Page 23 of Affliction
Knock knock knock.
“Elizabeth. Let’s go! We have to leave in twenty minutes.”
I raise my head off the pillow, “Okay, I’m up!” I shout back and swing the covers off of me, and pull the hair that is stuck to my drool covered cheek off and sit up. Rubbing my eyes, I stare at the uniform that’s draped over the foot of my bed and sigh.
It’s nothing special, just your ordinary private school uniform. A pleated black knee length skirt and a white collared button up shirt with the school emblem sewn onto the left side. Next to that are burgundy colored knee high socks and on the floor are a pair of black Mary Janes.
Today is the first day of my freshman year. It’s also the first day at an entirely new school all together. I have been going to private schools all ofmy life. They’re all the same. They start at kindergarten and go all the way to senior year, with different buildings on the same campus for different ages. I spent kindergarten through eighth grade at Monroe Prep School, by where I used to live. But now that my life has completely changed, so will the school.
I’ve been living with Uncle Nick since Mom and Dad passed away two years ago. He let me stay at Monroe to have a sense of normalcy. He didn’t want me to have to lose my friends on top of my parents, and I’m so thankful for that.
The truth is, I know Uncle Nick would have let me finish out school at Monroe Prep, but it was a forty minute drive from our house, and I could tell it was starting to become exhausting. And I’m okay now.As okay as a girl can be after losing both parents on the same day.So when the topic of school came up at the beginning of summer, I told him that I would like to try going somewhere closer. He was surprised but said “If you really think you’re ready, then that’s what we’ll do. We can always go back if you don’t like it.”
He never tried to push me to move on and was patient with me when I didn’t want to come out of my room for days at a time. He sat and cried with me, and whether he will ever admit it or not, I know he’s stretched himself thin and tired himself out to keep me comfortable. If changing schools will take some of the burden off of him, I will do it.
My parents named Nick my Godfather when I was born, and I’m so lucky that they did. I have always looked at him as a second father. He’s been to every school play, dance recital, Christmas dinner –you name it–Nick was there. I think, or I hope at least, that I’ve helped him as much as he has helped me; Dad was Uncle Nick’s best friend. I’m not the only one who lost them that day.
Sliding out of bed to grab my uniform, I walk into the bathroom to get ready for the day. Once I’m dressed, I brush my long, wavy hair and put it into a half up-half down style. Then I brush my teeth and step back from the counter to examine myself in the mirror; flattening the pleats of my skirt with my hands. Once I’m satisfied with how I look, I walk back into my room and slip into brand new black shoes. Grabbing my backpack and cardigan that matches my socks, I sling the bag over my shoulder and head down stairs. The smell of eggs and bacon lingers in the air as I make my way into the kitchen where I’m greeted by Marie’s warm smile.
“Good morning, Lizzy. How did you sleep?” She asks cheerfully. Marie is the housekeeper that worked for my parents for years before they passed. Except Mom loved cleaning and caring for her own home, so Marie mostly cooked. Uncle Nick hired her after they passed away and she lives here in the house with us. He hired her to make sure she didn’t lose her job, but also to make sure that I had as many familiar people around me as possible.
She’s a short woman, maybe five feet tall with shoes on, dirty blonde hair and warm, dark brown eyes and perfectly straight white teeth. She is in her fifties now, but to me she looks exactly the same as she did when I was little.
“Pretty good.” I unceremoniously drop my backpack on the ground and flop down on a stool at the island where she cooks on the stove.
“Great. How are you feeling this morning? Are you nervous about starting Remington Academy?” She prods.
“A little bit. I’m just ready to get the first day over with.” I say, crossing my arms on top of the island and lay my head back down.
“That’s to be expected, dear. I think it’s going to be a good thing to start somewhere new now that you’re ready,” She plates some scrambled eggs and three pieces of bacon onto a plate and slides it to me. “Hurry on up and eat, you have only a few minutes left before he comes in and rushes you out the door.”
Sitting up, I take the fork from her hand and begin eating my eggs while Marie starts to clean up the kitchen. She hums quietly as she goes around the kitchen, and I watch her silently as I eat. As I pick up the last piece of bacon, Uncle Nick steps into the kitchen.
Today he’s wearing a dark grey suit that stretches over his broad shoulders, black leather shoes and his dark brown hair gelled lightly to push it back from his face. He adjusts the watch on his left wrist and then looks up as I stand from the stool and grab my bag.
“Good morning Princess, are you ready to go?” He asks with his signature warm smile and sparkling chocolate brown eyes.
“Yeah I think so.” Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I walk over to where he stands and then turn to say goodbye to Marie. “Thank you for breakfast Marie, see you after school.”
She shoos me with her hand and smiles. “Go have a great day Lizzy. What would you like for a snack after?” Marie has always had snacks sitting on the table waiting for me to come home and would sit at the table with my parents and I to hear about my day. She has continued the tradition since being here.
“Hmm,” I tap my chin with my forefinger, “Can we please have some fruit salad and iced tea?” I ask.
“Of course. Now off you go. Don’t want to be late.” Her smile widens and then she turns to continue loading the dishwasher.
Ten minutes later Uncle Nick's driver, George, pulls up to the front of Remington Academy. My head rests against my window and I crane my neck to look up at the building. It’s so much bigger than my last school. The main building used to be an old catholic church that they turned into a school. There are three steeples across the front side of the building that look like they’re touching the sky. The one in the middle is just a little bittaller than the others and it has an old clock in the front of it, just above the main entrance.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this, Princess?” My uncle's voice breaks me out of my trance and I turn to look at him. “We can always go back to Monroe. The drive isnota problem.” He smiles and grabs my hand reassuringly.
“No, I’m ready. I think it will be good. We won't have to wake up as early, and George won’t need to drive as far.” I look over to George, who shoots me a wink, then looks back out the windshield.
“George will go wherever we need him to so don’t worry about that. I just want to make sure you’re really okay.” Uncle Nick states, his expression softening as he searches my face for any hint of a lie.
“I promise I’m fine. I’m going to go in. I want to make sure I find my first class.” I reassure him then lean over to kiss him on the cheek, as George steps out of the front seat and comes over to open my door. I step out of the car onto the sidewalk and turn around to look at Uncle Nick.
“Call me if anything happens, or if you just want to leave. I’ll come get you immediately.” He says with a worried look in his eyes. It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous too, but I think he is more so than I am. I smile and shake my head.
“Of course. I will. I’ll see you later. Love ya!” I say and turn to walk into the building. George gives me a pat on the shoulder and a thumbs up, then returns to his position behind the wheel, and the car takes off.
