Shuffled: When the Cards Talk You Must Listen

Chapter 2 Guardian of the Gate

Passages to New Life:
Openings: Gatekeeping

~~~~two years later ~~~~~

Le Sigh!

I gazed up at the big blocky building that is to be my new academic home. For how long? I couldn't really say. I never knew. I hope I can finish out the year. If I'm lucky I might even be able to maybe even graduate from here. Of course, that is if all my credits transferred correctly. I'm not joking not all school systems are credited the same. I've been "held back" in a few schools only to be bumped ahead again in the next. It's a wonder I was still 17 going into this school year.

Slowly I appraised the grey slate structure with its heavy dark wood door, high leaded windows, and bright green ivy climbing up is sides. It's like stepping back in time or maybe like stepping into Hogwarts. When was this school built anyways? My eyes scanned the walls on either side of the great wood doors, looking for one of those plaques claiming the structure to be on the National Historical Registry. That would be an easy way to find out when it was built. Finally I found it, obscured by the ivy off on the left side of the doors.

Stony Mountain.......

National Historical Registry

Built in 1782 Added to Registry 1977

I could not see what it was originally built for because the ivy was covering it, but at least I know the age of this building. That also gave me an idea of when the rest of the town and its primary buildings were built. All the other buildings in this town were equally ancient. They are all solid stone structures in varying shades of gray, brown, black and rusty reds nestled in the deep woods. The stone structures were all very solidly built and I think they could withstand the greatest of storms. They felt like the places I visited in Europe.

The autumn sunlight shown in all its wondrous, majestic glory. The blazing colors of the trees hedging in this town was practically camouflaging it. All the trees blended together with the colors of the buildings. I felt like I could be invisible here. Like maybe the town itself was a safer, protected, and hidden. Honestly, this is the town's only redeeming quality for me so far.

Sigh...I'm so tired of being the new girl. Never quite fitting in. Never understanding all the little jokes that come from years of growing up with each other. Watching friends and family having their first crushes, dates, kisses, getting together for family activities, and class trips. Always missed out on all the whispered secrets shared around campfires, and under covers at sleepovers. Never wearing quite the current fashion trends. Oh and don't forget the make-up and hairstyles! You'd be surprised at how much those can change from one-town to the next. When your missing all these little nuances it's like standing on a table in the cafeteria and screaming out "Hello! I'm new! Please treat me like shit!"

In reality, I've given up trying to fit in long ago. When we first started this gypsy type lifestyle I was about 10. Suddenly, I had no home base, no group of friends to confide in, nothing. I was so lonely, and angry. So I did everything I could to blend in. I craved the acceptance and belonging of a real home. Now I almost fear it. It's such a foreign to me. Like people being too close to me makes me vulnerable and I've been burned so many times. So many people have used my loneliness to their own ends and humiliate me. Why bother any more. Plus side, I have a huge collection of clothes and styles and looks. I change them all the time, it's so much fun. Also, I have some amazingly killer stories! I would so rock never have I ever if I'd ever been to a party.

I'm sure there are kids that have moved around more than I have but sometimes I truly do doubt it. The kicker... wait for it... I have absolutely no idea why. I wish I could say my parents are in the military but nope it's just me and mom. I've never even met my dad and mom refuses to talk about him. I used to think maybe my mom was some secret spy-like in "True-lies" or an assassin like in"Mr.& Mrs. Smith". Maybe we were on the run from the mob and are in the witness protection program at least that would be kinda cool, scary but still cool.