I can remember it as if it were yesterday. It was a Friday afternoon in May
of 1990. School had just let out for summer break. Finally, the fifth grade
was over! My best friend Tony and I were in the middle of climbing onto the
roof and jumping off, when all of a sudden I saw something swooping towards
me. I felt an instant rush of adrenaline and tried to get out of the way. I
covered my head with my arms and braced myself for an attack, but it never
came.
I took a peek up and saw an owl standing just to my side. Knowing what I did about owls this was very weird. I had always been informed that owls were nocturnal, so the sighting of this bird made me wonder. I then noticed that there was a letter tied to the owl's leg. It pushed its leg toward me with an obvious gesture for me to take it. I untied the letter and noticed that there was an address on it. To my surprise I saw that the letter was addressed:
Mr. Lee Rushing 620 Baylor West Memphis, Arkansas
It took a minute to register that it was for me. I started to think it was for my grandfather, seeing as we have the same name, but he didn't live at this address. As I was contemplating this, the owl gave a (cheerful?) hoot and took off, back to where it came from, I assumed. I turned it over and found an emblem with an A at its center. Below the emblem it said Adam's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I immediately took it as a joke. I showed my friend Tony and he agreed that, as weird as it sounded, it had indeed been delivered by an owl. In broad daylight. So I opened it. There were 2 pieces of parchment. The first piece read:
ADAMS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ROGER APPLINGTON (Order of Merlin, Second Class, Confed. of Wizards)
Mr. Rushing, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Adams School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We have enclosed a list of all the necessary books and supplies. Classes will start on August 20. We will expect confirmation by no later than July 1. Sincerely, Alvin Bunting Deputy Headmaster
I was at a complete loss. I had never heard of anything like this. I looked at Tony and all he could do was shrug. I wanted to take it to my mother, but was unsure what she would say. So I decided I would do some investigation. I convinced my mother to drop me off at the public library later that week and I searched everything I could find.
Well as you can imagine, I didn't find a thing. June crept up, fast, and I was still uncertain about everything. Then one day another owl swooped down, with a new message. This time, though, it was a very dark owl, and somewhat smaller than the first. Feeling more confident than I did the last time I reached out and took the letter from it's clenched claws. I saw that the letter was from the same school as the first one I received. This time, though, it was a little less formal. It had an air of comedy about it as it stated:
Mr. Rushing Forgive me; I forgot that you are coming from a muggle family. Please send your response with back with Shander (the owl in front of you). Sincerely, Alvin Bunting Deputy Headmaster
I knew then that I had to tell my mother. I was starting to feel apprehension and fear that she would accuse me of being in a cult or gang. All I could do was talk with her, as I have always been able.
It had always been my mother and I, since I was just a newborn. My natural father had abandoned us and she'd raised me alone. She worked hard, and I did everything I could to make it easier for her. I knew I had faults, but I did my part. I made my own meals, readied myself for school and did all my chores and homework. I always wanted to make her proud of me and show her there was nothing to worry about when it came to me.
As I entered the house I noticed Shander (hmm, what an interesting name) take a perch just over our porch. Mom was busy in the kitchen, whipping up her famous vegetable soup. I started to feel the pit of my stomach go queasy as I approached her. She must have sensed something because she instantly turned and asked, "What's wrong baby?"
I started to talk, but I got a lump in my throat. After a few seconds I gave up, and just handed her the letter. At first, she looked a little confused, but then I saw something flicker in her eyes. Was it understanding? Did she know something I didn't? For a few moments it looked as if she was trying to make up her mind about something.
Finally she looked into my eyes and said, "Lee, there is something I need to tell you".
She took me by the hand and led me to the kitchen table. She stared at me for a few moments then brushed her hair to the side and began to speak.
"I had wondered if we would get something like this." She muttered, half aloud, half to herself.
"Lee, your father used to tell me he was a wizard. I didn't believe him for a while, I thought he was just playing. After we were married and I got pregnant with you, he showed me that it was all true. I didn't know how to react, I just accepted it and then shut it out."
Mom took a few minutes, obviously pondering some past event. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't think of anything to say. I was in shock at the very thought that this could actually be true.
"Then, when he left us just after you were born, I said 'good riddance' and just sorta forgot about everything."
She seemed to brighten a little. "Of course, how could I have been so blind? I should have known you would get something like this. I mean, you are a brilliant young man. I am so proud of you."
I still couldn't find any words in me. I had a million questions, but no understanding of the English language at that point. All I could do was nod and look stunned. Then I remembered Shander. I found my voice and told her that we needed to send a response by that owl on the porch. Mom nodded in understanding, and grabbed a sheet of paper.
"It's not as fancy as this, but it should do." Smiling, Mom wrote out a letter of intent for me. She took the letter to the owl and, as if she had been trained to handle them, she skilfully attached it to the owl.
Then I heard her say, "Take this to the Headmaster, so he will know that my boy will be there."
A/N: Ok this is the new update to chapter one. I have a beta proofreading each story and I am making corrections accordingly. Thank you.
I took a peek up and saw an owl standing just to my side. Knowing what I did about owls this was very weird. I had always been informed that owls were nocturnal, so the sighting of this bird made me wonder. I then noticed that there was a letter tied to the owl's leg. It pushed its leg toward me with an obvious gesture for me to take it. I untied the letter and noticed that there was an address on it. To my surprise I saw that the letter was addressed:
Mr. Lee Rushing 620 Baylor West Memphis, Arkansas
It took a minute to register that it was for me. I started to think it was for my grandfather, seeing as we have the same name, but he didn't live at this address. As I was contemplating this, the owl gave a (cheerful?) hoot and took off, back to where it came from, I assumed. I turned it over and found an emblem with an A at its center. Below the emblem it said Adam's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I immediately took it as a joke. I showed my friend Tony and he agreed that, as weird as it sounded, it had indeed been delivered by an owl. In broad daylight. So I opened it. There were 2 pieces of parchment. The first piece read:
ADAMS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ROGER APPLINGTON (Order of Merlin, Second Class, Confed. of Wizards)
Mr. Rushing, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Adams School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We have enclosed a list of all the necessary books and supplies. Classes will start on August 20. We will expect confirmation by no later than July 1. Sincerely, Alvin Bunting Deputy Headmaster
I was at a complete loss. I had never heard of anything like this. I looked at Tony and all he could do was shrug. I wanted to take it to my mother, but was unsure what she would say. So I decided I would do some investigation. I convinced my mother to drop me off at the public library later that week and I searched everything I could find.
Well as you can imagine, I didn't find a thing. June crept up, fast, and I was still uncertain about everything. Then one day another owl swooped down, with a new message. This time, though, it was a very dark owl, and somewhat smaller than the first. Feeling more confident than I did the last time I reached out and took the letter from it's clenched claws. I saw that the letter was from the same school as the first one I received. This time, though, it was a little less formal. It had an air of comedy about it as it stated:
Mr. Rushing Forgive me; I forgot that you are coming from a muggle family. Please send your response with back with Shander (the owl in front of you). Sincerely, Alvin Bunting Deputy Headmaster
I knew then that I had to tell my mother. I was starting to feel apprehension and fear that she would accuse me of being in a cult or gang. All I could do was talk with her, as I have always been able.
It had always been my mother and I, since I was just a newborn. My natural father had abandoned us and she'd raised me alone. She worked hard, and I did everything I could to make it easier for her. I knew I had faults, but I did my part. I made my own meals, readied myself for school and did all my chores and homework. I always wanted to make her proud of me and show her there was nothing to worry about when it came to me.
As I entered the house I noticed Shander (hmm, what an interesting name) take a perch just over our porch. Mom was busy in the kitchen, whipping up her famous vegetable soup. I started to feel the pit of my stomach go queasy as I approached her. She must have sensed something because she instantly turned and asked, "What's wrong baby?"
I started to talk, but I got a lump in my throat. After a few seconds I gave up, and just handed her the letter. At first, she looked a little confused, but then I saw something flicker in her eyes. Was it understanding? Did she know something I didn't? For a few moments it looked as if she was trying to make up her mind about something.
Finally she looked into my eyes and said, "Lee, there is something I need to tell you".
She took me by the hand and led me to the kitchen table. She stared at me for a few moments then brushed her hair to the side and began to speak.
"I had wondered if we would get something like this." She muttered, half aloud, half to herself.
"Lee, your father used to tell me he was a wizard. I didn't believe him for a while, I thought he was just playing. After we were married and I got pregnant with you, he showed me that it was all true. I didn't know how to react, I just accepted it and then shut it out."
Mom took a few minutes, obviously pondering some past event. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't think of anything to say. I was in shock at the very thought that this could actually be true.
"Then, when he left us just after you were born, I said 'good riddance' and just sorta forgot about everything."
She seemed to brighten a little. "Of course, how could I have been so blind? I should have known you would get something like this. I mean, you are a brilliant young man. I am so proud of you."
I still couldn't find any words in me. I had a million questions, but no understanding of the English language at that point. All I could do was nod and look stunned. Then I remembered Shander. I found my voice and told her that we needed to send a response by that owl on the porch. Mom nodded in understanding, and grabbed a sheet of paper.
"It's not as fancy as this, but it should do." Smiling, Mom wrote out a letter of intent for me. She took the letter to the owl and, as if she had been trained to handle them, she skilfully attached it to the owl.
Then I heard her say, "Take this to the Headmaster, so he will know that my boy will be there."
A/N: Ok this is the new update to chapter one. I have a beta proofreading each story and I am making corrections accordingly. Thank you.