A nice car was parked in front of the house, on the sidewalk. The West family was in the living room, waiting, and as soon as they spotted the vehicle, they knew who it was. A chauffeur, in full uniform, killed the engine and went to open the door for the passenger, sitting at the back of the vehicle.
Martin Winchester in his black robe with mint decorative patterns embroidered at the bottom and on the edges of his sleeves got out with a smile on his face. With confidence, he moved straight to the door.
- I'll open - said Mister West, and rushed out of the living room.
He managed to open it even before the professor used the doorbell.
- Good morning Mister Winchester - he said with a big smile on his face. - I'm John West.
After the introduction, he extended a hand, which Martin shook.
- Martin Winchester, but you already know that.
- Yes. Please come inside - said mister West, and moved to the side, to allow the guest to enter, which he did.
The door got closed, and the guest was escorted to the living room.
It was rather simple. With a low table, sofa, and two armchairs in the middle. A TV was fixed on the wall, with a big window next to it. There were also a few cabinets placed alongside the white walls, decorated with two paintings. One showcased a lake with a mountain, far in the background, the other a field of flowers.
- This is my wife, Amanda, and I believe I don't need to introduce our son.
- It's nice to meet you, Mrs. West. Yes. I and Trevor already know each other rather well, I believe.
- Please, professor, sit down - said the mother, pointing at the armchair. - Can I offer you tea or coffee?
- No, thank you - Martin rose his hand like he was blocking something. - I'm afraid I don't have much time, so let's stick to the essentials.
After speaking, he just sat down, then immediately pulled out of his sleeve a few rolled pages. He placed them on the table. The paper looked old. Was slightly yellow, and had a strange-looking symbol on each corner.
- This is the contract. I will leave it, so you can get familiar. It's magical, so signing it will also sign the copy that is in the school. It's quite convenient, isn't it? - he smiled. - I also allowed myself to prepare a list of necessary items your son will need to buy. Some of them might be hard to obtain here in the fourth, but I'm happy to take him for a little shopping before the semester starts. He would just need to arrive a few days before that at our campus. Just make sure he has a bank account with a little bit of money.
- How much are we talking about? - asked the father.
- Depends on how fancy equipment your son wants to use, but a few hundred shillings should be more than enough. The list of necessary things is in the contract, but as I've mentioned, I'm afraid you won't be able to buy most of those items here.
- Ok, we will take care of that - said the mother.
- Very well. Please read through this carefully, and sign as soon as possible. It gives us more time for the paperwork on our end - said Martin, and stood up. - Thank you for your hospitality, but it's time for me. I would love to stay and chat a bit longer, but sadly I still have to visit a few other places. I've received information on other potential scholarship candidates in the third.
Everybody followed him as he headed towards the door, then the professor exchanged handshakes with the members of the West family and left, escorted outside by John.
As soon as the chauffeur spotted his employer, he rushed to open the door for him. Martin vanished in the car, and they drove away.
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Amanda immediately grabbed the contract and flipped through the pages. Trevor tried to peak from where he was sitting, but the letters were too small, which combined with the fact that he was looking at an angle, made it quite hard to read.
- Can I? - asked Jon, as he returned back, and sat next to his wife.
She smiled briefly and gave him the contract. Trevor got up and went behind them, to see from above, but after reading a few lines he deemed it too boring, so he just left, knowing that his father, as a lawyer, will check everything for him anyway.
That was a beginning of a break from school, which quickly turned into a summer break, after the ceremony of ending his final class in middle school. He didn't really want to go, but since the principal insisted, he went and allowed the man to brag about him publicly.
Packed in a suit, he got delivered by his mother straight to the school building. It was quite difficult since the whole sidewalk and school parking lot were all occupied. The day was a bit windy, but that was not a good enough excuse to not show up.
All the kids gathered, mostly driven by their parents, were already making their way inside the building. Often accompanied by mothers and fathers. Trevor managed to avoid that.
He got out of the car and immediately began his search for Liv, as he made his way to the building. Walking, he noticed something strange. Suddenly the kids started turning around and even pointing at him while speaking with their relatives. The parents then waved at him.
It became obvious that the news spread, and they all knew that he managed to score the scholarship in the third.
People even made some space for him, as he reached the entrance. It was such a different treatment from what he was used to, that it felt uncomfortable.
Inside, in the corridor, by the wall, he finally spotted Liv. She was clearly waiting for him in a cute black dress, long to her knees. Even her usual beanie was gone.
- You look nice - she said as soon as he came closer.
He caught the single note indicating the irony in her voice.
- Very funny, but on the other hand, you look pretty, and contrary to you, I'm actually not lying.
A blush of red appeared on her cheeks, and she quickly turned around.
- Thank you - she said. - Let's go.
Still avoiding his eyes, she moved forward, not really waiting for Trevor. He had to move quickly to catch up to her.
In the awkward silence, they left the building, joining a crowd of people, that was heading outside to the track field.
They build a small podium there for the teachers and especially successful students, to be later called from the audience, with an arch of flowers above them. It was nothing special, but for some reason always had to be there when the school year was ending.
Liv found them a spot on the side, but despite the location, and ruckus preceding the ceremony, everybody still was glaring at the two of them.
- You really got famous - she pointed out.
- Yeah...
The situation between them seemed quite awkward, and after those words, they didn't talk, just waited, until the ceremony started. There was a regular grand speech of the principal, and then the calling out started. One by one, students that managed to achieve something were invited to the center, where they could briefly join the teachers on the podium, and receive their degrees from mister Belcher himself while being applauded by everybody else.
It started with athletes. The last ones were the members of the 'Crash' team, with Billy and Joe among them. Then those who exceeded their academic accomplishments. Some parents could brag about their kids to others in the vicinity while pointing at their kids with their fingers. It lasted quite long, but the ceremony inevitably was coming to an end, which caused Trevor's stomach to rise up to his throat, as he knew what was going to happen.
- And finally, I would like to call mister Trevor West - said the principal to the microphone. - Who managed to uphold great grades, while pursuing the progress of his magical powers through constant exercise.
Everybody started clapping. They all knew it was bullshit since in the fourth those not gifted with strong magic from birth, never managed to increase it this far, despite trying everything. Still, this message was inspiring, since, at least according to the principal, it was possible, and he even had a breathing example in Trevor.
The boy with a racing heart stood up, and made his way to the podium, climbing the few steps, to join the teachers.
The principal took out Trevor's diploma. It was stacked inside the rostrum with others. Then he went to give it to the boy while shaking his hand, so everybody could see. The moment lasted quite long, enough for some pictures to be taken.
- Stay a moment please - he said to the boy during that.
Then he returned and started a monologue about some bullshit that nobody could possibly believe. He started bragging that the school body is amazing and that in the future, there will be more and more kids like Trevor.
The boy had to stand there and endure all the envious gazes. At some point, he happened to look toward Billy and Joe. They were alone in the crowd, without their parents. As soon as their eyes met, the two of them immediately turned away, too embarrassed because of the fact that in the end, they lost.
It surprised Trevor since he wasn't sure if they would understand that, but they very well did. For a second, he even felt bad for the.
The principal finally stopped after a few minutes, and West could get off the stage, to join Liv. Shortly after, the whole ceremony finally ended and people dispersed to enjoy their summer break.