Ben was captured on the final day of Spring Break, hiding in a friend's apartment and they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Again, the charges didn't stick, but he did thoroughly embarrass his family. Janine had spoken of their ordeal to inquiring colored reporters, in secret. So, everything he had done and all they had gone through, up to that point, had gotten out to many who were now actively following the progress of these brave pioneering young people.
To avoid further embarrassment (they were getting calls to make a statement to the press) they sent Ben away to a strict military school.
And so, they all returned to their old frat house and classes with renewed hope and strength.
It was the beginning of the final month of the year and the time had come for the only formal dance held at the school.
The Caldwell Spring Ball.
Jeremy P. Caldwell had been the man responsible for the establishment of the Academy. Having been a prodigy himself, there had been no institutions in his time, that were capable of challenging his preternatural intellect. So, when he was able, after carving out a productive, lucrative and successful life, he founded the Academy.
The Ball was a seventy-year tradition for which every student wore Victorian formal attire and adopted the manner and codes of conduct, as were true to the times when Caldwell established Ashwood.
As a prodigy, he never had the opportunity to attend a formal dance, because he was so much younger than everyone else in his classes. This event was to make certain, none in his class of intellect would ever again miss out on that experience.
Kensington allotted an allowance from the donations made to the school, and those who could not afford Victorian formal wear were able to choose gowns from a catalog of pre-worn period attire.
Janine and Anita giggled and fawned over the sumptuous wear in the pictures. In light of everything that had happened to them throughout the year, this was a very welcome distraction.
Staying true to the times, any boy who wanted to act as an escort to a young lady, had to send a handwritten note requesting the honor.
A representative from the student union went to every girl and delivered wax sealed letters, often during classes, providing much amusement throughout the classes.
Anita was reciting a soliloquy from Macbeth.
"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day..."
The professor, her own favorite Trudy Bronstein was managing the class for the day, in Dr. August Fairbank's absence. She spied one of the younger children, dressed as a period delivery boy outside of the classroom door. She indicated with a hand-wave that he should hold until Anita had concluded.
"To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
Her classmates and the professor, applauded politely. Bronstein opened the door and spilled in the comically accented boy, another twelve-year old, a curly brown-haired white boy, attending the Academy.
"I have several private letters for delivery here..."
He removed his hat.
"For Ms.'s Landry, Robinson, Underhill..."
YOU ARE READING
ASHWOOD ACADEMY
Historical Fiction[EDITORS' CHOICE, June 2020][#1 History June 2020] -- Five black students make history as the first to integrate a prestigious school for gifted students in 1950's Vermont. One student, Anita Prescott, is a young girl whose strength and leadership...
