Genius School

Adventure Awaits

"Miss Jennifer?  We're here, ma'am.  First day at your new school!"  Henry, my father's chaffuer, always sounded chipper about the most horrible things.  Sure, my I.Q. was "off the charts," according to my parents, but that didn't mean I liked school.  I mean, even extrordinary people can be ordinary, right?  

        My new school was called AFAS:  Acadamy For Advanced Students.  Not very original, but very true.  If your curent school couldn't put you in advanced enough classes, you were shipped off to the local AFAS.  Oh, I almost forgot to mention the most important thing-- it's run by the government.

        As I dragged my heavy suitcase up the stairs in front of the school, I heard Henry's labored breaths behind me.  He volunteered to carry most of my stuff, and was probably regretting it.  Poor Henry.  He'd worked for my father since before I was born, and as far as I can remember, had always been out of shape.

        The wooden doors ominously creaked open when I knocked.  "Jennifer Hastings?" a deep voice boomed from inside.  "Follow me, please."  I squint, and can make out the silhouette of a very tall man standing just outside of the sunlight.  I walked in nervously, out of my old life as the privleged Jennifer Hastings, and into my new life as a student at AFAS.

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      3 weeks later

        My room was a disaster, and I only had fifteen minutes to clean it!  How did I get myself into this? I wondered as folded my uniform and put it in the dresser, if you can call it that.  One drawer in my nightstand-- that was it. It had been weeks since I arrived at AFAS, and I still hadn't gotten the hang of things.  Room inspection was every Saturday at 9:00, and I'd failed the last two horribly.  I was determined to get everything clean in-- Oh crud!  I only have five minutes!  I rushed around my room like a madwoman, trying to get everything done in time.  Trashcan empty?  Check.  Extremly small twin bed made neatly?  Check.  Clothes folded neatly and put away?  My uniform was in the drawer, I was wearing my weekend clothes, my pajamas were in the drawer, my nice dress was hanging up... I guess that's check.   I was finally going to pass inspection!

        I guess I should mention what happened to the multiple suitcases I brought.  They were taken away, because we can only have so much stuff here.  We--that is to stay the students-- can earn it back by going "above and beyond" in our schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and behavior.  At a normal school, the schoolwork would be easy, but at ASAF, we're learning calculus in seventh grade.

        A sharp knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts.  "Hello?" I said, answering with caution.  You never know what you're going to get when you answer the door.  It could be anything from an angry teacher to a fellow classmate with a supersoaker or cream pie.  This time, it was the man who showed me to my room when I arrived.  

        "Follow me, please."  He turned sharply and walked quickly down the hall.  I had to run to keep up. 

        "No running in the hall, Miss Hastings."

        "Sorry," I mumbled under my breath.  I hated the way teachers and staff members treated the us.  They didn't treat us badly; they acted very respectful, even in reverently, except for the man I was following.  He seemed impartial towards us.  I was pretty sure he wasn't just a teacher or faculty member; he seemed like he was the government representitive at this branch of AFAS.

        Suddently, he stopped, and I almost ran into him.  We were standing in front of the visitation room, where parents could visit their children.  Why would my dad visit? All he ever cared about was getting me as far away from him as possible.