Jackie’s eyes opened wide.
“My god! I’m going to gain at least another five pounds before we leave this place,” she said, jumping out of bed.
Sally came out of the bathroom smiling.
“Ha! I thought that would get you out of bed. I don’t have the faintest idea what they serve for breakfast.”
Jackie grabbed her pillow throwing it at her friend.
“You cheeky thing. I will get my revenge on you,” she said, with bursts of laughter.
They got dressed and followed the signs leading to the dining hall where breakfast was being served. As they stepped through the doorway, they noticed the room was not full of students like last night, but just their classmates and another group.
“This must be the anthropology class,” said Sally.
Just then, Mr. Morgan entered the hall.
“Good morning all. We have decided the best way for both anthropology classes to get to know one another would be at breakfast time. After we will all go to the lecturing hall.”
Jackie and Sally looked around for Travis, but he was not among the other students.
“Travis isn’t here, maybe he overslept,” Sally said as she looked around.
“Well, I’m hungry, and look they do have pancakes!”
Jackie grabbed a plate and went to the counter waiting her turn in the queue. Sally looked disappointed but followed her friend. While waiting her turn, Sally started chatting with a student behind her.
“Hi, I’m Sally,”
The girl smiled.
“Hello Sally, pleased to meet you. I’m Rosalie, but my friends call me Rosie.”
They shook hands and continued talking while moving closer to the food counter. Rosie was about Sally’s age, but had black hair, and wore dark rimmed glasses.
Sally said to herself, “I’m sure she’s very bright, in fact, they all look intelligent.”
The three girls sat at the same table, talking while eating breakfast. They seemed to get on pretty well together, laughing and joking.
Sally asked Rosie about Travis.
“Is Travis in your class also?”
Rosie smiled at her before answering.
“Why yes! How do you know him?”
Sally and Jackie both looked at her.
“He took us on a private tour of the school last night. He was very polite, and he’s cute,” Jackie said with a giggle.
“He must like you then! Travis is hardly ever seen with a girl, well not from this school as far as I know.”
Travis walked in as Sally was about to reply. He went over to the breakfast counter. The whole class greeted him as if he were some rock star.
Jackie said, “he seems very popular. Every girl in the room has their eye on him.”
Rosie said, “yes he is, he’s a great guy, and everyone likes him.”
Sally could feel her heart racing as Travis walked towards their table. She could see the rest of the class gazing in her direction. She continued eating, pretending not to notice as he approached them.
“Good morning ladies. Hope you slept well. Hey Rosie! How are you recovering from that terrible cold?”
Rosie looked up at Travis.
“I feel much better thanks to you.”
Both Sally and Jackie looked at one another.
Jackie spoke first, “are you practicing medicine also?” She asked.
“Oh no. I made Rosie a home made remedy for the common cold, which seems to have worked great,” he said.
Jackie was intrigued.
“Really! Was it something you made up, or passed on from family members?”
Rosie answered for Travis, “he made it himself, he’s a wiz at secret potions and spells.”
Jackie burst out laughing, and then they all joined her.
“Rosie thinks I’m some kind of wizard or warlock!” Said Travis, giving Rosie a quick wink.
Rosie looked a bit embarrassed by what she said.
Sally glanced at her, noticing she had a serious look on her face as if she meant what she said.
When the breakfast hall was nearly empty from students, they all left for the lecturing room, eager to get a front row seat. Sally walked with Jackie, leaving Travis and Rosie to lead the way.
“Jackie!” Sally said, keeping her voice low.
“I think Rosie was serious about Travis, and the things she said about secret remedies and potions.”
Jackie was about to burst out laughing again, but Sally shut her up.
“Yeah, right…. Maybe I can get him to come up with a love potion, and have every guy drooling at my feet!”
“Hey, I’m serious Jackie!” She stopped walking, and held her friend’s arm.
“They were just having a laugh. Come on Sally! Travis a wizard?”
Sally let it go and hurried to catch up with the rest of the group.
Both classes entered the lecture room through two huge wooden oak doors. Travis and the three girls found a place at the front. They took their seats waiting for Mr. Morgan to arrive. On sitting, Sally’s cell phone started to ring. She quickly answered it before one of the lecturers came in, knowing cell phones must be switched off in the hall.
“Sally it’s dad! How are things there? Are you alright?”
She got up from her seat and went to the very rear of the hall so as not to whisper.
“Dad, I’m fine. We had a big breakfast this morning. Now we’re in the lecturing hall waiting for Mr. Morgan to arrive.”
“Okay. I just wanted to make sure you’re alright. Take care Sally, and call me if you need anything. Bye for now, love you.”
Sally said goodbye and switched off her cell. She felt her eyes swelling with tears of happiness, but also sadness. She dearly misses her mother. She loves her father so much but would do anything to hear her mother’s voice one last time.
Sally went back to her seat next to Travis, who saw the tears in her eyes.
“Are you alright Sally? Why the tears?”
“I’m okay. It’s just that I miss my mother so much. I have so many things I want to share with her and tell her. I wish she were still alive, I wish I could hear her voice again,” she said as tears streamed down her face.
Travis put his arms around her shoulder trying to comfort her.
He said, “don’t cry Sally, everything will be okay.”
He then placed his hand under her chin, lifting her face, looking into her eyes.
“What if I tell you your wish can come true about hearing your mother’s voice again!”
Sally saw that he meant what he said.
“What do you mean come true? How? It’s not possible!”
“Trust me Sally, it can be done, but you have to keep your word not to say anything to anyone!”
Sally looked confused, but something in his eyes made her believe what he was saying. Jackie was chatting with Rosie, not having a clue about what had just happened.
Mr. Morgan finally arrived, and the lecture began. All students were paying attention to what was being said. All except Sally. Her mind was elsewhere.
Her thoughts began to wander to what she would say to her mother. What to ask her, and why did she leave home.
Before she knew it, the lecture was over, and the four students left the hall, making their way to the canteen for a refreshment. Jackie and Rosie were chatting away like new best friends. Sally and Travis trailed behind, wanting to be alone for a while.
Sally popped the question.
“Travis! Is it true what you said? You know about speaking to my mother again.”
He stopped walking and took hold of her hand.
“Yes, it’s true. I would never joke about something like that. It can be done. I’ve seen it Sally.”
She was becoming confused.
“What do you mean you’ve seen it?”
“I can’t tell you here. It’s hard to explain. You won’t believe me if I tell you how,” he said.