The week before the students arrived passed quickly. I spent most of the time in the library organizing and shelving books. Also, I pulled the books Laura would need for her language arts classes and set them aside. I also kept working on going up the ladder a few more times. While I was not comfortable on the ladder I could do it without breaking down. Caden caught me doing it once and scolded me but I just told him I had to, it was my job. He glared but stopped scolding.
Caden also made sure I ate. The first few days, I became so lost in my job and checking out the library selection that Caden would show up to escort me to lunch and dinner. Finally, I just set a timer on my phone for meals. When school started Caden would be too busy to fetch me. After the first day of me beating him to the meals, he took it as a challenge and would try to be waiting before the timer went off.
Then Saturday arrived. Most of the students would arrive this day, including the eight girls I would watch over. This would give them a day to get settled before classes started. Esther hired a larger boat to ferry the students to the island. It could carry a dozen people at a time. Caden would spend the day on the boat as a chaperone to the students. He had taught at the school for a while and most of the students knew him.
I decided to stay in my room with the door open. I could read and when my girls showed up I could go introduce myself. After breakfast, I watched Caden leave to go get the first boatload of students, then walked up to my room. I settled on the bed reading one of my favorite books, Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn, as I half-listened for anyone approaching.
A little bit later, I heard giggling sounds come from the room next to me. Standing up, I walked to door number two and knocked. A cute brunette opened the door.
“Hi,” I smiled at her and the blond girl just beyond her, “I’m Miss Delfian, your hall mother.”
The brunette smiled, “I’m Kylie Jones, and this is Emma Wright.”
“Great, I’m right next door if you need anything,” I stopped the door before Kylie shut it, “I would like for all of us to get to know each other, so please meet in my room after dinner tonight.” After the girls nodded, I returned to my room.
The next boatload brought three more of my girls. Two entered room one, while the third entered room six.
I decided to start with room one and knocked. This time a tall girl with curly brown hair answered the door. A black-haired girl walked up next to her.
“Hi, I’m Miss Delfian, your hall mother.”
The black haired girl said, “I’m Emily Thorne.”
“I’m Aubree Fregle,” said the other.
“Great, I’m in room four if you need anything. Also, I would like all of us to get to know each other in my room after dinner.”
After they nodded, I went to room six and knocked. This time a girl dressed in black, with black boots, black lips, and dyed black hair answered the door saying, “What?”
I smiled, “I’m Miss Delfian, you hall mother.”
“Great,” she drawled and shut the door.
I stared at the door for a second then knocked. “Go away!” I heard her shout. Taking a breath, I knocked again. Again she shouted, “Go away!”
“No,” I replied and kept knocking. After a little bit, she opened the door and glared at me, “What do you want?”
“First, your name?” I asked.
She stared at me before saying shortly, “Jackie Johnson.” This time I caught the door before she shut it.
Honestly, this goth-looking girl was making me laugh. Giving in to my smile. I said, “Nice to meet you, Jackie. I’m in room four if you need anything.
“Sure,” she muttered and tried to shut the door again, but I held it open, continuing, “I want all us girls to get to know each other, so meet in my room after dinner.”
“Fine,” she muttered and this time I let her shut the door. Shaking my head and chuckling I went back to my room.
No one else in my rooms arrived before lunch, but I could hear an almost constant knocking on room two. It seemed everyone wanted to say hi to Emma and Kylie.
After lunch, I noticed the door to room three slightly ajar. Walking to it, I knocked lightly and two blond girls turned and looked at me. “Hi, I’m Miss Delfian, your hall mother.”
“I’m Melody Stone,” said the blond girl as she carefully put down a guitar.
“I’m Elizabeth Lorde, but I prefer Liz,” said the other.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, “I would like all of us to get to know each other, so please come to my room after dinner.” When they nodded, I continued, “I’m in room four if you need anything.”
Most of the afternoon passed without my final student arriving. I wondered if she would be one of the few arriving on Sunday. Then just before dinner, I heard the door to room six open and a voice exclaim, “Jackie?! Yay! I’m so glad we are roommates again.”
Getting up I made my way to room six and knocked. Jackie answered the door with her usual, “What?”
I smiled at her, “I’d like to meet your roommate.” She moved out of the way and I smiled at a short girl with shocking red hair. She had the freckles and pale skin to match. “Hi, I’m Miss Delfian, your hall mother.”
“I’m Christina Williams,” she replied.
“Great, if you need anything I am in room four. Also, I would like all of us to get to know each other after dinner in my room.”
Christina nodded and I left to let her finish unpacking. I needed to finish prepping my room for the influx of girls in just about another hour.
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