CHAPTER 1 POMPUS BOARDING SCHOOL

Dan sat at the end of the drive-way, his hands around his knees. He was angry. Why were his parents making him go to this pompous boarding school after making him move for the eighth time in his life last year? For once he had actually felt at home here in Las Vegas, at his public middle school. He had friends and he was MVP and captain of the boy's soccer team. He was so angry, he was still fuming over the fight he'd had with his parent's yesterday morning.

Dan was fourteen-years-old, pretty tall, and pretty skinny. He had recently graduated from Sunny Hill Middle School located in the more suburban area of Las Vegas, Nevada. He could walk or run to school before because it was so close. Now he had to fly to Winona, Minnesota every August until he graduated from high school. Even worse, instead of getting done with school in early June, Dan found out that boarding school goes until the very end of June! A whole extra month in this torture chamber called St. Mary's.

Dan had jet black hair, which rippled like waves in the warm, gentle breeze, and shinning green eyes, which were watching the street before him. On the back of his neck, he could feel his parents watching him from behind the screen door of his Adobe-looking house.

Just then, Dan heard a car coming up the street. Sure enough, a bright yellow car with a white-plastic sign on top reading, "Taxi" came around the corner. Dan stood up and turned his head around to see his parents coming toward him. His mom looked pale and worried. Why is she worried? Dan thought. She's the one sending me to this school. She's the one Dan got his eyes from, otherwise he looked exactly like his dad, who, had gone to help the cab driver load Dan's things in the trunk of the Taxi.

Dan's mom came over to him, hugged him, and whispered into his ear, "Be good," before handing him his plane tickets. Dan knew the only reason she said that was because she knew that he was angry at them and that he didn't want to go to this school.

"All right," called Dan's dad as he closed the trunk. "It's all loaded and ready to go. Now you," he pointed at Dan, "be good."

How many times am I going to have to hear this? Dan thought. His dad grinned before pulling his son into a one-arm-hug, saying, "Now get outta here." He gave Dan a little shove. Dan didn't even try to force a smile. He glared at his parents for a minute before ducking into the cab and closing the door on them.

"You ready to go?" asked the cab driver.

"Yeah," Dan mumbled back.

Dan sat quietly in the back seat the entire drive, with his canvas colored, school bag containing his brand new laptop computer. In the trunk of the cab was a huge Navy blue suitcase that held all of the clothes he'd need for the next ten months. Lying on top of all his normal clothes and some dress clothes were four, newly ironed, St. Mary's uniforms, ready for school on September first.

Next to that was a navy blue, black, and gray duffel bag and backpack. Inside those two were things Dan also needed for school like his toothbrush and other needs. Any thing he couldn't fit or bring along he could have his parents send later.

"We're here." said the cab driver as they pulled up to the airport drop-off. When they stopped the car, the cab driver got out, opened the trunk, and started to take out Dan's luggage as Dan got out of the car. He looked around at the airport. It was very busy. People were running around trying to make their flights.

"Here you go," said the cab driver setting Dan's luggage next to him.

"Thanks." Dan mumbled again as the cab driver climbed into the taxi.

"No problem," he called back as he waved good-bye. Dan lifted his hand a little and watched the cab until it disappeared down the road. Then he hoisted his backpack, duffel bag and school bag onto his shoulders and grabbed the handle of his suitcase. He wheeled it into the airport where they put it and his duffel bag onto a conveyer belt which led to a cart that took them to the airplane. Dan, then, headed off to the waiting area after being searched with his two carry-on bags, his backpack and his school bag.

Once he got to his gate, Dan sat in one of the blue-plastic, waiting area chairs, and listened to talk of the people and the many different noises coming from the small section of slot machines. After about fifteen minutes, Dan pulled out the dark red folder out of his school bag. He scanned the front of it and read the shinning gold lettering for about the fiftieth time.

St. Mary's Academy

Dan sighed. They might as well have sent me to Britain, thought Dan. What kind of American sends their kid to boarding school?

"St. Mary's?"

Dan looked toward the voice. Coming toward him, on his right side, was a boy, who looked about his age and about an inch taller than him. He had long bleach bond hair that was about two inches from his shoulders. He had sparkling, blue eyes and was carrying a dark green backpack and a school bag similar to Dan's. He sat down next to Dan, dropping his things on the floor next to him.

"Yeah," said Dan with a reluctant tone that the boy didn't notice.

"Cool," said the boy, "me too." They were quiet for a minute. The other boy broke the silence. "My name's Cody."

"Dan."

"So, do you live in Vegas?"

"Yeah, don't you?"

"Nah. I live in Virginia," said Cody

"Why are you here?" Dan asked. "If you're to St. Mary's, Vegas isn't exactly on the way."

"I was here for a soccer camp for the past two weeks," Cody explained. "It actually ended to days ago, but it was cheaper just to stay here and have my parents shipped my luggage here, then fly straight to St. Mary's. Cheaper is better when you have five kids."

"Five!"

"Yeah. Three older sisters and one twin sister."

"Yikes, I only have one, very annoying, little sister."

"Lucky," mumbled Cody. Dan couldn't help smiling a little.

"How old is she?" asked Cody.

"Twelve."

"Is she going to St. Mary's?"

"Yeah, but she's coming tomorrow. There was only one ticket available for the later flight so I graciously volunteered to go earlier," Dan said sarcastically.

Cody smiled and said, "So, this your first year at 'St. Mary's Academy.'"

"Yes," said Dan again, still with unnoticed reluctance.

"This is my fourth."

"What's it like?"

"A lot better than you think."

"So," said Dan bringing back his anger fueled sarcasm, "they got sports there?"

"Of course," said Cody.

"Really?" Dan was sure this place would be totally boring.

"Yeah… well actually, only soccer, but they're working on others."

"Wow, soccer is the only sport I play!"

"Soccer is one of my favorite sports. My friend and I switch sports every so often. There are very few sports we haven't at least tried."

"Were you on the school team?"

"The first two years they had one," Cody said proudly. "Ya see, since the beginning of time or headmasters all thought we didn't need sports, but after five years of torment from our rival school, St. Christopher's, our current headmaster decided that maybe some 'competition,' would be good for the school and started a team for St. Christopher's headmaster's favorite sport, soccer."

"Nice," said Dan.

"Ya gotta love headmaster rivalry," said Cody as he leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head, smiling and looking proud of his competitive headmaster.

"Flight 228 with service to Lacrosse Municipal Airport, is now loading," said a lady over the intercom.

"Well," said Cody bending over to pick up his stuff, "that's us. We'd better go."

"Yeah," said Dan also bending over to pick his things up.

The two stood up and walked over to the long line of people waiting to board the plane. Eventually, Cody and Dan made it on to the plane and looked at their tickets.

"4A," said Cody reading his ticket. Soon, they got to row 4. It was near the front because the rows went in alphabetical order. In seats B and C (A nearest the window, B in the middle, C nearest the aisle), was a fat, old, wrinkled couple, bickering at each other. Enormous amounts of spit were flying from their mouths. Cody groaned while Dan tried desperately not to burst out laughing. Cody glared at him for a moment before squeezing past the couple to get to his seat.

When Cody was in his seat Dan walked on to his seat. "7E," he mumbled to himself. "7E, 7E, 7E, 7E. Here it is." He groaned just like Cody had as he looked at who was in seats 7D and F (D being nearest the aisle, E in the middle, F nearest the window). It was two eighteen-year-olds who were staring into each other eyes as if they were majestic oceans they wanted to dive into, which basically means, they were longing to make-out. Dan sighed as he squeezed into his seat. He looked extremely grumpy sitting between the couple, who kept trying bend over him to kiss each other or reaching behind him to try to hold hands, of course, Dan never allowed it. Cody looked the same way as the couple tried to use him as the mediator in their argument by asking him who was right and who was wrong. Every time they turned to him huge amounts of spit flew out of their mouths and slapped against the side of Cody's face.

When everyone was seated and the plane took off, Cody looked around. There were three rows of seats completely unoccupied in the very back. Finally he caught Dan's eye and nodded toward the three empty rows. Dan turned around to look before turning back and nodding back at Cody. As soon as the pilot announced over the intercom that they were "free to move around the cabin," the two stood up and scooted past their very rude row-mates. The couple in Dan's row looked relieved he'd left, through their arms around each other, and began to make-out. Dan couldn't help smiling when he thought to himself; it looks like he's trying to eat her face. Meanwhile, the couple in Cody's row continued to bicker. Dan and Cody made themselves comfortable in the very back row in seats D and F, Dan nearest the window.

"Disgusting," Cody said as he settled himself in the seat and wiped saliva off of his face. They talked for a long time. Mostly it was about soccer. Cody was really excited to hear about when Dan had gone to Germany and got to see the World Cup. It had been an, "I'm sorry we had to move again," pity gift from his parents.

They also found out they were in the same dorm room.

"Thank God," said Cody when he found out. "I was scared I have some creepy person."

After a long while, the intercom crackled to life and the pilot's voice began to echo throughout the plane. "We'll be landing in La Crosse shortly so would everybody please store all lose articles, put your trays in the upright and locked position, and buckle your seat belts. Thank You."

"Wow!" Dan exclaimed, with his nose pressed against his window. What he saw through the three layer thick, airplane window, was really, well, green. Below them were miles of farmland. It was difficult to make out the towns. As they got closer Dan saw the city of La Crosse. It seemed small for a city to Dan who had grown up near very large city's his entire life.

After the plane landed and Cody and Dan were in the airport, Cody pulled out his own, dark red, St. Mary's folder. "We're supposed to meet at the pickup area by the baggage claim," he said as his eyes scanned the papers for more possible information. There wasn't any, so they headed to the baggage claim. After waiting for what felt like forever, but was really only ten minutes, they had all their things.

"What's that?" said Dan pointing at an extra, smaller, bag Cody had grabbed.

"Sheets," he answered as he tried to pick it up with all his bags on his shoulders.

"Here," Dan said. He grabbed it, impatiently, and handed it to him.

"Thanks," said Cody.

"Why did you bring them? They look like a pain to me."

"'Cause you need 'em."

"What!" Dan exclaimed. "I didn't bring any! I'll need them tonight. My parents can't send me any that soon!"

"Chill out man," said Cody sounding like a surfer. "You can buy some in town." He had started to head for the door so Dan followed suit.

When they got out, Dan saw a group of high school kids sitting on the cement ground or on the low, garden wall. Also sitting on the wall, was a chubby man that Cody was walking towards. The man looked about in his forty's and was wearing a navy blue uniform with matching hat that resembled a "Maytag repairman" uniform. Dan guessed he was the bus driver. Cody walked up to the man.

"'Sup George."

Dan had to say that the man did look like a George.

"Hey Cody," George replied as he looked on a clipboard and checked off Cody's name. "You are?" he said looking up at Dan.

"Daniel Rattison."

George stood up to brush himself off after checking off Dan's name.

"Well," George said, "that's everybody. We can go." A dull cheer echoed amongst the teenagers as they too, stood up and brushed themselves off. Dan followed Cody up to the huge red and white bus parked on the street. Some of the people passing by in their cars looked angry at the fact that they had to squeeze by this monster.

Cody and Dan passed all their luggage, except their school bags, to George who put it in the low, storage place on the outside of the bus, before heading on to the bus.

It was a nice bus. One of those coach buses that have TV's hanging from the ceiling, the stuffed, comfy seats, and a bathroom in the back.

Cody had sat a few rows back from the front on the right side, the one not on the driver's side. Dan sat next to him. When everyone was on the bus Dan noticed the small group barley filled up half of the bus.

Soon enough, the bus pulled through the gates of St. Mary's campus. When the bus stopped, the driver stood up and told everyone to stay in their seats. Then he climbed out of the bus. Dan craned his neck so he could see out the window and over Cody. From the looks of it, George was getting their luggage out of the storage space below them, and putting it in a pile near the bus.

Dan watched George until he saw him wave at someone after he dropped a particularly large suitcase. Dan looked toward where George had waved and saw a man wearing a nice white suit with a blue button-up shirt under that and a plain red tie. The suit had no creases at all. Dan was amazed how the man could walk at all without creasing it. The man walked passed George and straight on to the bus. When he got on he stood at the front of the bus and put on a big smile as if he was trying to amuse five-year-olds. Dan noticed the man was tall, young, and had thick, wavy, dark brown hair that, even though there was a breeze, was still perfectly shaped.

"Hello," he said still wearing that big, kindergarten, smile. A chorus of dull "Hello's" rang back through the bus and one enthusiastic "'Sup" from a boy who looked to be Senior.

"Welcome or welcome back, to St. Mary's Academy," he said looking at happily at each one of the high school kids. "My name is Mr. Coop. I am the Dean of Students, which is a position known better as, the Vice Principal. Anybody who needs help with anything, just come to me. I'll be waiting outside for about 20 minutes, otherwise come see me in my office next to the headmasters. Thank you for time." With one last big smile he walked out and stationed himself right outside the bus.

"The last thing he said to us was the only thing that didn't make me feel like I was talking to my first-grade teacher," said Dan.

"I know," said Cody as he picked up his school bag. "He tends to be like that with anyone under the age of twenty-five."

There was a rustling sound as everybody on the bus stood up. When he got off of the bus, Dan looked at the St. Mary's campus. The campus was huge. All of the buildings were made of red brick. You could tell which ones were older because their bricks were dull, weathered and ivy crept up the sides like snakes. The closest building to the bus was one story but it had a tall clock tower that had a cross towering above it, that seemed to loom over them, cursing them for every sin they ever committed.

With great difficulty, Dan tore his eyes away from the cross and walked over to the big luggage pile with Cody. Every one of their bags slipped out like butter except Dan's huge suitcase. It was lodged under every other bag in the pile, and, try as they might, the boys couldn't even get the bag to wiggle.

"Need some help?"