“Mel! Mel!” I stretched, and kept walking. I looked up, and saw that Lana had followed me. I waved. “Hey, Lana.” She motioned back to the Academy. “You’re going to get in trouble.” “Mmhmm.” I smiled. “Probably get about a bajillion demerits for that.” “Isn’t that a bad thing?” “Nah.” Of course it was. But it was a school bad thing. What were they going to do? Give me a bad report card? Whatever Throw

Today seemed to last a thousand years. First Mr. Grumbly was talking about history. But he kept referring to pages, and historians, and dates upon dates upon dates. After a few minutes, I decided to catch up on sleep. Demerit twelve. I perked up a bit when he started to talk about spells. But again, there was so much talking. Words like conservation of energy. Transmogication of the elements, mass and signs and quations. It

Blue Wheel Academy was just a few blocks away from the Mayor’s manse. In the northern part of town, and up-scale to a point that didn’t seem possible. The Academy had a fully manicured lawn, shimmering bluegrass that sparkled when I looked closer. Trees were lined up along the walk to the three-story building. And above the main doors to the building, was the eight-spoked blue wheel that must have been the symbol of the