Imperial High

THE LETTER

ZACH

"Goggles, uniform, bathrobes, toiletries?"

"Check, check, check, check."

"Novels?"

"Check."

"What about your wall p-

"Mom, it's okay. I'm pretty sure we've gone over this list at least twenty times. More importantly, I'm pretty sure they said two suitcases, weighing 10 kg each."

We stared at the 5 bulging suitcases and two rucksacks on the floor in front of us. Dad stopped at the doorway.

"I certainly hope that's not for school, Zach. You know the rules. Plus, don't forget. Imperial High's the best in the state. I doubt you're going to need half of the stuff you've packed."

Imperial High.

I still felt a shiver go through my whole body when I said the name. This morning, three letters had arrived in the mail, addressed to me. They were all school applications. I didn't have to go to Snotly! (Snotly was the school Mom had decided to enroll me at, after my leaving Hopeside. Apparently, they were very focused on the maturity and behaviour of their students.....code for  they were super strict, which is probably what my mom had been looking for anyway). My dad and mom said they still needed to review the schools and see if anyone was more appropriate than Snotly but I knew that Snotly was now off the table. After about twenty minutes of heated whispers from the study, they said they had decided to go with Imperial High.

Apparently, I had entered with a full scholarship! The results had come with a brochure and list of things allowed and what not to bring but according to what they provided, you hardly needed to bring anything anyway. Everything screamed posh. It was a full boarding school located in Weston, Massachusetts. Its list of successful alumni was endless. Almost all of their graduates ended up working in international companies and industries. Their school uniform was a white blazer, white shirt, black tie, black trousers and a pair of sneakers. But what really struck me was the school logo.

It was a beautifully detailed illustration of a woman. She wore a long flowing black dress with smooth white hands outstretched. Her hair was like a river of shining night. Her ears were pointed at the tips like an elf's from all those fairy tales. She had full lips that were curved into a mischievous smile. Her nose was straight and long. Her lashes grew straight. What struck me and took my breath was her eyes. It was a myriad of colors. They seemed to hold the whole universe in them. But it was the expression. Her eyes held a story in them. It seemed as though, despite the smile, she was trapped. She had done something extraordinary but she was alone. Those outstretched arms suddenly seemed to be begging for comfort. For companionship.

I had shaken my head and was surprised to find tears in my eyes. My mom had called all her friends to boast that her son had gotten a full scholarship into the most prestigious school in the world. My dad had shaken my hand and retreated to the safety and peace of his study. Soon after, the packing had started. The school had their own buses to pick up students, so I was being picked up in the morning. Even seeing everything they provided, my mom was convinced that I needed to pack everything I had ever owned just because.

After the packing had finished, dinner had been eaten and I had been sent to bed by my overeager mom to sleep well for the next day, I lay down in my bed exhausted.

It was only when sleep finally pulled me under that I realized what had been bothering me all day.

I hadn't applied to the school.

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