Lessons Learned
- As the kids settle into the routine of life at the Institute they discover a few things: the cafeteria food is excellent, all the lessons consist of rote memorization of phrases that lead to "logical conclusions," and Messengers really seem to love their "secret privileges," whatever they are.
- Frequently Executives show up at classroom doors to call a Messenger or two out for these privileges, and when they do, every Messenger in the room gets excited, like they're about to win a lottery or something.
- Every class ends with a quiz, on which Reynie and Sticky do exceedingly well. This makes a Messenger named Martina Crowe particularly angry, because, according to S.Q. Pedalian, she's worried they'll make better grades than her and take her place as a Messenger.
- S.Q. explains that there are a limited number of Messengers, and there's no guarantee that someone will stay a Messenger once made one, so it's only natural for Martina to be cranky.
- Reynie thinks "venomous" (13.45) is a better way to describe Martina's attitude, and he and Sticky realize they're going to have to watch out for Martina Crowe.