Doorways to Infinity by Geof Johnson Read Free Book Online Page A

Jamie said. “I want to build an all-purpose facility that can serve as a gymnasium and an auditorium, and I want central heat and air for that. Plus, we might need more classrooms by next year, if things keep going well.”
    “Your gramma says to count on it,” Mr. Bass said. “You’re gonna need the space.”
    “Is she here?” Dr. Bass said. “I’d like to meet her.”
    “She’s in the main building, probably.” Jamie nodded in that direction. “I’ll take you there.”
    They said goodbye to Mr. Bass and headed toward the long rectangular structure that housed the classrooms. The old barn was directly behind it, and Jamie gestured at it and said, “We’re getting a bus pretty soon, and we’re going to put the shed for it next to that.”
    “How are you going to get gasoline for the bus?”
    “It’s electric. I’ve never seen one before, but my granddaddy found a company in Atlanta that sells them. The one we’re getting will carry about forty kids or so, which will be enough for now.”
    “Where are your students coming from?”
    “Some of them come from in town, like the shopkeepers’ kids, and it’s an easy walk for them, but the ones who live on the farms south of here have a pretty long way to go. Almost three miles, for a few of them, and that’s a problem sometimes. Right now, their parents are bringing them in their wagons, and a couple ride horses, but a lot of them walk.”
    “That could be rough in bad weather.”
    “I think attendance will go up after we get the bus.”
    “How many kids do you have now?”
    “About fifty, and more parents are stopping by every week to check us out.” He paused and nodded. “We’re almost at capacity. We need at least one more teacher.” He opened the back door of the main building for her and the enetered. “We seem to be growing all the time.”
    They passed the two bathrooms in the back hall and stopped by a small classroom on their right, where Jamie heard voices. He whispered, “This is Miss Duffy’s room. She teaches music and art, among other things.”
    They slipped inside and found ten children seated at desks, facing the front, where Miss Duffy stood beside her easel. On it was a drawing of a house. When she saw Jamie, she smiled, and her students all turned to look at Jamie with brightened faces.
    “Jamie!” Blane said, and others echoed his greeting.
    “Sorry to interrupt,” Jamie said. “I’m just giving Dr. Tindall a tour of the school. She’s my science teacher at college.”
    “Are you going to be our science teacher?” Keela said.
    “Uh, no. I’m just here to see what the fuss is all about.”
    They said goodbye to Miss Duffy’s class and Jamie showed Dr. Tindall the rest of the facility — the main room, the other two classrooms, and the office — then he took her outside, where they found the rest of the kids playing, some on the big field, and a few more, mostly boys, on the new basketball court made from the special solar panels. Aunt Connie was watching the latter group, and his grandmother was with the kids who were playing dodge ball. Jamie called to her, and she joined them at the picnic table under the big oak tree, now bare of its leaves.
    Jamie introduced his biology professor and Evelyn said, “How do you like it so far, Dr. Tindall?”
    “Oh, call me Nancy, and I’m impressed. I had absolutely no idea this young man was doing anything like this.” She gave a little jittery laugh. “Or that he was a sorcerer, or that there was another world populated by humans. No idea at all.”
    “Good. We don’t want people knowing that. Have you seen the clinic yet?” Dr. Tindall shook her head and Evelyn said, “I’ll take you over there in a minute.” Then she turned and glanced over her shoulder at the front of the school. “I keep expecting your grandfather to show up, Jamie. He called a while ago.”
    “How can he call here if it’s another world?” Dr. Tindall said.
    “We have a phone in the