"And today will bring warmer weather so break out the shorts and tees," her alarm clock rang out. She clicked it off with an annoyed grumble and turned over. A few minutes later, she got up and went to the shower. She got changed into her freshly starched uniform and tied her hair back with the haritie she recieved from Granny.This brought tears to her eyes because, even though she loved her parents, she missed Haku, Lyn, and Granny.
She ran outside and got into her car and waited for her mom. She flipped through the stations, and, finding nothing, looked out the window. She saw a blond haired girl with pigtails talking to some boys, and some kids her age on bikes. Her mom pulled into the parking lot of a large brick building. She followed close behind her mom holding her leather bag to her chest.
When they got to the office Chihiro looked around while her mom asked for the principal. A large desk with three telephones and a name tag that said, "Miss Bittner," was the only thing besides a water fountain in the small office. Soon the princeipal came out from behind a door mardked, "Private." "Hello, my name is principal Grigley," said a short, skinny man with thinning brown hair and thick rimmed glasses. "I'll give you a tour and bring you to your class, " he said.
Chihiro grabbed her moms hand and they followed Principal Grigley down a narrow hall. They stopped by a door and Mr. Grigley knocked.
A woman about five foot eight answered the door with a sweet, "Hello." She had black curly hair and glasses. She invited them in and began explaining her course which was music. "Have you ever taken lessons?" She asked. "Yes," Chihiro answered. "Good; by the way, I am Miss Caroline"
"Okay, lets continue with the tour," Mr. Grigley sang out as they continued down the hall. They turned around a coner and began down another hallway. The hall was lined with artwork of dragons and self portraits. Then they stopped by an open door.
A heavy woman with thick blonde hair answered with a simple, "Come in." "I'm Mrs. Thompson, and I'm your art teacher." Chihiro went in behind her mother and Mr. Grigley. Behind Mrs. Thompson, in a small, round table sat the blonde pigtailed girl giggling with some other girls. They left and began down the hall to another closed door marked, "Rm. 112."
"Hello, you must be Chihiro," said a tall, skinny man with short blonde hair, as he opened the door. "Welcome to your new sixth grade classroom." "I am Mr. Wilkins." As Chihiro's mom and Mr. Grigley talked to Mr. Wilkins, Chihiro walked around the room. She picked up a book labled English for Advances.
"Okay Chihiro, I'll be back to pick you up at 3:30 this afternoon," Chihiro's mother called out. She closed the door and left Chihiro standing next to Mr. Wilkins. "I'll think she'll be just fine," said Mr. Wilkins.
Soon after, a large group of children arrived and sat into their assigned seats. "Chihiro, you can sit in the third desk in this row," Mr. Wilkins said, pointing to a desk behind a larger, brown haired boy. She opened up her desk and looked at its contents: an english, science, and math book, a stack of paper, a pack of pencils, and a sharpener. "The first thing we'll do today is math, so take out your books and pencils."
The day came to an intermission when lunch came around. When Chihiro got her lunch of sweet and sour chicken and rice, she began looking for a table. She went past the girl with the pigtails and on to a table where two girls sat. "Can I sit with you?" she asked. "Sure," said a short haired girl with a large sweater over her uniform. Another girl with long red hair braided in the back, was too into the book she was reading to notice Chihiro. "You'll have to excuse my friend, she's kind of a bookworm," said the short haired girl. "Hey," the red head cried back shoving a half-eaten apple into her lunch bag. "My name is Stephanie and this is Annie," said the red head, as she flipped back into her book. "Who's your teacher," asked Annie "Mr. Wilkins." "O, I heard he was tough; I have Mrs. Gomez, she's boring." As the bell rang, Chihiro gathered up her books and headed for the music classroom.
After school, Chihiro headed for the back parking lot to meet her mom. There seated in a parking spot near the door was her mother's green civic. Her mother was out of the car though, and was talking to a short, stalky man with a green suit on. "Over here Chihiro," called out her mom. "I want you to meet Mr. Hampson, he's going to tutor you in your violin lessons over the weekends." "Hello young lady, I have been told you are a magnificant violinist with a need for some tunning of course," the man chuckled. "Good day Mrs. Chinzou, Chihiro, I have a meeting to get to," called Mr. Hampson as he got into an old station wagon.
"So, how was school today?" asked Chihiro's mom. "Fine... but..." "What?" "Is there something wrong?" "No, I just miss my old school," said Chihiro as she chocked back tears.
As they went up their driveway, Chihiro saw the all familiar bird in the sky. She knew it was Ubaba watching over the Spirit World. Chihiro ran out of the car and into her room to get dressed to go outside. She hadn't seen KoHaku yet, but hoped she would find him in the woods. She ran out to the field but didn't find him there, so she decided to go over the railroad tracks to look for him.
She soon came to the creek where rocks had been put to keep the water in. She ran up the worn pathway and to the old train station. This was still all so familiar to her. She krept into the Spirit World wondering if she should turn back or keep going. She soon came to the bridge leading to the bath house where she used to work. She knew if Ubaba caught her, she would be kept in the Spirit World for ever, but kept going up the steps and into the lobby.
She tip-toed toward the elevator. It was so quiet, you could hear each step Chihiro took. She got into the elevator and turned the knob to floor seven. She walked slowly toward the rice paper door and quietly opened it to reveal all the maids, sleeping in their own cots.
She stepped next to Lyn and tapped her softly. Lyn sat up on her elbows and rubber eyes. "Se-" Chihiro covered her mouth with her hand and put her finger to her lips. "What are you doing here?" "Ubaba set you free and you came back?" Lyn asked in one breathe. "I wanted to come see and you and find out what happened to Haku." "Well, he went to Ubaba and told her his real name. You know how she is so she threw a fit." "But, to say the least, he is free. He comes to the bath house and eats in all the shops like any other spirit." "Well, its almost sun down, so I'll take you back to the creek and let you go back home." "Can I come back and see you tomorrow?" asked Chihiro. "Yes, but I'll meet you in the pigpen instead of you coming into danger in the bath house."
They went down the elevator and out of the bath house to the creek. "Good-bye Chihiro, I'll see you tomorrow," said Lyn as Chihiro krept over the rocky creek.
Chihiro began walking through the woods. A pair of red eyes glowed through the trees and a shadow came out of the darkness. Chihiro screamed but the shadow covered up her mouth and grabbed her ahand to lead her. It said something and Chihiro fainted.