Miss Peregrine's Stories- School Day

Miss Peregrine's Short Stories- School Day

I stood there on the driveway outside my entirely normal house in Florida. I was stood there with my mouth hanging open in disbelief and Emma's arm around my shoulder. Everyone was smiling and waving and even Enoch's mouth was slightly turned up at the edges. My parents had passed out in the car and my dad was slumped over the wheel with his hair splayed out like a lion's mane. Miss Peregrine our beloved ymbryne spread her arms and hugged me hard and I was so shocked I didn't even react. "Jacob! We decided to pay you a visit!" The shocked look on my face clearly wasn't very enthusiastic because Miss Peregrine added "You don't mind do you?" I shook my head, struggling to get the words out. "No I don't mind. Of course I don't mind! I'm so happy to see all of you!" Emma grinned and kissed me on the cheek. "I got your electric letter. We left Devil's Acre immediately and came straight here!" I smiled but was still slightly confused. "How did you know where my house was?" "Oh, Millard had it covered. I don't know how he did it. He's become very attached to modern technology..." added Emma under her breath. "That's right!" piped up Millard, rushing forward, "It's an absolute miracle! A wonder of the modern world! Every piece of information you could ever wish for right at your fingertips! Of course... nothing compares to the Map of Days..." he said dreamily, taking the huge book from Bronwyn and cradling it in his arms, "This really cannot be compared to." Enoch stepped forward and shoved Millard out of the way. "Yes, yes how interesting. Now are you actually going to let us inside? We didn't come all this way to stand out here in the cold." I frowned and looked up at the sky. "Oh shut up Enoch!" scolded Olive, "its boiling here! And if you don't like the weather maybe you'd like to run back to Cairnholm. I'm sure nobody would mind." Enoch scowled and crossed his arms but before he could say something back I said "Hey! Enoch's right. Come inside."

I lead the peculiar children down the driveway and up the patio steps. I slid my key into the door and tugged but it wouldn't open. "Do you want me to try?" asked Bronwyn. "Of course not!" scoffed Enoch, "you'll wrench the door off!" I tugged on the handle again and this time it opened up and all eight peculiar children peered inside. "It looks awfully dark..." said Horace fearfully. "That's because the light isn't on," I replied and flicked a switch. A gasp of wonder spread through the children. "Is that an electronic television device?" squeaked Millard. I smiled, "Yes. But careful, don't break anything." Millard nodded and stuck out his chest like it was now his duty to make sure that nothing was broken. "Come on now! In we go! Single file!" The children and Miss Peregrine all trekked inside and stood there looking around in amazement. I closed the door behind us and thought back to my unconscious parents in the car. I could go back for them later.

I felt a small hand wrap around my own. "Jacob? Is there any food? I'm starving." I smiled at Claire and nodded. "Yes there is. Come with me." I lead the children into the kitchen and they all sat around the table, at least... the ones that were lucky enough to get a seat. "Jacob, Millard stole my chair!" whined Horace. "Do you expect us to sit on the floor?" grumbled Enoch. "Look!" called Emma impatiently, "Jacob didn't even expect us to be here so stop complaining! Be grateful or he'll send all of us home!" "I wasn't complaining," said Olive and a vast chorus of "Nor was I!" burst up. "SHUT UP!" I cried and silence fell, "If you don't have a seat then stand up!" Horace frowned. "I couldn't possibly do that. It's against my morals!" "No seat, no eat?" suggested Claire. "Precisely," said Horace and stuck his nose in the air. I was growing increasingly impatient. It was stressful as it was with eight peculiar children and one ymbryne to feed... I didn't need Horace's complaining on top of all that. "Fine then," I snapped, "you won't get any food. I'm sure Hugh won't hesitate to eat all of yours. And I'm sure his bees wouldn't mind either." Horace's eyes widened. "Well I didn't mean it literally..." he insisted, "but at the very least I must have a pillow. I'm not sitting on the bare floor like an animal. I shall get my trousers dirty." Enoch snorted and smiled at his empty plate. "Oh and we wouldn't want that now would we?"