Josh thought he would not recognize Westingdale again during the eleven years he was away. After all, most of his memories were pretty hazy. So it caught him by surprise that the new street he moved to looked almost identical to the one he lived in Hong Kong. The Chinese section of the city, too small to be called a Chinatown and too large to be called a neighborhood, dates back to the time of the Californian Gold Rush. The immigrants settled down in this area of the would-be city when the craze was over. When he saw street vendors, bored looking teenagers handing out flyers, and people spitting right on the sidewalks, Josh thought he and his mother never left Hong Kong's borders. The only things missing were the neon lights and the disgruntled street urchins. Culture shock may very well be just a myth here.
A week after finishing moving in with his mother in their small fifth-floor apartment, Josh decided to check out the high school his kindergarten acquaintance Alicia McCall mentioned. But it's not like there were other options. Thomas A. Edison High School of Westingdale, or just Edison High as he heard the locals call it, is the only high school remotely close to his area. The other "zoned" choice for him would be a place called Telsa Tech, but that's literally right down the Death Valley.
The students of Edison High, as he observed just outside of the stairs that lead to the main entrance, appear to be the epitome of the famous metaphor for America being a melting pot. People hailing from numerous cultures attended the school, ranging from Canadians of local upbringing to the indigenous Teru tribe that occupied the area of Westingdale since before the westward expansion. It was his first time seeing such diversity. Hong Kong is nothing but a shanty little town for a homogenous population in comparison.
"I see you are checking out our school," he heard a voice beside him, familiar as it is. "Not a bad place, is it?"
Alicia McCall. She wore a different outfit from the police uniform the other day, with the dark yellow jacket and the blue jeans.
"Looks like a typical American high school to me," Josh replied. "The diversity is a little overwhelming for me, though."
"Welcome to America, I guess. Home of the deep-fried butter and the First Amendment. God bless this country." She sounded sarcastic on the last part, but he wasn't sure. Probably not.
A few of the kids exiting from the evening dismissal noticed Josh staring at them. Instead of a rude remark or an upset protest like he expected, they pointed at him and made a small commotion. Soon there was a small crowd gathered around them. Or him, to be precise.
"You seem to be pretty popular," Alicia commented.
"Are you sure it's not just you? Literally everyone I know here disappeared. All of them. I don't know why they know me."
"Oh, it must be..." She seemed to remember something and took out her touchscreen phone. Josh narrowed his eyes. Maybe it's time he should get one of these, just to fit in better. "Did you not see the news lately?"
"Too busy with moving."
She let him view the page on her device. It was a news article about the attempted hijack of a Hong Kong Airlines flight, and how a brave youth managed to put a stop to the terrorists. Josh opened his mouth but couldn't decide on what to say. He glanced at the students around him, their eyes alight with admiration and reverence. How long has anyone ever looked at him like that?
"Hey, you're that guy on the news!" A white kid called out. He would label him as just American, but now that he's living here again it might be for the best that he should get to the specifics.
"What is he?" He whispered to Alicia, who instantly gave him a mixed expression of shock and puzzlement.
"You...shouldn't say that."
"Yo nice job taking care of the trash, fam." Someone patted on his shoulder. Josh turned around. Another white student, with round glasses, an epidemic of acne, and dark hair.
"Uh, thanks, I guess." He leaned to Alicia again. "I mean where are they from. Their ancestry. I need the research, if I am to go here."
"Oh." She replied. "That's Bill from pre-calc. He's Irish."
"How can you tell?"
"Well..."
"You showed those bastards who's the boss, dude." An Asian student walked up to him and shook his hand.
"He's Korean." Josh quickly identified as he left. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a girl coyly standing at the back of the crowd, carrying her books and binders by the chest. "And that one over there, she's Japanese."
"...How can you tell?"
"Well, it's easy. For Koreans you could tell from the way their eyes are slanted. Some of them have—"
"Okay let's not get racial here."
Next, a tall, black student who must be a third or fourth year approached him. Senior? Is that the term here? While Hong Kong is more familiar with the idea of African Americans than places like China, Josh still had a sort of innocuous curiosity at trying to figure him out. The black man had nothing to say, but his hand was raised, as if he has an answer to a question nobody asked.
"He wants to do a high-five," Alicia explained.
Oh. Josh thought. That American thing. He awkwardly palmed the student's hand, who gave him a funny look and stalked away with several of his kin.
"Smooth."
When the crowd eventually lost their interest and began to disperse, Josh started for the stairs that lead to the entrance, with Alicia following.
"Still thinking of going here?"
"Where else would I go?"
"Good question." She went ahead of him. "I know the principal well. Let me inform him that you are going to apply here. Thank me later when you get it over with under twenty minutes." Alicia took a few steps before stopping and turning back around.
"Before I go, let me tell you something. You know what clubs are, right?"
"I have a vague notion." Josh said. "Something about kids staying after school for recreational activities."
"More or less." She crossed her arms. "Listen, I know nothing more substantial than several baseless rumors and gossips, but apparently there is a Chinese Zodiac Club in the school. No one knows who they are or what they do, but I'm almost positive that it's made entirely of Stand users. Call it a detective's tuition, if you will."
Josh cocked an eyebrow. "I'm more interested in the club's name, By zodiac, you mean the twelve animals of the Chinese astrology? Rat, ox, tiger, rabbit..."
"Maybe," she said, "but the name might just be a code name of some sort. Look, the point is that you are the first Stand user I know transferring into the school. If this Zodiac club is made of Stand users, you might want to watch yourself. It is very possible that they have ways of knowing who you are."
"Interesting," he noted. "I might just see if they got the animals right, if they ever check on me. You'd be surprised to see how many Americans thought cat is on the list."
"...I see we have different concerns about this." She sighed. "So, it's not?"
"What's not?"
"Cat. It's not a part of the Chinese zodiac?"
He gave her a look. "No."
Alicia shrugged. "You learn something new every day. Anyway, just be wary. It might turn out to be a real astrology club in the school, which is a first. Who knows." She went inside, hands stuck in her jacket. Josh watched several more students leave before realizing he should go. His mother's friend is having a small welcome dinner for them, and it would be rather troublesome for him to be late.