Chapter1: The letter
Janice felt as though she was the luckiest girl in the world. She had just celebrated her twelfth birthday yesterday, received a letter from the Ministry of Education that she was accepted into Raffles girl's school (RGS), which was one of the best schools in Singapore and coolest thing is, she won't be in the same school as her pesky twin sister, Lily who was off to Holy Innocent high.
Just as Janice was wondering in her room how life in RGS was like, Lily came in. Even though both of them are twins with the same height, long hair and wore glasses, their personalities were way far apart. For example, Janice had always excelled in sports while her sister couldn't be bothered with them. On the contrary, Lily's only sport she enjoyed doing was gossiping which Janice hated to the core.
"So, sis, what are you thinking of, how your life will be in RGS? Bet that it would be the worst time of your life." Lily sneered.
"Nice try, Lily, but nope, that's not what I'm thinking of. Is that what you are thinking of? My, you sure are anxious, aren't you? Now, if you don't mind, I would to play basketball downstairs so could you pass me my basketball? I would like to try some tactics I've seen in a Lakers match a few days ago." Before Lily could react, Janice had already grabbed her basketball and was out of the house before you could say, "bitch"
When Janice reached the basketball court, there were already some boys playing on the court. She recognised immediately who it was, it was none other than the "wit in the zit" annoying boy next door, Lawrence. Annoyed, she started to turn and leave but too late; Lawrence had already spotted her.
"Oh look, who's here? Is that you, Janice Chan Pey Shan?? It's just your luck that you are late today, or you would have the court to yourself then." his friends, Boon Kee and Chee Hao, started to guffaw systematically.
Among the things Janice hated, besides Lawrence, was someone calling her full name, which was what he was doing. She replied sarcastically,
"Oh look who it is, it's none other than the really annoying and bratty Lawrence Yeo Chai Hock huh? Someone ought to roll out the red carpet, you know, because the richest and the snobbiest kid's here!!"
Before Lawrence could react, Janice stormed off, hoping to get away from the brat as fast as possible.
When Janice reached home, her mum was sitting at the couch, trying to sort out the different letters she had received.
"That's a lot of letters, Mum," Janice said, eyeing at the pile of letters on the couch.
"Oh, some letters are from the workplace, I got the letters mixed up while coming up here so the letters are mixed with the letters from the letterbox downstairs .Oh hey, you got a letter, Janice." Mrs Chan said, handling the letter to Janice.
A letter? Janice thought. Who can it be from? The front of the envelope read:
Miss Janice Chan Pey San
The smelly socks room
Blk 191A Compassvale Drive
#14-217
Singapore 530191
That's weird, Janice thought. How did the sender know my address?? There was even a crest stamped at the back of the envelope. It consists of a cat, a phoenix, a eagle and a peacock united together with a letter "Y" even with a motto below it which was "To seek to strive and not to yield" She quickly unfolded the letter and read the contents:
Yap Ee Chian Academy of Magic
Headmaster: Albert Lim Hong Mok
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Yap Ee Chian Academy of Magic. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 2nd of January. We await your owl by no later than 25th December.
Yours sincerely,
Melanie Chang Swee Tong
Deputy Headmistress
Questions like fireworks exploded inside Janice.
"What? Mum!! This is urgent! This letter says that I have been accepted in some sort of magic school or something!
Mrs Chan came scurrying over, curious by her daughter's sudden gasps. She grabbed the letter from Janice and read it herself.
"Is there really a school of magic in Singapore? Why, if there is, dear, you must go there, because that means that we have someone in the family who could actually perform magic! Isn't this wonderful? "
"Now, what's all the commotion here? Did someone win a million dollars or something?" Someone sneered.
It was Lily; she had come out of her room, wondering what was happening in the living room.
"You sister, Janice is off to study magic! Isn't it great? We would actually have someone in the family who could actually perform magic!!!" Mrs Chan chirped
Lily, however, didn't seem to believe what she had heard. She replied" But there's no such thing as magic! Magic only exists in Harry Potter books! Is this a joke? This' isn't funny! " She shrieked.
"Firstly. This is not a joke. It is a fact and the letter is right in front of us. Want to see? "Janice said, enjoying the expression on Lily's face. She took the letter from her Mum and brandished it in front of Lily. Judging from the fact that she knew her sister would take it, however, Lily refused to look at it, which Janice find it very odd .She merely mumbled something which sounded like "Insane" before returning to her room.
As Lily returned to her room, Janice sat in the living room, unsure of what to do. Where can she find all her magical supplies? How is she supposed to get to school? Is there really such a school called Yap Ee Chian Academy of Magic?
Mrs Chan seemed to reading Janice's mind, because she said,
" Janice is there anything enclosed in the letter, like where to get your supplies and how to get to the school. Stuff like that?"
Janice quickly turned to the other pages and realised that, to her great relief, there were instructions on where to buy her supplies and how to get to her school. It also enclosed a booklist on which sort of books to buy.
"So. Dear, what does it say?" Mrs Chan enquired anxiously.
Lily looked up, and told her mum, "Why don't we go tomorrow? "