Chapter One
Jeesh, will you look at this place. I thought looking up at the towering walls of Edenton Heights Preparatory school. With its large granite slabs and mahogany doors it looked like some kind of prison, yeah, a prison for kids. All around me kids in grey and white uniforms slumped around the campus as if their black leather shoes were made of lead and there wasn't a smile to be seen. Albert nudged me gently and I made my way up the narrow entrance stairway, through the heavy mahogany doors and down a long stone corridor until we found a door labeled main office. Albert directed me to a chair, and then went to talk to a large woman who was staring at us as if we were some kind of intruders. She pointed a surprisingly bony finger at another door and Albert disappeared through it. The whole scene belonged in a silent black and white movie and all I could hear was the low hum of adult voices. I looked down at my shoes and tried to imagine myself anywhere but here, but the whole time I could feel the eyes of the secretary studying me. I looked up defiantly, meeting her eyes without blinking, until the door opened again and she looked away.
"Hello Ms. Weisel and how are we this morning?" a deep voice with a New York accent asked.
She giggled girlishly, "Oh I'm just a little tired as usual Jack."
"You work too hard Ms. Weisel. You should take a vacation." Man this guy was sure laying it on thick. I looked up and met the hazel eyes of a tall boy with long dirty blond hair that fell past his eyebrows. I blushed when I realized he was looking at me curiously because I was staring. Turning bright red I dropped my head down to look at my shoes once more. I heard the door to the other office open and Albert stepped out. I stood up quickly.
"Hey Jo," he said softly. "It's all settled. They'll send a student to show you to your room and everything you need is already up there." I could feel my chin begin to shake and my eyes fill with tears. My brother reached out and pulled me into his arms. "Hey kiddo, don't cry, you know I'd take you with me if I could. Just give me a couple of months, a year tops to get settled and I'll send for you. It's a promise." I nodded silently and he squeezed just a little bit harder. Finally he let go. "Come on doll face, you wouldn't want to get the rep for being a sissy." He smiled and I returned it with a watery smile of my own. He hugged me again and started to walk through the door.
"Bye Albert." He turned around and smiled. I took a moment to memorize his curly black hair, thick eyebrows, his sarcastic smile and his sad eyes.
"Bye Kiddo." And just like that, a new chapter of my life began.