Chapter 1: A Very Special Day

Today has been rather eventful to say the least. Now that everyone has their own job to do at the academy, uniforms were sorted out and even tailored for their specific "officers." I could feel my cotton sleeves effortlessly allow me to bend my elbows and stretch my shoulders. Even my trousers were set up with dark brown boots. The school certainly spent a pretty penny to make sure all managers and class representatives stood out from the rest of the students. I only wish we could have gone away with would be the suspenders to keep my pants up. A belt is much easier to handle and less restrictive. It is rather funny that even though I am wearing an engineer's uniform, I'm wearing a cavalry's hardee hat.

Turning away from my clothing, I look to the ship transporting me across the gulf where Johnston Academy was a few hours ago. I noticed many little kids staring at me since my outfit stood out from everyone else wearing modern clothes. A lot of the girls were still in their uniforms too, but look more like the ones I saw back home with blouses and lady cross ties. I chuckled as a little girl walked over to her mother and whispered something while both of them looked at me.

Today's certainly going to be a surprise. Especially for someone very special. It's been a good three and a half hours since this small ship took off from Johnston and through the left window everyone could see the next stop. Saunders University. She is still as picturesque and bold as the last time I saw her. To think she ended up upstaging the Monitor and the Merrimack a century and a half later.

The intercom came on. "We will be boarding at Saunders University."

I grabbed my bag and my sword and got up from my seat. I was forced to stumble when approaching the exit thanks to an unexpected wave that rocked the boat a bit. After a few minutes of waiting, the gate came open and I took my first step on steady "land." No matter how many times I've entered this ship, I'm always in absolute awe from the buildings to the greenery and to the school itself. Maybe I am a little jealous of who I'm visiting, since she was accepted rather easily and due to me being a boy, I can't enroll.

Breathing in the salty air, I looked in my bag and saw my gift was still in there, wrapped up and with a little tag on top.

Clarabelle.

Hopefully she'll be on time when I get to the school. Hopefully.

The businesses were exceptionally busy, not one building looked to be bare as crowds of schoolgirls invaded each restaurant or store. I had to be extra careful with my sword since I have no leather strap to keep it on my hip and a lot of girls kept bumping into me while they were off to commerce street. They were in such a hurry, I don't think a single one noticed I was wearing such old clothes. But now I'm almost at my destination, the front gate for Saunders.

Every bit as menacing and imposing as it should be. Despite it being so big, the black bars were able to open with a push of my hand. I'm now back inside the wonderful school and am immediately met by stares from students and faculty. I guess it really isn't every day where you see someone looking like he's on his way to a reenactment. I continue my stride, sword in left hand and bag in right. Now I just need to remember where exactly the meeting place is supposed to be. I should be heading to the dormitories and those should be up ahead somewhere.

A few steps later and I was fortunate to be met by a pole giving directions. I have to continue on the path to the right to get to the dorms. The concrete path felt rather clumsy with my brand new boots. At some point these things have to break and I can finally feel relief in my ankles and soles. I continued my walk until I heard the wonderful voice.

"JOHNNY!"

I turned to the sound and saw sweet little Clarabelle charging towards me. She jumped and gave me the tightest hug I've ever felt in my life. The amount of force she had when embracing forced me to stumble backwards a few steps.

"I missed you!" She said with a bright smile on her face.

"I missed you too," I responded as she took my hat off me.

Clara made a thorough inspection of my hardee hat then looked at me from head to toe. It seems she's finally noticed my grey uniform.

Clarabelle gave me back my hat. "When did you start dressing like this?"

"Today," I said as I put the hat back on top of my brown hair. "You're looking at the new manager for the Rebel's Tankery team."

"They have a tankery team?"

"Yes, though, we're not quite the same level as Saunders."

"Wait, what caused you be part of that?"

"Remember when you said that not taking a club or sport would backfire on me? Well, it did." I paused to look around and saw more schoolgirls staring at the two of us. "It's starting to get dark, mind taking me to your room."

"Of course? What else could I do for my big brother?"

I laugh as the both of us begin walking. The lights begin to hum awake and I could hear another student whisper to her friend.

"Where'd he come from?"

"I don't know, but he might be trouble."

Finally inside Clarabelle's dorm, I sat on the floor while she sat at the bed.

"By the way," I start as I open the bag. "Happy birthday."

I saw her face light up like a christmas tree when I gave her the wrapped gift. Clara tore the wrapping paper in a matter of seconds before she was face to face with a music box. She opened the contraption and was met by a rather melancholy tune.

She looked back at me. "Johnny's gone for a soldier?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, it was the least Dixie thing I could find at Johnston."

"It sounds beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it."

Clarabelle sets the music box on her desk and lets it continue playing its depressing song as we both rest and relax.

"So, do you have to wear that uniform to school from now on?"

"Yup, the school had it tailored and everything for me today, that's why I didn't have any time to change out of it before coming over."

"Well, at least something new came to Saunders for once."

"Is that so?"

Clara stretches her back. "Every day acts more like a cycle here. Swimming team's just laps and laps, school's just sitting in front of a board, and home is just lying in bed. I'm sure some girls are very curious about me now."

"Well, we're both Jeffersons."

"There's more to a person than a name."

"I suppose."

The music stopped. Both of us looked to her desk and I noticed a framed picture of Clarabelle and a girl from the Saunders Tankery team standing next to a Sherman M4. Both girls are smiling at the camera and standing straight as the tank's main gun is pointed to the field next to them. Clara looks to have her brown hair braided into twin tails while the other girl has long blonde hair that she has down.

"Making friends with the tankery girls?" I ask her.

"Only one."

"What's her name?"

"Kay."

"Well, I'm sure you two can get along. How'd you meet her?"

Clara starts to blush. "It-it's a long story. And I'm sure it'll bore you to death."

I let out a laugh. "Alright, you don't have to tell me. But other than that, what else has been going on?"

"The swim team's having a meet up in a couple of weeks. Do you think you might make it?"

I take in a deep breath. "What time?"

"At around 2:30."

That breath I was holding slowly leaves my nostrils and I give a grim smile to my sister.

"I won't be able to make it."

"Aw, because of tankery?"

"Yeah, we have practice during that time."

"Oh well, what can you do?"

"Yeah, it's a pain since not only do I have to take care of the paperwork, I also have to know about first aid, a bunch of stuff about mechanics and basic tank engineering."

"Wow, looks like you're going to be heading somewhere once you graduate!"

I sighed and rolled my head back. "Yeah."

"MY BIG BROTHER'S GROWING UP!"

I turned back to Clarabelle and saw her jump from her bed and head straight for me like a torpedo from a submarine. It doesn't matter where I move to dodge her, it will do nothing to stop her. Her shoulders collided with my chest and propelled my body to fall onto the wall. Laughter came from both of us as she swatted my hat off and started messing with my hair. I repeated the action to her and she started slapping my wrists and palms. We both had great smiles for each other as I watched her eyes turn from my own and to my sword on the ground.

Clarabelle grabbed the silver scabbard holding my blade. "They gave you a gift!" She pulled the sword out of it's home and stared at her reflection from the steel.

"Well, it's proof of my rank."

"Rank?"

I nodded. "I'm a Major over at Johnston's now."

"Really? You really are growing up!" She was about to tackle me again, but I was able to restrain her to the bed.

"Put the sword back in the scabbard."

She looked to the sword then back at me. "Right! yeah, yeah."

She did so and gave my sword back to me. I watched her smile vanish in a matter of seconds

"How much longer until you have to go back?"

"Not too long..." I turn away and look at her clock. 6:08 PM. "I have about half an hour until I need to be back tat the docks."

"Stay here! I don't get to see you anymore!"

"Tomorrow's Wednesday. We both have school tomorrow"

"I don't care, you can skip class like you used to!"

"Yeah, but dad's not gonna let me hear the end of it."

"Another day here and you can face any lecture dad gives you!"

"Yeah, I know. But both mom and dad aren't going to be too happy hearing I spent the night here."

"Please?"

Her face became a mask of sorrow. Maybe it would've been a better idea to wait until the weekend. However, what's done is done and I have to start leaving. I gave Clara a tight embrace and picked her up from the floor. She smiled at me once again but turned to the door, holding my wrist like it were a baton.

"I'll come back, don't worry." I said.

"I don't want you to go."

"I know, but it won't be as long next time."

"You promise?"

I took her by her wrist. "I promise."

"We will now be departing from Saunders."

With that, the transport ship took off. I stood by the balcony and saw my sister waving to me. "Bye! Johnny!"

I waved back at her. "Goodbye!"

And with that, I returned inside the ship. My sword still had to be held by my right hand, but at least my left is now free to open the door without much issue. Back into the brink it appears. I see many older passengers this time and all eyes are on me. Some of the men I saw stifled laughs and the older women rolled their eyes. I gave everyone a smile and walked to the nearest empty seat. I hope this tankery business won't be the death of me. I remember everyone at the Student Council room feeling pity over me pulling that ballot. It can't be that terrible, can it?

As the ship drifts away from one school to the next, I watch the waves ebb and flow away from me. Perhaps I can get used to this. After all, my own uniform truly makes me capable of command. That's what the Tankery Captain told me. We'll see if that is true tomorrow