Chosen Ones Anonymous was located in the old Moon Temple in Boxelder Park. Brendan made it in just in time. On the strength of a glowing reference from Floriana and with some help from Johnny, he was now working full-time as a teaching assistant at the Corviston Institute of Technology.

After this he was catching the train up to see Adrian. Now that Carleton had been temporarily taken over by the Education Department, he had gone back to working for the family business. He too was enjoying his new job.

The coordinator was a jovial, bearded fellow, who welcomed each new arrival with a smile and a firm handshake. Accepting the pamphlet he was giving out to everyone, Brendan took a seat.

He looked around the room. An old lady in a walker. A girl clutching a teddy bear who couldn't have been older than twelve. A couple of middle-aged people in suits. Nobody his age. One by one, they introduced themselves and told their stories. Phyllis, who had re-enrolled in university at the age of seventy-seven after dropping out of school at age fourteen to support her family and fallen into the thrall of her charismatic professor. Ella, who had been entered into a gifted and talented program that wasn't really a gifted and talented program.

And finally it was his turn.

"I'm Brendan," he introduced himself. With every word he said he felt his confidence growing. "I was a student at Carleton."

A hush ran through the group.

"And this is my story."