This story is ideally part six of a outlined 25 part series dubbed so creatively as "The Young Daniel Series." It takes place on the first day of his freshman year of High School. In this tale, we begin by spending Daniel's first day of high school with him. We all remember what that was like, I for one was terrified. Actually, we'll be spending the first two days with Daniel with the seventh part of the series, The Day After. Like the previous story, Finding out about St. Antholian's, this story sets up a lot of the future stories, so it is full of characterization and setting the scene. We meet specifically four characters that will be involved throughout the rest of the series and provide a large base for stability in Daniel's life: Headmaster Thomas, Mrs. Sally McPherson, the school secretary, Professor Baird, the tough Lit teacher, and Rocco Sabitini, Daniel's driver. I promise though we get plenty of angsty and hurt/comfort goodness coming up soon!! I just have to edit them into proper English, not just my own semi-coherent outlines.
The series is designed to take us through Daniel's life in foster care, from age eight until his emancipation at age sixteen. The series will focus more on Daniel's education and personal development through those years. Each story or set of stories in this series are designed to be individualized vignettes. They blend together in that they frequently refer back to items or people first introduced earlier in the timeline. However, I have started writing the series out of sequence, and so for now new characters or items will be introduced when needed and will be edited back out later as appropriate. A meta on Daniel's development (as I see it) and an outline for the series can be found (as soon as its added) at my personal writing journal at LiveJournal, the community username "quaintdiversion".
Disclaimer: Don't own Daniel as a character, kinda wish I did. Daniel, Claire, and Melbourne Jackson belong to Gekko, RDA, and a few other really rich people.
Title: First Day
Series: The Young Daniel Series
Author: samantilles
Word Count: 6559
Characters: Daniel Jackson, age eleven
Categories: angst, hurt/comfort, family (for the series)
Daniel stared up at the antiquated spire that loomed over him. Beside him, Mrs. Johnson, his caseworker, slowly pushed him forward up the marble stairs to the front door of St. Antholian's School. Caught in a hurricane of emotions, the young boy trepidly entered the grand hallway and began the long journey to the headmaster's office. The bell rang and students of all ages flashed past him racing towards classrooms; all were decked in the same crimson suit and khaki pants as he. A small smile betrayed his stoic face as he realized that he would no longer be made fun of because of his second hand clothes. He instinctively averted his eyes and began to fidget on the hard wooden bench. "You really don't have to stay Mrs. Johnson," Daniel quietly murmured, "I know you've got a busy schedule."
Mrs. Johnson stared down at the meek boy. "Hush child, no need to drive me away so quickly! Besides, I've got to meet with the headmaster myself. This is not a normal situation for children in the foster care system, Daniel. That your grandfather set all this up for you is truly a privilege for you. I think this is exactly what you need my dear." She ruffled his floppy hair a bit and scooted just an inch closer to wrap her arm around the eleven year old.
"Mr. Jackson? Mrs. Johnson?" the secretary called doubtfully. "Headmaster Thomas is ready for you."
"Come on dear," Mrs. Johnson strained to get up off the very uncomfortable bench, waiting for Daniel to gather his backpack. "Everything will be wonderful, just you see!" Daniel wondered at the truth of that statement. The past three years of public school has been anything but wonderful. He knew his teachers didn't know what to do with him. The kids in his grade knew what to do with him though; on more than one occasion Daniel ended up in the hospital because he was such an easy target. Being three years younger than the other students in his grade, he did not have the physical size to take on one, let alone several larger boys. He was never in one school long enough to make friends, just enemies. He hoped St. Antholian's was the answer to his prayers: a school he didn't leave after three months with students with which he could become friends and teachers who would actually challenge him. His prayers never included uniforms, but for Daniel, it was an unexpected benefit; it was one less problem with which to deal. Just before turning into the spacious Headmaster's office, he caught a faint shout. "Bobby Jensen, you put that tie on straight right now, or its detention after school!" Daniel's hand quickly checked that his own tie was knotted and smooth.
The headmaster's office was ornate, its wooden hues the opposite of the stainless steel Daniel was used to in public schools. Mr. Thomas towered over Daniel, his peppered hair and horn rim glasses gave him a scholarly look. Neither Mrs. Johnson nor Daniel was accorded a smile from Mr. Thomas, just an expression of sternness and expectation. Mrs. Johnson guided Daniel to one of the two leather chairs facing the large mahogany desk.
"Mr. Jackson, let me be the first to welcome you to St. Antholian's. I am sure that you will find this school challenging and rewarding with proper study and effort. St. Antholian's has one of the most demanding curriculums in the country, but when you graduate from here, the opportunities are endless for you, son. I'll go further into detail in a few minutes after I have a conversation with Mrs. Johnson about your special circumstances and prior arrangements made with your grandfather, Dr. Ballard. Mrs. McPherson, the secretary, will talk with you about our attendance policy while I chat with Mrs. Johnson." Mr. Thomas made a dismissal motion to Daniel, who quickly excused himself and met up with Mrs. McPherson.
"So, you must be Daniel!" Mrs. McPherson startled the boy as he walked out of the office.
"Y-yes, ma'am." Mrs. McPherson had this look of compassion and kindness in her, Daniel thought. He immediately trusted her, and even attempted a genuine smile despite his jittering nerves.
"I'm Mrs. McPherson, the school secretary. I've heard quite a bit about you, young sir. I've held several conversations with your grandfather during your admission process. He's told me so much about you!" Daniel dropped his head and disengaged eye contact with the stout woman. Sensing a bit of discomfort, Mrs. McPherson suddenly changed topics. "So, Mr. Jackson, has Mrs. Johnson talked to you yet about how you're going to get here yet?" She flashed out a stack of papers and took a seat in a chintz chair next to Daniel. He remained quiet and observant, meekly shaking his head in response. "Okay, then. Well, Mr. Jackson, I know all about your current foster care arrangement, and I know that it's difficult sometimes for you to stay in one place for very long." She noticed that he didn't raise his head; the sudden somber posture the boy took was an affirmation of her statement. "So, you're grandfather has made arrangements for you to be picked up by a car service every morning from wherever you are to make it here. So there should be no excuse for you to be late to school, you understand?" Mrs. McPherson took a stern tone. She never appreciated tardiness in her students. "If for any reason, the driver does not get you here on time, he will report so to me. He will report also if you are late getting out of the house on time. You have to be responsible with this, Mr. Jackson. But I also know traffic problems are not your fault. Believe me when I tell you I will know when tardiness is your fault and when it is not."
"Yes, ma'am." Daniel nodded his head and met her gaze for a moment before returning his stare to his folded hands in his lap.
"What do you go by, Mr. Jackson? Do you prefer Danny, Dan, Daniel? Or should..." Daniel cut her off with his immediate response. "Just Daniel. I don't like to be called Danny." He immediately regretted being curt with her. Only two people could call him Danny. She meant well, he knew. The wound was just still too fresh.
"Very well then, Daniel," Mrs. McPherson choked with empathy for the child, "I also know about the problems you had in public school." The office stood quietly for several minutes. Daniel could not meet her eyes this time. He thought he could hear a bit of Mrs. Johnson's conversation with Headmaster Thomas in the next room. She was talking about his current foster parents. "Daniel?" Mrs. McPherson drove Daniel out of his concentration. He nodded for her to continue. "We have a very strict code of discipline here at St. Antholian's. You don't have to fear your classmates, Daniel. No one will physically harm you while you're a student here." She bent her head down, trying to meet his averted eyes. She took his chin in her cupped hands and made him look at her. "I need you to promise me that if anyone physically harms you, whether they're from here or at home, you will tell me at once, okay?" Daniel closed his eyes and nodded forcibly, moving her hand while it cupped his chin. She brought her face closer to his head and whispered. "Daniel, there's a candy dish over there on my desk. Be a good boy and get two pieces. We'll each have a piece while waiting for the headmaster." He quickly stood up and made his way to Mrs. McPherson's desk. She had a small crystal bowl full of lemon drops. He retrieved exactly two and stepped up his pace back to the sitting secretary. She thanked Daniel for retrieving the treat, and quickly opened the wrapper and popped the candy in, a guilty smile drawn across her face. Daniel's face smiled as he puckered with the lemon drop in response.
Just as the lemon drop dissolved into a tiny sliver, Daniel summoned up enough courage to ask a question. "Mrs. McPherson, you said that a driver would bring me to school everyday." The kind lady nodded in agreement, but allowed the boy to continue uninterrupted. "But you never said how I'm supposed to get home every night."
Mrs. McPherson stood with a smirk on her face as she regarded the young freshman. She started to get an idea of why this little eleven year old was so advanced in his classes. "Well, Mr. Jackson, that is a very good question. Your driver will also be by in the evening to pick you up. But!" She raised her finger in the air, "while classes end in the early afternoon, each student is required to participate in extra-curricular activities and sports, so once you and Headmaster Thomas decide on those activities, we'll work out the evening schedule with your driver."
Just as she finished a subdued buzzer rang out and Mr. Thomas's voice echoed throughout the front office. "Mrs. McPherson, please take Mr. Jackson to room 217 for his first class with Professor Baird. Mr. Jackson's appointment with me has moved to third period." With finality the connection was ended and the room was silent again.
"Well, our little chat must come to an end, little one. But, before I forget…" She trailed off back to her desk, retrieving a rather large tan leather satchel. "A proper book bag. Every freshman is provided one, each with their name embossed along the front." She gleamed happily. Daniel took the satchel, grazing his hand over his imprinted name. The school's name was also embossed above in regal lettering. Inside, he found that all the basic school supplies he might need were already included from notebooks to pencils. He thanked her for the bag; she smiled back at him and ruffled his hair, subtly directing him to the front door. The hallway was grand and encased in ornate banisters and wooden decorations. Large trophy cases outlined the history of the school and displayed just a fraction of its successes. Daniel had but just a passing glance as he and Mrs. McPherson nearly cantered through the hallway to the staircase. A bell rang and within moments, other students were bombarding the staircase, forcing Daniel to huddle closer to Mrs. McPherson.
"Did I miss a class already?" Daniel queried as they reached his destination.
With a smile, Mrs. McPherson responded. "No, the first bell you heard this morning was for Morning Study Hall. This time is necessary to allow teachers to take full attendance and deliver any important messages for the student body. It also gives students just a couple more minutes to finish that homework they didn't do so they could play outside." She winked at him. But she didn't know Daniel never played outside with other kids. His homework would be done before he stepped into the school in the morning. He was confident about that.