The Military Academy
“No, Mo can’t visit. You can see her at school. And no, you can’t beep her, either.”
“She might beep me.”
“Send her a dispatch explaining the rules, all right? Or would you rather I send it?”
She hid her face behind her hands. “No, no, I’ll send it.”
“Good. Do it now, and then come down for supper.” Without another word, he left the room.
Mo pointed toward the window in the train station waiting area. “Here she comes.”
Mama shielded her eyes and looked out. “She’s alone.”
“Or course she’s alone,” Papa muttered. “Adelaide and Alan didn’t want to lower themselves by coming to see her off.”
“Oh, hush,” Mama said. “Though you’re probably right.”
“I know I’m right. I can’t believe the fuss they kicked up. You’d think they’d be pleased, but no—joining the military isn’t good enough for their precious children.”
“They want what’s best for Lesley, that’s all.”
“What’s wrong with the military?”
“Nothing. But they were hoping—”
“Will you two please stop?” Mo said. “Les doesn’t need to hear this.” And Mo was sick of it, too. That’s all they’d talked about for the past three weeks, ever since Adelaide had marched into the living room unannounced and insisted that Mo must have persuaded Lesley to give up on advocacy. Relations between the two families had never been as tense as they’d been since then, though Mama and Adelaide were showing signs of putting the rift behind them.
“Please don’t say anything,” Mo said to her parents as Les passed through the station entrance. Then she smiled at Les. “You made it. Train leaves in ten minutes.”
Les didn’t return Mo’s smile, but her face softened. She nodded a greeting toward Mo’s mama and papa.
“Your parents not with you?” Mama said.
Mo wanted to groan. Flaming parents! They ordered her around and expected her to do everything they said, but ask them to do one simple thing . . .
“No.” Les studied her shoulder and started to tighten one of her knapsack’s straps.
“I think we should go down to the platform,” Mo said before her parents could say anything else stupid.
Les looked up. “I still have to pay.” She pulled out her comm unit and wandered over to a nearby trade station.
“I’ll carry your bag,” Papa said to Mo, lifting it off the floor.
“No, I’ll take it. Please don’t come down to the platform with us,” Mo said.
Mama pinched Mo’s cheeks. “Will we embarrass you?” Papa dropped Mo’s bag back to the floor.
She pulled Mama’s hands away. “Stop it.”
Mama grinned and enveloped Mo in a hug. “Good luck.” She pulled away and held Mo at arm’s length. “Next time I see you, I’ll be congratulating you.”
“I hope so.”
“We will be,” Papa said, putting his arm around Mo’s shoulders and squeezing her. He kissed her forehead. “See you in a few days. You can beep us, you know.”
“I know.”
“Bye, Lesley,” Mama called. “Good luck.” Les looked over her shoulder and waved. Papa waved in return. “It’s a shame,” Mama said as she and Papa walked away.
“I bet they’re hoping she fails,” Papa said.
Mo willed them to walk faster and keep their voices down. She jumped when Les tapped her shoulder and said, “Ready to go?”
“Yeah.” Mo wanted to hug her, but Les seemed distant and preoccupied. Maybe she’d relax once they were on the train, putting distance between themselves and her parents.
“Is that your bag?” Les asked, pointing. In response, Mo hefted her bag from the floor and struggled to get her arms through its straps. “It’s almost as big as you,” Les said. “We’re going for three days, not three weeks.”
“Well, you never know what might happen. I want to be prepared.” Mo grunted as the left strap finally slipped over her shoulder. “The last thing I want to do is fail the evaluation because my clothes are wet or dirty.” Les opened her mouth, but then closed it. “Anyway, let’s go.” Mo walked toward the steps that led down to the platform. The bag weighed a ton, but she was determined not to let it slow her down.
“Do you want me to carry it?” Les asked from behind her.
“No, I don’t,” Mo said, though she hung onto the railing and moved carefully down the stairs. If she lost her balance, she’d be at the mercy of wherever the bag wanted to take her.
The train pulled into the station shortly after they reached the platform. They boarded, stowed their bags, and settled into two empty seats near the rear of the car. “Finally we get to spend some time together,” Mo said, snuggling against Les. “I’m sick of snatching a minute here and there.”
Les stiffened. “We’re not going on holiday.”
Mo’s stomach sank. Hadn’t Les missed her at all? “I know that. But this is the first time in three weeks that we’ve even talked to each other outside the Learning Academy. It wouldn’t have been so bad if you’d carried on using our bags to exchange notes. Or walked with me to and from the academy.”
“They were clear that I wasn’t to walk with you. And as far as the bags go, I was worried they might check my bag when I got home. I didn’t want to risk it. They’re upset enough as it is.”
“I know it’s been rough,” Mo said, rubbing Les’s arm. “And I know I’m being selfish. It’s just that I missed you. A lot.” She held her breath. Please say you missed me, Les. Please!
Les grabbed Mo’s hand and held it still. Mo tensed, half expecting Les to pull her arm away, but she relaxed when Les’s fingers curled around hers. “I’m sorry,” Les said. “I missed you, too. And I should be happy to be with you and excited that we’re going to the Military Academy. But I can’t be. Not when I know my parents wish I wasn’t doing it. I don’t mean seeing you,” she said, giving Mo a quick smile. “I mean going through with the evaluation.”
“Are you sure? They’re not thrilled with me right now.”