The House in the Cerulean Sea
by TJ Klune
Contents
Nineteen
Overview
Three weeks after returning to the city, Linus secretly gathers case files until Doreen delivers his approved report, securing Marsyas as a home. He quits DICOMY and journeys back with Helen’s help.
Reunited with the children, Linus promises to stay and help others. After confessing his choices to Arthur, he’s asked to remain, and they seal their commitment with a kiss.
Summary
Three weeks pass in gray routine as Linus dreams of the island and quietly reviews old cases, smuggling files from DICOMY to pursue broader change. Doreen arrives with his final report, signed by Werner, George, Plumb, and Rogers—recommendation approved. The decision confirms Marsyas will remain a home.
Buoyed, Linus challenges the office’s complacency, then leaves quietly, resigning from DICOMY. He tells his neighbor Ms. Klapper he’s leaving for good, packs Calliope, and boards a train toward the sea, determined to make a new life where he belongs.
In the village, Mayor Helen spots him, arranges Merle’s ferry, and drives him to the dock. At sunset, she delivers Linus back to the island, urging him to say what matters. Linus first finds Talia in the garden; emotions break, and she forgives him conditionally, sending him to face the others.
Before the house, Linus admits past mistakes, quotes Sal’s poem, and announces the home’s safety. The children confer and set terms: help in the garden, monthly days in the woods, laundry with tips, buttons for Theodore, being called Linus, and comfort for Lucy’s nightmares. Linus accepts them all, explaining he left to be their voice and to protect them.
Privately, Linus tells Arthur he argued forcefully before Extremely Upper Management, stole files to help other children, and quit because DICOMY wasn’t home. He declares he belongs here and asks to be asked again. Arthur answers, “Stay. Here. With us. With me.” They kiss as the children cheer from the windows, and the day ends in hard-won peace.
Who Appears
- Linus BakerProtagonist; steals files, gets his report approved, resigns DICOMY, returns to Marsyas, accepts the children’s conditions, pledges to stay.
- Arthur ParnassusHeadmaster; wary at first, hears Linus’s confession, asks him to stay, and seals their commitment with a kiss.
- LucyLeads the children’s council, sets conditions, questions Linus’s departure, and pushes the adults toward honesty.
- TaliaFirst to reunite with Linus; threatens burial, then forgives him and demands gardening help as a condition.
- HelenMayor; arranges the ferry, drives Linus to the dock, and encourages him to speak his heart.
- Zoe ChapelwhiteLandlord and ally; amused witness to the reunion, shepherds the children indoors, watches from the window.
- PheeSprite child; initially glaring, demands monthly days in the woods with Zoe and Linus.
- SalAnxious poet; his words inspire Linus’s speech, relaxes when the home’s safety is confirmed, asks to call him Linus.
- ChaunceyAspiring bellhop; fidgets with excitement and wins the right to do Linus’s laundry—with tips.
- TheodoreButton-collecting wyvern; chirps and roars, securing a promise for every button Linus can find.
- Doreen (Ms. Bubblegum)DICOMY aide; delivers Linus’s approved report and pointedly nudges him toward the life he wants.
- Ms. JenkinsSupervisor; glares, questions Linus at the exit, hears him declare he’s going home.
- MerleCurmudgeonly ferryman; reluctantly transports the truck to the island at Helen’s insistence.
- Ms. KlapperNeighbor; shocked by Linus’s departure, hears he quit and may gift her family his house.
- CalliopeLinus’s cat; meows approval, races to the garden, and rubs against Sal during the reunion.