Aesop's Secret Read Free Page B

lawn and stripped off her clothes, knowing from experience that when an Athenite transforms their clothes don’t. The cold air almost stung as it hit her skin so she acted quickly, closing her eyes and freezing her movements, concentrating on the image of the small rodent that she had observed earlier that day. As the familiar tingling of transformation spread throughout her body she heard the caw from a crow in the distance and for a split second visualized its shiny black feathers. As quickly as the image arrived, she shoved it aside and let squirrels be her sole focus. Fleetingly she remembered that her father always called them bushy-tailed rats.
    The back door slammed loudly startling Melinda out of her trance. Her eyes sprang open and she saw that her clothes were now looming high above her. Then, in a more startlingly observation, she noticed a pair of huge shoes coming rapidly towards her.
    Having seen Melinda’s clothes from inside the house, Felix had gone to investigate. He could not allow her to leave her things here, there and everywhere with the impending arrival of Professors Mulligan and Stumpworthy. They were due to arrive any day and he had to make a good impression.
    A few weeks before Felix was confronted with what he referred to as “Athenite insanity,” he had received an invitation to attend the prestigious Stumpworthy School of Science in Paris, France. He had dreamed about attending that school since he was six years old. Excited beyond belief, he began the persuasion process on his parents that he hoped would convince them to let him go. At the time they seemed to be as thrilled as he was about the possibility. His mother even knew a member of the governing board: an old colleague and friend named James Mulligan. He and Horace Stumpworthy, the owner of the school, were currently traveling around the world to meet prospective students, and his parents had happily invited them to come to their home and meet Felix.
    But then Melinda ruined everything. Ever since her changes began, his parents were of two minds about whether or not he should be allowed to study so far away from home. His mother was reluctant to let him go. “Maybe next year would be better,” she had moaned. “There are so many changes going on right now, it would be wise to wait.” While his father offered slightly more encouragement: “Let’s see how things go with Mulligan when he visits, then make up our minds.”
    The last couple of weeks had been a nightmare. Most mornings Felix awoke feeling as he did before learning the facts of his life. However, things quickly soured when greeted by his bubbling, unpredictable sister. One morning he had to do a double take when he saw that she had long furry ears on top of her head; another morning she had a big, black bushy tail dragging on the floor from underneath her dressing gown. A boy at his school had always referred to his little sister as a pig. Felix shuddered to think what would happen if he called his sister a pig.
    “It’s normal when you’re maturing to suffer unexpected transformations,” his father had explained. “If your mind wanders your body follows. You have all this to look forward to.”
    Felix could honestly say that he was NOT looking forward to experiencing any of the changes that his sister was already going through because transforming didn’t interest him in the least. As the days passed his resolve to never morph out of his own body and into another creature strengthened. But he knew that the only way to avoid becoming like the other mutants in his family was to go away. So he made up his mind: whatever it took, he was going to that school, and the sooner the better.
    Grumbling under his breath, he reached Melinda’s clothes, hastily picked them up then headed back towards the house. Melinda squeaked loudly as he walked away but failed to get his attention. She scurried after him, surprising herself with the agility her little body could manage,