I Dare You [ Cedar Ridge Equestrian Academy ]

Chapter 5: Down to Business

I turned my attention to the stage. Mrs Walter was standing up there, along with a score of other teachers sat in a row along the back of the stage.
"First of all, welcome back to all previous students and a warm welcome to our new students." A generous applause was roused. A cluster of freshmen were around the door, looking slightly bewildered.
"A revision of rules is in order. First of all, meal times. Breakfast is served at 7am, lunch at 12:30pm, and dinner at 5 o'clock. Each meal is served for half and hour or else you're out of luck. Classes start at 8:20am, with a break for lunch. School officially ends at 3pm, where you will be free to do whatever you please unless you have duties. Be in your room by 9pm, lights out at 10pm on weekdays, and curfew is 10pm with lights out at midnight on weekends. To leave school grounds for any reason you must sign yourself out at the office before you leave." What the hell. I can't remember all this? A sheet of paper magically appeared (those teachers are sneaky beasts) in front of me, printed with all the rules. It was double sided in tiny print.
"You have the rest of today and tomorrow to settle in. Classes start on Wednesday. Tardiness is a warning, three warnings is a detention, and we'd rather not go much further than that. Mrs King, our equestrian manager, will now take over to discuss that side of business." I tuned in. This was the important stuff now. An athletic, tall woman strode to the microphone.
"As most of you know, we have individual competition teams made up of 5 members and one reserve for each discipline. The disciplines are show jumpers, eventing, dressage, hunters, polo and mounted games." Whoa, the variety was awesome! I was immediately interested in eventing. I had never tried it, but I had always wanted to. Showjumping was a given, and I was game for polo!
"Competition teams will be given school saddlepads and shirts to compete in, there is no other dress code required for practice or general riding. In higher levels you will be required to wear a your discipline's expected uniform. You are not required to try out for the competition team, but you are allowed to try out for a maximum of three. The school lessons will cover all of these disciplines. A paper with barn and arena etiquette is being handed around now." More paperwork. My plastic sleeve might have to grow into a plastic folder soon enough. Mrs King sat back down and Mrs Walter stood back up and walked forward to the microphone once more.
"Under usual circumstances I would introduce our instructors and teachers, but from what I can see am you are all ravenously desperate for lunch now, so lunch is served!" Doors leading to the kitchen burst open and trolleys of food was whisked through the tables. Tahlia slumped across the table.
"Come ooooon I've been waiting for ever!" Shawna twiddled her thumbs, Casey played with her napkin and Zoe straight out wailed. The hall was emanating zoo-like noises now, girls talking loudly and yelling at each other. The first plates hit the first table and it was pandemonium at the table. Girls dug in and ate like it was the last supper. I craned my neck desperately to see what lunch was.
Table after table was served, and a trolley approached our table. I grinned the biggest grin I could muster at the waiter, a plump old woman with a scowl. She quickly wheeled the trolley to another unserved table.
"WhatthefuckGeorgie?" Zoe exclaimed in one breath.
"Zoe! How was she supposed to know?" Shawna gasped. What? Why was this my fault? Tahlia rolled her eyes and Casey explained.
"One of the school values is patience. By grinning at the waitress you showed impatience, so she didn't serve our table."
"That's crazy! I just smiled at her!" Casey looked at me with humoured sympathy.
"It is pretty ridiculous."

Our table was served dead last. When our plates hit the table we ate like animals. Sausages and mashed, with steamed veggies and gravy. Yum. The first bite was.. average. I appreciate good food. I love cooking and eating food, but this food was so dead average. It wasn't bad, it wasn't good, it's was entirely unmemorable. I was so confused. I have never had such plainly indistict food before. The other girls had no problem wolfing down the plate. Tahlia leaned over to me.
"Don't worry, we stash better stuff in our rooms and there's a kitchen on each dorm floor so you can make your own stuff." I nodded and shoved a mouthful of veggies in my mouth.
Shawna looked at me with curiousity.
"So. You haven't told us anything about how you got here or what your horse is like either." I pointed my fork at her and smiled through my mouthful.
"Now that, is one hell of a story."