International Affairs

Start of School

Chapter 3: Start of School

The girls filed out of their dorm rooms in their crisp uniforms. Katelyn missed school. She even missed being in the auditorium as Headmistress Collins gave her usual boring speech that lasted for a solid fifteen minutes.

“Good morning, students of Grace Marshall’s Academy for Prestigious Young Girls,” she said into the microphone. What a mouthful.

Everyone quickly stopped their chatter and turned their attention to the podium.

“I would first like to welcome all of you back to our academy. The second thing I’d like you to notice is that all of you in this room are now seniors. That means you have been with us for 11 years now.”

Headmistress paused to let her words sink in. She cleared her throat. “But do not be mistaken,” she said. “This is still a high school, therefore, we still need to try and fail as many as possible by making you miserable with tests and training.”

Everyone gave a polite but nervous laugh. Oh, Headmistress’s sense of humor….

“Senior year is not the same as an ordinary senior year. Here at the academy, your senior year is your ultimate test. May I remind you, there is still work to be done. We still have our qualifying tests, midterms, finals and ranking week.”

Muffled groans resounded from the room.

Katelyn, however, felt her adrenaline rushing. Ranking week was the most competitive. All the seniors competed in real life scenarios at any random time. Based on their performance of reaction, they were given points and then ranked on a huge board.

Headmistress hushed the crowd. “Every year we pay tribute to those before us,” she said. “Those brave young women who protect this world from itself. With our role model, Grace Marshall, this academy sends you off into whatever field you pursue with strength. We the daughters of Grace Marshall...”

“Swear to bring worldwide peace and justice,” everyone began reciting together.

“We place our duty before ourselves and dedicate our entire lives to the International Affairs,” Katelyn said with all the girls in the room. “Just as our sisters before us did. By our blood, tears and sweat, we protect the innocents of the world...A mission that the male race failed, we will succeed or die trying.”

There was a pause. Sammy squeezed Katelyn’s hand. Katelyn smiled.

“To fight we stand...” she said.

“To surrender we fall...”

“Have a good first day back!” Headmistress announced. Everyone dispersed and went to collect their schedules. Katelyn got hers and smoothed it out. Her eyes quickly scanned her classes.

“Yay!” Sammy cheered, reading over her shoulder. “We have world history together as well as Co Ops.”

 “Of course, we have Co Ops together” Jane said. “We work the best together.”

The bell rang and that sent everyone rushing to their classes. Katelyn, Jane and Sammy headed off to world history. They walked into a classroom and quickly picked seats next to a window. The teacher got up from her desk and faced everyone.

“Good morning,” she fluttered. She turned her back and wrote on the whiteboard; Miss Dame.

“Welcome to World History,” she said, beaming. “This year we’ll mostly be focusing on the Tropics and Australia,” she informed everyone. “But first, I like to see if anyone has kept up with their other world history trivia. Miss Drew, what is the capital of Australia?” she demanded rapping on a girl’s desk with a silver pointer.