Page 168 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“No, no. We’re introducing everyone to our new Amaranthineteachers.”
“No kidding?” He did a double-take and gave his ponytail asheepish tug. “Was that today?”
Harrison asked, “Are you teasing us?”
Kip smiled. “I’mtotallyteasing. I’d never forget aday as important as this one.”
“You forgotsomething, though. Where’s your nametag,Mr. Kipling?”
Patting at the pockets of his coveralls, he said, “Come on,Mr. Peck. Youknoweveryone calls me Kip. I’m Kip, the janitor with redhair.”
“And that’s a problem,” said Harrison.
“It’s never been a problem before.”
Ash pulled Kip’s lanyard from his back pocket and helped himput it on while Harrison pretended to whisper explanations into his ear. Handswaved. Eyebrows jumped and furrowed. Kip nodded and shook his head by turns.And in ten seconds flat, he was up to speed.
“I’ve got this!” he announced. “My name is Kip. I never weara bowtie, and I don’t have antlers or antennae. I do have red hair, but I’mdifferent than Professor Highbranch. And I can prove it.”
He made Harrison back up, crouched low, then sprang up,turning a backward somersault in midair. When he landed, some applauded, butKip held up his hands. “Wait. It didn’t work. Gimme another chance. On thecount of three ….”
The crowd counted with him. “One. Two. Three!”
After another backward somersault, Kip checked over hisshoulder, then scratched his head. “I guess I’m a little out of practice.”
Another countdown. Another flip. But this time, when Kiplanded in a crouch, his tail bushed out behind him, and his ears made theirpoint.
Gasps and exclamations of awe rippled through the room asKip slowly straightened. “My name is Kip. I never wear a bowtie, and I don’thave antlers or antennae. I still have red hair, but I also have red fur.”
Harrison waited for the first wave of excitement to pass,then asked, “Kip, are you Amaranthine?”
“Yes. I’m from one of the squirrel clans.” He looked outover the audience, and Tami thought maybe he was looking for Joe. “Is thatokay?”
Applause. And more applause.
Archer rewarded Kip’s courage with a standing ovation.
He moved to one of the two remaining seats on the platformand sat, unobtrusively bringing the remaining empty chair to everyone’sattention.
People quickly settled back into their seats, and Harrison quietlyasked, “Ash, are you going to do backflips, too?”
The silence was absolute.
“I’m not much of an acrobat.” Ash faced the audience andsaid, “My name is Ash. I never wear a bowtie, and I don’t have antlers orantennae. I don’t have red hair or red fur. I’ve always liked high places, butI’ve never really told any of you why.”
When he paused, Harrison asked, “Have you been keeping asecret?”
“Yes. But my secret’s a little different from Kip’s. He hasfur. I have feathers.”
Kip snapped his fingers and Ash’s illusion vanished in alittle shower of sparkles, revealing his wings. He demonstrated their fullspan, then stirred the air with slow wingbeats.
Harrison waited out the expected tumult, then asked, “Ash,are you Amaranthine?”
“Half,” he said, chin at a confident angle. “My name is Ash,and I’m a crosser. But that’s not the last secret for today.”
“There’s more?”
Tami stepped forward, and Harrison melodramatically clappeda hand over his heart. “Principal Reaverson, areyouAmaranthine, too? “
