Chapter 7: A Spinning Arrow
As soon as the bell for end of Eighth period rang, the students didn't hesitate to leave, especially since it was Friday. Some, like Pocahontas, left her classroom before anyone had the chance to talk to her. It wasn't that she didn't like school, or felt shunned by the other classmates, but was excited to talk to Mrs. Willow about her dream. Mrs. Willow was the student counselor, and a friend to Pocahontas' family.
She hurried down the hallways on light feet, despite the various students calling her name, until she came to a door with Mrs. Willow's name on it. Before she stepped inside, Pocahontas peeped through the window on the door, and beheld a sight that made her hold her breath. Inside sat Mrs. Willow, an old woman with a kind woody face, and a young man with medium blonde hair and pale skin. Pocahontas was the editor for the student paper, known as The Daily Chirp after its founder Jiminy Cricket, and she knew every student that had ever attended. But she had never seen this blonde boy before, which made her wonder who he was. When curiosity overtook her, Pocahontas opened the door a crack to hear Willow's conversation with the boy, but the noise caused both of them to look.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting," Pocahontas said, trying to sound calm. "I need to talk to you, Mrs. Willow. However, if you're too busy, I could-
"It's alright," the blonde boy said as he got up. "I was just about to leave, anyway. The name's John Smith, and I'll be attending Disney Academy as of next week."
"Pocahontas. I'm the editor of the student newspaper."
The two briefly shook hands, and then John Smith left the office. Pocahontas watched him leave, and then she turned to face Mrs. Willow.
"I see you're wearing your mother's necklace," Mrs. Willow noted.
Pocahontas unconsciously touched the bright-blue beaded necklace around her throat, and sighed. "My father wants me to marry Kocoum when I graduate in the spring."
"Well, Kocoum is handsome, but he's too…serious in my opinion."
"That's what I think too, but my father thinks this is the right path for me, and he also believes this dream I had recently proves that. However, I feel differently about it."
"Tell me about this dream, while I make us some herbal tea." Mrs. Willow stood up and walked slowly to the brewer. She grabbed two black mugs from the table and filled them with tea bags containing mint herbs from her garden, and then turned on the brewer.
Pocahontas watched Mrs. Willow as she spoke. "Well, it begins with darkness. I'm alone, and have no idea where I am. Then, below my feet, I see a large arrow. It's bright and red, but just as I take another step it starts to spin, faster and faster with every turn, until it suddenly stops. That's when I wake up."
"Do you remember where the arrow stopped?" Mrs. Willow asked, just as the brewer started whistling.
"No."
"Was there anything else in this dream?"
Pocahontas shook her head as Mrs. Willow handed her a cup of tea, and they both sat staring at each other for several minutes. The clock ticked, while the noise of the students passing through the hallways gradually grew quieter, until there was complete silence. Then as some of faculty passed by heading home, Mrs. Willow finished her tea and placed her hands together.
"Well, based on what you've told me, I believe that this dream is referring to a path that has been set out for you. Whether you take it or not is up to you, but the darkness indicates that if you don't take this path, you'll be forever lost. As for the path itself, it's hard to say what it leads to without any evidence in the dream. So I wouldn't worry too much, but when the time comes to decide your path in life, listen with your heart."
"What do you mean?" Pocahontas asked.
"You will understand."
After a brief goodbye, Pocahontas left Mrs. Willow's office with a better conscious on the problems at hand. It was then that her mind drifted to John Smith, so as she turned a corner to the adjacent hallway, she didn't see the Asian student that was heading towards her, and so the two collided. A shower of books suddenly followed, coming from the top of the Asian student's head.
"Mulan, what are you—
"Nothing! Nothing at all, just…practicing for my fashion model audition," Mulan replied, hurriedly picking up the books.
"By trying to balance books on your head? I didn't think someone as tomboyish as you would be interested in becoming a fashion model," Pocahontas said, helping Mulan.
"I was being sarcastic!"
"Okay, I was only kidding. Is there something bothering you?"
Mulan looked away, and then she said, "I know we've been friends for awhile, but this isn't something that you can help me with."
But before Pocahontas could ask further questions, Mulan took the books that Pocahontas had picked up for her, put them on top of her pile, then carrying the whole stack in both arms, she walked away.
End of Chapter 7
