Later that week ...

The week went by quickly. On Thursday, July 4, Americans celebrated their independence from Great Britain. Bonfires, streamers, parades and people lining the streets were all in celebration. The American people were happy. They were American citizens and no longer under British control.

The week ended well. Charles was anxious to have the weekend off. He wanted to do some fishing at his favorite lake. That Friday evening, there was a knock on the door. Neither Charles nor Beth had expected anyone. When Charles opened it, he was met with a fairly tall slim gentleman. He introduced himself as Mr. Barrett Lassiter. He asked if he could come in for a moment.

"Certainly, sir, we were just finishing dinner," Charles replied.

"I'm so sorry to call late in the evening and interrupt your dinner. I will be brief," Mr. Lassiter said.

"That is all right. What do you need?" Charles asked.

"It's not what I need; it's what you need," Mr. Lassiter said. "Can I speak with you in private?"

Charles looked at his wife and children in the dining room and shook his head. He motioned for Mr. Lassiter to follow him to the study. Charles then closed the double doors behind him.

Mr. Lassiter waited a minute until he continued. "I'm the schoolmaster of the current school here in Baltimore. I got word from your children's teacher. Your children were tested at the end of the school year for various skills and abilities. We are trying to find where children are cognitively and what professions they might be likely to enter after school age," Mr. Lassiter said.

"All right, what does that have to do with me?" Charles asked.

"We tested both Timothy and Lawrence in May. I just got the test results. May I tell you what we found?" Mr. Lassiter asked.

"Certainly," Charles replied, curious to know.

Mr. Lassiter took out the papers from a file. "Timothy is an above-average student. He does well in all his studies and testing. Timothy scored very high in analytical skills, especially in history and social studies. He's very socially adaptable and has excellent interpersonal relationships with others," Mr. Lassiter said.

"We always knew Timothy was smart. My father was a very smart man. Timothy displays the same attributes as my father did at his age. My oldest brother was a general in the U.S. Army before he passed," Charles answered.

"Sorry about your brother, but Timothy is very smart. His I.Q. was around 138 – gifted," Mr. Lassiter said.

"That's my first-born! He's a natural born leader!" Charles stated. "Timothy's mother and I are talking about sending him to a military academy the following year. He has talked about becoming an officer in the army."

"That would be a perfect choice for him. He has the skills and aptitude for military leadership," Mr. Lassiter said.

"What about Lawrence? You haven't mentioned his test results yet," Charles said.

"Well, we did a thorough examination of his tests ...," Mr. Lassiter was starting to say.

Charles was afraid he was going to say that Lawrence wasn't as persistent in his skills as Timothy, but had to hear the results either way.

"His teacher was impressed with Lawrence's test results, as I was. He performed excellent on all his studies and outstanding on scholastic tests. He is extremely analytical, especially in math and science," Mr. Lassiter said.

"How did he do I.Q.-wise?" Charles asked. He wasn't sure he should have asked that question.

"Lawrence scored 162 – genius level," Mr. Lassiter stated.

"What? He always has his head stuck in a book somewhere. We can't get him to do work at home like Timothy as he is always reading or studying something," Charles said.

"That is because he is an advanced student, more so than other students his age," Mr. Lassiter said. "He may be bored with the materials you give him."

"What does that mean in terms of his schooling?" Charles asked.

"That is why I am here. I would like to know if you are interested in sending Lawrence to a school for advanced children. Surely a child with Lawrence's gifts and talents should go to a special school. The other children are holding him back of his full potential," Mr. Lassiter stated.

"What about Timothy? He and Lawrence have been inseparable growing up," Charles said.

"I understand, but Timothy is an extrovert and enjoys being around children his own age, whereas Lawrence is an introvert and likes to learn on his own," Mr. Lassiter stated. "He is Harvard material later on."

"I see where you are going with this, but won't Timothy think he is not as smart as his brother?" Charles asked.

"As I said before, Timothy is smart – very smart. He just has other gifts than Lawrence. If you accept the offer, Lawrence's tuition is paid up for a year," Mr. Lassiter advised.

"Really? Where is the school?" Charles asked.

"That is the complicated part. It is in Boston, Massachusetts," Mr. Lassiter said.

"Boston? Isn't that a long way off? Besides, there is fighting going on there due to the war," Charles stated.

"It is up to you. The tuition wouldn't pay for board or food, just for books and school supplies," Mr. Lassiter.

"I don't know. I need to discuss it with Lawrence's mother," Charles replied.

"Of course, but I need your answer very soon. There is one more child that is a potential candidate. He didn't score as high as Lawrence, but a good second running," Mr. Lassiter stated.

"I understand. Can I give you my answer later in the week?" Charles asked.

"I'm afraid I need an answer no more than a week. I need to make plans before the new school year begins," Mr. Lassiter advised.

"You will have an answer before the week is out next week. I assure you," Charles said.

Mr. Lassiter and Charles shook hands. After Mr. Lassiter left, Charles went back to the dining room. It was half-past 7:00 p.m. by then.

"I gave up on you returning so I cleaned away the dishes from the table already. Would you like something else to eat?" Beth asked.

"No, I was finished," Charles said.

Beth noticed Charles' expression on his face.

"What is wrong? You look sort of disappointed," Beth said. Charlie was sitting at the high chair. She was grasping food with her fingers. She was just starting to eat solid food. It was more enticing to play with it than to eat it. She grabbed the food with her small fingers and dropped the food on the floor. Stephen was sitting nearby and started to laugh as he saw the food drop. Charlie had food all over her hands and mouth.

"Oh, Charlie, look what you are doing!" exclaimed Beth. "Food is for eating, not for playing with."

Charles noticed the children entertained by the event. Charlie had made a small puddle in the floor with her creamed potatoes.

"Charles, can you take Stephen upstairs and get him ready for bed? I need to clean Charlie up before I come upstairs," Beth said.

"Of course, dear," Charles answered. He took Stephen upstairs and helped him change into his pajamas for bedtime. By then, Beth brought Charlie upstairs to change her into her nightgown.

As the younger children were put to bed, Timothy and Lawrence stayed downstairs until 9:00 p.m., their bedtime.

"Who was that man tonight?" Beth finally asked.

"He was the schoolmaster of the school Timothy and Lawrence attend," Charles replied.

"Oh, really! I know their teacher, but never met him...