In Search Of Elysium

Chapter 6

The Boys Recruit The Girls

Monday morning Kevin was up before sunrise, showering faster than ever. He shaved his morning beard and laid his clothes out for the day. It was a school day, and he was eager to persuade Kathy and Linda to join Cody, Ricky and himself on their adventure into space.

Kevin had a crush on Kathy and wanted to get to know her. Because of his new understanding of life, he was getting urges and wanted to explore his relationships. He always had sexual urges, but his parents taught him how to keep them private.

After getting dressed he ran down the stairs and into the kitchen of the old farmhouse. His dad sat at the table drinking his morning coffee and reading the newspaper.

"Hi Dad," Kevin said, trying not to say too much.

"What got into you?" Richard asked. "You never get up without me yelling my head off. In fact, the last while you have been acting a little strange. Is there something I should know, Kevin?"

"Guess what, Dad? I got dressed by myself," Kevin replied, trying to avoid answering his dad's question.

"That's nice son. Is cereal OK this morning?" Richard asked. "I don't have enough pancake mix so I guess I will have to head to Pigeon, today, to get groceries."

"Cereal is OK, Dad. Can I have milk, too?" Kevin asked.

"Yes." Richard filled Kevin's favorite bowl with Fruit Loops and poured in some milk. "Here you go. What is going on at school that has you so excited?"

"I like school! Miss Carol is my favorite teacher," Kevin said, eating his cereal and looking at the morning newspaper laid out in front of his dad's place at the table. There was another story about the strange spaceship found in a farmer's field. A new photograph showed Kevin and Cody walking up to the ship, unaware of the photographer. Kevin was glad it did not show them entering the ship as that would be hard to explain.

"Look, Daddy, it's Cody and me." He exclaimed. "Can I take that to school?"

"Sure, but don't throw it away. Bring it back for our scrapbook."

After breakfast, Kevin sat outside and waited for the bus. He read every page in the newspaper by the time the bus drove up to his driveway. He ran for the bus, and rushed to the back to be with his friends, Cody and Ricky. They all hugged, then sat and talked in whispers, not wanting the driver or other students to hear their conversation.

"How should we approach Kathy and Linda?" Cody asked.

"I think we should get them together and just tell them what has happened to us. If they are interested in joining us, we can have them ride the bus home with us tonight," Kevin said.

"What about their parents? Won't we have to ask them for permission?" Ricky asked.

"I was thinking of that, and if I call their parents and lower my voice, I sound almost like my dad. We can persuade their parents that my dad is asking for permission. Then I can get my dad to drive them home after we finish before dinner time," Kevin added.

"Captain, that sounds like a plan," Ricky said with a laugh. "I think our mission will succeed."

When the trio got to school, they had a quick hello for Miss Carol and the Parapro teacher's aid and then were off in the corner with Kathy and Linda. The boys told the girls everything about the spaceship and how they had become super-smart. The girls at first appeared frightened, but they seemed to understand.

"Can we be smart like you, too?" asked Kathy. She was looking into Kevin's eyes and liked that he was looking at her alone.

"Yes, Kathy. You can be smart too. We need you and Linda for our team and hope you will join us. All you have to do is touch the ship and it will rewire your brain's pathways so you can learn and understand."