Needle In The Haystack

[[[[[This is my first attempt at a story so I hope it's adequate. I would be appreciative if you would comment on Needle In The Haystack and give me your honest opinion.]]]]]

I bite my lip to abstain from shedding tears as I look at the piles of pale blonde hair lying on the wooden floorboards of my bedroom. My once waist length hair is now cut boy-like; short and spiky.

The culprit, otherwise known as my elder sister Lilly, stands in front of me with an unremorseful expression on her face and scissors still in her clutches. How can a woman who appears to be so angelic have no compassion for her little sister when our unmerited parents go to such drastic measures to merely teach me a lesson?

My parents caught me having a study session with a boy from my pre-calculus class and wrongly accused me of having “sexual relations” with him. I have yet to experience my first kiss, let alone have “sexual relations” with someone!

Anyways, my father came to the decision that I would enroll in Remington Academy for Boys, which is self-explanatory. He assumes that if I live with the “members of the opposite sex”, then I will find out what all adolescent boys are like. According to my father, they all have a “sexual desire that they would do anything to satisfy”.

“Now, for clothes…” Lilly thinks out loud before ransacking through a basket full of boy clothing. She holds up various pieces of clothing, scrutinizes it, and either tosses it into my suitcase or discards it.

“Coincidentally, you don’t have much in the chest department so that won’t be an issue and you’re 5’8, so your height will be beneficial. So my only concerns are your girlish facial features and high-pitched voice.”

I crease my brows in deliberation. “I could always deepen my voice, which easily solves that problem, but how am I to make my face appear more…masculine?” I inquire, practicing my deep voice.

Lilly paces and then hands me a mirror. “I guess there isn’t anything that we can do with such short notice.” She sighs.

“Just don’t wear makeup is the only advise I can give to you, Parker-Mae." I roll my eyes. As if I were actually planning on wearing makeup while attending an all boys school.

“Thank you Captain Obvious. Anyways, why are you packing so many casual clothes? Doesn’t Remington Academy have a required uniform?” I tell her, gesturing towards the black slacks, white button-up shirt, and black tie on my bed.

She looks at me as though I’ve said that I’ve just run over her hypothetical cat. “Well, you’re not planning on wearing your uniform 24/7, are you?” She asks while zipping up my suitcase with a satisfied sigh.

“No, I suppose not.” I mumble. She’s just turned twenty and she already thinks that she’s all knowing.

“Nonetheless, is this scheme really going to work? How am I suppose to live with boys without them finding out my secret?” I question.

This is going to be quite problematic. How the heck am I supposed to shower and dress and sleep without any of my roommates finding out that I’m a girl? Did Dad even think this through the slightest bit? If someone were to find out I could be held captive and made into a sex slave! Well, maybe not, but you get the idea.

“Just be cautious at all times. Now, get dressed in the uniform and be downstairs in ten minutes. Dad would slaughter you if you were to miss your flight.”

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that Remington Academy is located in California, which is 3300 miles away considering I live in Maine? I’m a little bit eager that I’ll be living in a place where the weather is warm, the complete opposite of here.

Once Lilly leaves, I strip out of my pajamas and into the uniform. I made sure to order it a little bigger so that it hid my physique. Moreover, I am wearing a white t-shirt beneath the button-up in case it were to somehow get unbuttoned. Though I'm nervous of that actually occurring, I snigger at the thought of some boy getting my shirt undone and then noticing that I'm definitely not male.

I briefly check my hair in the mirror and frown at how queer it feels not have my neck bare before tromping down the stairs.

Ready or not Remington Academy, here I come.