Mora (Thia)

Time went by and the first of September drew nearer. Jay remained in the sick-bay for some days, and I spent most of my free time researching American schools. I'd known nothing about them when I first moved here, and it was getting even more confusing the more I found out. They don't do things in years like in England, but grades, and normally grades last a year

but sometimes don't, depending on how fast you move up. It's all very confusing. Both dad and Cat say I'll move up real quick, but I don't know.

Jay just got out of sick-bay the day before the first day of school, but they still wouldn't let him go with the rest of us. Dad said he'd drive us in his open-top Jeep. So at half-past eight, we said goodbye to Jay and the others and jumped in the car.

It was quite a fun ride. If I wasn't so nervous, I would've enjoyed it. I kept wondering where I'd be put. Would I go straight to first grade, or would we be tested first to find out which grade we belonged in. Or would it be to do with age, seeing as we'd joined American school about two years later than those who grow up here.

The school looked pretty big from the outside, and there were already lots of children running, playing and laughing outside.

Sam and Noaba both went off immediately to explore, but I stayed with dad a little while longer. He crouched down in front of me.

"Nervous?"

"A little."

"You'll be fine."

"But how will I know where to go?"

"Don't worry, you'll find out. They'll look after you."

I assumed by 'they' he meant the teachers. I nodded, then placed my arms on dad's shoulders.

"I know you'll make me proud." He whispered in my ear.

"I love you daddy."

It didn't take me long to find the others, and before much longer the other children were lining up outside different class rooms, but since we didn't have a class yet, we waited at the back. I looked back and saw my father standing just outside the gate. He waved. I waved back.

Then the other children started going into the class rooms and we were left outside with who I assumed was the head teacher. She was a tall woman with short dark brown hair and a determined face, greenie-blue eyes and thin lips.

"So," she said, with a slightly sharp voice. Placing her hand on her hips. "You're the new kids from England."

We all nodded. She smiled and for a while, her lips seemed slightly less thin.

"Welcome to new-tech. I'm Miss Zaffin, and I'll be like your guide for your first few weeks here."

"So you're not a teacher?" I asked.

"More like a tutor." She answered.

"What will happen to us now?" Noaba asked, a little timidly. "Which grade will we be in?"

"You'll start at grade one for the first week, then you'll be tested to see where you'll be for the rest of the year."

"We'll stay together though, won't we? In the same grade?" Asked Sam.

"Seeing as you're all the same age, it's highly unlikely you'll be in different grades.

But there are different levels and classes for each grade, and I can't guarantee you'll be in the same class."

We looked at each other.

"Are you ready to get started?"

We decided we were, and Miss Zaffin led us into the school building. Before entering, I looked back one last time at the gate. Dad was still there.

Miss Zaffin led us into one of the first grade classrooms,

where the kids were all five or younger, and introduced us.

We then sat down at a table together at the front, and tried to listen to the teacher, a tall, dark haired man that looked as though he could have been Zaffin's brother. Half-way though the talk, however, I noticed another girl, a little older than us, running up to the school out the window. Miss Zaffin met here there and talked to her as she had to us, but by the time she'd been led into the class, there was no more time for introduction;

so miss Zaffin just quietly led her into the classroom, and sat her down at the table at the front by the door, which just happened to be the one we were sat at.

The teacher kept talking for quite a while, something about pencils and paper and drawing. It sounded I bit boring to me. When he had finished, we were all given a piece of paper and self-sharpening pencil, and a simple picture to try and copy.

"Brilliant!" I said. "This should be fun."

Sam and Noaba both laughed.

"Believe me, it's better than getting no education at all." Said the girl sitting with us.

"Are you new around here as well then?" asked Noaba "It's just you seem a bit old to be just starting."

"Well, we've always been travelling around too much to find a school. The Emperor's only just letting me have one now."

"Who's the Emperor? Is that what you call your dad?" I asked.

"No, but he looks after me — sort of."

"But not enough to give you an education?"

"Well, it's been hard. I'm glad I'm getting one now though. But you should understand, you said you were new two."

"We're new here, but not to education. We used to go to school in England." I told her. "I'm Thia, by the way." I added, holding out my hand.

She took it. "Mora. I never used to go to school. At first I didn't think I needed it, but it got a bit lonely after a while, with only the Emperor and my dolly to talk to."

We laughed around for a bit.

"So, where've you been, travelling I mean?" Asked Sam.

"Oh, everywhere. We never stay in one place for too long, but the Emperor said we might have to stay here a little longer than usual."

"How come?" I asked.

She shrugged. "He doesn't always make things clear."

"Doesn't sound like a very good father figure to me."

"I told you, he's not my father. I just live with him, that's all."

Noaba shrugged.

"Don't mind her." I told Mora. "These two are probably just jealous because they don't really have a father in their life. Except maybe my father."

Mora looked at me. "What's he like, your father."

I smiled. "He's the best. He's so kind and brave. Though he can be a little strict at times, though never harsh or cruel."

The rest of the day went by rather quicker than expected. Before long it was time to pack up and leave.

I wasn't surprised, when we got outside, to see my dad waiting for us by the gate.

In fact I probably wouldn't have been surprised if he'd been waiting there since he dropped us off. We said goodbye to Mora and made our way back to the Jeep. I looked round the playground at all the waiting parents, then spotted Mora, walking away on her own.

"Isn't someone coming to pick you up?" I called after her.

She looked back and shook her head.

"But what about that — Emperor?"

"He won't pick me up from anywhere. It's o.k. though. I know my way home." And she walked off out of the school and out of sight.