The Exchange

Chapter 5

"What do you mean I don't have a choice?" I ask him very rudely. Mr, Huffley takes a deep breath.

"The school must offer a certain amount of exchange students per year and this year we are short. So, we have chosen you to participate in it."

"But why do I have to do it?" I whine. This isn't fair. I have my whole high school experience planned out. Why is it me?

"It's you because you are a good student, have good grades, and you will get more out of this experience than most students." He says sternly.

"But-"

"No but's!" Mr. Huffley says getting mad. "Failure to complete this program will result in failure to graduate from your post secondary education!" Mr. Huffley stands up and hovers over me. What did he just say? Not participating means I dont graduate? This isn't fair!

"What?" I say in disbelief. My voice os small and I still can't believe what he just said.

"If you don't go on this exchange trip you will not be allowed to graduate high school." He repeated. I couldn't believe this. Was the school threatening me?

I stared into my lap. My arms are still crossed across my chest. I can't move them no matter how much I want to. I feel frozen sitting here. Could I really not graduate if I don't do this?

"You will be leaving for London, England the week after next. It will cost around $2,000 and you will have to provide your own spending money and contribution to rent. That's something you and your roomates will have to figure out. The school will get you to England and back after the school year. Your roomates have already been chosen fro you along with the school you will be attending and you will be required to prepare a presentation on what you have learned for when you return. All the information is on this sheet." He hands me a white piece of paper adressed to my parents. So not only am I being forced to go but I have to pay my own way too and make a presentation when I get back? "This is so your parents understand what is expected of you." Mr. Huffley continues explaining the peice of paper he just handed me. "You will also need this. It's paper work that will need to be filled out and signed by you and your parents and returned with the full amount to be payed." He hands me a booklet of papers stapled together. I can't believe this is happening.

"I'm sure you will enjoy your stay." Mr. Huffley tries saying reassuingly. I really do not like him right now. He hovers over me again. "You may return to class now."

I get up from the blue chair and turn on my heels. Is this really happening to me?

I leave the office with a scowl. I basically storm in the direction of my Religion class. The eyes of a couple of grade twelves follow me as I walk across the general commons area carrying my stack of papers in one hand. I still haven't uncrossed my arms and I make no move to even attempt uncrossing them. Anger pumps through my veins and my face goes hot. I HAVE to go across the ocean in order to graduate. Is this fair?

I open Mr. Laides classroom door and see everyone standing in a circle. Everyone's eyes look at me when I come in. I tryto avoid everyones stare and work my way to my desk to put away all my papers from Mr. Huffley.

"Oh Mirabelle, we were just starting off with a game to get to know each other." Mr. Laide informs as I push my papers into my binder. I nod and stand next to Marley in the circle.

"So what happened?" she asks curiously. I pretend I didn't hear her as I listen to a guy say his name and favourite subject before tossing a ball to someone else. I do not want to talk about it right now.

***

"So, wait. Explain it to us again." My mother says as I sit with my head in my hands at the kitchen table.

"The school doesn't have enough students participating in the exchange trip so they are making me go to England for a year." I huff out frustrated.

"And we have to pay for this?" My father says looking through the package to be filled out.

"And I have to make a presentation when I get back." I tell them not at all happy. "And if I don't go I won't graduate."

"This doesn't make sense." My mother says again.

"What doesn't make sense about it?" I ask throwing my hands up in the air. "The school is making me go to England. If I don't go I don't graduate. That's it."

"Does that mean I'm an only child again?" My older brother Hayden yells from the other room.

"I'm still gonna be their favourite no matter how far away I am." I yell back.

"We'll see about that." He says entering the kitchen. I bury my face in my hands again. Why do I have to go?

"I don't like the idea of sending you on an exchange alone." My mother says glancing at the information sheet adressed to her.

"Neither do I but I don't really have a choice unless I don't want to graduate."

"Daren can't you talk to your lawyer?" My mother asks my father.

"To sue the school board? That's a million dollar corporation. It won't help at all." I interrupt.

"Technically, they're not a coorporation." Hayden says pulling the milk out of the fridge.

"Shut-up Hayden. I'm not in the mood right now." I say through clenched teeth.

"Hey language." My mother says.

"Well, you won't have to worry about that in two weeks because I will be in another continent." I get up from my chair and turn around. I hear my father sigh behind me.

"I guess we don't really have an option." He says.

"We must." My mother insists, "How many students are they forcing to go?"

"I don't know Mom! That wasn't exactly my biggest wonder after I was told I have to leave for a year or fail from gaining my secondary school diploma!" I cross my arms over my chest, scrunch my eyebrows and pout. I huff in frustration.

"I'm going upstairs." I say storming to my room. I don't hear anyone speak as I march out of the kitchen.

I walk into my room on the second floor and shut my door behind me. I look around my light pink room. To think in two weeks I won't have the opportunity to come into my room. I cross my room to my desk and pick up the framed picture of my friends and I on a field trip to Wellington park. We all look so happy to be together.

I put down the picture and pick up another one. My cousins and I are standing with my grandmother on her birthday last year. My family that I have always known. They have always put up with me. They have been with me forever. How could they just expect me to part from them?

I turn around and look at my room. My ipod sits in its pink dock in the corner of the room. I hit play and Save you Tonight by One Direction plays. I listen to the marvellous voices of my favourite band for a moment. If only they could save me.

All the special sentimental objects on my shelf look down on me. My first doll, my favourite recipes. I feel like it is all being taken away from me. My friends, my family, my favourite momentums and memories. My goals and dreams. The feeling makes me sick. I sink to the floor and close my eyes, listening to One Direction's voices and only their voices.