The month until school started passed quickly for Cosmo. He had a lighter disposition during this month due to the dream, which continued to end at the same point, giving him a warm feeling when he woke up. When he wasn't studying, he was slightly less taciturn, the warmth from his dream spreading to the rest of his life. His worry of change was put to the back of his mind, not having been thought of since received the strange blue letter. The thought had almost entirely disappeared from his mind until the day Cosmo was supposed to leave for school. I remember that day well.
The night before, Cosmo had gotten into bed, tired but doubting he'd be able to sleep because of all of the thoughts of school buzzing around in his head like bees. However, sleep did eventually overtake him, and he drifted off.
Cosmo awoke to sunlight shining through his shutters and birds singing outside. It was a beautiful morning, but Cosmo was disconcerted nonetheless. He had awoken, and instead of being warm and wet-eyed as he had come to expect, he was dry-eyed and quite normal temperature.
"Could it be because I woke previous to my alarm's ring?" Cosmo asked himself. "No, the dream always finds me, no matter the time. The last time I awoke without that wonderful warm feeling was nearly a month ago, the day I acquired that invitation." It was then that the idea of change stopped its hiding in the back of Cosmo's brain and popped back into the forefront of his mind.
"Ah, how foolish of me to forget something so paramount!" Cosmo exclaimed. He then instinctively slapped a hand over his mouth, realizing his parents were still asleep. He stuck his head into the hallway, and after hearing the subtle intake of breath coming form their room made by the sound of someone sleeping, crept back into his room and shut the door without a sound. "I'd better ponder on that right now, for I'm not sure if I'll have time to once I have arrived at school," Cosmo whispered to himself. Not wanting to take the risk of walking all the way to the reading room he laid down on his bed, and looking up at the ceiling he began to think about his dilemma.
He had made no progress at all by the time his alarm went off. He knew that his parents, whose alarm was set to the same time as his, would be waking up now. He could faintly hear the sounds of his mother yawning and his father grunting, probably about needing more sleep. Well, Cosmo thought, hopefully I will have time to think later. Cosmo left his room and began to walk downstairs to the kitchen, but before he could get there, his parents caught up with him.
"Cosmo," his mother said. "Are you ready for your big day?"
"Everything I require is packed," Cosmo replied.
"Now Cosmo, I just want to let you know that your mother and I are very proud of you," his father said.
"And we'll miss you, so write often," his mother added.
"I'll write to you as often as my schedule permits me too," Cosmo replied. The sound of a car came from outside.
"Oh, that must be Mr. Theodore. He's the headmaster of your new school, Cosmo, and he's here to pick you up. Have you had breakfast yet?" Cosmo's mother asked.
"I have not," Cosmo said.
"Well, you go eat something, we'll go move your things outside. Where are they?"
"They are located at the foot of my bed," Cosmo replied, and moved off to the kitchen while his parents headed for his room. He had time to quickly scarf down a bagel before his parents called him outside. He followed them out. There on his driveway were his parents, a large blue car, and a man. Cosmo noticed as he was walking towards his parents that the car was the same color as the envelope, but the thought was quickly cast from his mind as he drew close to the man who must have been Mr. Theodore. It was not his appearance, the white hair and beard, average height, jovial face, and eyes that were, again, the same color as the envelope, that made Cosmo suddenly aware of him. No, what made Cosmo aware was the man's presence. His presence was like and aura around him, an aura that hinted at something hidden, a vast intelligence; an intelligence so vast it made you want to ask him to teach you anything, anything at all to make up for the great deficit of intelligence you felt just from being around him. Even Cosmo, who considered himself quite smart, felt awestruck by this man.
