Almost Ok.

Chapter Two

“Dakota! Hurry up we need to leave. The Train leaves at 10am and it’s already 9:32” my father shouted from the bottom of the steps. Seth came out of the room in his fuzzy blue’s clues footed pajamas. “Grandpa watch this” I heard as he slided down the steps in a rumble of laughter, I heard my dad say “Come here big guy” as he picked him up. By now it was 9:35 and everyone was impatient. My hair was perfectly straight and pulled back into a half up half down hairstyle. I had my toothbrush in my mouth and I was doing this hop and jump maneuver through the hallway as I was pulling on my brown studded gladiators and brushing my teeth at the same time. I had my favorite pair of light washed high waisted shorts on that had little tears on the right thigh and fringe around the legs. I wore a black camisole under a cream colored cable knit cardigan; which flattered all my curves. I quickly spit out my toothpaste and rushed down the stairs with my duffel bag. I grabbed Seth from the front and carried him out to my dad’s car; I placed my duffel bag in the truck next to some repulsive smelling hockey equipment. “Dad, how long has this been in there?” I asked holding my nose shut. He smiled “Not long enough, you’re still here”; I gave him a stare then playfully hit him. I buckled Seth into his booster seat in the rear, closed the door, and then proceeded to enter the passenger’s seat. I buckled my seatbelt and signed, I looked in the rearview mirror and I saw Seth, his perfect curled hair and bright brown eyes, laughing and giggling to the sound buzz lightyear makes when you press the button on his back. ‘This is the thing I will miss the most’ I thought in my head.

It was an unpleasant 15 minute drive for me. There was a lot of shuffling and sighing. The only thing that kept me sane was the sound of my favorite artist Ed Sheeran; his music always seemed to calm me. As I was humming the lyrics to his hit “The A Team” my dad tapped me on the shoulder and told me it’s time to get out of the car. This was surreal, the thought at leaving my son for the first time since birth, he was the only reason I haven’t went through with suicide all those times when the picture of the man surfaced my brain. I unbuckled my seatbelt, and leaned over to give my dad a hug and kiss on the cheek. I slowly started moving my feet out of the car, I opened the car door with ease and made sure not to slam it because Seth just fell asleep and who knows how long he might nap for. I opened the rear door and kissed Seth, then grabbed my duffel bag from the trunk, still pinching my nose from the repulsive smell that was a mix between alcohol, sweat and dirty diapers. I rushed from the drunk onto the sidewalk, waving to my dad as he pulled away; I saw the sticker on the back of his car that read ‘World’s Best Grandfather’. Why the hell did my parents need to send me away? This was annoying, I checked my watch and it read 9: 45am. ‘Holy cow’ I thought to myself as I ran to my terminal and waited for the train, I stood awkwardly for 5 minutes until it pulled up, I gave my train ticket to the man in the blue and silver conductor uniform and found a place to sit next to this elderly woman. I figured sitting next to her would secure a quiet ride.

I was wrong, as I was flicking through pictures of my son she turned to me “You’re heading to Jasper I see, I remember when my parents back in the 50’s sent me here. My name is Sarah by the way” She said with a sort of peculiar look upon her face. She continued “Is that your little brother?” she asked me while pointing to the picture of Seth, “No, that is my son. He’s 3, his name is Seth” I told her. She unzipped her purse and grabbed out her reading glasses for a closer look, “He looks like you. How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking” she asked politely. “I am 16” I told her, but her face wasn’t shocked or angered, It was normal. This was weird to me, usually when people ask they follow up with ‘why did you ruin your life?’ or the all-time favorite ‘you should have waited.’ Or the simple ‘slut’, I was used to those answers they didn’t bother me, this one did though, because she was calm about it. The train came to a stop and she gathered her things, but she hasn’t responded yet. She stared at me for a second and said “You take good care of your son, ok?” that’s all she said before the train doors closed and I was lost. Then a jolting sensation happened as I realize that I fell asleep on the train.  Was she a figure of my imagination?

I saw a shadow outside the train, which terrified me back into a state of alertness. I still had 1 hour until Jasper, I texted my best friend Bridgette, the only person that still talked to me at my school since I had been ostracized by my entire grade.

Me: Heyy gurl, almost in Jasper. Kill me now -__-

Bridgette: ik wat u mean. When I was sent to camp, I died

Me: I miss Seth, nd his cuteness

Bridgette: Brad was a hoe for leaving u

Me: I agree, well I have to go, 1 more stop til hell

Bridgette: c ya later, kota

The train came to a stop and I grabbed my duffel bag from the overhang and walked off, I took a deep breath and brushed the hair out of my face as the train left. I was told to look for a sign that said ‘PO academy’. I spent 5 minutes walking around which creeped me out, even though it was a small farm town, there’s creepers here too. I finally saw the sign, there were 5 teenagers standing next to the grown man who was holding the sign, there was a table which looked like the place where you would sign in. On the sheet it talked about the school and its success stories, then it said “Please write name here” so I went to line 6 and wrote ‘Dakota Peyton’. The man holding the sign looked like he could be around 35, he was slender and had a long thin moustache with slicked back black hair, I believe he enjoyed the 20’s fashion because he was wearing pin striped shirt and black slacks with overalls, I looked at his nametag and his name was Albert Warner, I kept in my chuckle and my immaturity. Albert counted everyone in our group once I wrote my name. “Ok everyone, all 6 of you are here. The bus is waiting outside and it’s only a 10 minute drive from here. When we arrive at the academy we will have lunch and then get our room assignments. Due to more females than males and the lack of female dormitories we had to pair some of you girls in the male dorms, don’t worry you don’t have to share a room with your male counterparts, only halls.” Albert said leading us to the short bus, ‘Great’ I thought, another stereotype. In my group there were 2 other girls besides myself and 3 boys, we all looked about the same age around 16 or 17, so by assumption I am guessing they put us in groups by age. I looked out the window again and I saw Sarah holding a sign, well at least I thought it was Sarah, but it read ‘Be very cautious’. I think I need some tea and a nap; I’m hallucinating for sure now.