3:15pm
ST. ANTHONY'S ACADEMY

Josiah walked quickly through the halls, as kids ran past him to the exits. He wore white clothes: shoes, pants, shirt, trench coat. He found the door labeled, 'Admissions'. He opened it and walked in.

The receptionist, a young female, looked up from her desk. She saw a boy dressed in all-white attire, who walked to her. "Yes, can I help you?"

The 'boy' answered, "Yes. I need to start school here. I wish to be a student."

She opened a folder. "Okay...can you give me your parents' names? Or a legal guardian?"

"I have no parents."

"What? But we need someone of age to pay tuition, someone with a check."

"I also have no money."

She sat back in surprise. "Huh? Now, wait. You can't go here without money. Or a guardian. Sorry, you'll have to go-"

He put his hands on the desk, leaning very close on it. He said in a serious tone, "*Look* at me, woman."

"What, what's that?" She pointed a finger at him. "Did you..did you just call me 'woman'?! Fine, I'll look. I'll play your childish game. Then you got ten seconds to get out, before I call the Dean." As she looked into his blue eyes, she was suddenly entranced, as if looking into deep space or an ocean. She found it impossible to turn away. "What..what are..."

He gazed into her eyes, looking deep into her subconscious. "You
*will* accept me into this academy. Do you forget whom you serve?"

"I..well.." She heard a voice whispering raspily into her ear. She smiled quickly. "Sure. Ok, not a problem, sir." She laid a paper down and pulled a pen from her coat. "Fine, I'll just put the information down on the records. Your name?"

He calmly stepped away from the desk. "Josiah. But call me 'Joe'."

"Age?"

"About nine years old." He knew it was a lie. But if he said he was as old as Time itself, they'd try to lock him up. 'Try' being the operative word.

"Great, then you'd be in Second Grade. Class starts tomorrow at 9:05am. I'll put you into Mr. Cunningham's class. That's ok?"

"Sure. It'll do."

She signed at the bottom. "Alright, it's done. See you tomorrow."

"Bet on it." He turned around and walked out the door.