My Time at Bloors

I don't own Charlie Bone or any of Jenny Nimmo's characters, but I do own Lou Dover!!

Holy crap what a day. Well I guess I should tell you about it right? Right. Anyway it started out as any ordinary day should; I ate breakfast and got ready for school and all that other crap. When I was done getting ready I went to wait outside by the car. My mom came out looking all frustrated. Her name tag read Helen Dover. My mom is a nurse and is very disorganized. Anyway she was managing all this other stuff in her hands and as her purse fell, it stopped in mid-air and floated back to her. She just realized I was there and shot me a grateful smile. I guess I forgot to tell you I have this power thing, but whatever, I will explain later. My mom asked, "Lou, can you open the door for me?" I did as she asked and she stuffed all her junk into the driver's seat. She sighed and began, "Lou, you aren't going to regular school today. I..."

She stopped there. I looked at her to continue, but she didn't. "Does this have anything to do with my power thing?" I asked her my curiosity hiding my disappointment. She nodded and my dad and brother chose that moment to come out of the house. "Have you told her?" my dad called. My mom shot him a look that told him to keep quiet. My dad had the power and I got it from him. We think my brother has it too but we aren't sure. Anyway I told mom, "Look, it's all right, really. I don't mind switching schools." When in fact I really did, but me being me, I didn't let it show. Mom looked at me really hard and I forced a smile on my face.

"Alright," she decided, "let's go. Hop in the car." I went to the other side of the car and got in the passenger seat. As mom pushed all the junk she had into the back she filled me in on where I was going. I would be attending Bloors Academy. When she looked over at me my face was blank but my mind was in turmoil. That was a school for freaks and weirdos. I really didn't want to go there. My mom kept right on talking and I wasn't really listening. I couldn't grasp the fact that I was on my way to some freak show school.

When the car pulled up beside a big, bleak building, my mom turned off the car and got out. With a sigh I did too. She went around to the trunk and pulled out a big duffel bag. "Why do you have that thing?" I asked. "I told you in the car. You board here during the week and come back on weekends. But don't worry," Mom added as she saw my face, "I packed you everything you need. Oh and Lou you have to wear a cape. Here." She thrust me a sapphire blue cape. I guess I looked confused because she yelled over her shoulder, "Put it on." I put it on quickly and ran to catch up.

When we got to the courtyard kids were all over the yard and watched as I followed my mom. Suddenly I felt out of place. My blonde hair was pulled back into a pony, my shirt was really plain and my jeans were all patched. On top of it all I was unusually tall for 13 years. 5"8 to be exact. The people in the purple capes were dressed crazily with costumes and everything. I saw the people in the green capes were quiet and kept to themselves. Then I saw people in blue capes. They stared at me curiously. I stared right back at them. I wasn't watching where I was going and bumped into my mom. She was talking to a young man with long black hair that was tied back. He looked down right into my eyes and I suppressed a shudder.

"Follow me," he said. His voice was cold and my mom shot me a reassuring smile. I didn't smile back. The man lead us into the building barking at kids as he went. We went into a tower and from that into another corridor. The man led us into a room that was stifling. A huge fire roared in the fireplace and next to that was a...man I think. He looked like a pile of bones with skin stretched on them. "Thank you Manfred," the man by the fire said. His voice was wheezy and it sounded like he had trouble talking. The boy that was Manfred nodded and smiled. The man next to the fire was in a wheelchair and tried to wheel towards us.

He couldn't and yelled at Manfred to help him. Manfred rushed over and my mom shifted from foot to foot nervously. The man in the wheelchair was uglier up close. I also noticed his hair looked like waxy strands that were in danger of falling off his head at any time. "So you're Louisa Mae," he said. "No. My name is Lou," I told him calmly. He looked mad for a second but them smiled, "Of course you are. Now, you know why you're here, don't you?" I didn't answer, instead my mom did, "I told her in the car Mr. Ezekiel." I hate to bring up the fact that I wasn't listening in the car mom, I thought then shook my head. "Well then, she should be all set. Manfred please show her to her dorm." I gave my mom a hug then took my duffel bag and followed Manfred.

He took me to my dorm and then handed me a slip of paper and then left. I stared after him not knowing quite what to do. I looked down at my slip of paper and it had my schedule. It said I had Assembly first and I vaugely wondered where that was. I sighed then got up and started to look. I went all over the castle and after a good half hour I was getting no where. I sighed in frustration. I stumbled blindly not knowing where I was going and just letting my feet guide me. I found myself in a room with paintings everywhere. I stumbled into a boy working on a sculpture. "Sorry," I said quickly. "It's all right," he answered stiffly. I looked him over. He had hair that looked like it had been struck by lighting. His blue eyes had given him a wild appearance, "I'm Tancred." He took out his hand and I shook it. "Lou," I said. "So are you lost or something?" he asked impatiently.

"Well, y-yeah. Of c-course," I stammered. I held my schedule out to him and he looked it over. "You have to go through the music arch. Then through the coatroom." I mumbled my thanks then I ran to get to my class.