6
Even though I was running late, Martinus was waiting for me in the Main Hall, his arms crossed.
"Good morning, Martinus," I said, smiling, trying to go around him towards the classroom.
But he caught me by the sleeve and pulled me toward him.
"What was yesterday's spectacle?" he said. "Why did you tell my mother you wanted a big engagement party?"
With everything about my first workday at work, I'd almost forgotten about the prank I played on him.
"A big, expensive engagement party," I noted, "for which your family would have to pay, since I have nothing."
"I see," Martinus said, giving me an amused look. "You were hoping Mother would want to cancel the engagement, weren't you? In that case, you shouldn't have told her about the compatibility."
"It can't get much worse than this,
