"A couple of thousands or so. I am a bookworm."

"I'm going to start packing," Tintin decides. He hops down onto the floor and runs out the door, back to his room.

He doesn't actually have much to pack; it all fits in one overlarge military surplus backpack, which he drags along the floor as he returns to the Mother Superior's office. 

Luckily, that still leaves enough time for Mother Superior to check that all the relevant documentation is in order.

Which means that Tintin gets to go with his uncle and auntie, right???

Yes, it is. Stephen can help Tintin with his backpack. And then they can walk to their car.

Tintin requires less help than might be expected with his backpack! When he takes his seat in the car, he bounces with delight and hums to himself.

And Stephen starts driving. He smiles to his wife.

Who seems much more relaxed with just two people to interact with. "Wow, you are really strong for your size."

"Always have been. Or - not always but since I was very young. When I overwork myself I get light-headed, though, so the doctors told me not to show off. But I am very strong."

"Light-headed like you have been holding your breath for a long time?"

"Yeah. Like I can't breathe right while I'm doing something really hard. I have an inhaler for it, but I don't really need it, I've never had the dizziness last longer than a moment. I suppose if I had to lift something very heavy for a long time I would be in trouble, but it's never come up."

"I see. And you sleep very little, less than the nuns would like, but you don't really need to sleep as much."

"Did old Georgette tell you that? It's true I don't sleep much, I mostly just take a few cat-naps during the day. But I'm not loud, I just read. And sometimes sneak to the roof to watch the sun rise, but they never caught me at it."

He chuckles. "Don't worry. That is a family thing too. My boys are each a handful."

"They also spend a good chunk of the nighttime reading. Well, half of them."

"Oh, good. I wonder if I would like the books they read! None of the other children liked reading very much."

"What sort of books do you like to read?" She asks naturally.

"Adventure! Books where things happen, big things, important things, and someone does something about them. I want to do things too, but nobody will let me because I'm very small."

Sophia takes a moment to process this. "Well, they are concerned with you... But we have plenty of adventure books. All our boys like them."

"Books are good! I'd like to adventure in the woods as well, woods sound like great fun from what I've read."

"They are, we are always going for hiking. Franklyn, has befriended all creatures there. And Aaron likes to climb the trees."

They are entering the suburbs at this point, going further away from civilization.

"Are we going to the airport?" Tintin asks.

Clever boy. "No, but we are taking you to America to live with our kids. This is just a detour so we can explain you a few things."

"Alright!"

Tintin resumes bouncing and humming.

And after finding a quiet spot. Stephen stops by the side of the road and turns to Tintin.

"Hey, want to see a cool trick?"

He doesn't really wait for an answer before taking a few pebbles out of his pocket... and then making them float above his hand.