Connected

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I woke in the morning to find it was still very dark outside. Dark means early right? I thought to myself rolling over ready to fall back to sleep. A passing glance at my alarm clock shocked me awake instantly. 8:19. Crap! School starts at 9 o’clock. I leapt out of bed and raced around my room at top speed rushing to get ready. I had obviously forgotten to set my alarm. I quickly pulled on my new uniform which consisted of a white cotton, collared, button up shirt with a blue and white patterned tie and a matching skirt. I quickly ran a brush through my hair and checked the time. 8:27. Good I’m making relatively good time. I my bag and placed it over my shoulder. I was yet to go to the office and get my schedule and books so it was basically empty. Sitting on my bed I pulled on my shoes and socks and raced out my bedroom door.

“Mum, why didn’t you wake me?” I called racing toward the kitchen. No reply. “Mum.” I slowed my pace. “Mum.” I stopped. Silence. Where was she? Did she come home last night? Was she sound asleep in her bed? I rushed to her bedroom door and opened it a crack not wanting to disturb her if she was in bed. I slammed the door wide open. The bed was made perfectly. Not a crease. Where is my mum? I ran to the kitchen to where the land line was installed and was half way through dialling her mobile number when I noticed a white piece of paper tapped to the fridge. I placed the phone in its cradle and pulled the paper of the fridge. It was a note. It read:

Good morning honey, I’ve been called into work early. There are some problems with one of trials. I’m sorry I missed your first day of school. I hope you have fun and make new friends. Good luck! Love Mum. P.S have a proper breakfast.

Okay so mum was fine. I let out a sigh of relief and glanced at the clock on the wall. 8:33. Still running late. Sorry mum no time for breakfast. I had just grabbed my set of house keys off the bench when I heard a bang at the door followed by the faint sound of scratching. What was that? I stood in the kitchen for a moment listen to the sound. It was definitely scratching but what was making it. I decided to quickly gather my thoughts and just answer the door what harm could it do. I walked out into the hallway and looked at the glass panel door to see a short figure standing in front of it. The figure appeared to be half my height. Was it a child? Stopping in front of the door I finally recognised the figure. It was the deadly dog from yesterday. What was Sora calling it? Pluto? Sighing I opened the door. The dog’s tail wagged profusely.

“Hi… Pluto.” I gingerly patted the dog on the head hoping it wouldn’t try to flatten me like yesterday. “Shouldn’t you be at Sora’s house?” Pluto barked happily at the mention of Sora. “Okay I’ll take you home.” Noticing a leash laying on the ground by Pluto’s feet I picked it up and began walking him across the road to Sora’s house. He happily trotted along next to me pausing shortly to rub his head lovingly against my thigh. I was about two meters from the door when it flung open and Sora came flying out.

“I can’t believe I’m going to be late on the first day,” Sora moaned as he went before coming to an abrupt stop. “Pluto! When did you get out?” He stared at the dog in disbelief before his gaze drifted and he finally spotted me.

“He was on my doorstep when I was leaving for school,” I told him as he reached for the leash.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t even realise he had gotten out,” Sora said sheepishly as he opened his door and locked the dog inside. He quickly turned back to me. “Wait, you should be at school already. The gate gets locked at one past nine precisely.”

“Yeah I accidently slept in and was just leaving,” I gave an embarrassed smile.

“Same,” Sora laughed.

“So is there any chance we can make it in time,” I asked.

“Well...” Sora looked down at the watch on his wrist. “School starts in fifteen minutes, we’re in district eleven, the schools in district seven and… Sorry about this,” Sora quickly reached out and grabbed my hand before running off down the street pulling me behind him. “We have to run.” He smiled as he slowly picked up speed.