unlike the majority of shiz students, jasper did not return home when the year was out. instead, they stayed in the block of teacher dwellings over the holidays. it was a kindness that madame lioncourt had afforded them with the knowledge that home was simply not safe and, even if they did take the train back to the land of tulips and short men, it was unlikely jasper would return in one piece to start the following year. for their first year at shiz they were in ama iverin's dorm. despite her roughness, her iron claw, he was reluctant to leave and disrupt the equilibrium he had created ... and also jasper could not think of anything worse than having to transport crates upon crates of books across to the dormitory block once again.
they did not have friends to help them. they did not have strong - armed parents. instead, jasper was on their own as they crossed through the quad and circled the lake. by the time he reached the dormitory building, the munchkin was about ready to collapse. he slumped on one of his cases, puffing a sigh of exhaustion. “excuse me,” they called, “would you ... would you mind maybe helping me get my things up to my room ? ”