Someone knocked on the door and Ryan jumped. He opened it nervously.
"Grace is making us some fish sticks and potato salad," said Mr. Ross. "She's almost done. Come sit at the table."
Ryan closed, The Proprietaries.
"What, you got a novel book?" he asked, going to the desk.
"It's nothing," said Ryan.
Mr. Ross stepped past him and grabbed it. "You got something bothering you?"
"No, I wanted to learn - "
"You should," he said.
"What do mean?" asked Ryan.
"Well - to help you."
"Um . . . okay."
Ryan ate dinner worriedly, wiping his mouth often. Mr. Ross griped about the residents at Everett Towers, crowding up the laundry room.
---
Ryan turned his tablet on in his room.
He typed www.eljorian.org in the navigation bar and clicked. A composite picture of a polar bear, a gray wolf, a brown hawk, an adult alligator and a honey bee appeared on the home page:
Eljorian, League of Angelkins is a non-profit organization that banishes proprietaries. Marble Angelkins, Anthony Elmund (El), Stacey Jones (jo), Tyler Richardson (ri) and Elena Andrews (an) founded (El)(jo)(ri)(an) with co-founder, Messenger Angelkin, Michael Washington. Our mission is to find angelkins and banish proprietaries with the power of singing and dancing.
Ryan clicked on the tab "Angelkin Questionnaire" and a new window opened:
To find out if you are an angelkin, complete the questionnaire and select "Questionnaire Results" to receive your phylum. If "no phylum" appears, you are not an angelkin and will be unable to join our organization. If you need help, contact one of our counselors.
Ryan read the questions:
1. What wildlife creature do you want to see on TV the most?
A. Polar bear B. Gray wolf C. Brown hawk D. Adult alligator E. Honey bee F. Mountain lion
Ryan chose A.
2. What is your favorite time of day?
A. Noon B. Late Night C. Morning D. Late afternoon E. Early afternoon F. Night
Ryan chose A.
3. What is your favorite beverage?
A. Soda B. Juice C. Coffee D. Water E. Tea F. Milk
Ryan chose A.
4. What is your favorite pie?
A. Mince meat B. Apple C. Blueberry D. Chicken pot E. Pumpkin F. Custard
Ryan chose D.
5. What is your favorite kind of music?
A. Rock B. Hip Hop C. Pop D. Country E. Dance F. Other
Ryan chose A.
6. Where do you go for fun?
A. Restaurant B. Amusement park C. Cinema D. Cafe E. Concert F. Shopping mall
Ryan chose A.
7. What pet do you have or like to have?
A. Horse B. Dog C. Bird D. Lizard E. Rabbit F. Cat
Ryan chose B.
8. What do you enjoy most?
A. Eating out B. Walking C. Reading D. Swimming E. Listening to music F. Shopping
Ryan chose A.
9. What is your favorite sport?
A. Hockey B. Soccer C. Tennis D. Golf E. Volleyball F. Football
Ryan chose B.
10. What is your favorite day of the year?
A. Christmas B. Halloween C. Independence Day D. Thanksgiving E. New Year's Eve F. Birthday
Ryan chose A.
He selected "Questionnaire Results" and "Ergbear" appeared with the following message:
Welcome, you are an angelkin of the Ergbear Phylum. If you would like to join Eljorian, click on "Rules to Join".
Ryan read on.
Ergbears, named after polar bears go through life one day at a time and they persevere alone, making few friends, but the ones they do make last a lifetime.
Natural element - air
Like a polar bear exhales cold air in artic temperatures, an ergbear blasts cold air on his or her phylum proprietaries and freezes them anywhere in the North.
Angelkins live throughout America, but their souls have the power to banish a proprietary in the region of their phylum with transcendence.
Ryan read about the other phyla below.
Burwolves, named after wolves go great distances in life, accomplishing the best for themselves and family while helping their friends.
Natural element - earth
Like a wolf buries food in the dirt, a burwolf buries his or her phylum proprietaries in the earth anywhere in the West.
Okehawks, named after hawks keep a partner with them through their lives, exploring new ventures and making new friends.
Natural element - fire
Like a hawk taking burning sticks with its beak and flying them into the brush, an okehawk burns his or her phylum proprietaries anywhere in the East.
Tergators, named after alligators rise above almost anything life throws at them and instead of accepting defeat, they change their course.
Natural element - water
Like an alligator drowning its prey in a lake, a tergator drowns her or her phylum proprietaries in bodies of water anywhere in the South.
Acebees, named after bees work diligently throughout their lives, earning prestige and privileges and they share them with others.
Natural element - space
Like a honey bee hovers through space and time, taking pollen with it, an acebee suspends his or her phylum proprietary in a state of dormancy anywhere in the country.
Ryan opened chapter sixteen again:
Angelkins have ten special qualities:
Awareness - Feeling confrontations way ahead of time.
Brightness - Rating high on the intelligence scale.
Carefulness - Taking a second look at everything.
Cleanness - Maintaining their surroundings.
Fearlessness - Overcoming their fears.
Forwardness - Speaking up for themselves and others.
Helpfulness - Aiding anyone in need.
Relentlessness - Pursuing what they want without giving up.
Resourcefulness - Finding a way to solve their own problems.
Thoughtfulness - Thinking of others often.
Ryan closed the book and headed downstairs to the basement.
Nothing stirred in the chilly basement and he pulled the cord that dangled from the ceiling light. Old furniture, broken appliances and bags of used clothes filled the dim area.
He moved several boxes away from the wall and looked through them. He found Miss Aldridge's orange, duffel bag on the floor. He dug into the wooden utensils and cook books in it and pulled out a little, wall clock.
Mr. Ross appeared at the foot of the stairs with a look of disapproval. Ryan opened the clock back, scrambling for a battery and found one in a used, television remote on a dusty table.
Mr. Ross approached him angrily. Ryan pushed the battery into the chamber and the clock ticked.
Mr. Ross raised his head with black holes in his eyes and a distorted, hanging mouth. Ryan held the clock tightly and he disappeared.
Ryan took a hammer and a nail from the table anxiously.
He checked on Mr. Ross in the kitchen and he sat there with Grace, complaining about the old, lawnmower he used at work that backfired exhaust like a BB gun.
Ryan put the clock, nail and hammer in his room and opened Miss Aldridge's bedroom door quietly, closing it behind him.
He flipped the light switch and searched her bottom, dresser drawer, moving socks around. He found a used bottle of Mr. Ross' old cologne there and slipped it in his pocket.
She left the key in the lock of her filling cabinet. Ryan turned it all the way and slid the top drawer out. Files titled "Court", "Divorce" and "Settlement" filled the drawer.
Ryan shut it and opened the second drawer. A file titled "Jack's Arrest" caught his eye, but "Ryan Aldridge" shocked him.
He found a document in it. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ross adopted someone named "Ryan Aldridge" not long after he turned one and Marianne Aldridge, older sister to Faith Ross signed the document.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross divorced ten years later and Mr. Ross moved to Everett Towers.
Ryan blinked hard.
In a file in front, he found a birth certificate for Grace Faith Ross, naming Faith Ross, maiden name Aldridge and Jack Ross as her parents and Aurora, Illinois as her birth place with her birthday.
Miss Aldridge led Ryan to believe she gave birth to him at St. Anne's Hospital in Aurora. He searched all the files in the top and bottom drawers, but didn't find a birth certificate for him anywhere.
His real mother didn't marry his real father and she gave him to her younger sister.
Ryan sighed sadly.
Pictures of Aunt Marianne hung on the wall. Her long, red hair and blue eyes gazed back at him. Miss Aldridge looked cute beside her with short, red hair.
He shut the cabinet and sneaked back into his room, thinking about the man who bought his book. He had red hair too.
He hung the wall clock above his bed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a white, ghostly face. He placed the cologne bottle on his bedside table and the face disappeared. The phantic made him do it - unlock Miss Aldridge's cabinet or rather, Aunt Faith's.
"That junk won't work," hissed a disembodied voice.
The figure with the troll-like face wore a gray robe. It grinned and disappeared.
Ryan didn't find a piece of chalk in the basement for the blabby banelor. It talked to him at school, but now it talked to him in his room.
He learned a secret behind Miss Aldridge's back and wanted to know more.
Ryan searched on-line for anyone named Marianne Aldridge and found three women that looked similar. One lived in Wyoming and just turned eighty-three. The second one died in Nebraska already and the one that looked most like Aunt Marianne dwelled in California.
She worked as a hair stylist for DeBreck Salon in Beverly Hills, California and her stunning photo took Ryan by surprise. He searched for any pictures of her and a boyfriend.
He found photos of her with three different men; Dale Harper, Warren Monte and Gianni Stavros.
Dale Harper worked as a photographer for Sound Revolve magazine. His collection featured a lot of pictures of the Hard Rock band, Dar Tenian. Warren Monte owned Monte Wines in northern California and Gianni Stavros designed clothes in New York for Ellie Vida.
Ryan grabbed his pocket mirror from the desk drawer. He stared at Aunt Marianne's photo and then his own face. He looked a lot like her.
He took Avalonia by Dar Tenian off the shelf in his bookcase. The record company printed pictures of the five band members on the back and lead singer, Adam Dar Tenian smirked at him with long, red hair draped across his cheek.
Ryan played the album, resting on his bed.
---
That evening, the public bus braked at the end of the street with a screeching halt and in a few minutes, Miss Aldridge entered the living room.
Ryan turned off the CD player and crawled into bed. Nothing showed itself in the room. The wall clock ticked like a tiny, drum beat and Ryan listened to it curiously. Staring at the cologne bottle, he dozed off and reminded himself to hide it tomorrow morning.
---
Ryan argued the next morning, but Miss Aldridge insisted Mr. Ross drive him to school.
Mr. Ross dragged him to the cafeteria kitchen and Dolores gave him a cup of bacon. Ryan reached for a piece, but Mr. Ross snatched the cup and ran down the corridor.
Ryan stomped past the notice board and stopped, seeing a printed picture of Ryan Terry in color with "Missing - Last Seen on October 16th" on it.
Ryan walked into Homeroom miserably.
Chase Xavier sat in his chair tensely like he sat on a sharp rock with angst across his face. Troy Sullivan closed his eyes often and his blonde hair looked frazzled. They came to school today.
White chalk - Ryan eyed a piece of it in the tray in the corner at the board.
Sloan turned around, showing him a sketch in pencil of Chase, sitting at his desk with his brown bangs to the side and his chin in his hand. Ryan gaped. Sloan included a figure in a white cloak with a white, skeletal face and hands, hovering behind Chase with a line connected from its chest to Chase's lower back.
"Freaky," whispered Sloan.
"Can I see that?" whispered Ryan.
"Sure," said Sloan. "I'm tearing it up right after."