Aesop's Secret (3 page)

The back door slammed loudly startling Melinda out of her trance. Her eyes sprang open and she saw that her clothes were now looming high above her. Then, in a more startlingly observation, she noticed a pair of huge shoes coming rapidly towards her.

Having seen Melinda’s clothes from inside the house, Felix had gone to investigate. He could not allow her to leave her things here, there and everywhere with the impending arrival of Professors Mulligan and Stumpworthy. They were due to arrive any day and he had to make a good impression.

A few weeks before Felix was confronted with what he referred to as “Athenite insanity,” he had received an invitation to attend the prestigious Stumpworthy School of Science in Paris, France. He had dreamed about attending that school since he was six years old. Excited beyond belief, he began the persuasion process on his parents that he hoped would convince them to let him go. At the time they seemed to be as thrilled as he was about the possibility. His mother even knew a member of the governing board: an old colleague and friend named James Mulligan. He and Horace Stumpworthy, the owner of the school, were currently traveling around the world to meet prospective students, and his parents had happily invited them to come to their home and meet Felix.

But then Melinda ruined everything. Ever since her changes began, his parents were of two minds about whether or not he should be allowed to study so far away from home. His mother was reluctant to let him go. “Maybe next year would be better,” she had moaned. “There are so many changes going on right now, it would be wise to wait.” While his father offered slightly more encouragement: “Let’s see how things go with Mulligan when he visits, then make up our minds.”

The last couple of weeks had been a nightmare. Most mornings Felix awoke feeling as he did before learning the facts of his life. However, things quickly soured when greeted by his bubbling, unpredictable sister. One morning he had to do a double take when he saw that she had long furry ears on top of her head; another morning she had a big, black bushy tail dragging on the floor from underneath her dressing gown. A boy at his school had always referred to his little sister as a pig. Felix shuddered to think what would happen if he called his sister a pig.

“It’s normal when you’re maturing to suffer unexpected transformations,” his father had explained. “If your mind wanders your body follows. You have all this to look forward to.”

Felix could honestly say that he was NOT looking forward to experiencing any of the changes that his sister was already going through because transforming didn’t interest him in the least. As the days passed his resolve to never morph out of his own body and into another creature strengthened. But he knew that the only way to avoid becoming like the other mutants in his family was to go away. So he made up his mind: whatever it took, he was going to that school, and the sooner the better.

Grumbling under his breath, he reached Melinda’s clothes, hastily picked them up then headed back towards the house. Melinda squeaked loudly as he walked away but failed to get his attention. She scurried after him, surprising herself with the agility her little body could manage, calling out to him in her squeaky voice again and again but he took no notice of the little creature scampering behind him. She was desperate to show off her successful transformation so she didn’t give up, running more quickly but failing to attract his attention. He was only a yard or so away from the steps that led up to the back door of the house and Melinda wasn’t about to give up the chase so in a last-ditch burst of energy she leapt free of the grass, grabbing hold of the back of his thigh and digging her claws in through his jeans.

Her clothes flew into the air as Felix lunged forward, screeching shrilly as he batted at the rodent clinging to the back of his jeans. Melinda leapt free, ran to a safe distance in front of him and then sat up proudly for him to admire her.

Felix’s body was completely rigid as he stared at the creature screaming in front of him. A second later he shook his head. “I don’t believe it,” he groaned, “what are you?” He took a step closer, bent down and stared into the face of his sister that was now planted on the head of the small rat-like creature. He grabbed her by her furless rat-like tail and lifted her black-feather-covered body into the air until her freckled face was even with his. “You are disgusting,” he said, looking like he’d just eaten something extremely sour. He dropped her back to the ground and watched as she rolled to a stop.

“You know what Mum and Dad said, no transforming when Professor Mulligan and Professor Stumpworthy are here!” He stormed into the house, leaving Melinda’s clothes strewn about and her with an angry pout on her face. She hated the idea of not transforming but more than that she hated the idea of James Mulligan in her house.

Professor Mulligan, or Professor Walrus as Melinda had always called him because of his full puffy jowls and grey droopy mustache (which actually did make him look like a walrus), had never been her favorite. Felix liked him because he was a scientist. Melinda didn’t like him because she thought that he was boring. But the biggest problem for Melinda with having him around was Aesop, Melinda’s pet rabbit.

Aesop had been a kind of birthday present to Melinda from Professor Mulligan. Kind of, because when he gave her the rabbit he didn’t even know it was her birthday. He simply wanted to get rid of the animal and gave it to the most likely home he could think of at the time. It was only a coincidence that it had been her birthday. She always had the feeling he regretted giving up such a remarkable animal because Aesop could change colour.

The first time Melinda had witnessed the change she was surprised but not startled. She had learned in school about animals, like rabbits, that change colour to match their surroundings. The first time Aesop changed his colour from white to brown, which seemed perfectly normal. The next change was a little stranger. Aesop changed from white to purple with eyes the colour of deep red rubies. Aesop could change into an orange bunny or a black bunny or an orange and black bunny. Once he had bright pink polka dots and another time he turned a brilliant daffodil yellow. She tried to show her family what he could do but he didn’t do anything when anyone else was around; he was always white with crystal pink eyes. At first it was frustrating not being able to share Aesop’s talents with anyone, until she realized that Aesop was probably smart not to. “You are a clever bunny,” she had said, “because if my father and Felix knew what you could do they’d probably cut you open and see what makes you tick.” She laughed when Aesop responded with a violent shiver.

The day arrived of impending doom in Melinda’s mind and of salvation in Felix’s. James Mulligan and the imposing figure of Horace Stumpworthy would arrive later in the day.

Elaine was in a state of panic. She wasn’t ready. The house had been cleaned from top to bottom, the meals were organized and all of Felix’s required documents were prepared just in case. Elaine worried instead about her daughter showing up at the table with chicken feet or worse.

Jake thought Elaine’s worries were a bit exaggerated. “Let’s give her some credit…she has really controlled her thoughts lately. It’s been at least three days with no snouts, antlers, tails or fur.”

That morning Felix had taken refuge in his room, away from his family, to await the visitors. He looked forward to having non-Athenite visitors―real people with whom he could relate. There was still a chance he could attend Professor Stumpworthy’s Science School in France. He had been more polite to his family than the previous twelve years of his life; they had to let him go.

At the same time Melinda also sought sanctuary in her room. She was still annoyed about not being able to transform and increasingly worried about Aesop. Then panic swelled up like a balloon as she stroked his azure blue fur. “If you’ve already changed colour in front of Professor Walrus then you might again. And if that happens, he’ll want you back to study you.” She picked him up and held him nose to nose. “Aesop, you must change back to white and stay that way the whole time he’s here. Do you understand?”

Aesop wiggled his nose but didn’t change colour.

She put him back down and thought for a good two seconds before deciding what to do. It was obvious that the best way to talk to him was to become a rabbit. She began by concentrating on his long floppy ears, twitchy nose, cottony puff of a tail, short front legs and strong hind legs. She thought about how his fur felt and how his claws pricked her hands when she held him. She visualized his steady breathing, the rapid flutter of his heart and the gentle grinding of his teeth. Then she concentrated on herself covered in sumptuous fur. She saw in her mind her nose change shape, becoming small and triangular; it was twitching constantly and had long whiskers below. Out of the top of her head she could almost visualize long, floppy, furry white ears but her concentration faltered and collapsed completely as she heard her door open. A quick look at her hands showed that she was still human.

Felix walked in rattling something about the guests arriving soon and that she needed to get ready but as she turned to face him he stopped talking and, with his mouth hanging wide open, just stared at her.

“What do you want?” snorted Melinda, very annoyed at his intrusion.

Felix just stood there, his mouth opening and closing but not making a sound.

“Felix, what’s going on?”

Felix continued to stare, his thin lips slightly parted and his glasses slipping down his thin nose as usual. “Your face,” Felix snapped angrily. “Can’t you control yourself for even one minute?”

Melinda reached up and touched her cheek. There was fur! She felt around her face and realized it was covered with the soft fur she had imagined. She felt a cold slippery nose with long prickly whiskers just below. As she moved her hands up to the top of her head she excitedly expected long ears too, but that part of her felt like Melinda the girl not Melinda the rabbit.
It’ll take more concentration,
she thought, then closed her eyes to complete the transformation as if Felix wasn’t there.

“You’re a freak!” yelled Felix. “You’re all freaks and I’m not going to be one of you!” He stormed down the stairs, straight out through the front door and right into the open arms of a tall man who, along with Professor James Mulligan, was about to announce their arrival.

“Well, if that isn’t an enthusiastic greeting,” chuckled the tall, distinguished-looking man holding onto Felix’s shoulders. “You must be Felix,” he said with a smile, then turned to his companion. “James, you told me how keen Mr. Hutton was to attend the program but I didn’t expect such a warm welcome.”

Untangling himself from the man’s grasp, Felix looked up at the tall stranger with awe. Since his companion was the familiar short, dumpy and disheveled Professor James Mulligan, Felix knew that the man he had ploughed into had to be Professor Horace Stumpworthy. It wasn’t exactly the calm and intelligent impression he’d wanted to give at their first meeting.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t looking where I was going,” Felix stuttered, his cheeks burning red.

“You were in quite a hurry,” interrupted James Mulligan. “Are we keeping you from something?”

Felix shivered.
Only escaping from this loony bin,
he thought. “No, I was just going out for some fresh air. Please come in,” he said in a very formal voice. “I’ll get my parents.”

“No need, Felix, I heard the voices from my office,” Elaine said, startling Felix as she seemed to appear out of nowhere.

The sound of voices carried upstairs to Melinda’s ears. “They’re here!” she shrieked as she patted her furry cheeks and threw a blouse that she had left on the floor over her blue rabbit.

At the same time Jake walked by her room and glanced in. “Melinda,” he whispered calmly, “get rid of the hair on your face and whatever else you have that doesn’t belong to a human.”

She stood up and smiled the sweetest smile that her little rabbit lips could muster. “I’m trying,” she lied.