Spy School - Nemesis [1]

02: Failed recruitment

There are many references to other books, so don't be confused.

Self Defense Classroom

The Academy of Espionage

Washington, DC

April 22

1300 hours

"You shouldn't have told Trixie the truth," said Erica. Mike and I were with Erica, Cyrus and Catherine (Alexander was supervising Trixie outside the school grounds). We were in an empty classroom while everyone was outside for paintball, and I could hear the yells and explosions from outside as the red team fired their paint ball canon. I never liked PE much, but I would gladly go and get blasted by paintball guns if it meant I could escape the three Hales' wrath.

"Yes, but she practically banged down Ben's hospital door and demanded answers!" Mike protested. All three Hales scowled in unison at him.

"Yes, but according to you and Ben, you two weren't very good at concealing that you were spies," Catherine said, with a glare and a now-evil sounding accent.

"That may be true," I jumped in, "but I did write an email to Cyrus warning him, although he must have not read it, otherwise he wouldn't let Trixie visit me." Cyrus was a technology dinosaur. He never used GPS, and when Alexander protested, Cyrus replied, "Smart phones! You kids today rely way too much on technology. Back in my day, we didn't need smartphones to fight the Russkies. All we needed were guts, brains, and semiautomatic weapons." (NOTE: Quote from Spy Camp by Stuart Gibbs.)

"Either way, the reason we are in this room right now is because of you two," said Cyrus, pointing at Mike and me. "There was a reason why she didn't know her family members were spies. Do you think we didn't tell her for fun? No!" Cyrus, who was sitting at the teacher's desk, banged his fist on the table.

Soon, we finished the discussion, and went out of the classroom to finish whatever was on our schedule. I went to the hospital to get one final check-up to confirm I was healthy before letting me go, while Mike and Erica went to continue their classes at spy school.

At the hospital, the doctors told me I was good to go, and I went out to catch a taxi to spy school. Before I could find one, I heard a voice. "How did your 'trial' with my family go?" For a split second, I foolishly thought it was Erica, quietly sneaking up on me, but then I turned and saw Trixie.

I sighed. "You have the talents of your sister, sneaking up on me like that." She smiled, and I told her how the Hales scolded me.

"I'm sorry you had go through that. Erica and grandpa can be very protective," Trixie said.

"Yes, but they didn't judo flip Mike or me. Catherine convinced them you would ask either way, and we just saved them some trouble," I replied.

"I was wondering, why didn't they tell me about their secret espionage lives?" Trixie asked.

"Well, apparently you couldn't throw a knife or defuse a bomb when you were three, so your family decided to give you a shot at a normal life that they could never have."

Hanging her head, Trixie sighed. "I thought I would make a great spy, but apparently, compared to my family, the cream of the crop, I wouldn't be so good."

"Nonsense! You would make a great spy! After all, you, with no training, basically pumped out the truth of two spies!" I told her.

Trixie smiled. "Thank you so much, it- wait!" Trixie's head suddenly snapped up, her eyes bright. "Could I enroll into spy school?"

"Er. . . you could probably get a passing grade on the entrance exam, but there is a big price to pay. Espionage isn't like in the James Bond movies. At spy school, the classes are either boring, or cause bodily harm. The food is bad, the showers smell, and our dormitories are smaller than your average broom closet. Plus, it is really competitive, since everyone is gunning to be the best spy. Also. . ." I trailed off, Trixie glaring at me.

"You really didn't mean any of it when you said I could make a good spy?" She asked, making her eyes look coldly at me. Once again, as in the hospital, I saw a bit of Erica's personality showing through.

"No, no, not at all!" I exclaimed. "I'll try to talk to Alexander or Cyrus- they both have connections- but if that doesn't work, I'll talk to the principal, but don't expect many results. I once blew up his office- on accident," I said, noticing her bemusement.

Trixie looked so happy, she practically glowed. "Really? Thank you so much!"

She soon left, having to return to Alexander to avoid suspicion. (She told him she was getting some coffee.) As I hailed a taxi, I wondered what I had gotten myself into.

790 words