THE SENTINEL
AWAY WITH WORDS 

By Tessa Harvey

    The next morning early there was a tap on the principal's door. "Come In," Esmay invited, aware this was a pupil. The knock was low down on the sturdy door, ajar as always, unless a private meeting.
    The new boy walked in. Esmay could see he was shaking slightly.
    "May I go home?" Theodor asked quietly. "I have stayed all night and half a day. The owl needs me you see and the bats at home."
    She noticed the boy was not looking directly at her.
    "Theo," the teacher said gently, "would you like to meet your grandmother?" Eliza had given permission before she left.
    "Grossmulti?" For the first time Theo looked into her eyes.
    "Did she lose me?" "Yes, in a manner of speaking. For a very long time she wanted always to find you. Also she has a friend of mine who knows all about the owls and bats and badgers and foxes and squirrels here. And flowers," Esmay answered, wondering why. But the child's face was radiant.

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