us that lesson and it's a wonderful lesson, one that we
tend to forget in the world we call civilized. We'll
help you regain that wisdom.
Or, I should say, nature will."
Nature? I thought. What was she talking about,
camping trips? Sleeping in a tent? Maybe Teal wasn't
so off. Maybe this was like the Girl Scouts.
"Now then," Dr. Foreman said, pulling herself
up and stepping back. "Unfortunately. I must
conclude our little talk with a severe warning. Any
signs of insubordination, even nasty looks and
evidence of an attitude, will result in demerits.
Profanity will be punished severely. If any of you get
two demerits in one day, or fall two paints or more
below the minus ten I have generously given you, or
finally do something so terrible that it is off the charts, she will be sent to our Ice Room to chill out, as you
kids like to say these days."
Ice Room? What was that?
She looked around the cement room, once again
as if she could hear my thoughts, "This place is a firstclass hotel room compared to our Ice Room." She
didn't make it sound like a threat either, but it clearly
put the shivers into Teal and Robin as quickly as it did
in me. Not describing it any further left it to each of
our imaginations, and I was sure we each came up
with our worst fears.
"And now, my dears," she said again, sounding
as if we were all at a grand tea party, "it's time for you
to be introduced to your buddies. They are three of my
graduates. three of whom I am very, very proud. They
have earned the right to assist me."