Chapter 1: Uniforms and a New Girl
"Ronan! Your father would like to speak to you!" Christine called. She was in her kitchen, which by the way was bigger than a mobile home.
"Yes mother!" Ronan called from upstairs. He ran down the fancy stairwell and walked into the kitchen to find his father sitting at the table along with his mother. His father was reading a newspaper while his mother was reading her favorite expensive newspaper, made especially for her.
"You wanted to see me father?" Ronan asked, standing at the other end of the table from his father.
"I would like to give you some money. You need to go out and buy some school clothes today. Miss Polly will be taking you." Raoul had said, handing Ronan over four hundred dollars when he walked over to Raoul.
"School clothes?" Ronan questioned.
"Yes. You will be going to the private school." Raoul explained.
"Yes father." Ronan didn't want to go to school, but he did want to be like his father someday, and if that's what it took, he'd accomplish it.
So Ronan's nanny took Ronan in his carriage to the tailor. Ronan loved to buy new clothes, but he hated the look of school uniforms. The tailor, Tom Roxford, had been tailoring his clothes since he was a child.
"Ah! Mr. Chaney! It's a delight as always! And Miss Polly, it's great to see you." Tom said. He had to be nice to Ronan. His parents were the richest people in the state, and Tom didn't want to loose his best clients.
"Hello, Tom!" Ronan said.
"What shall I do for you today?" Tom asked.
"Mr. Chaney needs his school uniforms." Polly proclaimed.
"Oh, how wonderful! I remember your father and I used to love to buy our uniforms! We were the best of friends you know?" Tom had always said that, but Raoul had denied it.
"Yes. We know. Now please Tom, I'm in a rush today." Polly explained.
"Oh! Yes! Let me go get them. I'll be right back. Your room is set up for you already Mr. Chaney." Tom said, disappearing into the back room.
"Why are you in a rush, Ms. Polly?" Ronan asked.
"I have more chores. Your father wants me to send a letter off and I need some stamps." Polly replied.
"Oh!" A minute later, Tom came into the room and handed Ronan his neatly folded clothes.
"There you are. And please tell your mother that I have her dresses ready." Tom said.
"I will." Ronan went into the dressing room and tried on his uniform. While he was slipping on his tie, he heard that someone had entered the store.
"Hello Mr. Roxford! How are you?" A feminine voice asked.
"Oh! I'm fine, Ms. Staden. What may I do for you today?" Tom asked politely.
"Well, I'm here to try on some uniforms. I am going to Straton this year." The girl said. Ronan exited the dressing room to find a girl his age standing at the front desk. For some strange reason, he'd never noticed her before.
"Ah! Mr. Chaney! You look stunning! Let me take a look at your left arm. It seems I have to take it in a bit." Tom fiddled with his arm, but Ronan took no notice. He was watching the girl. She smiled at him, and his heart jumped. Her smile was like a sunset, warming to the heart.
"Okay. I will need you, Ms. Polly, to come pick this up on Tuesday. It will be ready by then." Tom said.
"Okay. I'll be here then. Go change Ronan, and we can leave." Polly ordered.
"Oh, yes." Ronan said, coming to. He went back into the changing room and took off the uniform, but this time, he strained to hear the girl.
"Oh! My apologies. Well, can you come back Wednesday, I think I could have a uniform made for you by then?" Tom asked.
"Sure. Here is a note. It has the money inside. Thank you Mr. Roxford! Oh, and it's nice to see you too, Ms. Polly." The girl said. Ronan imagined Polly nodding to her. And the girl had left. Why was Ronan so intrigued by that girl. He finished up there and went to the post office with Polly. They went home afterward.