"Again, it would be a very disruptive experience. And of course I'd like to continue our sessions."
"Why?" Stuart queried. His voice was harsh, his question blunt. "Cadel's doing all right. How long is he going to have to keep traipsing in here three days a week?"
Thaddeus pressed his fingertips together. Leaning forward, he replied smoothly, "As long as Cadel wants to come, he is welcome to come." Three heads turned, as the adults in the room all gazed at the child. "Do you
want
to continue our discussions, Cadel?" Thaddeus inquired. "Or do you think we have nothing else to explore?"
"I want to keep coming," said Cadel. Inwardly, he was alarmed that Stuart should even consider canceling his sessions with Thaddeus. Thaddeus was like a father—and Dr. Darkkon
was
Cadel's father. He couldn't imagine being cut off from either of them. "It makes me feel better," he said.
"Like a safety valve," agreed Thaddeus. He addressed Stuart once more: "Cadel
has
been doing very well, and will continue to do well as long as he has our sessions to fall back on. I hope you don't have any reason to doubt me on this?"
"Oh no," Lanna hastened to assure him. "Not at all. We're very grateful." And she gave her husband a poke in the ribs. "Don't be so silly, Stuart."
Cadel sighed. He felt hugely relieved. The prospect of losing Thaddeus was too awful to contemplate—especially now, when he had no idea what he should be doing with his life. Thaddeus, quite obviously, did. Cadel was willing to go along with any suggestions that Thaddeus might make. He had no alternative ambitions. In fact, he had never given the future much thought. All he wanted to do was to keep exercising his mind in a way that he found fulfilling.
"My recommendation is a place called the Axis Institute," the psychologist continued, pulling a thick brochure off his desk. "It's a very small and recent foundation, but tailor-made for your son, in my view. The focus is on the individual students, with courses carefully designed to suit them and with a great deal of structured counseling built in."
"It sounds like a loony bin" was Stuart's opinion, and his wife scowled at him.
"Stuart! Hush!"
"It's not a loony bin," Thaddeus assured Mr. Piggott patiently. "It's a tertiary college for bright young people who need extra emotional support. I thought you might at least like to inspect it. See what you think." He handed the brochure to Stuart. "There are some minor fees involved, but government funding helps allay most of the costs."
Cadel watched Thaddeus intently. He didn't know what this Axis Institute business was all about, but he had a feeling that Thaddeus was plotting something. Sure enough, Stuart suddenly exclaimed, "It says here you're the chancellor!"
"That's right," Thaddeus conceded.
"So you're trying to flog us a college that pays you?"
Thaddeus took a deep breath. "Of course, you're free to send Cadel anywhere you wish," he said. "My involvement with the Axis Institute came about solely because of my concern for young people of his type, whose circumstances are unusual, and whose potentials are enormous. Naturally, I wouldn't expect you to agree without inspecting the facility yourself. You'll find that while it's not yet well-known in the wider community, it
is
quite highly regarded by those government departments whose job it is to accredit and oversee such institutions. You can make all the inquiries you want."
Stuart grunted. He and his wife both looked at the brochure again. As they did, Thaddeus glanced toward Cadel, and his left eyelid flickered.
"I need hardly add"—the psychologist smiled—"that the institute must first meet with
your
approval, Cadel."
"Oh," said Cadel, "I'm sure it will. As long as they teach computers."
This remark had been deliberately designed to startle the Piggotts, who raised their heads in unison.
"Computers!" Lanna exclaimed.
"I thought we had an agreement," Stuart growled.
But Thaddeus held up his hands.
"Now let's
"Why?" Stuart queried. His voice was harsh, his question blunt. "Cadel's doing all right. How long is he going to have to keep traipsing in here three days a week?"
Thaddeus pressed his fingertips together. Leaning forward, he replied smoothly, "As long as Cadel wants to come, he is welcome to come." Three heads turned, as the adults in the room all gazed at the child. "Do you
want
to continue our discussions, Cadel?" Thaddeus inquired. "Or do you think we have nothing else to explore?"
"I want to keep coming," said Cadel. Inwardly, he was alarmed that Stuart should even consider canceling his sessions with Thaddeus. Thaddeus was like a father—and Dr. Darkkon
was
Cadel's father. He couldn't imagine being cut off from either of them. "It makes me feel better," he said.
"Like a safety valve," agreed Thaddeus. He addressed Stuart once more: "Cadel
has
been doing very well, and will continue to do well as long as he has our sessions to fall back on. I hope you don't have any reason to doubt me on this?"
"Oh no," Lanna hastened to assure him. "Not at all. We're very grateful." And she gave her husband a poke in the ribs. "Don't be so silly, Stuart."
Cadel sighed. He felt hugely relieved. The prospect of losing Thaddeus was too awful to contemplate—especially now, when he had no idea what he should be doing with his life. Thaddeus, quite obviously, did. Cadel was willing to go along with any suggestions that Thaddeus might make. He had no alternative ambitions. In fact, he had never given the future much thought. All he wanted to do was to keep exercising his mind in a way that he found fulfilling.
"My recommendation is a place called the Axis Institute," the psychologist continued, pulling a thick brochure off his desk. "It's a very small and recent foundation, but tailor-made for your son, in my view. The focus is on the individual students, with courses carefully designed to suit them and with a great deal of structured counseling built in."
"It sounds like a loony bin" was Stuart's opinion, and his wife scowled at him.
"Stuart! Hush!"
"It's not a loony bin," Thaddeus assured Mr. Piggott patiently. "It's a tertiary college for bright young people who need extra emotional support. I thought you might at least like to inspect it. See what you think." He handed the brochure to Stuart. "There are some minor fees involved, but government funding helps allay most of the costs."
Cadel watched Thaddeus intently. He didn't know what this Axis Institute business was all about, but he had a feeling that Thaddeus was plotting something. Sure enough, Stuart suddenly exclaimed, "It says here you're the chancellor!"
"That's right," Thaddeus conceded.
"So you're trying to flog us a college that pays you?"
Thaddeus took a deep breath. "Of course, you're free to send Cadel anywhere you wish," he said. "My involvement with the Axis Institute came about solely because of my concern for young people of his type, whose circumstances are unusual, and whose potentials are enormous. Naturally, I wouldn't expect you to agree without inspecting the facility yourself. You'll find that while it's not yet well-known in the wider community, it
is
quite highly regarded by those government departments whose job it is to accredit and oversee such institutions. You can make all the inquiries you want."
Stuart grunted. He and his wife both looked at the brochure again. As they did, Thaddeus glanced toward Cadel, and his left eyelid flickered.
"I need hardly add"—the psychologist smiled—"that the institute must first meet with
your
approval, Cadel."
"Oh," said Cadel, "I'm sure it will. As long as they teach computers."
This remark had been deliberately designed to startle the Piggotts, who raised their heads in unison.
"Computers!" Lanna exclaimed.
"I thought we had an agreement," Stuart growled.
But Thaddeus held up his hands.
"Now let's
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