«Right away?»
«Well, talk to her first about some trifle things and then everything will depend on the circumstances».
«O.K. I will try».
Jeffrey left. Ted stayed and waited scrutinizing the door that led to the swimming pool. Nonetheless, he saw neither the girls, nor Jeffrey. Over time Ted heard someone’s laughter and saw Jane and Jeff.
«Jeff, you are good at talking people into something! Of course, I will advise you on that,» – Jane was saying.
As soon as they hid away in the room Ted hastily rushed toward the swimming pool. A weak warm breeze was blowing, playing with the water. Ted looked around and spotted Alice. She was sitting on a bench. Ted took a deep breath, plucking up courage, and came up to her.
«Hi there, Alice!»
She looked back.
«Ah, hello, Ted!»
«May I sit next to you?»
«Sure».
Ted sat down near the girl.
«Why are you alone?»
«Oh, no. I am not alone. I was sitting together with Jane, but Jeffrey took her away from here. I don’t really like to hang out. It was Jeff who convinced me to come. Why aren’t you in the hall?»
«For the same reason. But as Jeffrey is my best friend I could not help but agree to come».
«Dad told me that he had seen you in the Magistrate».
«Yeah. I had a meeting with the Third Master there».
«Did you?» – Ted could make out interest in Alice’s voice.
«Yes, in terms of my employment. I began working in the Magic Department of the British Museum».
«Not bad! Congrats! I haven’t been there yet».
«Then come by. I’ll be happy to see you».
«O.K. I will drop in some day».
«No, this isn’t what I wanted to hear. „Some day“ might occur in a year. How should I invite her somewhere?» – thought Ted.
«What have you been up too?»
«I’ve been getting ready for my entrance examinations. I want to learn to be a doctor».
«Good for you! Good luck! This is not easy».
«Why do you think so?»
«Because my Dad is a doctor».
«Is he? I didn’t know that».
Alice once again looked at Ted with interest.
«What have you been doing in your spare time?»
«To tell you the truth, I have none. The upcoming exams are going to be rather complex, I will have to recollect a lot and to learn quite a few new things, too».
«But…»
Ted did not finish his statement, because Jane rushed up to them. Jane was a tall red-haired girl.
«Alice, come with me to the hall! Almost everyone is there already». At that moment she noticed Ted, «Hey, Ted, what’s new?»
«Everything’s fine, Jane. What about yourself?»
«Excellent!»
Alice got up.
«Let’s go, Ted».
The girls entered the house. Ted followed them. What nerve! Had he screwed up his courage when Jane showed up!
«Victorious?» – Ted heard Jeffrey’s voice right behind him and turned around.
«Jeff, could you possibly have locked her somewhere?
«Who?»
«Jane, who else? She burst in the moment I started inviting Alice for a date. I didn’t make it though…»
«Don’t get upset! The party is only starting. You’ll have plenty of time».
They heard the doorbell once again.
«Here’s Leo!»
Another of Ted’s and Jeff’s classmates came into the room.
«Hi there! Hope I’m not too late?»
«Come on in, Leo! Glad to see you! Not just me, by the way. Now, guys, let’s get to the table!»
Everybody sat down at the table. It was full of various delicious meals: oysters, fish, lobsters, veal, pork and other exquisite dishes. There were bottles of wine and champagne everywhere. Ted was sitting between Alice and Leo. All the guests began filling their plates with food and eating in complete and utter silence. Once there was a chance Ted would court Alice. He poured wine into her wine-glass, passed meals. She could not help noticing such exaggerated attention toward herself.
«Thank you, Ted! You are so attentive!»
Ted got embarrassed.
«Don’t mention it, Alice! It’s my pleasure taking care of you».
«Thanks».
A little bit later, after their hunger had been sated and the first glasses of wine and champagne had been emptied, the conversations began. Steven was complaining about his new job.
«I was confident that I had found a perfect place. Well, the First Master’s secretary’s personal assistant means something, doesn’t it? In fact, all this is one big load of paperwork. I’m almost not doing any magic any longer! This secretary is a devil of a bore – he pushed all his work on me!»
«Why not cast some spell of obedience upon the secretary?» – Jeff cracked a joke.
Everyone burst out laughing.
«Well, my job is to guide tours,» – Ted put in a word. «Even though I thought it would be much worse and that I’d be forced to learn each and every exhibit description by heart. It so happened that they tell their life stories by themselves».
«Who tells stories?» – Leo did not understand.
«The magicians do. To be more exact, their ghosts rather».
«Hopefully, non-magicians won’t be frightened to death, will they? They must have got used to such tricks, right?» – Emma gave a short laugh.
«No way. They are amazed!»
«I have been employed in my Dad’s shop of magic accessories,» – said Leo.
«Don’t you cheat on your customers!» – Ted made a joke.
«How can I?» – Notes of indignation sounded in Leo’s voice. «They will immediately turn me into a frog! After all, all our clientele are magicians. Besides, the shop is located in Magic-Cross».
The party went on cheerfully. Everyone was laughing and making jokes.
«Ted!» – exclaimed Steven. «I’ve got an interesting piece of news for you. The Magistrate has decided to allow rank-and-file spectators to be present at the Knightly Magicians’ Joust. Have you applied yet? You were our school champion, after all».
«Really?! Great! I will definitely come over there and find out. I would be most pleased to participate».
«Sure, Ted! In case you need my help, I will be always glad to lend you my helping hand!» – offered Jeffrey.
«Thanks! You have always watched me fighting and your advice has been very helpful and to the point».
«I have also been a member of your fan-club, Ted».
«Have you, Alice? I would never guess».
Ted and Jeffrey exchanged