Free Nightmare Academy by Frank Peretti

can check with the ones who've gone home. We have a follow-up list, so we can call them.”
    â€œAnd ask if anyone's ever heard of the Knight-Moore Academy, or anything that sounds like that. We heard Elijah and Elisha talking about it, but we're not sure of the correct spelling.”
    â€œThis Margaret Jones woman showed the kids a brochure,” said Nate. “We need to get our hands on it.”
    By now, Charlie was making a list. “Oh, dear Jesus, help us.”

    When Elijah showed up for the discussion circle with Mr. Easley at 1:30, he looked sharp. The academy had provided a toiletry kit, so he'd made good use of it. He'd showered, combed his hair, shaved whatever whiskers he could find, and gotten into his uniform, which, interestingly, fit him perfectly. It made him wonder, How did these people know my exact measurements? Did they come into the room with a tape measure while I was asleep? Eeuugh! What a creepy thought

    â€œOh, dear Jesus, help us.”

    Well, anyway, now he was dressed properly, ready to fit in with the others—or so he thought.
    First surprise: The discussion circle wasn't meeting in the scheduled classroom. A sign taped to the door told everyone the group would be meeting out on the grass near the edge of the campus, in the shade of some tall cedars. He looked across the open field and saw them already gathered, with some stragglers still ambling across the grass. He ran.
    Second surprise: Now that he looked sharp, everybody else looked sloppy. Yes, they were wearing their uniforms—sort of—but many had their shoes off, almost all of them had shed their blazers, and only a few were still wearing ties. Shoes, ties, and blazers were lying about on the grass, and the kids were lounging around in a very rough circle facing Mr. Easley who was still in his tee shirt and black shorts.
    Mr. Easley smiled at him. “Hey uh . . . what's your name today?”
    â€œJerry. Sorry I'm late.”
    â€œHey, there's no such thing as being late to discussion circle. Everybody comes when they feel like it. You do what you feel. Have a seat somewhere, wherever you want. Oh, and Jerry!” Elijah stopped, and Mr. Easley tossed him a KM dollar. “That's for showing up.”
    He quickly scanned the group and found Elisha with a blond friend under an ancient cottonwood. He settled on the grass near her, but not right next to her, catching a welcome from her eyes.
    â€œTake your tie off, if you want,” said Easley “I know the academy has a rule about wearing uniforms, but as I've told the others, what are we really trying to do here? We want everyone to be equal, sure, but we're also trying to cut everybody loose, let everybody have their own life. If you have to wear a uniform all the time, then you're just being squished into the same mold as everybody else, and we don't want that either, right?”
    â€œRight!” the group agreed.
    â€œNow. What were we talking about?”
    â€œWhatever we wanted,” said a tough-looking street dude who'd rolled up his sleeves to show off his tattoos.
    â€œThat's the stuff, Ramon!” Easley tossed Ramon another KM.
    â€œWe were talking about possessions.”
    â€œAnd stealing,” said a purple-haired scarecrow of a girl. “Like, if people don't want to share their stuff, maybe it's okay to make 'em share it.”
    â€œBy taking things?” asked a somewhat miffed, stringy-haired blond.
    â€œHey, if I want something, why shouldn't I have it?”
    â€œBecause maybe it belongs to me, that's why!” She told Mr. Easley, “Somebody stole my Walkman and I don't appreciate it one bit.”
    â€œWas it really yours?” Easley asked.
    â€œOf course it was mine!”
    â€œSo you paid for it, or someone gave it to you?”
    Now the girl shrank a bit. “No. I found it.”
    â€œOh-hooo!” the group reacted. Gotcha.
    Easley held up a hand. “Well now, come on,