The Princeton and the Pauper

Shower Shock

Dear Mom and Dad

How have you both been doing so far?

I know I would keep in touch via email or video call but I felt like writing to you as a first attempt to communicate with you from far away. Besides, phone calls are a luxury, I can't afford, given the distance between us.

Anyway, there is so much I've been wanting to tell you since I first arrived here and I am more than happy to give you the details.

I am currently living in the Slifer Red dorm, the lowest rank in the school. Despite that, it's very humble and the room I'm staying in, has a nice ambience. Very cosy too. Plus, I have a roommate named Blair Flannigan and she's such a nice girl. She's got a little crush on one of the boys in the dorm as we're the only girls living there. I know if Dad reads this, he'll go nuts but I know how to handle boys well. Speaking of boys, I met some the other day, for they caught me singing while washing the breakfast dishes that very morning. They're called Jaden Yuki, Syrus Truesdale, Tyranno Hassleberry and Jesse Anderson who hails from North Academy. They're such nice boys around the academy, although there's one that was less than welcoming named Chazz Princeton. He complained at me for playing music on the night of arriving at the academy. Salty, much? But I know how to deal with him.

There's also other students I have befriended from other dorms, like Jolene Parton from Ra Yellow whom I met on the ferry en route to the island, Aster Phoenix, a pro duelist who's staying at Obelisk Blue and Alexis and Atticus Rhodes who are also from Obelisk. Talk about making fast friends. I feel like I'm gonna like it here.

The classes are between easy and hard but still, there's always something worth learning from the faculty. Although I have to keep sitting next to Chazz during these times, not gonna lie. Still, got to get a good education during my time here if I want to pass any exams that come my way. We usually have classes from Monday to Saturday from 8AM, which I'm getting used to.

After that, I got a little tour around the island where I was shown not only the dorms, but other parts like the harbour and hot springs, there's even a beach around here according to the academy brochure I got from the entrance exam. Great thinking for packing my bikini, Mom. It'll be just like going on holiday to Spain.

Of course, I miss home too. There's not a day that goes by when I don't think of you guys but I remember what Dad told me the night before I left, that you two will always be there for me in my heart, no matter the distance. The moment I left home, I promised myself that I will return for vacations and holidays.

This is my new life now and I'm gonna try my best out there, no matter what it throws at me.

Hope to hear from you two someday, love you

Maria

xxx

~~~

Having finished writing, Maria gazed at a family photo, she kept with her. It was of them during a family vacation in bright sunny Spain, when they went down the coast in Fuengirola with her paternal uncle and aunt. She always promised to keep in touch with her parents during her time at the academy until she would come home for the holidays.

"That you finished writing to your family?" Asked Blair from nearby, noticing the sealed envelope containing the message inside.

"Yep. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate emails and video calls as well but I felt hand written messages would be a first." The caramel haired girl answered, placing her hand upon the photograph that she treasured the most.

"That's a very sweet thing, you're doing when it comes to keeping in touch with your family." The blue haired girl said, warmly. "I bet they might miss you."