have no idea why I was chosen, there is nothing special about me in particular, wrong place right time I guess.’
Mia looked at the melted skin Joseph had on his hands. ‘Can I tell Mum?’
‘I don’t think that would be a good idea.’
Mia raised her brows, ‘Not even my mum?’
Joseph looked at Mrs Glasson, ‘Not until you know one hundred percent that she can keep their secret – wouldn’t want the wrong people to get hold of them.’
Mia frowned and looked at her mum. She hadn’t kept anything from her before. Well, nothing big like this. ‘But I tell Mum everything.’
Joseph nodded, ‘I know. But she may not be able to keep them a secret and it’s important they remain a secret.’
‘Mum can keep a secret. I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t tell anyone.’
‘Perhaps she wouldn’t, but she might, and that would expose the secrets to others who would use the Optiscope for selfish reasons.’
Mia’s bottom lip turned down.
‘You understand what might happen if they were to fall into the wrong hands?’
Mia shrugged.
‘In the least, if the secret of the Optiscope were to be discovered they would be taken away from you and I can’t let that happen. You understand?’
Mia nodded.
‘You must promise me you will keep the real purpose of the Optiscope to yourself.’
‘I promise.’
‘One day you might have to tell her. It will be when you know absolutely that you can trust her but until that day comes it is important that only you know.’
Mia nodded, ‘But what do I say when she asks? I can’t exactly hide them from her.’
‘No, you can’t hide them from her. And it’s best not to lie. You can, however, show her how they magnify things.’
Mia nodded.
‘You can look through the lenses and zoom in and out without activating their time travelling capabilities. Want to try?’
Mia carefully took the Optiscope and placed them on her nose, ‘Like that?’
‘Yes, hold them there until they suction to your face.’
‘Oh!’ Mia gasped as they pulled her cheeks.
‘It’s a bit strong – you’ll soon get used to it.’
When the Optiscope had adjusted to Mia’s face Joseph turned the dials as one, ‘See the difference?’
‘Everything just got bigger.’
‘Now you try.’
Mia turned the dials again, ‘Bigger again.’
‘Keep turning it until you can’t turn it anymore.’
Mia rotated the dials until they stopped and the gravel appeared as large as bricks.
‘Turn it the other way to zoom out and when you’re done, take them off and I’ll show you how to set the dates on the dials.’
Joseph was a patient and thorough teacher, explaining what Roman numerals were and how to read them. Mia was just getting the hang of the dials, symbols and dates when her mother interrupted, school was starting in ten minutes.
‘Only just enough time to get there,’ Mrs Glasson said, apologising to Denise and Joseph that they had to leave.
‘Take them with you,’ Joseph whispered. ‘Tomorrow, before school, we’ll try them out, okay?’
Mia nodded and pocketed the Optiscope, a rush of excitement coursing through her body. ‘See you tomorrow.’
‘We need to hurry Mia,’ Mum urged as they walked away. ‘The school bell will go soon.’
As Joseph watched Mia and her mum disappear over the hill, a thought ran through his mind causing him to frown. Has the urgency to find someone to give the Optiscope to clouded my judgment? He doubted momentarily that the responsibility was manageable for a girl so young. He pushed his doubt from his mind and told himself he must trust his instinct about Mia. He recalled how long he had been searching for a soul pure and wise enough to take over. She has much to learn, he pondered, about people, about how the greedy and evil prey on the innocent. How will she see through craftiness? And will she stand strong even if it means standing alone? Joseph sighed. He was dying, he had to trust someone. He could no longer be the Keeper of the Optiscope.
Mum took the backpack onto her own arm and the pair raced to school.
‘We’re late,’ she cried, jogging through the gates as the last bell sounded. ‘What did he tell you, what did he say? You talked for ages.’
Mia swallowed the lump in her throat, ‘Well, he gave me...’ She shut her lips as she searched for the words Joseph had told her, ‘...these hobby glasses that magnify...’
‘Oh, never mind. No time now. Tell me this afternoon?’
‘Okay, Mum.’
Mrs Glasson helped her put on her backpack, ‘Go on – off to lines.’
Mia sighed. That was close, she thought to herself. Did she see me turn the dials? As if she’ll believe they’re magnification glasses.
Mia had no idea what to say to but determined to get her story straight before the end of school. She didn’t trust that she could keep her secret from spilling out. It was practically all she could think about, that and how to use the thing. She hoped Joseph would show her how to use them that afternoon.
Arriving at her first class, Mia was both concerned and yet relieved to learn that her friend Lena wasn’t at school today. Her mum had called, she was sick. She knew it would have been impossible to keep her secret from Lena today. Tomorrow, perhaps, if she was well enough to come to school.
The final bell sounded at three o’clock in the afternoon and Mia was first out the classroom door. Mum waited in the quadrangle chatting to several others. Mia grabbed her hand, ‘Let’s go Mum.’
Mrs Glasson let herself be led away from the group as she asked Mia, ‘What’s the big hurry?’ As if she couldn’t guess.
They made their way out of the gate and across Paine Reserve, arriving outside Joseph’s place five minutes later. Mia quickly deconstructed the tower, hoping for some message inside. Finding nothing, she stacked the bricks into a pyramid with Mum’s help, one stone at a time.
‘Mia, he said we’ll see him tomorrow right?’
‘Yeah, I know, I was just kinda hoping he’d be here this afternoon.
