The rain tapped lightly on the glass. The sun shone faintly through the early monring clouds.
The first day of school ever. The biggest day of your life so far. What friends will you make? What will be their first impression of you?
All the throught's running through Alfred's head nearly gave him a headache as he finished brushing his teeth. He was wearing his favorite tee-shirt and blue jeans, which he got for his 5th birthday just only recently grew in to. His hair brushed neatly to the side and his shoes tied. He learned how to tie them only a week ago, when his mother had taught him. His mother promised she'd do somethign special for him when school started, but she was away so much, all she could do was teach him to tie his shoes.
He never cared, though. He was happy to be around her. "Alfred, are you all ready?" his mother asked, peeking her head in to his room. He smiled and nodded in return. Of course he was ready! He'd been preparing for ages, or so he thought.
He sat outside on his front doorstep for what seemed like only mere seconds before he was picked up by the bus. After walked in to the vehicle, he gave himself a second to take it all in. The noises, the people, the smells. "Hurry up, kid." The bus driver was in a hurry, so he scuttled on back to the first open seat. Across from him in the other seat was a child who appeared to be about the same age. The strange thing was, he was reading.
Alfred had no idea how to read. He never got the chance to learn. He knew a few basic words and letters from watching television or asking his mother whenever she was home.
"Hello! I'm Alfred!" he stated. The other child merely glanced up at him, speaking a slightly strange way. "I'm Arthur. Nice to meet you." he replied before returning his gaze back to the book. Alfred took the next chance to switch seats. He was now right next to Arthur. Try to make friends, Alfred's mother had said. Arthur peered up at his from the top of his book, raising one eyebrow. Alfred glanced at the page in front of Arthur, but he didn't understand any of it.
"Can I help you?" Arthur questioned. "Hmm? Oh, no, I just wanted to sit by you!"
Arthur shrugged, and went back to his book again. Alfred stopped trying to follow the words, and stared back at the seat.
When the bus finally made its last stop, all the children on the bus piled out in a not-so-very-orderly line. All the people piled in to the building at once, making the process of Alfred finding his classroom very hard. He waved bye to Arthur, who was only a short ways behind him. He walked through the front doors, marveling at all the classrooms. How was he ever to find the right one? Thankfully, his mother had written a note of reminder on Alfred's wrist. Room 134. He glanced at the nearest sign, and it read 'Room 1'. How big can this school possibly be? he thought. He looked around some more, and saw another sign which pointed up stairs and read 'Rooms 100-150'. There. That was a sign of relief to Alfred.
He quickly moved up the stairs and down the halls, watching all the other students as he walked, until he reach Room 134. He peered inside, getting a good first glance at his teacher and other students. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted him. The mysterious child on the bus, Arthur.