Friday 10th 0ctober 2013
I heard the alarm blaring and rolling over I switched it off and sighed.
Sidwell. One of the most elite schools in the country and I had an interview with them today at ten.
I checked time and saw it was just after seven. I pulled myself out of bed and opened my bedroom curtains and threw open the window letting the October air in. Sadly,in DC it was already freezing,where as in California it was still warm. The weather was one of many things I missed from Los Angeles.
I made my bed and laying on it I realised Joan was gone. Next thing I started to hear shouting from the next room.
"Arthur! I told you I wanted you up and awake before I was out of the shower!" Joan shouted.
I heard grumbling and chitter chatter for a few moments.
"I don't care that it doesn't take you three hours to get dressed! Get up and shower for god's sake! And please open the curtains it looks like Dracula's lair!".
"You're a cruel woman" Arthur said but I could hear him standing up and walking towards the bathroom.
I smiled to myself and knowing I was next I hopped in for a quick shower. Once I was out I dried and got dressed then shouted on Joan. She had already told me she would do my hair and make-up.
Joan came through although she was not dressed she was wearing a short robe but she had done her hair and make-up. Apparently it was strange that I had put on my clothes before fiddling around with my hair.
"How are you feeling today?" she asked.
"Good,I'm a little nervous. I don't want you to be upset if I don't get in" I said.
"I'm sure you will get in,your transcripts are really great. The English papers are very impressive and they also liked your History essay and your Chemistry notes" Joan reassured.
"I hope they like me" I said calmly as Joan started to put foundation on my face. In about an hour she was finished and I was allowed to look at myself in the mirror. Joan had give me a side parting and my fringe was sweeped across my forehead and the rest of my hair fell in glossy waves. Combine that with the gorgeous top,skirt and the Manolo Blahniks and I looked like I was eighteen.
Joan left me and I went and typed a little note in my phone of what to remember to tell them.
Name. Age. Mention the dead mother and the invisible Dad,be sure to tug on the heartstrings. Hobbies. Interests. Whatever you do,don't mention that you can burp the alphabet and snort soda through your nose on command.
I went downstairs carrying clear sparkly lip-gloss and my phone and went into the kitchen. Arthur was down there thumbing through the paper and eating some toast. Joan looked lovely in a purple sheath v-neck dress and black heels and was chopping fruit into a bowl for her breakfast. Breakfast went by quickly with Joan and Arthur talking about the plan for the days. I had my meeting with Sidwell at 10am and they would give me an entrance exam and then I would meet the principal and get a tour of the school. Joan drove us to the school in the fancy BMW while Arthur spoke on the phone making arrangements for their work. I couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Considering how many work calls they had been getting over the last few days,I had been taking Arthur and Joan away from work way to much. When we got to the school,we were shown in to the principals office straight away.
"Hello Mr and Mrs Campbell it's nice to meet you. This must be Jordan" she shook our hands and we sat down.
"Thank you for having us Mrs Todd" Arthur started the conversation off.
"It's our pleasure. William and Eileen Beaumont really spoke wonderfully of you and Jordan. So first off we would have a little chat about the school and so forth while Jordan does a quick test,which is sort of an entrance exam but by the looks off your transcripts you won't struggle with them. So I'll see you later Jordan" she kind of dismissed me and turned back to Joan and Arthur. She had been kind of rude to me but I guess I wasn't the one signing the cheque so I wasn't bothered to much by it.
I had five different tests to fill in. One was social subjects,another was science subjects,one Maths and one English and then a fifth one with questions from all the other subjects. It was pretty easy,each test took about a half an hour. Algebra was the only thing I struggled with but then again I hate algebra. Actually I hate maths in general.
When I got back to the room Joan and Arthur were sitting outside because I was getting a one to one interview with the principal. Lucky me.
"So Jordan,how old are you?".
"I turned fifteen in June" I answered.
"And prior to this you lived in Los Angeles,Dallas and Chicago?" she asked.
"Yes. My mother moved with her job" I told her.
"And you are currently living with your aunt and uncle because...?" she trailed off.
"My mother passed away recently. She was in a car crash. And my father hasn't been in my life since I was five".
"And despite your hard life you have never been in trouble with the law or took any illegal substances?".
"No but I don't consider my life as tough. My mother loved my very much and when she passed my Aunt has moved heaven and earth to make me happy in her home" I spoke clearly.
"You speak fondly of Joan" she remarked.
"I should. Before my mom died I had never met her. They were estranged and now she's taken me into her home and is giving me the best of everything. Most people aren't as lucky" I was thinking of the foster homes some of my old friends live in.
"Your attitude is very positive. I like that. So tell me about your hobbies. Do any of them tie into any subjects?".
"I love to read and write. It should be in my notes that I wrote for the school newspaper and website. I like exercise,I love to do martial arts,running and rock climbing" answered.
"That's good. We have two plays every year and you'd be more than welcome to help with the production aspect of that. We also have a track team" Mrs Todd suggested.
"I'll look into both of them. I also worked part time in a bakers from last year until I moved and I had a newspaper round from when I was thirteen till I was fourteen".
"Part time jobs are good. They show hard work. Do you have any idea about what you'd like to do?" I asked.
"I'm not certain. I love writing but I think I'd like to be a psychologist. I like listening to people,finding out all about them" I mentioned and she nodded. She asked me a few more questions and then she brought in Joan and Arthur. They were there so she could speak to them about how far behind I was in comparison to the other students.
"Do you speak any languages?" she asked me.
"I can hold a simple conversation in Spanish and French" I answered.
"Well that's a start. We do prefer to have our students know a language fluently before they begin high school but we could get you a tutor although it will cost additional expenses" she said.
"Of course it will. Is there any requirements that Jordan needs?" Arthur asked.
"No I think languages is the only thing but I'm sure she will catch up as quickly as the other pupils. Now let's show you the school".
I quickly learned that Sidwell needed it's own Sat-Nav. It had a built in tennis court,a massive library,three different music rooms with all the instruments you could imagine,a pool,an auditorium,a running track and a great gym students could use. It was sleek and modern and had everything you could ever need.
Once we got shown around the school and the school grounds we got took back to the principals office.
"Well we got your entrance exam back and you passed in every subject. You really excelled at English though and you were very good at the History portion of the Social Subjects. I think Sidwell would be lucky to have you" she smiled brightly.
After that it was a matter of signing bank statements.
"So Jordan we will see you on Monday" Mrs Todd smiled at me and I nodded emphatically.
"Yes,I look forward to it" I shook her hand and then we left.
Joan and Arthur were barely outside before they grabbed me and pulled me into a tight hug.
"We are so proud of you. You're marks are better than most of the kids in your year's exam results and up until now they had the best schools and most had tutors. And you were in a public school in East LA" Arthur said and pulled me tighter.
"I second that. How about we celebrate,what do you want to do?" Joan asked.
"Umm...go home. Play some x-box,read a book you know" I said and Joan looked at me confused.
"Don't you want to do something fun? I could take you shopping?" Joan suggested.
"You bought me a ton of stuff yesterday. Really guys I just want to relax at home" I smiled at them. Maybe I was insane but going home and relaxing sounded perfect to me.
"Well how about we arrange to do something another time? Anything you want,name it we'll do it" Joan smiled encouragingly. I was trying really hard to think of what to do when it came to me.
"How about we go rock climbing? I've been rock climbing before I'd love to do it again" I said.
"Perfect I'll get lessons booked for you and we'll start doing that" Joan unlocked the car and we clambered in.
"Okay so what are you guys doing for the rest of today?" I said.
"We both have work today but tonight we'll take you to dinner at The Atlas Room. It's close by and really good. We'll pick you up around seven" Arthur said.
"Sure. I think I'll relax this afternoon then maybe go for a run".
"Don't go to far from the house,I don't want you getting lost. If you want to stay inside the community it's three miles to go round it. I usually do it twice and then home" Joan suggested as Arthur pulled up outside Joan's house.
"That sounds fine. Bye guys,love you".
Author's Note: It's taken me forever to update this and I know it's shorter than usual,but I couldn't think of how to go any further with this day. Hopefully the next update will be quicker but I make no promises, school is crazy right now but I will try and have the next chapter up before the end of the month.