Recluse Island

Chapter 49

April 2014

"Elliot."

No response.

"Elliot!"

Still no response.

"ELLIOT!"

Startled Edwin Tweetfeet's ten-year-old brother abruptly stopped walking and turned around.

Edwin quickly jogged the remaining distance to join his brother just outside Summerdale station.

"What?" Elliot asked, clearly annoyed as evidenced by his scowl and rigid posture.

Edwin had just chased his brother out of the Meadowlark Café, abandoning his friends and their lively conversation discussing what Jimmy Buchanan would be wearing at the next review, so he could find out what had happened at Elliot's assessment that day.

"So, what section did you get?" asked Edwin, surprised Elliot didn't already know what he wanted.

As far as brothers went Edwin and Elliot were pretty dissimilar, in fact Edwin felt he had more in common with his five-year-old brother than he did Elliot. Elliot was extremely private and introverted. They never knew what he was thinking, how he felt, or what he wanted and as far as the rest of the family could tell that's how Elliot liked it. Elliot was also the only child of Ariel and Edwin Tweetfeet Sr to have black hair instead of brown hair which he wore long and shaggy to his neck.

"Oh," Elliot shrugged. "Modern Technology Guru's."

"Seriously?" said Edwin, shocked.

MTG's was one of the least common sections to get selected after the Glass House. Edwin had been sure Elliot would join him in Disaster Control, he had already been preparing to be his trainer for the first ninety days.

"Yeah, so?" asked Elliot now with a defensive tone in his voice as if he wanted Edwin to challenge the validity of this statement.

"I'm just surprised," said Edwin. "Are you happy with this selection?"

"Yeah, it's fine, are we done now?" Elliot jerked his head toward Summerdale Station.

"I guess," said Edwin knowing he wasn't going to get much more out of Elliot, "See you at home."

With that vote of approval, Elliot entered the station and Edwin returned to the café.

"So, what did he say?" Luella eagerly asked when he had returned.

"MTG's," Edwin replied, still astonished.

"Really?" exclaimed Luella, "Wow I sure wasn't expecting that."

"Expecting what?" asked Effie, arriving at their table her tray laden with this evening's special spinach stuffed ravioli and garlic bread.

"Elliot got selected into Modern Technology Guru's," Edwin informed her.

"What?" screeched Effie, "Our brother?"

"That's what he said," Edwin answered, still a bit doubtful himself.

"Well, how did that happen?" asked Effie, picking up her fork and knife.

Edwin shrugged, "Dunno, I bet mom, and dad will be thrilled though."

Effie nodded in agreement as she chewed her ravioli, "Man this is good! And yeah, mom's gonna flip. He headed there now?"