Whim Manor And the Boy Who Wasn't.

Dear Sir or Madam

With Justin gone, I tried to zone out school as much as possible, and the rest of the 9th grade just sort of came and went.

Mom and 'New-Dad' were anxious to get away, excited to be hopping the globe on the company jet. Nora hardly noticed turning sixteen, but as the summer drew near, more often than not, I'd see a smile on her face. Most of the time it was hidden under a sneer, but it was there.

It felt odd but good how much her summer plans revolved around us sticking together, comforting that whatever happened, she'd be there. She seemed bolder too, if that was possible, and more relaxed.

She'd even talked me into taking a train up the coast, rather than have Mom or 'New-Dad' drop us off. Though I was nervous about them being up in the air and out of the country by our second day on the train.

As much as I wanted to like it, I still wasn't sure I could completely get onboard with 19th century life. So, just as a contingency, I packed lots and lots of video games: A laptop, a tablet, and a hand-held Mr. Grant had given me for Christmas. But, Nora did stop me with a glare when I asked if she had any extra room in her suitcase for a flat panel TV to hook up to my Xbox.

* * *

We had a private compartment on the train. Nothing too fancy, just a couch that converted into a bunk bed at night, and while Nora read, I'd often gaze out onto the scenery, memorized as the ocean rolled by, turning into desert, and back into coastal towns, green hills, and eventually forested mountains.

But I was watching a show on my phone when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"We get there in half an hour. Haven't you opened your packet yet?" Nora asked, her left eyebrow twitching ever so slightly.

Feeling lazy from the rock of the train, I shrugged it away. "Why? Yours has all the information."

"Fine, if you won't... I will." She reached across to my bag and pulled out the envelope.

"Welcome to the Galeton School of Intrigue. Dear Miss. Harper Watson... wait a minute that can't be right..."

My ears popped as I bolted upright, and we looked at each other for a long moment. The first moment, in fact, I ever saw Nora, with the sneer completely wiped from her face. She looked stunned.

"Miss??!" I coughed.

It only took a minute of searching the web to find out that 'The Galeton School of Intrigue' had stopped accepting boys two years ago. Apparently, a boy had 'accidently' started a fire in the basement, and it had never been all that popular with boys in the first place, so they decided to suspend their 'male experience' until they could rework it.

"Crap..." I said reaching for my phone.

"What are you doing?" Nora looked at me sideways.

"Calling Mom and Dad?!"

She grabbed my shoulder. "Please... Please don't. Just give me a chance to think... I'm not ready to be responsible for ruining everyone's summer just yet."

"You?" I asked, "What about me?"

"Well... I should have... I mean I told you I'd take care of the arrangements."

"So, what now?!" I asked.

"I don't know. Let me think..."

While she frantically looked things up online, I thought about what was going to happen: Mom and 'New-Dad' would act responsibly. And Mom, no doubt, would end up flying right back to the States to sort this all out. She'd tell me that I'm more important to her than any trip, and then we'd all spend the rest of the summer sighing, and telling each other it was for the best. All while Mr. Grant would be out seeing the world without her...