For example, “Solve a riddle” could mean anything. Do I just get one off the internet and be done with it in ten minutes? Same with the lightning-storm labor. We get major storms up here all the time in the fall—do I just have to wait for one to start and go sit in the middle of it?
I can’t see how that would change me—I’ve been caught alone in a bunch of storms in my life. What would makethis one that much different? And if it is different, then why doesn’t my list tell me so, like Fifi’s does?
Because if it’s not, if my labors really are as simple as they sound, then I somehow doubt they’ll be enough to impress Athena and convince her to claim me for her hall. Then again, if they are more complicated and I’m just missing it, then I’m in even worse trouble. Because I have absolutelyno ideawhere to start.
“Your labors don’t make any sense,” Fifi says, even as she continues looking back and forth between the two lists like she’s trying to memorize them. Or like she’s trying to get my list to spontaneously combust. Which, not going to lie, I’m kind of on board for.
“They sound way too easy, right?” I ask. I think about how much I have messed up today. “Maybe this is all the gods think I’m capable of.”
“No, that’s not it,” Fifi says. She sounds much more confident than I feel. “These are just weird. They don’t look like any I’ve ever seen before.”
“To be fair, exactly how many have you seen before?” I know I’ve only ever seen hers and mine.
“I don’t know. A dozen, maybe? Levi’s, Charlie’s, their friends’.”
“So, what should I do? Try to do one of the labors and see if I can cross it off?” It feels strange to ask for advice when I’m the one who usually does the research and has the answers before any weird situations come up, but I’m really confused here.
“We should probably talk to someone who knows more about this than a couple of first years,” Fifi answers.
“But who?” I think about my earlier encounter with Dr. Dione, who was absolutely no help. And Dr. Themis is probably too busy to listen to every first year who wants to whine about something that hasn’t gone her way.
“What about Frankie?” She reaches for the sack of gumballs. “I’ll bet he has some ideas.”
“No way! I don’t want you to waste one of them on me.”
“Seriously? I have seventy-five of them. Just how much trouble do you think I’m going to get in this year?”
Considering the morning I’ve had, I’m afraid to answer. “Also, maybe we shouldn’t complain to him about one of the Big Nine. I don’t want to get him mad at you or get him in trouble.”
“I don’t think he’d get mad. I mean, look at that list.” She blows out her breath in a rush. “But I get what you mean about putting him in a position to go against Calliope. I definitely don’t want to do anything to get him yelled at on his first day on the job.”
“Yeah, that,” I sigh.
I have to admit, I didn’t think this day could get worse. But I obviously underestimated just how bad I am at this Anaximander’s thing. For the first time since I got here, I think seriously about giving up and going home. It would be humiliating, but not as humiliating as staying and continually messing up. Or worse, failing my labors.
Instead of convincing Athena to give me a chance, I’lljust be proving to her that she was right to not choose me. And how am I supposed to explain that to my mother?
Before either of us can come up with another idea, the intercom in the wall crackles to life.
“Hello, my darlings!” Dr. Dione’s smooth, warm voice comes through loud and clear. “Just a reminder that the welcome party begins in five minutes. Can’t wait to see all of you there.”
Ugh. I so don’t want to go. As far as I’m concerned, this party is just one more chance for me to mess things up—this time in front of people. No, thank you.
“I think I’m going to—” I start, but Fifi grabs my arms as her eyes go wide.
“I’ve got it! We need to talk to Levi about this.”
“You think your brother will know what to do?” I don’t mean to sound skeptical, but it’s not like I’m rushing to Paris with this mess. Partly because I know he’ll tell Mom and Dad, but mostly because he’s so not the problem-solving type.
“I know, brothers are the worst. But this is his sixth year here, and he’s hall manager. He’s got to know some things we don’t.”
I nod, because she’s right. I forgot Dr. Dione told us to go to him and Elysia if we have questions. “So what do we do? Should you text him? Or should I just go knock on his door?”
“Are you kidding me? He’s probably already on the roof. That boy’s never met a party he didn’t like.” She takes a quick pic of my labors, then grabs a ton of bracelets off her nightstand and shoves them on her arms.
One more quick look in the mirror to fiddle with the ruffles on her blouse and then she’s telling me, “Let’s go. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch him in between dances.”
My stomach sinks. But since I don’t exactly have a lot of choices here, I do the only thing I can do. I put on the best smile I can manage and follow Fifi out the door. Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll make it through the entire party without falling off the roof.
