Eager Beaver

Chapter Seventeen - Welton Public School

"This thing is so stupid." I complained from my car seat, pulling unhappily at the clip-on tie pinned to my neck.

It was pale blue, featuring a repeating cartoon image of a bright yellow golden retriever puppy chewing contentedly on a bone. It matched the rest of my outfit. In preparation for the mysterious meeting at the school that afternoon, Mom had forced me into an uncomfortable semi-formal get up - each tight-fitting element accented with ridiculous doggy-themed features. My belt had silhouettes of brown chocolate labradors galloping merrilly across a green field; my pumpkin orange corduroy trousers featured a large applique of a panting border collie on the back pocket; even my shirt wasn't safe - the plain white fabric littered with silly embroidered pictures of a sausage dogs playfully chasing their own tails.

Mom and Dad seemed to ignore my complaints as we pulled into the public school parking lot. It was mostly empty, since it was summer. The red brick building looked weathered. It was probably as old as the town itself; even the blue letters of 'Welton Public School' had faded from the sun. I unclipped the car seat and awkwardly opened the door, clambering out. Mom kneeled down to my level, adjusting my hair and tie so everything was just so.

"You look very handsome Cooper." Mom praised me. "Like a little gentleman."

"I look like a dork." I complained. I didn't hate the belt or the shirt or even the tie on their own, but I didn't like wearing them all together one bit. The doggy theme was just too cutesy, making it blindingly obvious that I'd been dressed by my mother.

Dad led us into the building. I had been told it was just a routine meeting with the guidance counselor, but everything seemed suspiciously tense that morning. The way Mom had wanted me to look sharp, Dad taking me to the construction site - something definitely felt off.

In the main office Dad spoke with the secretary, putting a possessive hand on my head. "We have a meeting with Mr Harris today regarding Cooper Young." He told them.

The secretary, a short blonde haired woman with black glasses, nodded knowingly - staring at her computer screen. Eventually, she turned to look at us, squinting through her lenses. "The counselor would like to meet with the parents alone before meeting Cooper." She stated matter of factly, looking me directly in the eye. She was being perfectly polite, but her glare made me shiver all over in fright. "Cooper, please wait out in the hall."

Mom smiled and whispered goodbye before the two of them walked away. I lingered aimlessly in the empty hall for a while, noticing some benches lined up outside the principal's office. Even though I wasn't in any trouble, I instinctively felt my tummy grumble in anguish. They were clearly meant for misbehaving students to stew on before meetings with the principal.

I sat down and kicked my feet back and forth, looking around the empty space. It was a little eerie looking down the dimly lit halls. Canadian schools didn't seem all that different from the ones in America. Sure the flags were different and there were some different classes to take, like French for example, but it was mostly the same. So why did the guidance counselor need to see me?

Just then I heard the squeak and skid marks of someone's sneakers approaching around the corner. Craning my neck to get a better look, my jaw dropped. There, carrying a big box and wearing his cub scout uniform, was Nate. My lips flopped open and closed like a fish blowing bubbles.

"No way." Nate gasped and set the box down, carelessly clattering around whatever was inside. "If it isn't Oopsy Coopsy."

"Nate." I squeaked out, shocked to see him in this setting. "W-what are you doing here?"

"My Aunt is making me help move some classrooms." He dismissed, sounding a little nonchalant. "But what are you doing here?"

I didn't know what to say. Nate still thought I was five! What Grade would put me in? Grade One? Kindergarten? "Transfering schools." I told him truthfully.