CHAPTER 1- WELCOME TO THE ACADEMY
12 year old Anthony Dinozzo looked blankly out the window of the limo he currently inhabited. It had finally happened his father was kicking him out- not that he called it that- no he was being sent away to receive a proper education. But Anthony, or Tony as his friends called him, knew the truth. His dad had finally given up. It had been four years since his mom's death and after numerous failed nannies and tutors and too many forgotten holidays to count Dinozzo Senior decided Military School was a good holding ground for his little problem.
Franklin Academy. That was to be his home for the next 6 years. Tony wasn't sure how he felt about that. It couldn't really be worse than being ignored or bullied in his own home, but it wasn't exactly paradise either. Oh well he would just have to suck it up and handle it like everything else he'd been dealt in life. Dinozzo men were survivors if nothing else.
The limo pulled to a stop in front of a bland grey building. The academy might have stellar academic records but it surely wasn't winning any awards in the looks department. The driver opened the door for Tony and grabbed his three suitcases. Then they began to walk up the steps of the Academy. A slightly heavy set balding man in his fifties met them at the top step. As Tony looked at him he doubted this man had ever really served in the military- he wondered why they bothered calling it a military school if the people who ran it had never really been in the service.
"Anthony Dinozzo Jr.?"
Tony nodded
"When I ask a question you answer with a Yes sir."
"Yes sir." Anthony replied in a sullen tone.
"Watch your tone boy this isn't a playground you will show respect do you understand?"
"Yes Sir." Tony repeated this time in a blank tone his facial features sliding into a mask of neutrality. Tony had learned young and fast the art of masking his emotions and features to fit the situation. It seemed masks would serve him well in military school just like they did in his home.
"Is his father here?"
"No Mr. Dinozzo Senior was unable to attend today due to an urgent business meeting."
"Right urgent- more like wouldn't be caught dead in a room with his troublemaker of a son." Tony though sarcastically to himself. Again none of this showed on his young face.
"That's fine I trust you have the paperwork in order."
"Yes it is all in the folder Tony has."
"Here sir." Tony said handing the aforementioned paperwork over quickly.
The man looked it over nodding in acceptance.
"Seems in order grab your things Mr. Dinozzo from here on out no one will coddle you- you will learn to handle yourself like a man."
"O boy, like I have ever been coddled." Tony thought internally rolling his eyes, but doing what he was told none-the-less.
Academy Life was looking to be a wonderful next step in the life that was Tony Dinozzo's.