Beyond: Snillotia Trilogy Book One by Donna Wagner (books you have to read TXT) 📕

Tim paused and pointed at a classroom door as they walked passed. “That’s called a “door” in English. People in other countries sometimes speak different languages than we do, so we have to learn them here in school. I have Spanish right after lunch. So for instance- people that speak Spanish wouldn’t say “door” they would say “puerta”. I don’t take French at all, though. If you have problems, Anna will have to help you.”

Retep didn’t seem reassured by Tim’s answer, but before he could ask anymore more questions the final bell rang. “C’mon, we have history class next!”

They raced into the classroom right at the last second. Tim again introduced his cousin to the teacher. History class was a bit better than geometry. Tim was doing okay in this class. Retep was mesmerized by everything the teacher said. It dawned on Tim, as he watched his cousin’s gaze never leave the teacher’s face, that Retep knew nothing about the Civil War, or anything else in the history of the world Tim had been born in. He’d always taken everything for granted. As the teacher spouted facts that Tim had heard millions of times before, he tried to imagine what it would be like if he knew nothing about this.

Probably a lot like how you felt when I first told you about Snillotia’s history. You didn’t believe me!

Tim jumped at the sound of Anna’s voice in his head and knocked his textbook off his desk. It landed on the floor with a loud thud. All eyes turned toward him, and he could feel his face turning red. “Please be more careful, Mr. Collins,” the history teacher admonished, incorrectly saying Tim’s name, before continuing her lecture.

Thanks for that, Anna.

Well maybe you should learn to keep your thoughts to yourself. I’ve been hearing you off and on all morning. It’s really not helping, with the day I’m having. Just relax. Ollie will forgive you eventually. He’s going through some things right now, himself. Also, it seems like Retep is doing fine. Just let him be himself. If he likes school as much as you think he does, he shouldn’t have a problem.

I don’t know about that! Since you can hear me, I might as well let you know- he has art and French with you this afternoon. He didn’t know what French even is! There’s only one language in Snillotia! He doesn’t understand-

Tim broke off mid-thought. Retep was staring at him. Briefly, he wondered if Retep could hear his conversation with Anna, then realized everyone was staring at him again. His face turned red once more but this time he had no idea why.

“Mr. Collins, can you answer the question or not?”

Tim tried to play it off, cool. “Oh, I’m sorry. You were talking to me? My last name is Tollins with a T. Not Collins.”

The teacher raised her eyebrows and started to turn slightly pink herself. Just tell her the answer is the Gettysburg Address!

“The Gettysburg Address is the answer though, ma’am,” Tim said quickly, hoping he wouldn’t get in any trouble.

“Thank you, Mr. Tollins,” she said, emphasizing the T.

As the teacher resumed her lecture once again, Tim immediately tuned her out. How did you know what question the teacher asked?!

There was no answer. Tim sat through the rest of the class trying to get Anna to respond. As the bell rang and he and Retep walked to chemistry, she finally answered him.

Let’s just say today’s been interesting and I can’t wait for it to be over.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

The rest of the day passed quickly. Retep was delighted with chemistry. Tim barely knew what they were talking about. All through class, he was trying to get Anna to tell him more about what had been going on today. She ignored him. When he and Retep reached English class, he saw Anna already seated in the back of the classroom, which was unusual for her. She was slumped down in the seat and staring at the floor. Taking a chance, Tim sat in the desk next to her and motioned for Retep to sit down wherever he wanted. Retep was amazed by school, so far, and grabbed a seat right in the front of the room so he would be able to hear this teacher as best he could. When Tim was sure Retep was okay, he turned to Anna. “What’s going on?”

She didn’t look at him and their English teacher started talking about their newest assignment. Tim didn’t hear a word of what the teacher said. Anna’s voice filled his head instead.

A new power showed up today. Right as soon as I found Jason this morning. I can hear everyone’s thoughts. All I have to do is think about a person and I hear everything. I guess I should be thankful it’s not constant, that I actually have to do something to hear them, I guess. I was just so happy to see Jason this morning, so I was thinking about him as I was looking for him. I know for him- we just saw each other last night, but for me- well, you know alot’s happened and changed. I only found him because I thought I heard him talking, but it was his thoughts I heard instead. He wasn’t thinking anything horrible or anything, but at first I couldn’t figure out what was going on. You know Jason. He’s the “cool guy”. He doesn’t ever say what he really thinks. This morning when he saw me, I heard “You look so beautiful today!” I was shocked at first, because he’s never said anything like that to me before, but I said thank you and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He looked at me, confused, and asked me what I was thanking him for! At first, I thought he was playing around, but then I could hear him thinking again. He was thinking that I was acting strange- that I was acting like