The Ability (Ability, The) by Vaughan M.M

Author:Vaughan, M.M. [Vaughan, M.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: 2013-04-23T07:00:00+00:00

• CHAPTER TEN •

Tuesday, November 27

The next morning the children of Myers Holt woke up excited to find out what the day had in store for them. They wolfed down their breakfasts and rushed over to the Dome. Climbing over the hill, they saw a young man in a red tracksuit waiting by the side of the pool.

“You’re one minute late,” he said, tapping his watch with his finger, a frown on his face. “I never knew a man come to greatness or eminence who lay abed late in the morning.”

“Eh?” said Rex.

“Jonathan Swift,” said Philip.

“I’m impressed, young man,” said the teacher sternly, “but I’d be more impressed if you were here on time. Now, is this everybody?”

The children nodded.

“Good. My name is Mr. Green, and I’ll be taking you for PE every day.”

“Every day?” said Rex.

“No pain, no gain,” said Mr. Green, smiling.

“I prefer ‘no pain, no pain,’ ” replied Rex. “I think I’ll sit this one out.”

“And I think you’ll join us,” said Mr. Green, leading Rex by the arm. Rex groaned but didn’t resist.

“The changing rooms are over there,” said Mr. Green, pointing to a handle on one of the Dome’s screens. “Your swimsuits and towels are inside. See you in five minutes.”

Ten minutes later the children appeared, shivering. Mr. Green gave them a disapproving glance and then instructed them to get into the warm, clear waters and start swimming lengths. He proceeded to shout motivational quotes at them for the next hour as they swam from one end of the pool to the other, again and again. The shouting was mostly directed at Rex, who spluttered and coughed as he doggy-paddled his way slowly from one end of the pool to the other. Sebastian, in the meantime, barely paused the entire time, gliding through the water like a fish.

Finally the hour was up, and the children climbed out, exhausted.

“Don’t tell me you don’t all feel better,” said Mr. Green.

Rex, who was bending over and taking deep breaths, looked up at Mr. Green and raised his eyebrows.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” said Mr. Green, laughing. “Good work, all of you,” he said, giving them a thumbs-up. “Now that I’ve got your hearts pumping, time to get those brains working too. So go change and have a quick drink. See you all tomorrow and . . . don’t be late!”

• • •

Ms. Lamb walked into the classroom and found the children already sitting at their desks, their hair still damp, chatting amongst themselves. She slammed the door shut to get their attention, and their heads all snapped round to see a short woman wearing high-heeled turquoise leather boots that didn’t look as if they could support the rather large-framed body they were carrying. Never had a name been less suited to the person who owned it. The green leather suit she wore seemed to be made to fit somebody much smaller, and younger, and she had on so much black eye makeup that it made her look like a panda in costume.

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