies too?”
“No,” said Sarah, “but if it’s what I think it is, you use it when you fly — on the broom. It has three basic compartments that you can switch between. One is for holding your broom when it’s in its collapsed state. Another is for holding a shopping cart when it’s a walking stick.”
Rosemary figured that Sarah wasn’t referring to mundie shopping carts, but the kind used by witches and wizards — the kind that could collapse into a walking stick when not in use.
“And then there’s one for holding little things like money, your ID, and makeup,” added Sarah. “Basically, you can use it as your purse.”
“My purse?” asked Rosemary. “But my parents don’t even know I’m a girl.”
“Yeah,” said Sarah. “They probably are thinking you’ll just put a little money in there — and use the other two compartments for what they’re meant for.”
“And I’m guessing it has a space augmentation charm?” asked Rosemary.
“Of course it does,” said Sarah. “Even collapsed, you wouldn’t get the shopping cart in there any other way. And it also has a space-swapping charm to switch between the three compartments.”
“Wonderful!” exclaimed Rosemary, as she held up her new flying sidepack.
* * *
Rosemary put her new flying sidepack, as well as the box with her new broomstick, in her safe. She then got dressed and headed down to the common room, where she waited for a few minutes before heading over to the Great Hall for breakfast. Between the Common Room and the Great Hall, she was showered with warm greetings from all her friends, except Sarah who had already given those wishes before she even left her dorm room. She also received wishes from most other first-year residents of Hemlock Tower, plus a few older ones such as Andrew Collins, Lilith’s brother.
Of course, not everyone wished her a happy birthday. A few, including Melissa, did nothing of the sort. But Rosemary didn’t mind being ignored by Melissa. It was a step up from being actively harassed by her.
When Amy came to wish Rosemary a happy birthday, she told her to stop by her room after breakfast — so when she was done eating and returned to Hemlock Tower, Rosemary did exactly that. Amy and Lacy gave Rosemary a few more presents. These were a fitted denim jacket with subtle embroidery of heart-shapes and butterflies and matching jeans, as well as a pink henley-style top. After thanking them with a warm hug for each, she went to her own room and changed into the new jacket and jeans. However, instead of the henley-style top she put on under the jacket a white T-shirt she had gotten from them some time before — one with an image of several balloons on it. As much as she liked the henley-style top, this T-shirt seemed a bit safer for what she was going to do next.
She opened her safe and took out her new flying sidepack. Then, she opened it to the purse compartment, the one compartment which wasn’t larger than the outside. She took out of her safe the two bottles of liquid hairdressing spell, and put them in the pack. Finally, she got out her wallet, which had in it her orbis card, and put that in the pack as well. She closed the sidepack and her safe, put her sidepack on, and went down to the fifth floor.
As soon as she was seated in a correspondence mirror booth, the door latched behind her, she placed her sidepack on the table, and took out the boy’s liquid hairdressing spell bottle. One drop on her head and immediately her hair started to shrink, until Rosemary looked like a boy, albeit an effeminately dressed one.
She got out her orbis card and tapped it on the orbis. As soon as the mirror was ready, she said: “Naphtali and Miriam Corbin, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.” Less than a minute later, she saw her parents through the mirror — and her sister, Serena. Immediately, the three of them began singing Happy Birthday.
“How are you?” asked Miriam, her mother, as soon as they were done singing.
“Very well,” said Rosemary, excitedly. “I got your present this morning.”
“And how do you like it?” asked Miriam.
“It’s great!” said Rosemary.
“We went with the Lawsons, Clara’s parents, to get it,” said Miriam. “They are such wonderful people! I am glad to have met them.”
“I see you’re using the sidepack,” said Naphtali, Rosemary’s father. “Have you tried the broom yet?”
“Not yet,” answered Rosemary. “Sarah’s going to try to get me a chance to try it out.”
“Who’s Sarah?” asked Miriam.
Rosemary knew she couldn’t reveal that Sarah was her roommate. “She’s the Secretary of the Student Council,” explained Rosemary — which, technically, was true.
“What’s it like at Misty Peaks?” asked Serena.
“It’s great,” said Rosemary. “Most of my teachers are great, and I have several good friends.”
“That’s good,” said Serena.
Rosemary: “How are you doing?”
Serena: “I’m well.”
Rosemary: “I haven’t talked to you since I left for school.”
Serena: “Because you always call when I’m away.”
“Anyway,” said Miriam, “has Professor Thorn talked with you about the precautions for the trip?”
“He says he’s going to tell me when it’s ready,” answered Rosemary.
“He said he’s getting an alarm for you,” explained Miriam.
“Oh,” responded Rosemary, blankly.
“But do you have any idea why that person targeted you?” asked Miriam.
“There’s some guesses,” said Rosemary, “but nobody really knows.”
Miriam: “Like what?”
Rosemary: “They aren’t sure.”
“Remember that above everything, we are your parents,” said Naphtali, “and you are our son. We love you no matter what — even if you are gay — and we will stand by you.”
“And that means that we will stand by the school if they are standing by you,” said Miriam. “We’re not going to pull you out of school over this. At least not unless you want to be pulled out of school.”
“That’s not it,” said Rosemary. She knew that what her parents had told her was meant to sound assuring — but when her father said “you are our son,” she wasn’t sure that this didn’t mean he was going to insist that she had to be their son and not their daughter.
“Just remember that whatever it is,” said Naphtali, “you can tell us.”