*All
characters copyrighted to Poseidon Simons
Prologue
"Kia, you can't be serious!!" Player couldn't stop staring at the paper she
held in her hand. It shouldn't be
possible! She couldn't have done what
she said she did!!!
Kia merely smiled and handed him the paper, "I'm
serious, James. Starting Monday of next
week, you're going to school. It's high
time you learned how to read!"
"But I'll be a class with a bunch of
kids!!!!" He brought the paper up
close to his face and tried desperately to read it. He understood about every fourth word, and
only if that word was five letters or less, "I can't be in a class with
eight year olds!!!!!"
"Good, because this is a class
of seven year olds. It won't be that bad, James. Trust me." Kia snatched the paper away and read it to
him, knowing full well he wouldn't understand it otherwise, "This
form is a legal document allowing James Elias to attend
"Disabilities?!!! Kia,
what did you tell them?!!!"
Kia glanced up from the paper, "I didn't tell
them about the radiation or the medicine, James. I told only them your age, the reason why you
can't read, and that they should treat you like every other kid in your
class. It won't be the end of the world,
James."
"Yeah right. What'll happen if I become an animal during a
class?" Player snorted and leaned
back on the couch.
Kia chuckled, "That? How do you expect that to be any different from the other kids? Chances are they will start copying you! Stop worrying, James." She cleared her throat and finished reading
the paper. James put a hand on his
forehead and sighed. There was no way
he'd be getting out of this!
Saturday...Kia walked around the store and picked out
some pencils and an eraser for Player.
As an afterthought she put them back and found some with musical symbols
on them to make him happier. She also
bought him a small child's book abut music and a small
music box so that he had something to play with in his free time. It would make him more open to the idea of
learning to read. Player was sitting on
a bench at the entrance to the store and jumped up when he saw her, "Kia,
I still don't want to do this! Why can't
you just home-school me?!"
She sighed, "James, we tried that. I don't have the patience to teach
you...here." She handed him the
pencils, "I thought that you might want something to do with music, so I
bought you those and a kids book about music. There's also this if you agree to
go..." Kia pulled the small music
box out of her bag, "Will this help?"
Player eyed the music box with interest, "What
song is on it?"
"Wind it up and see." She pointed to the lever on the side of the
music box. As he started winding it up,
Kia grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the store, C'mon, Player. We've got a practice today."
The dreaded day arrived almost too quickly. He softly whimpered as Kia brought him
inside. She'd be leaving him alone soon,
"It's only
two classes. It's only two classes. I can handle two classes...right?" There were kids running all around them, each
one heading to their next class. Most of
the kids stopped right in the middle of the hall to talk to a friend, some of
them even pointed in James' direction, but none spoke to him. He'd smile slightly at them and ignore them
afterwards, but deep down he was scared...he was old enough to be a teacher
here, yet he would be learning right alongside kids...he'd have to obey the
teacher; he wouldn't be in charge anymore.
There were so many strange things to think about, so many ifs in the
situation that he didn't want to go through with this. Would he even be able to learn?! They reached a room where a dilophodragon sat behind a desk.
"May I help you?" She asked.
Kia answered for him, "Yes. We need to see the principal, if we
may?"
The dilophodragon pointed
to the door behind her and went back to her work. Kia ushered Player in before he could turn
around to leave, "Kia..." He
whispered as they walked, "Is this really neccessary?"
"Of course it is, silly." Kia grinned, "How else is the teacher in
your class going to know why you're here?"
"But I--"
"Hello?"
Player turned to the voice, doing his best to look calm as he sat down
in a chair. A gryphon with brown and
black feathers, as well as black hair, smiled at them from behind his desk,
"What brings the two of you here?"
Kia stepped forward, "I've signed James up for
two classes here, and I would be grateful if you could show him where to
go. I have to run home." She turned and walked to the door, patting
Player's shoulder as she left.
He was alone now.
The gryphon got up and shook his hand, "James Elias...come with me."
He got up and followed the principal out of his office and back into the
halls. It was strangely quiet now...not
a child was there. Classes had started,
leaving an eerie silence where they walked.
Their footsteps echoed somewhat as Player was led to his class,
"You teacher is Mrs. Hall. Ever
since your application came in she has been preparing herself, so don't be
surprised if she ignores you slightly.
We were told to treat you like every other student we have here, and so
we shall."
Player gulped, "Yipee..." He mumbled to himself, "It's just two classes. I
only have to bear this for three hours and then I can leave." The door opened...