Foreword I

It was a great relief to the one hundred and seventy-nine high school graduates as they climbed off the school buses for the last time. Their class trip was over, they were done with school a new batch of citizens. No longer the future of the country, but it's new leaders. All of them ready to make their place in the world. Most of them ready to go off to college. None of them knowing fully what the future had in store for them. Really the only thing any of them were sure about was there would soon be a party at Manus Manor.

Harry Manus was the youngest son of a rich family and had been given the manor just outside of the small town so he would have a place to stay during school. He and seven of his friends had lived there since seventh grade. More often then not the weekends were marked by jubilant celebrations. Most of the Junior and Senior class could be found at these events, all were welcome. Through the years the cops had been called by over protective parents many times, but not once had they discovered a single reason to be there, except for the time the entire department had been invited for the Veterans' Day party. The company that Harry kept always seemed to be of the most respectable sort. At the very least in his presence. After all, everyone is out for their selves.

Of Harry's true friends, and the other residents of Manus Manor, the most well known at the school was Lacey Sallter. She was the top of her class, and a year younger too. She had fiery red hair and an attitude to match it. Never once did she speak harshly to a fellow peer unless they truly deserved it. Even then it wasn't just scurrilous remarks, the most of it was her calling on them to do better. Lacey was also a straight-A student, she was valedictorian, class president, and helped to plan almost every event in the school.

Next was Victoria Melas, she was always ready to have fun. Unlike most of the "popular" kids at the school she hardly bothered with technology. Instead of watching T.V. for hours on end she's usually outside wandering through the woods in search of an adventure. How she manages to be known by everyone at the school seems to be a mystery to her, she never spends time talking to anyone except for her friends in Manus Manor and whoever takes the initiative to start a conversation with her.

Then there is Markus Song, probably the strongest guy in the school (not to be mistaken for the strongest in the school). He's the mystery man of the residents, no one at the school really knows anything about him. He mostly keeps to himself and has a small stature that makes him hard to notice. However anyone who had the misfortune of starting an argument with him would very soon realize that Markus has a truly loud voice and can make himself sound like thunder in the blink of an eye.

Of course, every group of friends has a joker, and the residents were no exception, at least not as long as Tomás Ramirez lives in the manor. Tomás is the most irritating student in the school, or so his teachers have claimed on many occasions. He never pays any attention in class and is constantly cracking jokes, yet not once has he missed an assignment or let a grade fall below an A-. Tomás was best known for his satirical stand up comedy at a school talent show that nearly got him suspended for two weeks and left the principle in a red faced state for a day or two.

Of the eight residents of Manus Manor, the closest to disreputable was Carrisa Beddor. A stunning girl, woman now, who's beauty seemed to be bestowed upon her from Aphrodite herself. Sadly with beauty such as Carissa's came a sad side effect, she was nearly as vain as Narcissus. Her friends found that the question they asked her the most frequently seemed to be, "So what's this one's name?" She had never once found someone as beautiful as she deserved. Not all things about her were bad though, even with her sense of self importance she took it upon herself to help he debate club. First people complained behind her back, thinking that Carrisa was nothing more than a pretty face, soon though they found their selves feeling rather sheepish for their assumptions, Carrisa proved to have something in the ways of a silver tongue, and even the glibbest remarks seemed like the purest honesty when she spoke.

The roughest and toughest of the whole lot was Sally Ibanez, even Markus would step down from an argument with her if it seemed like it might become physical. Sally was a boxer, and an excellent one too. In the six years she had competed she only had lost one match, and that was her first match. Sport was her passion, and her one true love; until her junior year that is, when she first started to notice a fellow resident. Even after being told by him that she was flawed and that he would not accept such imperfections she stood by his side, there was not a moment she was not there for him.

Despite all the talents and virtues of the group, if anything was to be done right then it was William stein that they went to. He was a savant, everything he put his mind to a task it was as good as done, nothing could prove a difficulty to him (except for lawn chairs that is, he never could figure those out). Of all his many talents it was music that held his heart. He could fly across every scale, and he could switch from classical music to jazz in a heartbeat. He was a perfectionist though, and was excruciatingly honest at times, when he felt that someone wasn't doing good enough he would flat out tell them. This caused more than a little friction between him and people he spoke to, if not for Sally standing faithfully by his side he probably would have received quite a few hard nocks.

When these eight had all gotten off the bus they walked to the front of the school's west wing and waited for their peers to gather around. Much to the chagrin of the teachers who, for the past forty-eight hours had fruitlessly attempted to command the attention of the students, Harry lifted his hand into the air and a hush swept across the one hundred and seventy-one fresh adults as if they were smooth stone and Harry's command were water rushing over them all. Everyone paid careful attention to the eight residents, wondering who would be in charge of the final party. Victoria Melas stepped up to speak.

"In line with the current events in our lives we will be celebrating adventure, it is only fitting since we have just began the adventure that we are told is adulthood," she paused to let people share a few jokes. "So I invite you all to come to Manus Manor to have some fun, we will be wandering the grounds partying in a proper mythical fashion.

"Furthermore, the following day we will be leaving for an adventure, this is more of a side event, but anyone who wants to go is welcome to. The plan is to go on a thirty five day backpacking trip starting from the manor. So if you do intend to join us in our adventure bring your gear to the party. The party takes place in seven days, I hope to see you all there."

"Everyone started cheering and talking amongst each other, most parties were focused in the house,so the fact that the grounds were open was exciting news to all. While the crowd spoke gayly of their plans the eight residents of Manus Manor made their way to the parking lot, saying goodbye to everyone as they passed. As if on cue a limousine pulled up to the curb and the residents climbed inside. As Markus climbed in Rudy Barkis, the driver, closed the door behind him. Soon they were on their way. Not to the manor, they were driving to Buckley first, it was their tradition that at the end of each school year they went and ate a meal at Wally's Drive-in.

It wasn't a long drive, and very quickly they found their selves stepping onto the sidewalk by their favorite burger joint. They all ordered their meals and sat down to their first dinner as adult members of society.For a moment nobody spoke, they sat silent and let the music and din of their favorite burger joint wash over them. It was to the surprise of all when William broke the silence.

"Contrary to popular beliefs, I have yet to observe any one single difference between today and when we were considered to be students. It is a shame really. I had so hoped that a few people would have, at the very least, matured just a little." There was a brief pause as they all tried to figure out the meaning behind William's statement. It was all made clear when the mischievous voice of Tomás asked "What?" in a slightly defensive manner.

This drew attention to Tomás as he removed the fries from his mouth which he had fashioned into tusks. The table burst into laughter and they remained in this state of frivolity for the remainder of the meal. The mood of the residents kept to this theme throughout the drive back to the manor as well. Even William, who generally enjoyed maintaining a serious demeanor and brevity when it came to socializing was telling jokes and laughing.

When they reached the house they all thanked Rudy for the ride as they stepped one by one into the bright sunlight. The day was late, yet it still felt like a midsummer's day on a tropical island. Rather than enjoy the sun they quickly moved inside, even though the weather was simply delightful they were tired and ready to freshen up. So once inside they all went their ways, most headed to their rooms right away. Some had other things to do first though. Sally followed William, they were still trying to decide where the best place to hide during the party would be. Carrisa went to the kitchen first, as per usual she hadn't been able to finish her food, so she put what was left in the refrigerator before going to her room.