An Old Friend
Chapter 4—Clothes and School
"Kris! Kris! Wake up!"
Kris awoke to see Pim towering over her.
Kris groaned. "What do you want?"
"Phil and I have to go to school. Mom and Dad are going to try and get you enrolled. You need to get up. They are going to need you for the interview since it is mid-year. Oh and before you see the principal you need clothes. Mom is going to let you use the clothing synthesizer today."
Kris was confused. "What interview? What school?"
Mom and Dad will explain everything. I have a bus to catch. Pim started to walk out the door of the bedroom and then turned her head to look at Kris. "You know your snoring sounds a lot like purring."
"Sorry about that."
"Bye." Pim left for school.
Kris got off the floor and walked into the living room.
A big hairy man jumped in front of her. Kris gave out a yelp.
"Ootunga," the man said.
"Mrs. Diffy! There's a wild man in your house!" Kris was scared out of her mind.
Barbara Diffy came in from the kitchen. "Don't be alarmed Kris. This is Curtis. He's a caveman who stowed away on our time machine."
"And you let him stay?"
"Where was he supposed to go?"
"Good point. So Pim said I could use the clothing synthesizer."
"Oh right." Mrs. Diffy pulled a little device out of her pocket. "Pick out your clothes. I recommend something along the lines of what you saw Keely and Pim wearing. You need to blend in. That jumpsuit you came in is not going to cut it."
Curtis left the room and went out to the garage.
Kris experimented with different clothing styles until she found the one that satisfied her. She pressed her thumb up to the device and she was instantly wearing the clothes. She wore dark blue flare jeans with a multicolored woven belt and her t-shirt was a plain lavender color. Her shoulder-length reddish-brown hair was pulled back in a short ponytail with a blue scrunchie.
Lloyd Diffy entered the living room and saw Kris examining herself in the mirror. Kris noticed his reflection. "I thought I would play it safe today Mr. Diffy. What do you think?"
"It's okay. You will definitely blend in."
"I hope so. So Pim said something about school. What was she talking about?"
"People here from age 5-18 have to go to school. It is a building where teachers teach them different subjects and students have to learn these subjects."
"So it's like a VED but we have to leave the house and listen to real people?"
"Basically. We're taking you for an interview with the principal of Pim and Phil's school. We are going to get you enrolled hopefully. Now we have told the principal's secretary that Barbara and I are your aunt and uncle and you are living with us because we are your only living relatives. You are going to have to play along."
"Yes sir, Uncle Lloyd." Kris laughed at the sound of her calling Mr. Diffy "Uncle Lloyd." "That is going to take some getting used to."
Later that day at the interview…
"So you say that you are 15 years old and were born on October 6, correct?" the principal asked.
"Yes, but what does this have to do with enrolling me in school?"
"Well since you were home schooled up until now we need to place you in a grade. The age you enter a certain grade depends on your birthday. According to our cutoff date of October 1st, I will be placing you in 9th grade."
"That means you will be in the same grade as Phil, Kris," Barbara Diffy told her.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"So when do I start?"
"It will take us a while to get your schedule ready and inform the teachers, but you should be able to start tomorrow."
"Yes!" Kris jumped out of her seat.
"I've never seen someone so exited about school. It's a little weird."
"What can I say? I'm a freak."
The principal outstretched his hand. "Welcome to H.G. Wells High School, Kristine Turner."
Kris shook his hand. "Thank you sir and please call me Kris."
"You're welcome, Kris." When you come in tomorrow, have your cousin take you to the attendance office to pick up your schedule. I look forward to seeing how well you perform here."