Dead & Forgotten

Ch. 2

The ride to Marshall Academy was twenty minutes long, which normally would be just fifteen minutes long if it weren't for the traffic. But we eventually made it, though. I fell asleep during the ride (I always have the tendency to fall asleep in car rides), and woke up when Joey told me that we were now at the front of the school building. "Now don't be nervous, hon," he told me. "Boarding school is just like regular school, only the dorm rooms are now your new home. And the people there are usually very friendly. Basically, we all treat each other like family. You are home away from home."

I was amazed by his speech. I couldn't believe that my own taxicab driver was giving me advice about high school! I felt so flattered now. "Thank you, Joey," I said.

He ripped out a piece of paper from a notebook he had in his taxicab, which I assumed was his own notebook, and he wrote something down and gave me the paper. "That's my phone number," he said. "This is also my company's number. Call my number whenever you need me to pick you up whenever you want, not my company." He laughed, and so did I. Did he really think I would call the taxicab company instead of him?

"I promise," I said. He opened the trunk and got one of my suitcases while I put on my backpack and carried my other suitcase. I felt a little scared now; Marshall Academy Boarding School was a pretty big building, about twenty stories high or something, so I figured it was a pretty big school with many students, teachers, administrators, and whatever more you'd like to add. Sensing my fear, Joey said, "Don't be afraid, little Cassandra. You're not a little girl anymore; you're a big teenager now." I assumed that was supposed to make me feel better?

We entered the school building, and I was surprised by how striking the place looked. The lobby was beautifully furnished, and across the lobby was the foyer. Marshall Academy was established just a century ago in 1889---March 25, 1889, that is. Joey wished me good luck, and we hugged for goodbye. I met with the Headmistress Flora Rogers. "Hello, my name is Flora Rogers, the headmistress," she said, giving me a friendly smile. I gave her my application forms, and she scanned through them. "Thank you. And I take it that your name is....?"

"Cassandra Fuller," I replied, trying not to be so shy.

"Cassandra Fuller," she repeated to herself, going over my application forms. After she was finished with that, she said to me, "Are you the daughter of the wealthy....?"

I cut her off, knowing exactly what she was about to say. "Aristotle Fuller and Vivienne Kuriyakos? Yes, yes, I am. Oh, but they couldn't make it today; they're in Broadway now."

"Oh, you poor thing!" she said, actually feeling sorry for me. I didn't mind that she felt sorry for me; I just minded that she even brought it up at all. "But if you will notice, we treat each other like family over here, so you needn't worry about a thing at all, dear. I will show you around now."

I felt intrigued as Headmistress Rogers started touring me around the school. The school had about 300 students, which is why it was quite big. The rooms looked nice and neat, and I thought the lounge rooms seemed very 80s-ish, very much like the decade. The dining hall was large enough to fit even the highest number of guests at a sweet sixteen party or a graduation. A boarding school that was initially intended for boys only, Marshall Academy Boarding School has a hundred-year-old history, which eventually got destroyed by fire in 1914, during the time of World War I. It was then rebuilt in 1934, which was 55 years ago. After the time of World War II in late 1945, girls were legally allowed to attend Marshall Academy. The grade levels ranged from seventh to twelfth grade. There were a myriad of extracurricular activities, clubs and events. So far, the school seemed pretty cool. I didn't have too much expectations about being here, but it was too late to turn back now. So I might as well enjoy it while I had it.