| Chapter Four Rules, Rules & More Rules |
| The next sound Wendy heard was the door to her room being opened. Wendy lay very still as she watched a tall thin girl with long blonde hair walk in. Wendy figured she must be around twelve or thirteen. She sat a tray of food on the small table that sat between the two beds. "Hi Wendy. I�m your roommate Jessica. Mr. Parker said that when he peaked in a few minutes ago you were still sleeping. He asked me to bring you up some dinner.� Wendy sat up and starred at the tray of food. "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I brought you some potatoes, a vegetable, roll, a piece of fruit and some milk. If I got you something you don't like or if you can't eat it all, I�ll help you finish it. We aren't allowed to throw away any food here," she replied. Wendy didn�t feel very hungry, but Jessica seemed really nice and had gone to a lot of trouble for her. "Yes, I'm hungry,� she replied. Jessica sat the tray down on Wendy�s bed and she took a seat on the other side. As she ate her dinner, she looked around the room. It looked like a pretty nice room for such an old building. The rooms weren't real huge, both beds were against opposite walls with a window between them. The window contained a window seat and as Wendy leaned over and looked out, she could see a courtyard below as well as the entrance to the building. Along the wall that housed the door, sat a small wooden table and two wooden chairs. On another wall, sat a large cabinet for storing clothing and shoes. At the end of her bed there sat a small cedar chest. There were hand drawn pictures pinned to the wall and a few books. This room wasn't so bad and Jessica seemed very nice. "I brought you a wash cloth for your face," she said. "You know, to wipe your eyes with." "What makes you think I needed one?" Wendy asked. "Because everyone that comes here cries on their first day," Jessica Replied. Wendy took the cloth and washed her face, then she ate some more of her dinner. Jessica could tell Wendy couldn�t eat everything, so she started picking on Wendy�s plate. As they sat together, Wendy again noticed the navy blue jumper that Jessica had on. "Does everyone wear the same thing here? �What? Oh! You mean my uniform. All girls under fifteen wear the jumper. After that, we get to wear a plaid skirt instead of the jumper. The boys all wear white dress shirts, navy slacks and blue ties to match.� �Well, I�m not wearing a uniform. I have my own clothes,� Wendy replied. "Wendy, it's not bad wearing these, really it's not. Besides it�s the rules and you really don�t have a choice.� �Well I hate dresses. I like wearing pants.� Well sometimes we get to wear pants when we go on hiking trips in the summer. We can wear shorts even, but all other times, we are required to wear this uniform. Wendy examined Jessica from top to bottom. The clothes did look new and Wendy couldn�t remember the last time she had any new clothes. �When do I get mine?� Wendy asked. �Oh!� Jessica turned and looked at the small clock on the night stand. �I need to get back downstairs. I have kitchen clean up tonight. I�m suppose to take you to see Mr. Parker. Daddy was up here earlier with Mr. Parker, but you were still sleeping. You get your uniforms tonight.� As the girls stood, Wendy noticed Jessica wasn�t much taller than she was. Jessica picked up the tray and headed for the door. �Come on Wendy. I�ll walk with you to Mr. Parkers office. The halls seemed darker than before. The only lights in the hall, were small low light that lined the walls on both sides of the. The lights in the ceiling weren�t on. �It�s dark up here,� Wendy stated. �The ceiling lights come on in the evening from seven until nine thirty at night. They come back on around six in the morning, until eight. The rest of the time, these little dim lights are on. Electricity is expensive and since we are in school or doing other activity, they are kept off. "How long have you been here?" Wendy asked. "I came here when I was nine, just around four years ago," she replied. "Do you like it here?" Wendy asked. "Well, not at first. There are a lot of rules. I know rules are hard to obey when your used to foster homes, and pretty much doing what you want, but I love it now," she replied. "You like it here? Wendy asked. "Yes, I do. I feel safe here and I have a family here too, and as long as I stay out of trouble, I have all the free time I want" Jessica replied. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Jessica sat the empty tray on a chair. �I�ll walk with you to Mr. Parkers office. As the girls approached, Wendy decided she would ask Jessica about this Mr. Parker, since she had been at the school for so long. �Jessica. Is Mr. Parker nice?� Jessica stopped just outside the principals door. �Mr. parker is nice. But Wendy, you don�t ever want to be sent to see him. He is nice, but he won�t hesitate to administer a punishment if you�re disobedient.� Wendy could tell Jessica meant what she said. Her tummy felt funny so she didn�t ask Jessica any more questions about Mr. Parker and what Jessica meant when she said �administer a punishment. Jessica knocked on his door and they heard him give permission to enter. "Good evening sir," Jessica said. Wendy decided to stand behind Jessica. "Good evening Jessi, "He replied. �And where is, well there she is. Come in Wendy and take a seat. Wendy stepped from behind Jessica and slowly walked to the chair she had sat in earlier in the day. "Hi, Wendy said quietly as she looked at the floor. �I hope the two of you have gotten a chance to chat a little?� �Yes sir.� Jessica answered. �Well thank you for bringing her to me, but I think you are still needed in the cafeteria. Am I correct?� �Yes sir.� Jessica smiled at Wendy, then left the room. "I checked on you earlier, but you were sleeping. Do you feel a little better after your nap? Wendy shook her head but kept silent. �Wendy. All children that come to Barrington are allowed an adjustment period. But certain things I expect you to understand from the beginning. One of those rules is how you answer an adult when you are spoken to. you are to respond by saying yes sir, or no sir. Do you understand? This startled Wendy. �Yes sir.� she replied. She didn't know why, but something about his strict voice made her obey. "That is much better. Wendy, with as many children as we have here at Barrington Hall, we have to have rules. These are rules that can't be broken. I want to go over some of them with you. The rest you will learn, by watching. I will give you a some time to learn them. If you break the rules after your adjustment period, you will be punished.� Wendy�s stomach tightened. She wondered if it weren�t to late to try to get out of this place. "You will wake at 7 a.m. and bedtime is 9 p.m. Everyone must be in their rooms by 8:30. If you are roaming around after that time, you best have permission from your house parent. If you don't have permission, then you have broken the curfew, and your house parent will deal with you. The kitchen staff and the six teachers that work here don�t live here. Everyone else lives here. once 8:30 comes, all of the house parents are off duty. There are two house parents that remain in the dorm during the night. If you need one of them for anything or if you need Mr. Johnson, they can get to him, but If you decide to break the rule, they will catch you. I happen to know that the house parent I have assigned you to is very strict, If he gets called after he is off duty, to tend to you, I guarantee you, that it will result in a spanking. Wendy�s eyes widened and her stomach turned to knots. She knew deep in her heart, there would be no way she would let anyone ever spank her again. �As I mentioned before. There are three floors on this side of the building and three on the other side. You are on the girls side and the other three are for the boys. I want to make it perfectly clear, you are never allowed over there. Do you understand that?" he asked. Wendy didn't know what to say. The word �spanking� stuck in her mind. She shook her head no. Mr. Parker raised his brow and waited. �Yes sir. I understand,� she replied. "Any children that break that rule, are dealt with by me, and I deal with it in only one way. With the strap. I am a nice guy and very easy to get along with. My rules are simple and clear, therefore breaking them is not acceptable. �You are to respect this place and every one here, but your house parent is the one that deals with you if you break any of the other rules or if you are disrespectful to others," he continued. Wendy suddenly heard a knock at the door and a very nice looking man entered. He wasn't very old, maybe in his 20's or so, tall with a muscular build, and very cute indeed. "Wendy, This is your house parent, Mr. Johnson." "Hello Wendy," he said as he took a seat next to her. "Hi," she said in a very quiet voice. She wasn�t quite sure what to think of him or if he could indeed be as strict as Mr. Parker said, Wendy didn�t want to get on his bad side. "We were just going over some of the rules, and when we are done, I will let the two of you get acquainted. "Thanks you sir," he replied. "Wendy. On Saturdays we take a bus of kids into town to the park. Once you have earned the privilege, you will be able to go on these trips, providing that you don't loose them due to some kind of punishment. One night a month, we take a group for Ice cream, a movie or roller skating, providing that you have earned it.� M. Parker could tell Wendy seemed a little overwhelmed. �All of this you will learn in time, so don't worry to much. Its almost 7p.m. and you need to get your clothes. Mr. Johnson will take you to the room where they are and get you what you need. Then he will take you to the social room where most of the kids are right now. There you will meet your family unit. Tomorrow you will spend most of the day with them." As Mr. Parker spoke Wendy sat starring at the floor. He felt she wasn�t paying attention as he continued to speak. "Wendy, come over here to me," he demanded in a stern voice. Wendy looked up. His face had turned solemn and his voice, scolding. She looked over to Mr. Johnson for support. �Young lady! When I call you, I expect you to obey.� Wendy stood and walked over to Mr. Parker and stood next to him. �Not listening when you are being spoken to will only get you into trouble. �Mr. Parker took hold of her face and lifted it. �We are glad you are here Wendy, and honey, it will be ok, I know this is hard for you, but in no time you will in your heart, feel right at home, goodnight sweetheart," He tuned her toward Mr. Johnson and they both left the room together. How could someone be so nice but sound so strict and scary. What about Mr.. Johnson? She still didn�t know about him. Was he really that strict? I guess I will know soon, she thought as they walked down the dimly lit halls together. �Where are we going?� she said softly. �We are going to get you some things to wear,� he replied. �Is there any way I could get out of having to wear a uniform sir?� Mr. Johnson looked down at Wendy and laughed. �I�m afraid not sweet pea. Uniforms are part of the rules and all children must wear them.� �May I ask why?� Mr. Johnson opened a door and ushered Wendy inside. �Yes you may ask why, and I shall be more than happy to tell you. Children that dress alike are less likely to pick on others or to say cruel things to one another. The state pays for them as well, and they won�t pay for individual clothing. All is sent right to the school and therefore we have no need to usher dozens of children to malls for clothing.� "I guess I can believe that reason,� she said. Finally she turned and looked around her. �Wow, look at all the clothes, it's like a store in here.� "Yes, but be very careful, Mrs. Feldman doesn't like for us to make a mess in here. We will just get you some pajamas for tonight and your clothes for tomorrow. The rest you can get when Mrs. Feldman comes." Wendy picked her pajamas and her dress, socks, shoes and underclothes for the next day and they left. |
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