A hoard of moving vans were parked along a stretch of road near Third Street School, Alixia Porter sat cross-legged on her new bed, tracing the unfamiliar pattern of her new bedsheets with her fingertips as she gazed at her bedroom floor. Her family had moved, again. This was the 19th move in the past 7 years. Alix had learnt not to get used to anywhere for too long. She was luckily good at making friends, not that she was great at keeping them. She often felt bad about it but it wasn't her fault her father was military. Her dad had said this was the last move, he made it clear to his commanding officers that the family couldn't take the moves anymore. He said that they were going to be here for a very long time. Alixia didn't believe him, not that she thought her dad was lying but she thought it was too good to be true. Her Dad, Logan Porter, had got a civil service positions specialising in logistics, not far from their new house. Alixia had no idea what that meant but it sounded important.
Alix gets up off her bed and opens one of the boxes sitting on the floor. It was all her clothes; she unpacks them and hangs them up. Next box, hobbies. When you're a kid who moves a lot, it helps to have something to occupy your time. Something that can't leave you. Alixia had loads: baseball, comic collecting, singing, dancing, gymnastics. She also was one of the few kids in the world who loved school. The way her 11-year-old mind saw it; it was something else she could hold on to. Plus, it made her mom and dad proud. "Good job, princess!" her dad would say when she got yet another A+ on a paper.
Alixia put her comic collection away on her new shelf, in numerical order of course. She tried to put some more memorabilia away on the top shelf, but she couldn't reach. She stretched hard trying to get it, then suddenly she was lifted off the ground and put her lucky baseball bat on it, "rooms looking good, solider" her older brother Jaxson said. Jaxson was much older than her, about 16. Jaxon was very protective of Alix, he always made sure she was safe. Raised in a military household, you learn a sense of honor and duty real fast, "thanks Jax"
"Want help putting your posters up?"
"Um, no thank Jax. I can do it"
"Okay, if you change your mind, gimme a shout" Alixa went back to the box and put out her dance trophies from a good three states and her favourite albums. She put her 2nd place science trophy and 1st place medal, still in its case, on her desk. There was a gentle knock at the door. It was her mom. She came in and looked around, "got yourself all unpack Lixy?" Alixia looked a lot like her mother, both had similar heart shaped faces and dazzling blue eyes expect her mother, Mallory, was blonde and Alix was a brunette like her father.
"Yes Momma" her mother sat on Alix's bed, she patted the space next to her gesturing for Alix to come and sit with her. Alix jumps up onto the bed and sits with her mom. "I know you know the whole speel about make new friends and do good in school, talk to me and your father about anything that bothers you, but it always applies. We might be here for a while"
"You said that last time" her mom became quiet. She had said that before, it was hard to predict where they would send Logan. "I know I did, but last time you daddy didn't have the job he has now. He's taken a civilian posting"
"Mal!" Logan called from downstairs. Alix's mother got off the bed and peered down the hall, "yeah?!" she replied.
"Come down here a second"
"Your father can be such a pain" she moaned; Alix chuckled. Mal smiled and opened her hand for Alix, "come on petal. Let's see what your father wants" Alixia goes over to her mother and walks down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, Alix saw her father writing down something on a piece of paper. He turns and smiles when he saw her, "there's my princess" Logan called walking over and giving his daughter kiss on the cheek and a ruffle on the head, "guess who just called?" He said to his wife, she looks back at him puzzled "Griswald" he said with a smile
"Madge and Cole?" Mallory exclaimed excitedly
"One and the same" Logan said "they're actually based just around the corner. Ain't that crazy"
"Well how about that" Mallory replied
"what going on" Jaxson said, he had come downstairs after he heard all the chattering. Mallory turned and said "Jaxson, you remember the Griswalds?"
"Dad's army buddy? Sure, I would go over and help on BBQs. Why?" he asked
"Papa just said they live around the corner now" Alix said. Jaxson smiled, he had fond memoeries of meeting up with them when he was little, "oh what!? no way?!" he exclaimed. Alix felt slightly out of the loop, "um Mamma, who are the Griswalds". It had only now occurred to Mallory that her daughter probably wouldn't remember them seeing as she was only 2 when they had to move, Jaxson was 7, "oh I don't suppose you would remember Lixy, you were very little" Logan gestured to Alixia to follow him. He sat her down on the sofa and showed her a photo, it was a old photograph of her father and a man she very vaguely remembered, "Cole and I used to work with each other down in Bragg, best friend for the longest time" Logan said "we write to each other every now and then, but it'll be nice to see him again. Oh and Mal, they've a son now. Hes a little younger than Lix, Gus, who also goes to Third Street"
"Oh that will be nice Alix, at least you'll know someone"
"How young is 'a little younger'"
"I think Cole said Gus is in fourth grade"
"Fourth grade? Dad I'll be in sixth grade. I don't mind meeting him but its hardly going to be able to help me with work or anything?"
"She's got a point" Jaxson muttered. Mallory shot him a death glare and he went back to looking at his phone.
"Nonsense sweetheart" her dad chuckled. Sometimes Alix felt her parents had forgotten what being a kids was like.
Alix helped her parents finish unloading the vans and getting the house all set up. They got a takeaway that night, a treat. Chinese takeout. She wolfed down her dumplings and rice and got very sleepy and took an early night before her big first day at Third Street tomorrow.
Alexia wakes the next morning and gets straight into her morning routine. Takes a quick shower, brushes teeth, gets dressed into her favourite white small t-shirt and blue spaghetti strap dress, pulls her long brown hair into a high bun letting her full fringe frame her face, packs her military combat sachet and then heads downstairs for breakfast. She goes to the shoe rack and grabs her all black sneakers and laces them up. She hurries to the kitchen where her mom had made pancakes, "big breakfast for a big day" she says serving Alix her pancakes, placing a quick kiss on her head. "Morning troops" her father called, already fully dressed in army gear. He kissed his wife good morning and sat down at the table next to his kids, "excited for the big day?" he asked Alix
"I guess?"
"You guess?"
"Dad, you're saying it like this is the first new school I've been to before. We've moved 19 times in the last 7 years"
"It's not been 19" Logan scoffed. Alix chewed and swallowed her pancakes; she took a big gulp of orange juice. She took a deep breath in and recited, "Bragg, Hood, Lewis, Drum, Carson, Riley, Bragg again, Hood again, Campbell, Stewart, Bliss, Benning, Drum again, Eustis, Polk, Bliss again, Knox, McCoy and Meade"
"Woah. Has it really been 19?" Logan muttered, guilt rising in his stomach.
"16, if you discount duplicates" commented Jaxson as he finished off his pancakes. Logan sipped his coffee, still uneasy that he's made his family move 19 times, he cleared his through trying to not think about it too hard "I'm dropping you off today kiddo," he said to Alix, "I wanted to meet the principle and get you settled. Jax want a lift?"
"Nah thanks, dad I was gonna walk" Jax replied kissing Alix on her temple and putting his plate in the sink.
"Too cool to ride with your ol' man. I see how it is" Logan said, acting overly dramatic making stabbing motions towards his heart. Jaxson rolled his eyes, "bye" he calls. Logan turned back to Alix, "all packed little one"
"Yes sir" he called, gesturing to her bag. Logan looks at his watch: 07:15. Logan drank the rest of his coffee, "alrighty lets go". Alix grabbed her bag and kissed her mom goodbye. Alix got into the back seat of her dad's SUV.
The familiar guitar riff of "Jolene" by Dolly Parton fills the car, and Logan glances at Alixia through the rearview mirror. A smile spreads across his face, knowing how much she loves this song. He turns up the volume.
Alixia's eyes light up as she hears the opening chords. She begins to sway and sing along, her voice surprisingly powerful for an eleven-year-old. Alixia loved singing, "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene," she sings, each note carrying a depth of emotion that belies her age, "I'm begging of you please don't take my man". Her singing is soulful and real, making anyone listening truly believe the heartfelt plea in the lyrics. As the song continues, Alixia's smile never fades. She sways along as she sings with such conviction and passion.
The song finishes just as they pull into the parking lot. Alixia takes a deep breath, still smiling, as the last note fades away.
Alix got out of the car, putting her rucksack on her back. She jumped suddenly at the booming sound of her Dad's voice "Cole!" Logan bellowed. She peered around the car to see two men hugged tightly, slapping each other on the back furiously. Alix hadn't seen her Dad this happy in years. Cole looked over Logan's shoulder and gasped "My god. Little Alix" he said starting at her in awe. He walked over to her and knelt to eye level "last time I saw you sweetheart you were just a baby. Grown into a lovely young lady I see" Alix blushed and replied "thank you Lieutenant"
Alix saw a boy standing off to the side. He was short, slender, blond hair boy with gray square-shaped glasses. He wore an olive T-shirt tucked into dark green pants and military level polished squeaky brown shoes. The boy seemed shy and a bit cowardly yet brave. Logan turned to see what Alix was staring, "you must be Gus?" He said to the boy who was standing so ridged thought he might explode "pleasure to meet you soldier" he said saluting the boy
"Thank you sir. Happy to meet you too sir" guy responded firmly. Logan gave a deep chuckle "at ease kiddo, this isn't a court martial" Gus relaxed slightly. The two grown up sat on a bench near the school and had a good natter about all the things they'd missed whilst being away.
"Hi"
"Hi, hi" Gus stuttered
"how long you been here?"
"Not too long, but it's a real neat school and the teachers are all really nice, well apart from Miss Finster and Principal Prickly, sometimes, but Miss Grotke is really nice but she wont teach you because you're a sixth year. The kids are all friendly, apart from the fifth years and the sixth years and Randall but being a sixth year you'll probably have no problems" he blurted out. Alix just looked at him stunned. Gus went bright red and ran to his dad's truck and locked himself in the backseat.
Hearing the commotion, the Dad's came over. Logan glanced at his watch, "oh lord, I better take her in to see the principle. We must catch up at some time"
"I know Midge has missed Mal too, id love to see Jaxson too. Little tyke"
"Little tyke is now 16. Dinner. We'll plan it!" he called out, ushering Alix into the school. Alixia sits with her father outside the Principals office. The door opens and out walks a man wearing a dark grey suit; grey pants, grey jacket and dark grey shoes but with a pink shirt and a green tie. He wore orange half-rimmed glasses atop his a long nose, he had a black mustache and balding black hair. Logan stood up sharply, Alix stood up next to him, "Lieutenant Porter, pleased to meet you. I'm Peter Prickly, I'm the principal at third street" said Principal Prickly extending his hand to Logan and shaking it
"Yes, sir. It's nice to meet you, Principal Prickly"
"You must be Alixia?"
"Yes sir" she smiles meekly and nods. Prickly gestures to his office and the three walk in, with Prickly closing the door behind them. Prickly sits in his chair and Alixia and her father sit opposite him. Prickly smiled warmly, "So, Alixia, welcome to Third Street School! We're excited to have you here. How are you feeling about your first day?"
"Fine sir. Mostly excited. I've moved around a lot"
"Yes, I can see from your records" Prickly hesitated, he was looking on his desk for Alixia's records "I just had them here, what the devil. Lemon!" he called and as if she knew he had lost them, Miss Lemon appeared next to him holding the file. Principle Prickly was too busy looking to notice until he looked up and jumped at the sudden, almost instant, appearance of her. He cleared his throat "thank you Miss Lemon, now. Ah yes, 19 times, my lord that's a lot. Moving around can be tough, but I'm confident you'll fit in here in no time. We have a wonderful community of students and teachers who will be more than happy to help you settle in." no sooner than his complimentary words on the community, did three fifth-graders appear out of nowhere, like an apparition from the lord, right outside his office spraying 'principal prickly can suc my prick' in black paint on the wall. Prickly saw Alixia staring outside the window and turned to look outside, sighed in dismay. He pressed a buzzer on his desk, "Finster, I've got three fifth graders outside my office who think their comics" he looked up at Logan and smiled meekly, "apologies, running a tight ship is harder than it seems"
"I understand that, kids are a nightmare. I appreciate your kind words, Principal Prickly. We've heard good things about this school. Alixia's been through a lot of transitions, and we're hoping she finds a good place here"
"We'll do our best to make her feel at home. I've assigned your daughter to Mr Kowalski's class. He's an excellent teacher and very spirited. I think she'll enjoy his class" Prickly leant forward, talking to Alixia directly, "and don't hesitate to come to me if you have any concerns or need anything. My door is always open. Now, do you have any questions for me?" Alixia thought for a moment, "um, not at the moment" she replied. Prickly smiles and says, "well if you think of any let your teacher or myself know. I'll get Menlow to walk you to Mr Kowalski's class and introduce you" Alix stood up and left the room. She was greeted by a boy, not a grown-up as she expected. He wore a pair of traditionally nerdy glasses, a sky-blue shirt tucked into blue jeans and a blue and red stripped tie. "Menlow, this is Alixia, she'll be starting in Mr. Kowalski's class, take her there and make sure she gets settled" Prickly says sternly.
"Yes sir, if you'll follow me this way miss"
"Knock em dead, solider!" Logan called down the hall
"Bye Dad" she yelled back. Menlow
He knocks on the door and opens the door, "Sorry to interupt Mr Kowalski but I have a new student for your class, I trust you can get her settled"
"Of course Menlow" menlow leaves closing the door behind him. Alix stands at the front of the class, a sea of eyes staring at her. Her teacher, , was a older man. Grey horseshoe hair and a gentle smile. He was eccentric, wears a tweed jacket with elbow patches.
"Welcome my dear, why don't you introduce yourself" he said smiling
"Hi, my name is Alixia"
"Alixia? Hah, more like a-loser" muttered a boy in the front row. He got a small chuckle from his peers. "Hunter" warned Mr Kowalski. Alixia smirked and looked at the boy dead in the eyes, "that's funny" she chuckled "find that on some laffytaffy, did we?"
"uh.." the boy stuttered and began sinking in his seat. Alix stepped over to his desk, "Hunter, was it? You see Hunter, I've moved 19 times in 7 years, this isn't my first rodeo so if you do want to mock me, at least come up with something better than a first grade heckle" there was an audible 'oooo' from the other kids in the classroom. Alixia takes the empty chair that they had left for her, she drops her back and gets her supplies out. Mr Kolwalski, trying hard to hide his grin, cleared his throat "right, where were we?"