To Catch a Genius

By Kim Wilkerson

Started: March 19 of 2012 Monday afternoon 5:07 pm.

Chapter 1.

"Kim hurry UP!" I sighed. Just another boring day. Another meaningless day going through the motions. I thought darkly. I quickly looked in the mirror. Sapphire blue eyes greeted me. Filled with loneliness. A white tank top against skin tanned with sunlight. I am 5'4" with dirty blond hair. I hate my hair. It was true I'd rather have any other color hair than the natural dirty blond that I was.

"KIM!" I sighed once more as I put the final changes to my face and donned a native looking necklace. Then I ran downstairs. "Hi mom, dad." I greeted my parents and kissed their cheeks. My mom is shorter than I am. She's 5'1" barely and has pure blond hair and almond brown eyes. She herself thinks she's fat. But I thought she was the most beautiful woman ever. So did my dad. Speaking of my father is 6'6" with dark gray hair speckled with ever-increasing white. I love them! And going to school well it makes me realize how truly blessed I am to have been adopted by them. My biological mother loved me but couldn't keep me and who knows who my father is. They keep telling me that the moment they first laid eyes on me they fell in love and adopted me. I'm glad they did. I think they are, too.

"Have a great day at school, honey." I turn around and grin at my father. "Thanks, Dad, you too." I carefully shut the door and walk into to school. I grin when I see my mates gathered around our usual area: outside the principal's door. "Hey, Kim, what's up?" Amanda my best friend asks. I grin. Amanda Carroll an underclassman. A junior really. But she's super cool. She's taller than I am, I think. Perhaps 5'4 I think. Dirty blond hair like me. But where my hair is wavy hers it a little curly; I told her I was jealous of her curly hair and she told me not to be. In my book, that's the start of a true friendship.

"So, Kim, ready to go to Mrs. Bristol's class?" I grinned. "Yeah let's go, Amanda." We hurried off to our first class of the day: Music Appreciation. Yes Music Appreciation. The new principal converted Bunker Hill into a music school. Most of the students left. But most stayed too. Enough stayed so that the school was able to stay open. It's smaller and quieter. This is exactly how Amanda and I liked it.

We walked into Mrs. Belanger's Music Appreciation class. "Hi, Mrs. Belanger! How are you today?"

Mrs. Belanger looked up and smiled warmly. "Hello, Amanda, Kim. I'm doing well today. Thank you for asking."(We're the class favorites for every class!)

"Attention, every one…Amanda, crowd control, please." Mrs. Belanger begged. Amanda smiled. "No problem, Mrs. Belanger." She turned to the rest of the class, underclassman of course. "Hey, Freshies shut the hell up so Mrs. Belanger can start the role call!" Everyone shut up then. I laughed as I helped Amanda off the chair. "Great job, Chaos." She grinned at our inside joke. "Thanks, Jynx, you quarternapper you!" We laughed while everyone looked lost. Which made us laugh all the harder.

"Ahem. Now that I have your undivided attention—"Suddenly someone's cell phone went off. "Kim! Whose cell phone was that?" I sighed. Welcome to everyday life in Bunker Hill High School Music Academy. Prep School/Public school. I thought amusedly. Minus the prep outfits. Yet. I looked around. And spotted a nervous looking freshman girl. She looked terrified. I'll let her go. Just this once since she's new. Maybe. Yeah. I'll let her go. I thought. Then I thought. Nope. If I let control slip. Even for a second. It'll go to Hell again. Sorry Who-Ever-You-Are. I'm about to throw you to the Alpha-Female. I turned and said, "I don't know. It went off too quickly for me to place anybody. Sorry" I clamped my mouth shut. What the Hell, Jynx? I heard mentally. I shrugged indifferently. I don't know why I just did that, Amanda. I guess I felt sorry for her…Who is she anyway. I've never seen her before. Amanda's gaze widened in mock shock. Oh. My. Gosh. Kim Wilkerson is actually feeling sorry for a freshman. I think I might faint! I laughed aloud and several students looked at me quizzically as did Mrs. Belanger. I gave a sheepish grin. Nice. Amanda mentally complimented me. Shut up! I commanded her. Tell me who that new student is. Now, Amanda. I mentally commanded. Oooh...Queen Kimberly emerges. All right. Sara Masanelli. Age fifteen. Lived here before moved away and now moved back. Anything else, Your Majesty? I frowned... That's it? Nothing else on her? That's…pathetic chaos. Amanda sighed. "Well, what do you expect, Jynx?" I shrugged. Then the bell rang for second hour. I heard Amanda's voice in my head one last time before I left. By the way, Jynx. That Sara Chick? You have her in your class. Next hour. I kept on walking.

Third hour: Theater.

Project Phantom of the Opera

I clapped my hands. "Alright, everyone! This year we will be performing Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera". Opposed?" Everyone cheered. "But to make sure it's fair. I've assigned three Master's students from Lewis and Clark to assign roles. Is that fair? If it isn't then say so now and we'll find another way." Again, I waited a moment to see if anyone objected to my plan. But nobody said not a word of protest. "Okay then. Now here they are. Your judges: Mrs. Willhoit. Mrs. T. (groans accompanied this judge.) and Mr. Adams. (Cheers for Mr. Adams)

"Now don't worry. I hogtied them to a chair and forced them to watch "The Phantom of the Opera" So they now the proper notes, what to look for, what not to, and everything they need to know to make the best choice possible." More cheers. "So without further adieu…"Let our opera begin!" A round of laughs after I made this particularly lame joke.

Suddenly Mrs. T ran in and yanked me towards her. She whispered in my ear and my eyes widened in shock. I pulled back and nodded in affirmation.

I looked towards the judges and they nodded. I smiled "everyone…It seems that a monsieur Erik D' Anson from Paris, France will be coming to direct our play. But more importantly is going to be our new theater Director! A modern day Phantom himself" Everyone gasped and applauded. "Truthfully…I've been waiting to tell you for a long time…with the schools help I've been able to invite Monsieur D' Anson and he's obviously accepted. Now I want all of you to behave because he'll expect you to act like college students. Not immature children. Got it?" Everyone nodded. I smiled. "Great now each of you is taking a script and a 2004 Phantom of the Opera movie soundtrack and different versions of Phantom of the Opera home. This is nothing more than a loan. However, I'd understand if you'd want to keep it. Therefore take care of it and it's yours free. But as the phrase goes, 'You break it you buy it' got it?" They laughed and nodded.