Memories

The girl stared up at the brick building in front of her, intimidating in its vastness. It reminded her of a prison. Of couse, she wouldn't be confined to a small cell for most of the duration of her 'incarceration'. Nor would she be forced to consume prison slop. Consuming the slop was optional. Of course, staring up at the building that would be her 'home away from home', she felt slightly nostalgic.

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A girl of about five stared up at the daunting building in front of her. The thought of it being her 'home away from home' for the next eight years (or so she thought) was a scary one. Everything her brother had said about it was terrifying. He had told her that the teachers were strict and the food nauseating. She knew better than to believe most things that her brother told her, but still...

Her grip on her mother's hand tightened as she looked at the other people around her. From children close to her age, to teenagers around thirteen or fourteen, they all stood around, laughing and talking, not afraid at all. They all looked similar: the girls in their crisp white button-down blouses and plaid skirts (or, in some cases, plaid dresses), their tights white, their Mary-Janes black and shiny; the boys in their crisp white collared button-down shirts and dress pants (or dress shorts), their socks the darkest black, and their dress shoes black and shiny as well.

A bell rang, and the surronding people began to head inside. The girl gripped her mother's hand even more as they began their walk.

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A year later, the girl was now six, and was staring up at a smaller, but still intimidating, building than she had around this time last year. That summer, her family had moved three states away from her sunny, dry hometown of Las Vegas, to this cold, rainy city in the Pacific Northwest. She had been angry, but there was nothing she could do.

This place was so new to her. It was certain that she wouldn't know ANYONE in this new place. 'At least I finally got away from Karly,' was the only comforting thought she could manage. Her thoughts were frantic. Her brother hadn't been able to make her afraid of this new school, for he was new here, too, but he hadn't had to. The prospect of change was enough to make the girl want to vomit.

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Four years later, and the girl was now ten. She looked up at a new brick building, not very nervous at all. She was actually feeling quite smug. Her friends were all worried about getting lost, or being late to class. But the girl knew the place almost like the back of her hand. Her brother had been here for two years already, and she had attended events her quite often. She also knew most of the teachers that she would have, for her brother had had them before.

The students were all dressed the same. Their shirts were black, white, red or grey. No piece of clothing was brightly colored. There was a dress code, simlar to a uniform, but not as strict. It was a hated thing to all of the students, especially since it had just been introduced that year.

The girl's three friends from the old brick building stood with her. Although they didn't look it, she was almost certain that they were afraid. This year would be so different from years previous. None of the four girl knew any other people there that were their ages; they only had each other. They were all missing their old friends, and were slightly frightened by the prospect of having to make new ones, as well as deal with people that would be indifferent to them, or, worse, be their enemies.

 

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That last memory had been of three years ago. Now the girl was starting over again. But this time it mattered. Everything was more important now. It was a huge change, and that scared the girl badly. In four years, she'd be starting over once again, but at that time, she wouldn't have her family with her. She'd be pretty much on her own.

"Devon!" the girl heard from behind her. She turned around, and saw her friends Arisa and Emily coming up behind her. They were both smiling, obviously excited for their first day as high school freshmen.

Devon looked around at the other students standing in front of her new school. She saw some familiar faces, smiling and laughing, happy to be back at this place with so many of their friends. Then she smiled as well. Maybe everything would be fine after all.