Handcuffed

Taken for a Ryde

Just to keep away from annoying congratulations, Shirley wanted to ask Diana to bring lunch to her room, but after thinking about it she changed her mind. Instead she got to lunch early and watched everyone file in. When she was sure most of the school was there, and Ty wasn't, she banged her spoon on her dish while asking for quiet. "I ask all of you to consider the way Ty feels right now," she began, "besides his physical pain it was very humiliating. All I wanted to do was knock him down. I never intended to knock him out. Please don't make him feel worse then he already feels. By congratulating me in front of him or by reminding him of his promises to beat me, you will be literally adding insult to injury. Please don't do it."

Shirley was already onto her second forkful of salad when the noise level finally got back to normal. "If it had been anyone but Shirley Holmes, I would have said to stop being sanctimonious, but with Shirley you know it is for real," she heard someone whisper, causing her to blush.

Towards the end of lunch they had the usual pre-vacation announcements. A recording of The Dean's voice was heard over the speakers system. "Beginning from now you will have vacation from school work and classes until the second of January. Those of you going to your foster homes and have notified Ms. Isadora are allowed to leave anytime you wish. If you have not yet notified Ms. Isadora of your plans, please do so immediately after the meal.

Those of you staying here, your beds will still have to be made and the dishes cleaned. In return, you will be given a bed to sleep in, and three meals a day, including lunch that will be packed and ready to be taken on a trip after breakfast, for those that order it the night before. From eight o'clock AM until seven o'clock PM you are allowed off ground without asking permission. To be out any earlier or later then these times, you will need special permission from me.

I have one final thing for you to think about as you shop. Most of the American holidays have become, and may have actually begun as, advertising gimmicks. I don't want to see any Valentine's Day presents, nor should you have any concern with any of these other business related advertisement days. It is mainly to get you to spend money on things you have no need for. Don't be fooled into buying for yourselves or for your friends. Enjoy you rejuvenating time and don't do anything rash."

She was called to The Dean after lunch, where she sat for a few hours listening to his praise and criticism on her third draft of the play. They finished with enough time for Shirley to stretch out for an hour on the couches in the front entrance of the Dormitory. Dinner was accompanied by some decent recorded classical music.
After dinner she pulled the hidden book from her drawer curled up in bed and nearly finished what she had left of it. She was thankful her roommates had all gone to their foster homes. Even Diana had gone away for a week, though Shirley knew she had no foster home. Since she was already eighteen she was allowed to go off on her own and her plan was to just live it up for a week.

She usually went home to Ms. Hudson too, but this year she told Ms. Hudson she needed the time to work on the play and continue with her social life. Ms. Hudson had been so proud of her being chosen as the Director and was so happy for her that The Dean was considering her to join his family she seemed okay with it.

The next morning after breakfast, she made up with Mori to meet in the garage at twelve and spent the rest of the morning having a snowball fight. The snow was a bit powdery so it really didn't hit hard, but they had a good time anyway. At about eleven she went to her room to change into something a bit more presentable for a lunch meeting. This time she didn't have to worry about anyone seeing her as she walked from the Dormitory to The House. Everyone knew she was meeting people to get things for the play.

Mori was already in the car with the passenger side door wide open, when Ms. Isadora opened the garage door and handed Shirley her cell phone. She gave Shirley a pat on the back and then closed the door behind her. Shirley climbed in and closed the door, as Mori turned on some background music. They chatted about nothing in particular and even had some quiet moments. They passed many impressive looking office buildings in the downtown district, until Mori pulled into the garage of a large shiny black building. It had two or three floors of parking on the bottom levels, with security cameras and security guards strategically located. Large letters were fastened to the first office floor of the building. Doyle Conan & Arthur, Attorneys at Law.