At the breakfast table, there were six boys on one side, six boys on the other, and Judah was put at the end of the table. Jay was still up before calling everyone’s attention:

— Attention! Attention, please! — He said, still full of grace.

— There he comes! — Provoked Andy.

— I know it’s annoying, Andy. Don’t you worry! — Jay continued, getting down to his seat. — But! As you may know, Judah here was very well expected by me, but he didn’t expect to know us at all. So why not start our day trying to let him know a little more about us! So, whoever would like to start, you can tell us something about yourself that you would like everyone to know, what you aspire in the future, something like that…

— Boring! — Complained Matt and most boys laughed.

— Oh, c’mon! I did the same when you guys were welcomed here as well. Didn’t I? — Jay didn’t take that as an offense. — Everyone here knows we need to take care of ourselves, and one day we may need to go ahead and speak our minds. Principally because I know you really love to talk like a parrot, Matt! So please, speak your mind! Tell us, what would really be interesting to say today?!

— Oh, yeah! — Matt got up over his chair. He put his right hand over his chest and left the other behind his back, looking like Napoleon. — Mates and mates here present! If I am elected! I promise to bring better breakfasts to this place!

Again, the boys laughed kindheartedly knowing how goofy Matt was.

— Oh, sure, like last time you brought a frog and it ended in our soup! — Jay struck back.

— Eew… — Made James. — I was trying to forget that!

— Okay, I promise no more frogs in our soups! — Matt tried to keep up.

— So, Judah — said Jay more quietly to his new friend. — This is Matthew, our little Matt. His mouth surely is faster than his own brain. He’s not bad, wants to speak for everyone, and ends up being a little too…

— Hey! I didn’t’ finish my speech! — Matt continued. — I promise I will try to know you guys better if you vote for me in the next election!

— … annoying. — Completed Jay. — If you want some gossip to spread, just tell him half of it and it will the blast of the school!

Matt made a reverence like an opera conductor and sat back in his chair in a jump.

— Matt here is our TV presenter! — said Jay, continuing with the presentations. — Who would like to go next?

— No way he will keep up with this — said Jake, calmly.

— Jake? — Asked Jay. — Would you like to have the honor to speak your mind to our new mate?

— You know there are aliens on this hill! You know all that religious things is bulls___! You are just waiting for us to be abducted and…

— …probed in the ass? Can’t wait for that! — Jay laughed, making some of them giggle.

— No! Don’t make fun of it! You know I’m serious! There are aliens here!

— I know what you mean, Jake — Jay explained. — Don’t be so mean! Sometimes we are the aliens on someone’s planet! Would you like to be sent to Mars or wherever because you are the alien? Just be kind to them if you see any. And you know we will kick some aliens’ butts for you if they kidnap you!

— I… — Jake didn’t know what to say anymore. — I just like green butts, okay! Leave me alone!

Everyone giggled.

— I’m sure we will keep some green butt for you later, Jake. — And Jay turned to Judah again. — Jacob here is a little hard to crack because he’s not so good at explaining things. He wants to be like those people on the internet one day, to show everyone the secrets of things. He takes most of his time staying in here trying to discover the secrets of the hill above the grotto, even though it’s just a normal hill.

Some silence.

— Who wants to go next? — Jay called. — Andy?

— No, nothing — he simply answered, uninterested.

— Not even talking about that little secret you are hiding in the church’s garage…

— No! That’s mine and mine alone! — Andy answered sharply.

— What’s the fun in doing it all alone if you can’t share with anyone else?

— Why don’t you tell everyone already, since you already know everything?

Jay smiled.

— Okay, if you wish. Our Andrew here wants to build a car. Not any car. THE fast car a boy like us can have. He is having some problems in getting it right because it’s not fast enough…

— Oh, that was what he was doing then! — Gasped Phil worried with his friend.

— It’s none of your business Philip! — Andy concluded.

— But your hands! You keep hurting them every day!

— I’m not stopping, Phil! — He insisted.

— But… — the angelic boy tried.

— Don’t worry, Phil — Said Jay. — Andy may not know everything he should know about it, but I’m sure he is trying his best and we all should support him. Am I wrong, Andy?

— Whatever…

— Next one, now — said Jay. — Phil, would you like to tell something for Judah?

— I… uhn… — Phil couldn’t decide what was right or wrong. Wanted to speak again against Judah but was secretly wishing him well at the same time. — I don’t know… — He said, lowering his head.

— Phil is a good boy, as you can see, Judah — Continued Jay. — He normally cares for everyone, so if you are against anyone here, Phil will be against you. But if you need some healing, he’s the boy you need. He wants to be a doctor one day.

— Will you let us speak or not, Big Jay? — Asked Si, getting impatient.

— I asked everyone here to speak, and I am letting everyone have their turn, even though you all are getting too shy out of nowhere. But yeah, you can speak now Si.

— I want to get out of here and see the sea! Tame some waves! Feel the breeze on my face! Maybe jump from an airplane without a parachute! I can’t wait to be free from here!

— I’m glad someone said it all with every letter! — Said Jay with a smile. — I will miss you too Si. — Simon glared at Jay for that. — Who would like to speak now?

— Uhn… Me, me, me! Pick me! — Said James.

— Feel free to say what’s on your mind, James! — Jay smiled.

— One day I will be your king and you all will serve me! — Most boys protested or made a funny face. — I will… One day…

— Okay — said Jay. — What Jayjay meant was, he want to be a top model. He does have a pretty face…

— Thank you, Jay! — Interrupted James. — At least someone here has good taste!

— As you can see, Jayjay is a little inelegant to talk to other people without hurting their feelings. He isn’t mean, he just needs more practice.

— Ooh… — Made James, cowering in his seat. — I did again…

— Sorry Jayjay, a pretty face still needs to have manners — Jay nodded. — Now, let’s see… Jonny boy, would you like to speak?

He cleared his throat:

— I love nature and animals. If you want to find me, I will probably be in the garden or in the woods — John said very politely.

— Quite nice, Jonny boy. I would like to add he is making a collection of butterflies and he wants them alive. Is that fine for you Jonny?

— Yes, please, leave my butterflies alone! — He agreed.

— I will, and I hope everyone else will agree too. Or at least let the priests know, they will know what to do.

Jonny glared at Jay suspecting something for a moment and then agreed with a nodding.

— Haha, no one wants trouble with them! — Jay smiled confirming what Jonny noticed. — Now, Djude, please, you can speak.

— I cook and I… eat! — He said nervously, making everyone laugh.

— I know you have been helping a lot in the kitchen Djude — said Jay. — He’s shy, please, be patient with him, he has a big heart and wouldn’t let anyone here starving to death. Without him, the soup disaster would leave us without dinner! — The boys laughed. — We like to call him Djude, but his name is Jude. The boys like to call him dude, so it’s just a way to put them together when we call him Djude — and Jay made a pause. — Now, the next one… Nate, please stand up.

Nathanael got up from his seat and stood beside his chair.

— I like to swim and I would like to live underwater one day! — Nate said enthusiastically, making some boys laugh.

— That would be pretty nice, for sure — Said Jay, while Nate was sitting. — Let me see… Tommy! Any analysis for today?

— Today has been a pretty unusual day, may I say — Tommy said. — Everyone is behaving at their best, even though some of us are holding down beneath our secrets. Wish we could be like this every day!

— I’m sure deep down we all want to do what we do best and not harm anyone else in doing so — Continued Jay. — Even though, some people here would like to hurt someone if that would mean they could be happier.

— …but the reward wouldn’t be good enough to satisfy the ego — both Jay and Tommy said.

— Oh, sorry! — Said Tommy.

— Don’t worry — Jay said gently. — I know you wanted to continue like that. Hope my behavior is to your liking, Thomas — and he nodded positively to Jay. — Well, it’s time to the last one besides me and he is no less important. Peter here is the second one living here for more time, even though he is almost a year younger than I am, as Nate is as well. Oh, yeah, before I forgot! I’m the shortest here, but I’m the oldest! I’m the first to be sixteen years old! But let’s keep our nice chat! Peter, please, it’s your time!

— Okay — Peter cleaned his throat. — I’m trying to follow Jay's steps and deal better with people. I try to organize the things around here, some things do get out of hand and even though I know you guys hate me for that, I hope you understand I just want to be a good leader one day, even if you guys wouldn’t ever let me be yours. I also care for everyone’s well-being.

— Beautiful, Pete! — Said Jay. — I guess if everyone’s here said their words, it’s my time to say mine, I’m Jay and… — Priest Isaac accompanied by priest Israel finally arrived at the table, making Jay roll his eyes. — You wouldn’t be late by any chance, would you?

— We are on time, Jay — said Isaac. — Your morning prayers with priest Israel will start earlier today.

— As always, a little more education wouldn’t hurt! — Jay said, getting up. — Is it part of my punishment?

— You will know in due time — he replied, already waiting for Jay to follow them.

— Just say the truth at once! Making secrets here, making secrets there!

— You know what this means, Jay. Come without complaints! — The priest insisted.

— Reverend Israel — Said Jay making a reverence. The priest ignored Jay completely. — Okay, let’s finish this! I hope you at least refrain from destroying me this time!

The two of them left and all the boys started their breakfast in silence while priest Isaac kept an eye on everyone at the opposite side of the table from where Judah was sitting.

— Won’t you say anything at all? — Asked Pete, whispering to Judah.

— I went crazy and they sent me to the hospital! — Judah replied in the politest way he could in the same low tone. — You guys are crazy! Crazy!

— You didn’t need to hold back, you could speak as much as you wanted!

— And what would I say? I still want to kill him! How, the f___ng hell, did he bring me into this?

— It wasn’t Big Jay! If depended on Jay, you would be fine outside, living your life from the moment he saw you in his dreams! The problem here is the priests!

— Wait… Do they beat the kids here?

— Worse… This place is like a… magical place! Real magic happens here all the time! And the priests are supposed to keep everything here under control! You wouldn’t like to know how out of control magic could be, so they are all rigid all the time!

— Do you guys smoke weed or something? How the hell magic happens here?!

— Big Jay will tell you about this better when he comes back. Buy it would be impossible to do this — Peter took from under the table a pack of loaf bread.

— What’s this? It’s just a pack of loaf bread!

— Jay said you are a little slow, but this is THE pack of bread. The one you stole yesterday from the lady at the supermarket!

— What… how… no… — Jay got the pack and he knew it was the same pack he had handed to his dad. — No, no, this doesn’t make any sense!

Pete was losing his temper and kicked Judah under the table.

— Ouch! What was that for?

— That was for stealing from my father's market yesterday! I promised Jay I wouldn’t be mad at you, but you are too slow!

— What… are you Mr. China’s son?

— Yes! We are always fated! Want it or not, Jay only sees things, and the priests do the rest. The best outcomes he can see happen when we are together!

— He can see the future too now?

— Worse… He doesn’t like to see the future, because the future can be too loose for him to know what really will happen. Normally when he sees the future, whatever happens, turns into a fucking nightmare, and the worse!

— Worse again?!

— Yes! Worse again! You being here means you will betray Jay and by doing that you will kill him! Every time he dreams about your future, you betray him and he dies! He goes crazy every night because of you! But he can’t help! He likes you for real! You are special to him! He… doesn’t want to let anyone down, but only twelve can pass to the other side…

— Okay. I’m out! I’m in a madhouse! My dad tricked me to go to a hospice!

— Keep quiet! — Made Pete.

The sound of explosions could be heard not far from them.