Page 15 (1/2)

I slid into an uncomfortable plastic chair next to my parents and waited to hear the proclas and then we’ll have you sign soram, or HOP, as I like to call it, is part of an overall behavioral evaluation that your parents are enrolling you in You will be expected to be here five days a week, fro an excused absence accompanied by a doctor’s note Your success here will depend entirely on your participation in your activities and in group therapy, and--"

"And academics?" I wasn’t a Daniel-level student, no, but there had never been a future forabout how my adventures in psychotherapy would affect it

"You’ll be couidance of tutors, but the emphasis at Horizons, Mara, is not on academic achievement but on personal achieve, your participation is integral to your success After a period of teeks, there will be a reassessht place for you, or whether it would be prudent to move you to our residential treatment facility"

So this was a test, then To see whether I could make it here in the real world without anyproblems I looked up at my parents’ hopeful faces as the word residential echoed in my mind

It was a test I needed to pass

13

WHEN MR ROBINS FINISHED HIS LECTURE, he held out a pen

My parents had explained this part to ree; Horizons required it And I didn’there in this weird place on this hard little chair staring at that pen, I hesitated After a few unconed ether "Now that that’s settled, I’ve set you up for a tour with Phoebe Reynard, another student at Horizons Yes," he said, nodding fully, "everyone is a student here A student of life"

Oh, God

"Each of you is assigned to a buddy, and Phoebe will be yours That means she’ll be your partner for most of your exercises Not so different fro anywith you today?"

I had, in fact I toted h this definitely wasn’t school I nodded at Mr Robins

"Can I see it?"

I handed it over

"It will have to be thoroughly checked every ti in has to be cataloged, and contraband rearettes, alcohol, cell phones, laptops We do allow portableas they don’t have Internet access So your iPod," he said, nodding at the earbuds dangling out of the kangaroo pocket ofchecked and rin "Got anything else in your pockets, Mara?"

I blinked "U?"

"Excuse me?"

I raised my eyebrows "The Hobbit?"

He looked concerned "A what?"

"It’s a book," aze and winked

Mr Robins looked from my father to me "You have a book in your pocket?"