SWRC: Gaining Trust. (Book 1)

Chapter 21 Tests.

Neeran still held Ezra close to her as Mira left to do her job. He was still sobbing slightly.

"Everything's fine Ezra," said Neeran, as Kyipi came over.
"What's wrong with Ezra?" asked Kyipi.
"He just got a bit scared from the bell before," replied Neeran.

Suddenly, Neeran looked over at a group of parents, mostly mothers, staring at her. She stared back at them and many looked away. But none could deny what Neeran had heard them say.

'What's wrong with that child?'
'He doesn't seem normal.'
'He comes from her family. No one's ever normal in that family'
'How could someone be afraid of that?'
'Why does he act like a baby?'
'How can she still be taking in freaks like him?'
'Why hasn't anyone gotten suspicious of her and her family yet?'

But Neeran also knew that Ezra had heard as well.

"Don't listen to them Ezra," whispered Neeran to him. "They don't know anything about you and what you've been through. And even though our family's different, it's also special in more ways than one."

Ezra hugged her tightly and whispered, "Thank you mummy, for helping to heal my heart."
"You're welcome," replied Neeran. "Now let's go get those tests done so we can leave."

Neeran felt Ezra nod on her shoulder. Reaching down her right hand, Neeran grabbed Kyipi's hand and guided her away from the parents Neeran hated the most and probably hated her as well.

"Where are we going?" asked Kyipi, looking up at Neeran with her amber eyes.
"To the school office," replied Neeran. "That's where Ezra will need to take this test."

"Will you be with me?" asked Ezra.
"They don't normally allow it, but they will hopefully make an exception this time," said Neeran, wondering how she would convince them to allow her to be with Ezra.

<At the office...>

"So you have another child taking the school tests Neeran?" asked the lady behind the counter.
"Yeah, I've got five now," replied Neeran. "This is the fourth, Ezra. He'll be taking the tests today."

"What about the girl?"
"Kyipen's too young just now, she's only two," replied Neeran.
"Alright then, I'm sure you know what to do by now Neeran. You've already done this three times."

"Sure do," replied Neeran, giving a mock salute. "But there's something I need to ask you."
"What now?" asked the lady, rolling her eyes slightly.

Neeran checked to make sure Ezra wasn't listening before whispering, "Is it possible for me to sit the test with Ezra?"

"You know we can't allow that under normal circumstances," replied the lady, eyeing her suspiciously.
"This isn't what you call a normal circumstance," replied Neeran. "Just like with Jexxel, Chopper and Janan, Ezra and Kyipen are rescue children. Kyipen's mother was murdered and just dumped on the side of the road with her next to it and Ezra...
Ezra was a slave on Jex. He is scared of everything around him and reacts to the smallest things that ordinary people won't notice."

"How do you manage to find these sorts of people?" asked the lady shaking her head.
"You're not the first person to ask that," said Neeran.

"I guess it will be fine for you to be with Ezra while he takes the test," sighed the lady. "But you know you can't help him."

"I don't think he'd need any of my help," whispered Neeran to herself quietly.
"He demonstrated that he could solve homework questions that Jexxel had."

<In the test...>

Ezra looked quickly over the paper before picking up his pencil and began scribbling what seemed like working out and answers on the sheet. To Neeran, it was incredibly legible for someone who she didn't think would have known how to write with a pencil properly.

And, it was all correct.

Neeran couldn't spot a single mistake in all of Ezra's work and she could read it all even though Ezra had been a slave for the first four years of his life.

Ezra tapping her shoulder after twenty minutes awoke Neeran from her daze.
"I've finished it," he whispered to Neeran.

Neeran blinked a couple of times before registering what he'd said.
"Oh, well then we can leave."

Ezra gathered up the sheets of paper he'd done his working on and followed Neeran. Neeran took the sheets of paper from him and handed them to the teacher present to watch the tests.

He stapled the sheets together and motioned for them to leave as Ezra was the first to finish, even before the older students.

<Later...>

"How did you know all those answers Ezra?" asked Neeran as they walked through the streets of Capitol City.
"It was like that voice had taught me," replied Ezra sticking close to Neeran and Kyipen. "He was there in my mind and urging me to try my hardest but he didn't tell me the answers."

"You always call this voice a he, why is that?" asked Neeran.
"It sounds like a male so I think it's a guy."

"I see," replied Neeran. 'I think I know who this mysterious voice may be. But he'd never admit to it I don't think."