I am publishing my middle grade novel, Dolbin School for the Extraordinary, chapter by chapter.

You can download the whole book for free on Amazon.

Click here for the previous chapter-chapter 14 A World Record

Or if you wish, you can go back to the beginning with chapter 1-Jake Cooper.

Chapter 15: Professor Powers

Jake walked out into the hallway with Cal and Henry. He was headed to Independent Project. He pulled out his schedule and saw that his class met in Room 211.

“I’m in 214. I’ll take you there,” said Henry. The boys walked up a set of stairs. Pictures of professors and former classes lined the walls.

“There’s 211. I’m down the hall,” Henry said. “I’ll see you at dinner. We have to finishing serving detention after class.”

“Sorry about that,” Jake said.

“Don’t worry,” Henry said, smiling. “It was totally worth it.”

Jake walked into the classroom and immediately wondered if he was in the wrong place. It didn’t look like a regular classroom. It was an office with walls of books. Jake heard someone clear their throat. Professor Powers walked around a bookshelf and into view.

“Hi, Jake. Take a seat,” the professor said, gesturing to a chair. “It will be just you and me today. Independent Project is a time for students and teachers to spend time one-on-one exploring students’ abilities and setting goals.”

Jake hadn’t moved. Professor Powers had straight black hair, which was brushed back. His face was narrow and pale.

And he had one arm.

Jake didn’t realize that was staring.

The professor smiled and glanced down. “Yes, I have one less arm than you. I’m pretty certain I could still beat you at arm-wrestling,” he said.

Jake shook himself. Embarrassed, he took a seat quickly and looked down at his lap.

“Accidents happen, Jake,” the professor said, smiling, in acknowledgement of his missing arm. “We are here to come up with an independent project for you. Unfortunately, the end of the term is approaching so we don’t have a lot of time.”

Jake looked around the office. Shelves of books, photographs, diplomas covered the walls.

“This place must be strange for you,” said Professor Powers, noticing Jake’s wondering eyes.

Jake blushed and said, “You could say that.”

“This is a safe place,” the professor said. “You can be yourself here.”

“Tell that to Mr. Banner,” Jake replied.

Professor Powers guffawed and slapped his knee. “Yes, Mr. Banner can be quite pointed,” he said. The professor then lowered his voice and added, “This room will have a different vibe. It will be just the two of us. So I guess I need to learn a little about you.”

Jake shrugged his shoulders and said, “I’m from Virginia.”

“Well, I have your paperwork so I know that. I know that you have two parents, who are also Extras, and a little sister named Rachel. And you have a dog. That’s what the paperwork says. What am I missing? What do you, Jake Cooper, like to do?”

Jake tried to think of something, but his mind was blank. He didn’t know who he was anymore.

“I liked watching movies with my best friend Mark,” he finally said.

Jake’s stomach suddenly sank, and tears began to roll down his face. He placed his head in his hands.

Professor Powers leaned forward and patted Jake’s knee. “This place must seem scary,” he said.

Jake sobbed. And for the next few minutes Professor Powers just let him cry, while he continued to pat his knee.

“I miss my friends,” Jake finally said.

“That makes perfect sense,” agreed the professor, before standing up. He got a bottle of water and handed it to Jake. “Well, I think you will make friends here. Have you met all of the other boys on your hall?”

Jake nodded his head.

“Great, what are their names?”

“Cal and Henry.”

“Ah, yes, Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Cho. They are quite a pair. They’re both very friendly,” Professor Powers said. “I think they will help you here.”

“Yes, they have been super,” said Jake, looking at the tablet in his lap. “But I miss my best friend.”

“I know, Jake,” Professor Powers said while pulling out a calendar. “During the next week I want you to compile a list of ten things you want to know about yourself. You’re an Extra now. That must be difficult to understand.”

Jake nodded his head.

“I want you to come up with ten questions for us to choose from. Once you have that list, we’ll start doing some research and figuring some things out,” Professor Powers said.

He pulled out a tablet and made a few swipes on the screen. “In the meantime, I am going to upload a book for you to look at on your tablet. It will help you with your homework.”

Jake picked up his tablet from his lap. A book titled “So You Can Do Different Things Now” appeared on the screen. It had a cheesy cover featuring a boy lifting a car and a girl outrunning a bullet train. He put his tablet down.

“Look through that. Maybe it will jog your brain and help you come up with a few ideas. Take this week to get used to your new environment. Then we will come up with a project. You’ve got some time now before dinner,” the professor said. “Why don’t you go read in the library? I will walk you there.”

Jake picked up his stuff and followed the professor out the door.

Professor Powers walked Jake past several other offices and classrooms. At the end of the hallway, there were two glass doors. The professor opened one of the doors and ushered Jake in. The entrance was not the main entrance but a side one, as they already on the second floor.

“Welcome to the Dolbin library,” Professor Powers said.

Jake was amazed by what he saw. The library was gigantic. There were tall bookshelves everywhere and students working at computers. Jake’s mouth dropped open when he noticed the silver robots walking around giving students books and reference manuals.

“Jake, this is the best library in the world,” the professor said. “Here, you will find all recorded information in the known human history. You will have the opportunity to examine ancient historical artifacts up close.”

Jake looked up and glanced around at the tower of information.

“Excuse me, librarian,” Professor Powers said as a robot rolled past. The machine stopped. “Can you show Mr. Cooper a place where he can sit and read quietly?”

The robot responded in the affirmative and began rolling away.

“Jake, I would take you around and show the ins and outs of this place, but I have another student appointment,” the professor said, placing his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “I am so glad you are here. Trust me when I say that things will get better.”

Jake believed him.

“I am Librarian Wells,” said the silver robot. “Please follow me.”

The robot rolled smoothly along the carpeted floor, which surprised Jake. In fact, it seemed very un-robotlike. If it wasn’t for the silver plating on its face, Jake wouldn’t have known it was a robot.

Librarian Wells led him to an area with several couches and chairs. No one else was around.

“I believe that this area is quiet. If you need me or any librarian, please click on the ‘librarian needed’ button on your tablet.”

Wells pointed to the button, smiled, bowed slightly and left.

Jake sat down in a large comfortable chair. He clicked on the cover of the book Professor Powers gave him and read quietly for the next hour in the most comfortable chair he had ever experienced.

A voice over the intercom announced, “Dinner will be served in 15 minutes. Students begin getting ready.”

Jake looked up from his tablet, stood and followed the other students out the front of the library. The doors led into the main hallway of the building, where he ran into Cal and Henry.

Henry put his arm around Jake and said, “So have you started reading that cheesy book about being able to lift cars yet?”

Jake scrunched up his face and asked, “How did you know?”

Cal and Henry laughed, “We all have to read it.”