The Aristocrat

They call it the head of the committee

Monday 12th.  

My head teacher was a total snob. Her tight pinned back hair pulled back her skin and rendered her unable of showing any emotions. Her eyebrows were always raised, her eyes searching everywhere for any trouble. She reminded me of a police dog, sniffing around the teenagers for any scent of disorder and rebellion.

And today she had sent out a note for me and Chester to go to her office.

"Miss Royale and Mr. Beaumont," She greeted with a stiff, forced smile. She gestured for us to take a seat opposite her. Me and Chester sat down on two desk chairs and faced her silently. We wouldn't dare look anywhere but down at the desk.

Mrs. Edison shuffled through a desk drawer, searching for something. She pulled out a sheet of paper, straightened it out in front of her and looked up to us sternly.

"I'm sorry for pulling you out of lesson but I needed to run by you this year's events which you will be planning," Mrs. Edison informed us.

From the corner of my eye I could notice Chester's brows furrow just like mine. He was just as lost.

"If you don't mind me asking Mrs. Edison why would you be running that by us?" I asked quietly, my voice polite.

She coughed composedly, "Your parents have both kindly offered for you and Mr. Beaumont to run the event committee. Meaning you both will be organizing the main events for your classmates last year here."

Chester shared a confused glance with me, "What if we don't want to run the committee?"

Mrs. Edison pointed a bored glare at Chester like she had better things to doing than sitting here with us two, "There is no choice Mr. Beaumont, your parents have already signed you up."

"But-"

Mrs. Edison held her palm up cutting my words short and her lips drew out in a bold strict line. Her vicious stare was enough for me to shut up and nod my head.

"So, there will be quite a few events this year, it being your last," She continued glaring down at the list "I have a list of all the events and their budgets. The school are providing you with high budgets this year, you also have a committee team whom you should meet at least twice a week to discuss plans etc. I cannot stress this enough but please try to be make the events sophisticated, they are being held under the school name."

She passed me the sheet which I took and glanced at briefly. A sour expression rested on Chester's face.

"And of course, report back to me with all plans," Mrs. Edison said matter of fact "Now that's all, so if you would like to head back to class."

Chester and I both stood up quickly and exited her office. Once in the corridor Chester groaned loudly.

"Well, this sucks," Chester complained as we rushed away from her office.

"You can say that again," I muttered.

"How many events are actually on that thing?" He asked pointing to the flimsy piece of paper I held.

I lifted it up and counted to number of events, "About 8 or 9."

Chester huffed out, "that's way too many. How the hell are we even going to have a life if we're going to have to be doing all that planning?"

I shrugged because I didn't know the answer.

"There's a list of the people who are in the committee, I'll find them all and let them know we're going to be having a meeting at lunch today. That ok?"

"Yeah," Chester sighed stopping outside of his English classroom "I'll meet you in the old library, it will be empty probably."

"Ok, see you at lunch," I said as he waved and shuffled into the classroom.

*

Everyone was already in the old library when I arrived at lunch. The large conference table, the teachers used to use for meetings, was occupied by the committee's members. Unfortunately, there was only a few people still in the committee, roughly 6 people. So that meant a lot more work for me and Chester. Chester sat at the top with a red head girl beside him as well as another empty space. I walked over to the seat and sat down waving at everyone.

"We waited for you," Chester told me. His eyes were shaded with boredom.

"Thanks," I said as I took out my notebook and the sheet Mrs. Edison gave me. I looked out to the other 6 people and smiled. I recognized most of them.

"Hey everyone, I'm Andra. Me and Chester are going to be heads of the committee, not that means anything really because it's going to be a team effort."

Chester nodded and stepped in, "Yeah so if you have any ideas or you have an opinion just say it, we've got open ears."

Everyone stared at us nodding.

"So, I've a list of all the events here," I held up the paper "How about we firstly go through them and then come up with brief ideas and everything?"

Mumbled replies were heard.

"There's a Halloween party, Christmas ball," I read them out, everyone writing down the events "New year's party, Saint Valentines ball, Summer Prom and then we have two charities which we have to throw fundraiser events for."

"So that's a lot of hard work," Chester put in "we're going to really need you all to be committed."

"Of course," the red head nodded beside him eagerly. Everyone agreed.

"Great, thank you. So, I'm thinking we should focus one event at time, obviously we're going to need to plan the Halloween party first."

"Isn't Hugo Campbell going to throw it at his house?" A preppy guy with blonde combed back hair spoke. He reminded me a lot of Thomas.

"We don't know for certain yet," I stated "I think that the school want a more formal Halloween party this year."

"But last year was really good," the red head commented.

"We'll talk to Mrs. Edison and see if we can arrange it," Chester settled, smiling sweetly at the girl. The lunch bell signaled and we all packed up our things.

"It would be cool if we could meet on Friday's at lunch, is everyone ok with that?" I asked, addressing the room. A chorus of yes's echoed through the room and we all began to leave for class.

*

"I don't know why you're so annoyed," My mother shrugged me off with little care "It's an amazing opportunity, something extra to put on to the application."

She was currently casually sitting on our sofa, her eyes gazing at a book, her high heels resting beside her feet on our large white rug.

"You said that about the swim team and the green committee and the math's camp," I argued. My arms crossed and I stood in front of my mother's seated figure craving some attention from her. I was sure to make my voice calm, but there was no doubt she could sense the anger.

"All of which were for your own future benefit. I tell you this every time, I swear Alessandra you never listen to me," She shook her head in disappointment but remained focused on her book.

"And you obviously don't listen to me either," I stressed to her my voice picking up hoping she might hear me clearer "I don't want to be a part of the committee."

My mother sighed heavily, shut her book and placed it carefully down on a small glass table by the arm of the settee. Slipping back into her nude painted heels she sauntered over to me. As she stood in front of me she cupped my cheeks with her smooth palm. Her thumbs traced the skin beneath my eyes and there was a warmth underneath her touch. For a moment, I thought she'd heard me, I thought I'd made a break through. For a moment, she was a normal mum.

"You're 17 Alessandra," She paused for a long second, smiling at me softly "you don't know what you want."

As quick as she'd said it, her hand was gone and she was walking out the door.