Sweet Maple Pines

Chapter Six: School

              Dedicated to geekman287

"Dad, honestly I can walk" I tell my father. He ignores me pulling on his ratty sneakers.

"Fine, let's go" In all honesty, I rather wait to start school but Dad insists the early the better. I already have a bad feeling about this. I exit my house entering our car.

"School! Who's excited!?" Dad exclaims cheerfully. I roll my eyes telling him he's the only one excited.

"Darn right! Anything to get you out my hair!" Dad smiles starting the car then we are off.

The neighborhood is quiet and nobody is outside. Not even a single dog or person. All the cars are gone from in front of the houses. Strange.

"Its quiet and empty" I blurt.

Dad glances at me,"Its morning so I guess everyone's at work"

Sure, the whole neighborhood has the same shift. I keep the remark to myself knowing Dad would only argue until he proves himself right.

We don't have to drive far. The school stands out. The peach bright colored walls. The bell tower at the top. The pristine gates that swing open as we enter.

"Impressive," I murmur.

"I love it" Dad laughs

We pull up in front of the school giving me more view of the campus. There's a fountain spraying clear blue water. A garden with a variety of bright colored flowers, a giant tree with long thin leaves swaying in the wind. The grass shines from the water of the  sprinklers.

Okay, this is amazing. Sweet Maple Pines has me. This school beats my old one by millions. I'm so soaked by campus I don't hear Dad exit the car and rap on my window.

"Come on, sport" Ew, He called me sport; just like that guy from last night. Cringe.

"Don't ever call me that" I say

"Okay," Dad holds up his hands in a surrender when we enter the building he whispers in my ear "sport"

I smile shaking my head. The inside of the school is just as perfect as the outside. White waxed floors, walls free of graffti, green small lockers.

"I think I'm gonna like it here," I peel through the window of a door at the kids inside. They sit properly; hands on desk or on lap beaming smiles. Books open in front of them and the teachers upfront teaching with the same happy smile.

"You ready, Morris?" Dad slaps my shoulder pulling me along

"Yeah, lets go"

We eventually find the main office. A blond lady behind a clean desk with thick glasses greets us with a hug.

"Oh! I was wondering where you were?!" The lady plants a wet kiss on my cheek. Gross.

"Oh...um" I rub my cheek wiping any salvia.

"Hi, I'm Paul" Dad hugs her. She pecks his cheek also before running back behind her desk grabbing a packet.

"Well, hello! And welcome to Sweet Maple Academy Of Learning!" She gives dad and me brochures.

The cover shows kids standing in what I guess is the schools garden. They have arms around each other's shoulder and of course are  smiling. I don't look at the rest.

"So! Here is your schedule! Your blue card should be returned by next week! And here's homework for your daddy!" She squeals happily handing dad some papers then me

"Thanks!" I mock but she mistakes it as gratitude giggling.

Dad nudges me giving me his look. I grin avoiding his eyes.

"Okay, just a reminder! School starts 7:30 sharp! Ends at 3:30! You should be in 1st period right now! Take your time exploring the school!" She claps hopping up and down.

"Okay..." I drag heading for the exit. Dad follows wanting to leave just as bad.

"If you need anything come back! Oh! I'm Jenny by the way!" She yells as I close the door.

"Cool, and this is where we part ways"

"See you later" He ruffles my hair embrassing me even though we are alone in the hall "sport" He adds leaving. Dads.