Chapter 2

It was near the end of April when Georgie received news that would ultimately change her life as she knew it.

She awoke on a rather rainy day. A glance out the window caused her to groan and curl back under her covers, reluctant to get out of bed and brave the chilly rain on her way to class. She quickly drifted back to sleep, dreaming happily of sunnier skies.

"Georgie! Georgie wake up! You're going to be late!" cried a voice. Georgie felt a rough shake on her arm and sat straight up, still halfway covered with her blanket. "What's going on? What time is it?!" she cried. Lily, her roommate, pulled the blanket away from her, shaking her head. "You fell back asleep. It's nearly 8:00. We have to be in class in 10 minutes!" Georgie gasped and leaped out of bed towards her wardrobe to dress. As she began pulling on her school uniform, she glared at her roommate, who looked oddly guilty. "Let me guess. You overslept too?" Lily nodded and said "I only woke up 10 minutes ago. I didn't know you were still asleep until I heard you snore." Georgie rolled her eyes and grumbled "I do not snore," as she rushed into the washroom to wash her face and brush her teeth.

Georgie and Lily ran down the hallway, skidding to the door of their French classroom and nearly colliding with a rather disgruntled looking teacher who was preparing to shut the door to tardy students. "Ladies, I trust you have a good reason for being late?" "Um, we were practicing our French during breakfast and got excited about naming all the various foods and lost track of time." Lily quickly said, an innocent look upon her face. Their teacher narrowed her eyes, and with a sigh ushered them into class before shutting the door. Georgie let out a tiny giggle as the two girls walked to their seats. She was always impressed with Lily's ability to come up with excuses, regardless of believability, on the spot. Georgie sighed softly as class began, knowing that the day would be very long.

As predicted, the day was indeed long. The weather did not improve; in fact, it began to rain harder and became considerably chillier. Georgie began to wish she had worn her school sweater under her jacket instead of just her blouse. The day had nearly come to an end as Georgie entered her final class for the day. The teacher looked up with sympathetic eyes when she walked in.

"Georgie, dear, you are needed in the Headmistress's office."

"Why?" Georgie asked, clearly confused. She had only been in the Headmistress's office once. She was 13 and had gotten into an argument with Penny Hartington about something so inconsequential that she could not remember what began the argument in the first place.

"I am afraid I do not know dear. I was just brought a note from her office instructing me to tell you to go there."

Georgie nodded and turned to leave. As she walked to the Headmistress's office, her heart rate accelerated and palms began to sweat. She began to mentally search for any reason she might have been called there, whether good or bad, but came up with nothing. I haven't done anything wrong. I won't let myself worry until I know why I was called here. She reached the door to the office and took a deep breath before pushing on the door to open it.

"The Headmistress will see you now," Mrs. Jones, the Headmistress's assistant, said kindly. Georgie nodded and rose from the plush sofa in the waiting area outside the Headmistress's office. She slowly walked towards the door leading into the Headmistress's office and with a deep breath, turned the nob and walked in. The Headmistress was sitting at her desk, reading a sheet of paper. She was a kindly looking middle aged woman, her honey brown hair slightly graying at the temples.

"Miss Moore," The Headmistress said, rising. "Please come in and have a seat. May I offer you anything? Tea? A biscuit?" She held her arm out towards a pair of comfortable looking wing chairs on the other side of her office, a tea service set on a small table between the two chairs. Georgie nodded cautiously and sat in one of the chairs, her heart continuing to race. When she had been in here before, she stood in front of the Headmistress's desk and received a very stern lecture on decorum and proper behavior for ladies her age.

The Headmistress sat in the chair across from Georgie, poured the tea and offered a cup to Georgie. Georgie accepted the cup, murmuring her thanks and timidly taking a sip of the hot liquid. The Headmistress took a sip of her tea and watched Georgie over the rim of her cup. Sighing deeply, she lowered her cup and placed it on the table.

"Dear, I have been thinking hard today about our meeting and how it should be conducted. I feel that the best course is to be upfront and honest about why I have called you in today. I feel that is only fair to you and dodging the main issue or trying to shield you from truths would an insult to you." Georgie's eyes widened slightly as she considered this, instantly realizing that this would not be a happy meeting with good news. She nodded for the Headmistress to continue. "I have received news from your father's assistant, Mr. Brown. Do you know him?" Georgie nodded slowly. She had met him once or twice when she was younger, but hardly remembered him. "He said that Norwich was bombed last week." Georgie gasped at this. Her heart raced and hands began to shake, rattling her cup upon its saucer.

"Dear, I'm afraid your parents did not survive the attack."

Mrs. Jones looked up as she heard the sound of china breaking, followed by the muffled sobs of the girl in the Headmistress's office. That poor dear, she thought. To lose her parents so young. What will she do now?