Early in the morning the following Saturday, Paige crawled to her parents’ room. She knocked quietly and when nobody answered, she tip-toed into the bedroom.
Paige poked her mother gently. Her mother stirred and woke up, startled.
“Paige, what is it?” she whispered.
“I need to go to Rosie’s house. You know, the lady who brought me to the orphanage.” Paige exclaimed.
Her mom nodded her head. Her face was in her pillow. “Sure. Be back by six.”
“Thanks, Mom!” she called, leaving the room.
Then Paige packed a sack lunch and grabbed her wand and spell books (she had been practicing) and opened the garage. She got out her bike and pedaled all the way to Rosie’s house.
“Hello Paige!” Rosie said when Paige knocked on the door. She smiled and greeted her in. “I got a new letter from the principal of Hidden Hollow Academy. He is overjoyed that you are joining them at the Academy.”
Paige giggled happily. “Do you know when I start?” she asked shyly.
Rosie held up a paper. “It says right here.” She pointed to a paragraph on the sheet.
Paige looked at the date. “September ninetieth.” She looked at Rosie desperately. “We only have two weeks!”
Rosie nodded solemnly. “I know. We’ll make it happen.” She looked at Paige strangely. “Wait, don’t you already go to a school? A ‘normal’ one?”
“Yes, I do. I’d have to transfer.”
Rosie handed Paige a oatmeal raisin cookie. “I think it will be okay.” she said gently.
After an awkward silence, Paige stood up. It was 5:44. Time had passed so fast.
She thanked Rosie and then was off by 5:56. She raced home and burst into a the door a second before the clock on the microwave clock said “6:00” She had made it at record time.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Two dreadful weeks later Paige was packing her bags to go to the Academy. She was all packed and ready to go.
Her mother called Rosie and then they all left for the train station. While Paige was riding in the car, she thought about how her life was completely being changed so suddenly. She would never ever really be known as “Paige Morne” anymore. She wouldn’t have “normal” friends. There were much, much more things going on in Paige’s head. She wouldn’t see her parents or Rosie again until Thanksgiving! That would definitely would be tough. But she had to be brave, no matter what happened.
When the car came to a halt, Paige leaped out of the car. The one-and-a-half hour drive to the train station sure made the car stuffy. She breathed in deep, fresh air and let it out slowly. She tossed her head and was looking at her parents taking out her luggage. This made her remember what was going to be happening.
Paige ran to her mother and father and held them tightly and giving them wet kisses. “I love you mommy and daddy!” she squeakily said.
“We will miss you too,” her father started. “Make sure you write!” her mother added.
Paige nodded and then turned her attention to Rosie. She jumped up and gave her a big bear hug. “Thank you,” she whispered into her ear so only she could hear. “Thank you for taking me to the orphanage and teaching me about magic and all the cookies you’ve ever offered me!” Paige cried.
Rosie looked at her sweetly. “Have fun and good luck.” She gave Paige a crooked smile and winked.
Paige winked back and then ran to her mother. “Do you have my ticket?” she asked, wiping away tears.
Her mother pulled out her wallet and handed her a golden piece of paper. “Don’t lose it!” she called as Paige started running to the ticket booth.
After Paige had gotten inside the actual train station, she looked behind her one last time and waved to Rosie and her parents. They waved back to her. Paige smiled at them and then ran to the train she was assigned to.
While taking her bags to the assistant, she bumped into a handsome-looking boy. Her cheeks turned raspberry red. “Sorry.” she said quietly.
The boy smiled. “That’s okay. No worries.” The boy turned around and walked away.
Paige shrugged and thanked the assistant and walked to her train. She sat herself down and waited for the train to start moving.
Paige pulled out a mystery book. She opened it up to where there was a butterfly bookmark and began reading.
Sophie was desperately trapped. If only Andrew hadn’t betrayed her, she wouldn’t be locked up in this stinky cellar. She’d be out there, figuring out the case of the missing pearl. She might even have-
Just then a young girl walked in. She was short, and had long dark-brown hair tied up in pigtails. She was very jumpy and talked a lot. Maybe a little bit too much.
“Hi! I’m Hannah!” the girl said enthusiastically.
Paige wiggled her fingers as she waved at Hannah. She secretly hoped that she wouldn’t be in any of Hannah’s classes.
Finally after two long hours, the train arrived at the Academy. Children of all ages were scurrying everywhere. Paige walked out of the train in awestruck, not knowing where to go.
She then saw the boy she had met earlier. She walked up to him and started a conversation.
“Hello, again. Do you know where anything is?” she asked.
He nodded. “The Central Hall is through those doors,” He pointed to the front doors. “And all the classrooms are down there,” he then pointed towards the other doors to the left. “The dormitories are on the right side of the school. There’s more rooms and places, but those are the basics. If you ever need help, look for me. I’m Ian.”
“Thanks for the info. I’m Paige.” she said shyly.
Ian waved and then ran to the Central Hall.
Paige followed him. He led her to a large room with tons of students crowded inside. There was laughter and people consuming on a turkey feast.
“Come on, this way.” Ian said as the two swiveled through the crowd. He held Paige's hand tightly as they finally found some seats.
“Wow, this place is a madhouse!” Paige explained as she sat down. There was a large platter of food in front of her. She helped herself to some potatoes and gravy. As she took her first bite, all the crazy students sat down calmly in their seats.
An old man dressed in a purple robe with silver moon crescents and stars stood up and held up his hand.
“Hello, young and old students,” he started.
Paige stopped, wondering if she had broken a rule by starting to eat already. But Ian and the other students were eating quietly, and she realized she was fine.
“As I was saying,” the old man said. “Some of you may know me well, and for others, very little. I am Dr. William Oldenburg, head of Hidden Hollow Academy for young wizards. You are all are because you are wizards in training, and we are here to teach you to use your powers correctly.” He took a sip of something in a golden goblet. “The girls' dormitory is to the east, the boys' to the south-east. I hope you all have a pleasant evening.”
Suddenly the crowd of students all started to jump up and down with joy. Paige spotted Ian hopping too, so she joined in. Then everyone stopped and started to finish their meals again.
Soon after Paige started to eat again, she realized that her food was all gone. She glimpsed around. Many other students were rubbing their stomachs happily, full with lots of delicious food. Paige stood up and wiped herself off and started off to her dormitory. She scurried along the long hallway, not even glancing once at the huge painting on the large wall. She couldn't bear it. For some reason, it made her stomach churn, like the wet clothes tumbling in the dryer at home.
Then it hit her. For the first time she felt homesick, and it she hadn't even been at Hidden Hollow for more than a day! She was starting to miss her mother and father, Rosie, her house, and pretty much everything she had to leave to come there to this so-called “academy for young wizards”.
Paige noticed the door that led to her dormitory. She ran to it and lunged forward to open it. She found herself looking around in a dark room. Trunks and suitcases were piled everywhere, and Paige tripped over many of them while trying to look for her own. She finally found it and trudged glumly to where she was assigned to sleep.
Paige quickly and silently rummaged through her suitcase, taking out everything and placing them in the drawers next to her bed. She slipped into her pajamas and cried herself to sleep.
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