The Miranda MacArthur Story

chapter 5

It was now time for Miranda to be going into school. Jen drove the car over, remembering the address to the elementary school. Miranda was playing with her new outfit she was forced to wear, a customary school uniform. 

She had a blue-gray top with white short sleeves, a red neckerchief tied into a bow, and a blue-gray skirt. She wore her sneakers still. Miranda felt trapped in her new outfit and wanted to wear her own clothes and folded her arms.

"I don't think I like this so far..." Miranda nearly huffed. "I gotta wear this stupid outfit."

"Now, Miranda, I know you don't like it, but you wanted to go to school," Jen said as she firmly grasped the steering wheel. "But, don't worry, there'll be some days when you don't need to wear your uniform, like gym class."

"Gym class?" Miranda settled down now.

"Yeah," Jen smiled once her daughter wasn't hostile now. "Gym class, you know... It's like playing games, you exercise and such..."

"Oh..."

"Yeah, your aunt loved gym class."

"Okay, Mom, I guess I can go to school now." 

Jen smiled, then pulled up to the elementary school which looked more like a college than what it really was. "Well, we're here, ready to go?"

"Okay, Mom..." Miranda settled down.

Jen helped Miranda out and they walked together into the school. Their shoes clicked down the tiled floor along the metal lockers as they heard some distant chattering. There were a few other students out of class and looked to Miranda. Were they whispering or talking about her? She wasn't so sure. Jen then came into the principal's office with Miranda behind her.

"Hello, Ms. Delise?" Jen greeted the new school principal after Mr. Skarr retired.

"Yes, how may I help you?" the blonde woman demanded sharply with her pink nail polished fingertips clung together as she looked very strict and powerful.

"My name is Jen MacArthur and this is my daughter, Miranda," the mother stated her business.

"Ah, yes, the MacArthur girl... Where is your husband?"

"He's away at work for a while, so it's just me and my daughter right now, ma'am."

"Very well, have a seat," Ms. Delise told them as they did as she said. "Now, Miranda, this school is ruled with an iron fist, understand?"

"Yes, ma'am." Miranda replied quickly, sounding a little frightened of the blonde woman.

"I don't want to have to see you in my office..." Ms. Delise's eyes seemed to be red as hellish blood. "That would be very bad on your record for your first year in school. Now, let's get you in a class," she handed a paper to Miranda. "I'll walk you there. Mrs. MacArthur, we'll see you at 3:00."

"Yes, ma'am," Jen gave a nod, then hugged Miranda in a small squeeze. "Have a good day, sweetie..." She then walked off, leaving the two alone in the woman's office.

"Bye, Mom!" Miranda chirped.

"Come with me, little lady..." Ms. Delise stood up from behind her desk.

Miranda walked with Ms. Delise to her new homeroom class. Miranda was deeply hoping that Layla, Devin, and Michelle, or at least one of them would be in her class. Ms. Delise explained everything in the school as they walked along the halls and knocked sharply on the door, glancing down to Miranda, her eyes flashing. 

Finally, an answer came. "Yes, Principal Delise?"

"Fresh one for ya," the blonde replied, shoving Miranda inside the room. "Make sure she doesn't screw up."

"Yes, Principal Delise," the teacher nodded, then bent down to Miranda's height. "Welcome to school, I'm your teacher, Ms. Bell."

"Hi, Ms. Bell," Miranda gave a small smile. "I'm really excited to be here... Is Ms. Delise going to be okay?"

"Oh, yeah, she'll be fine," Ms. Bell helped her in. "She just gets crabby easily, it's best not to get her into a mood..."

Miranda followed Ms. Bell in and smiled instantly as she saw Michelle, Devin, and Layla were in her class. 

"Good morning, class." the snow white-haired woman called to her class.

"Good morning, Ms. Bell." the class answered back, cheerfully.

"We have a new friend joining us today," Bell gestured down to the ginger standing beside her as she firmly gripped her backpack straps over her arms. "Her name is Miranda MacArthur."

"Welcome to Megaville Elementary." the students again answered back.

"Now, Miranda, we have a custom in school where when we get a new student, we let that child introduce themselves to the class," Bell smiled down at the girl, gently putting an arm around her to calm her. "Now, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself? Like, what are your hobbies?"

"Well, I DO like to play baseball, and dodgeball, any sport really," Miranda explained with a smile, as she looked to the class before her. "I'm looking forward to this gym class my mother told me about."

"Anything else, dear?" Bell prompted.

"Um, I can't really think of anything..." Miranda shrugged.

"Oh, well, that's fine, dear, now why don't you take a seat next to Michelle there?" Bell pointed to the empty desk next to the golden blonde haired girl.

Miranda was delighted about that and happily dashed over to Michelle and sat next to her. Michelle smiled in return.

"Now, let's take attendance." Bell said as she took a clipboard.

"Ms. Bell, what's attendance?" Miranda asked which caused everyone in the classroom except for her three friends to laugh at her.

Ms. Bell got them to keep quiet by shooting them a look, but then smiled back to the new student. "Well, Miranda, first thing you should know is that if you have a question in school, you must raise your hand first."

"Oh, sorry..." Miranda sunk in her seat.

"Also, attendance is when I call out people's names and they say 'here' if they're in class today," Bell then explained. "It's also known as 'roll call'."

"Oh, okay..." 

"Stupid..." one of the other students muttered, but Miranda didn't see who it was.

"I know Miranda's here now, let's see..." Bell looked to the roll sheet. "Ah, yes... Michelle Hill?"

"Here!" the girl next to Miranda called.

"Devin and Layla Vincent?" 

"Here!" the genius twins replied.

"Audrey Wallis?"

"Here~"

"Stanley Osworth?"

"Here!"

"Nika Burromuerto?"

"Like, here."

"Brick Dorn?"

"Here."

"Tommy Turner?"

"Here!"

After a while, attendance was done. Bell was writing on her board with her back turned as class was starting. Miranda was anxious to learn and she smiled as she was being educated by someone other than her mother and she got to be with her friends for the day. Today felt so exciting so far.