Roland Academy for the Leaders of Tomorrow

Chapter 3~ The Arrival

As it happened, the Roland Academy for the Leaders of Tomorrow was located around the Northeast edge of Spokane Washington.  Had I not known, I would have assumed the Academy was an expensive college, not a high school level boarding school.  A three foot tall wrought iron fence surrounded the considerably large grounds like lace around a dress, enclosing lush lawns and gardens.  The grass was cut to a reasonable height and so green it almost hurt to look at.  The central drive up to the school was lined on both sides by flowers and Douglas Pear trees that I knew would bloom a beautiful white in the Spring.  Douglas Pears for all there beauty are very fragile.  I could only imagine the time and money the school spent on maintaining the trees alone.  Quite a lot, to put it mildly.

A reflecting pool lay in front of the main building's entrance, so clear and clear that it perfectly reflected the sky and it's luxurious blue shade.  Decorative hedges lined the reflecting pool, preened to a precise orb shape, and dotted occasionally with marble statues.  Each statue shone with a high polish and were obviously cleaned regularly with the utmost care.  The statues were all very elegant but the idea that someone was paid to clean them seemed purely frivolous, but I guess when one has money, one can afford frivolity. 

The main drive ran up the eastern side of the reflecting pool, around it's end and in front of the main building, and back down the west side, branching off here and there to lead towards another part of the campus.  I could imagine there were other entrances to the campus and it's other buildings as well, though they were not visible from the main gate. 

The main building stood exquisite and tenacious, ornate yet puissant.  It was beautiful in an that it was relatively simple.  The main building was made out of red brick with bell towers on both sides of the northern facing side, the side with it's main entrance.  The glass doors stood tall and proud, so clean and smudge less that you could hardly tell they were there if not for their bronze handles.  White marble molding surrounded them as well as the windows all three floors, carved elaborately.  Two wisteria trees, their bases ringed with flours and decorative grasses, stood on either side of the doors, small silver colored ornaments strung on there braches, making the three appear as if they were blooming silver flowers. 

White limestone buildings, much fancier and more decorative were visible behind the main building, probably extra school buildings and dorms.  The whole place was gargantuan in size and over all very intimidating.  As Mr. Rhodes and I neared I began to feel like a little ant looking up at and elephant that was about to step on me. 

"Pretty impressive huh?"  Mr. Rhodes asked as we entered the gate.  A guard station stood at the ready to the side, a red and white bar blocking our path.  Mr. Rhodes pulled up next to the booth and rolled down his window.  A guard in a pressed navy blue uniform peered in.  Without a word Mr. Rhodes flashed an identity badge and the guard nodded.  In seconds the bar was lifted and we left the guard box behind.  "The children of some very important people go here," Mr. Rhodes explained with out me having to ask.  "The security is a peace of mind to them."

"Ah," I replied simply.  I guess it made since.  It was an expensive school for children from families with money and power.  Of course there would need to be security in case someone went after the students,  I just hadn't really expected it.  The only security we had at my old high school was a resource officer who mainly sat in his office during the day and watched the lunches to make sure no one got in fights.  I wondered how heavily the security was all over the Academy's campus. 

Mr. Rhodes started down the main drive but quickly turned right onto a paved road only wide enough for a single vehicle.  One could presume that it was a one way road, though presuming something, how ever obvious it may seem, may not always be reliable.  I knew I myself presumed things a lot, deducing details of one matter or another, yet you can never be totally certain you are right without solid proof.  Yet I was fairly certain I was right that the road was a one way road.