‘You’re right,’ he acknowledged. ‘School is very important and I’ve let it slip. I’ll forget about the game for a while, and try and get back to being top of the class.’
‘Good,’ said Mum tentatively.
‘Actually, my next assignment has to be done this weekend. The deadline is first thing Tuesday. I’ll start it right now and get it finished today.’
Zak smiled enthusiastically. Mum and Dad returned cautious smiles.
‘Yeah, I need the mat,’ said Zak, pointing to it.
‘Can’t you use the Mind Patch?’ asked Mum, suspiciously.
‘Er…, that’ll be difficult,’ said Zak. ‘It’s a Business Studies roleplay. We have to do a sales pitch for solar panel paving, so I’ve got to act the part. Body language is 30%.’
Zak gazed at Mum expectantly.
She screwed up her face. Then slowly handed the mat over to Zak.
‘Thanks,’ he said, cradling the mat as if it were some precious material, and straightening it out.
He calmly turned and strolled out of the lounge without looking back. Once he reached his room and closed the door, he let out a deep breath and checked his watch, which was rendered on his video wristband.
‘Not too much time lost,’ he whispered to himself.
He unfolded the Mind Mat over the top of the gaming chair, and leapt on.
Before tilting the chair back, Zak considered the mess he had created for himself. How was he going to find time to complete schoolwork as well as dedicate himself to the game?
He would have to deal with that problem later.
On closing his eyes, he appeared back in position near the castle. As he expected, the game had moved on. Tom had extricated himself from the tangle in which Zak had left him. A few dead guards lay face down in the moat, but the scene was otherwise deserted. It was all strangely quiet.
‘Anyone home?’ asked Zak.
