10. One in a Million

Chapter 10 One in a Million “You’ll have to take another blood test,” said the woman with glasses. “You’ll need to give a lot more blood this time.” “Why didn’t they just take more blood the first time?” asked Marvin. “It’s a lot easier this way,” the woman explained. “We see about a thousand kids a day. Fewer than fifty are O negative. So this way we only have to do about fifty HLA tests instead of a thousand.” She told Marvin to go back to the front desk and get a new number. A yellow number, this time. He walked back out to the main room. It was still full of red-haired boys. They’re all exactly like you, Marvin!

Linzy had said. Now, more than ever, he knew that wasn’t true. The proof was in his hand. He got on line to get a new number from Jennifer. A yellow number. “Eight thirty-nine,” called the man in the white coat. The nasty woman was leaving with her son. “Can’t you ever do anything right!” she shouted. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” said Arnold. “I told you I wasn’t a prince.” “Shut up and get in the elevator,” said the nasty woman. Marvin thought about Mrs. Redpost. He was glad she wasn’t like that woman. He remembered the time she tried to teach him to iceskate. She was worse than he was. They both kept falling down. It was funny. But they both learned to ice-skate— sort of. Marvin smiled as he remembered. They had hot chocolate afterward. He thought about Jacob and Linzy. He thought about the house, with the red post in front.

Mr. Redpost painted that post once a year. He looked at the slip of paper in his hand. 812 O negative Then he suddenly remembered something. The King of Shampoon spoke with a weird accent! Marvin didn’t talk like that. So that meant he couldn’t be Prince Robert!

“Marvin, you’re back!” said Jennifer. “So are you O negative?” she asked eagerly. “Uh—” said Marvin. He stuffed the slip of paper into

his pocket. “No,” he said. “I just wanted to say goodbye.” Jennifer smiled at him. “I’m glad you stopped by,” she said. She held her hand out across the desk. “Well, goodbye Marvin. I mean—I was delighted to make your acquaintance … Prince Charming.” Marvin blushed as he shook her hand. His mother returned with Linzy and Jacob. “Hi, Mom,” he greeted her. “Mom?” she asked. “Does this mean—?” “Yes,” said Marvin. “Marvin Redpost isn’t dead.” “I’m sorry,” said his mother. “Yay!” shouted Linzy. He went out to dinner with his family. A week later the King of Shampoon left Washington, D.C., still looking for his lost son. Marvin felt sorry for him. He thought about all the red-haired boys in the hotel room. But he was different. Special. He was the one and only Marvin Redpost.

Besides, he probably wasn’t Prince Robert anyway. The odds were one in a million.