Beryl was right, the test was easy for him. Everything seemed so simple now, and he remembered everything that was asked. He actually finished the test early. He proudly presented the test to the proctor, an old man with thick glasses. The old man looked up at him over the rims of his glasses with clear disdain. "Finished early, huh, Beryl? " said the man. "I'm not surprised. What did you do, just guess on everything or pick B for every answer? Honestly, Beryl, I don't know why you wasted everyone's time and tried to take this test."
Kyle was shocked, and felt renewed pity for his sister. How she must have suffered, with pricks like this for a teacher. He looked the proctor straight in the face, and said sternly with barely disguised anger, "I don't know, Mr. Smith, I might just surprise you. But if I do well, I know its not because of your terrible excuse for teaching." Kyle then stormed out the door, leaving the man staring back at him in disbelief, with his jaw practically on the floor.
Kyle sang as he drove home. He was happy, and felt very good. Beryl was right, it felt good to be so smart, and he kind of regretted going back to his average intelligence when he returned.
Maybe I don't need to, he thought, as he sang. Being Beryl isn't so bad. I'm smart, young. attractive, and with this test score I have a bright future ahead of me. No one would notice but Jennifer, and she could be taken care of easily. Now that he WAS Beryl, it was his turn to use the curse, and he could use it on Jennifer to keep her under control.
Kyle suddenly noticed the song he was singing - he didn't recognize it, but he also knew that it was one of Beryl's favorite songs. He almost had an accident when he realized what he had being doing, and what he had been planning.
Keep it under control, Kyle, he thought. Remember who you are - you are Kyle. And don't forget about your sister, who you love. Who knows what kind of agony she may be feeling in that purgatory? Do you really want her to be blinked out of existence forever?
Kyle raced the car home, faster than was probably safe. He had stopped singing, and didn't feel like listening to the radio anymore.