Annika took a deep breath, then dialed the number that Shannon had given her.
"Hello?"
"Uhh, hi. I'm Annikia Cade..."
"Good afternoon Annika," Professor Xavier said. "I understand you would like to have your brother enrolled at our school?"
"Yes sir," Annika said nervously. "I'm terribly afraid that the longer he stays home the more risk there is that mom will - I don't know how much Shannon told you..."
"Shannon was discreet. She said your half-brother Whip was a mutant and you were worried for his safety. Perhaps you would like to explain?"
Xavier knew more than what Shannon had actually said, but he was not in the habit of prying, and in any case, he prefered to hear it "from the horse's mouth" as it were.
Annika told him about her mother's particular attitudes and the envrionment in which they had grown up.
"Well, the solution is simple," Xavier said. "You said that your brothers are expected to do well at school. We'll tell her that Whip has earned a scholarship here. Which isn't a real deception, as eductation here is available freely to all mutants."
Annika couldn't stop the smile from broaching her lips.
"Oh, really? Oh, thank you so, so much for helping me. I really appreciate it!"
Xavier smiled also. He spoke to her for a while longer, getting her details, and learning what Annika knew of Whip academic career, such as it was.
They hung up, and Xavier began putting his plan into action.