DISCLAIMER: This licence isn't mine. The opinions express by the characters are not mine. I do not support nor encourage the illegal acts present here. I can make a distinction between fiction and reality and I trust in my readership's ability to do the same.

Chapter two: the unknown destination

Bright and early, Strawberry Shortcake and Apple Dumplin' pushed the door of the Orange Mart. The grocery had never been so big: since Lemon Meringue's, Raspberry Torte's and Blueberry Muffin's departure, Orange Blossom was in charge of every store in Strawberry Land. Strawberry Shortcake had placed an order, and she and her sister came to get it back.

-Hello Orange Blossom. Have you got our parcel? Strawberry asked.

-Oh, hello Strawberry Shortcake and Apple Dumplin', Orange replied, as she was tidying the preserving jars. "Of course I have it, it's on my backroom. Let me one second to pick it up. Can you bring the bill to those young girls?" She asked then to a young Berrykin who was drawing up the inventory.

The Berrykin dropped his notebook, ran toward the checkout, jumped on the seat, then on the desk, opened a drawer, got a sheet of paper out of it, picked a pencil and made it roll toward the two ladies. His fastness and his dexterity were remarkable, especially as he was using human-sized objects.

-Here is it, Orange Blossom said, coming back with a big package.

Strawberry Shortcake signed the receipt while Apple Dumplin' was grabbing the package. Orange Blossom winked at her.

-So, Apple… it's almost the D-day, isn't it?

-You're right, Orange, Strawberry asked. "But everything will be alright, won't it? You'll have a lot of fun."

Apple Dumplin' nodded, but she wasn't sharing their enthusiasm. She had a good reason to worry: in less than one week, she would go to school for the very first time.

Don't be mistaken! Apple Dumplin' wasn't an ignorant. When she travelled all around the world, she didn't used to spend more than two or three days in a city: How could she go to school normally? So, she had correspondence course, by email, with her computer. The program wasn't different, but Apple could have a math lesson on the top of a snowy mountain, sipping a hot chocolate, or write history homework on the beach, looking at the setting sun. Apple Dumplin's wasn't underachieving at school, but she was terrified by the fact she would have to face real teachers and share her lessons with real students!

At home, Strawberry and she unwrapped the package. It contained Apple's textbooks, plus her supplies, her schoolbag and her uniform, which consisted in a navy blue pleated skirt, a white shirt, a black tie, a grey blazer, a pair of grey socks and black polished sandals.

-Now, you're all ready for the start of the new school year! Strawberry cried, but they heard Angel Cake cry in the kitchen:

-Strawberry? I need your help to bake brownies! Our customers are waiting!

Strawberry Shortcake sighed.

-Sorry Apple, she said, "But it's the call of duty. Please, tidy your sundries in your room. I promise I'll iron your uniform tomorrow", and she disappeared in the kitchen.

Apple Dumplin' sadly stared at the cardboard box, the box in which she will imprison her past life, her life of adventurer.

-You're lovely like that, Strawberry Shortcake said, but Apple Dumplin' didn't answer. It was the D-day. She was wearing her blue and grey uniform and having her breakfast-rather, she was trying to have her breakfast. She had a lump in her throat and she could hardly swallow her slices of bread.

-The first day in a new school is always impressive, Orange Blossom said. "But, tonight, you'll have plenty of new friends".

-But I know nobody! Apple cried desperately.

-Me either when I came to Strawberry Land, Angel Cake explained.

A "berry" long time ago, in Strawberry Land, a closed down farm had been turned into a school. In the course of time, the school had been extended and modernized, but had finally closed its door due to the lack of pupils. Apple Dumplin' was enrolled in Berry Big City's school, an educational center in a neighboring town for children aged from two to fifteen. Everybody in Strawberry Land had noticed how anxious Apple was; it was why they all offered her their support. When she went to the bus stop, she was surrounded by her sister and all her neighbors.

-That's okay, Apple Dumplin' said nervously, as the bus was coming. "I can manage by myself now."

In fact, she was wondering what the other pupils would think if they saw her, waiting for the bus in the company of her big sister, as if she couldn't stay alone.

-Alright. Have a nice day Apple, Strawberry said, and she added with a wink: "Don't forget to be you."

Apple Dumplin' waved at the young women and got on the bus. She sat in one of the last free seats, beside a six-years-old little girl with pink plaits who was holding her cuddly toy tightly in her arms. In front of her, two other eight-years-old girls were wriggling, chatting and giggling. Apple looked around her: the children above ten were tapping their phones. She leaned against her backrest and tried to look relaxed and confident, but the questions were tumbling out of her head: What if the teachers refused to understand she had follow correspondence course and forced her to go in a pre-school class, with two-years-old babies? What if the lessons were terribly difficult? What if she had any common points with the other pupils?

When the bus arrived, Apple Dumplin' checked her name in the lists sticks on the playground and got to her classroom. She was in Year ten with a ten of other pupils. Her homeroom teacher was quite nice and started by the register. When she called her name, Apple, who wanted to make a good impression, said with a loud voice:

-Present!

And she added proudly:

-Maybe you know my name. I own a berry followed blog, in which I tell all my journeys around the world. You can check it if you're interest.

The teacher seemed surprised.

-Uh? Thank you, Miss Dumplin', but this point isn't in the agenda.

Some students giggled and Apple Dumplin' blushed. She had been ridiculous. She had spoiled her first school day.

Later, at the break, Apple didn't mix with the other pupils. She was alone, sat on a staircase, and all the other were gathering in group of two, three or four. They must be old friends… and they must be gossiping about how vain and pretentious she was.

-Hello, a voice said around her.

Apple Dumblin' raised her head. A girl, who was in her class, was smiling at her. But it wasn't a mocking smile; it was a nice and comforting smile. Apple smiled, too.

-Hello. What's your name?

-I'm Mulberry Murmur. And you?

Mulberry Murmur's hair was curl and very dark violet, almost black. She looked different, even if she was wearing her uniform: her tie had already come loose, the first buttons of her shirt were flippantly unbuttoned and she had removed her blazer.

-My name is Apple Dumplin'.

-You're a newcomer, aren't you?

-Exactly, Apple sighed.

-Don't worry. We can be friends, if you want.

Apple Dumplin' jumped.

-No kidding?!

-No kidding. You were a little bit anxious this morning, but it happens to everyone. If someone annoys you, I'll defend you.

-Thank you Mulberry. What can I do for you in exchange?

-Tell me about your journeys. It must be fascinating.

And Apple and Mulberry spent the rest of the day chatting together. Apple told Mulberry about her thirst for travelling, and how she got homesick and finally came back to Strawberry Land, to live with her big sister who raised her. Mulberry told her her story: she was repeating her year, so she was fifteen. She lived in Berry Big City where she managed a disc store.

-I immediately saw you were different, Mulberry Murmur said. "You're not like all those girls who only think about shoes, make-up and cupcakes."

Apple Dumplin' felt lighter than ever when she came back home, at the end of the day. She had a berry best friend! It was going to be a sensational year!

To be continued…