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Brenda walked out of the Public school wearing an Amabile t-shirt, Amabile sweater, Amabile
jacket, Amabile necklace, and a pair of Amabile pants. She carried an Amabile music bag in one hand and a box of her things
in the other. She stopped at the edge of the sidewalk and looked back with a sad, wistful frown, then continued to the
bus stop that would take her to St. Marys.
When she reached the bus stop, she put her things down, looked up towards
the sky, and sighed, “When music closes a door, somewhere it opens a window”. When the bus came Brenda picked
up her stuff, gave one last glance around, and boarded. She put her bus ticket into the ticket receiver, got a transfer
and took a seat at the back of the bus.
On her way to the bus stop she would get off at, she was amazed at what the
downtown of London held. She saw many things that shocked her. She saw people doing pot, bums peeing on the side
of a building, and drunks stumbling onto the bus. Brenda was very happy when she was finally able to get off the bus as it
smelled strongly of alcohol.
She was late for the next bus so she ran madly towards the bus stop. She almost
caught up, but it was too late. She missed it. A strange figure started to approach her. . .Brenda didn’t
know what to do. He came closer, and closer until he was in reaching distance. He then stopped abruptly and said in a low
voice, “Look at this young vibrant girl. She looks hungry. She needs to eat, don’t you think poppet?”
Brenda wondered who he was talking to. The only ones there were her and him.
“Yes. I think we should
feed her. . .come my dear.” He said manipulatively. Brenda backed away, but he inched towards her. She could
hear his heavy breathing. She didn’t want to stay there any longer because she had no clue where the bum had been.
She grabbed her Amabile bag and her items for the new school and ran madly down the street. She ran for blocks until
she came to St. Marys.
Still frightened that he may be following, Brenda sprinted across the driveway that she presumed
to be the school yard (which she felt was very sad that they couldn’t have a normal yard with grass), ran around the
school to the Lyle street entrance, and rang the doorbell. She set her luggage down and rested against the wall until
the door opened. She instantly straightened up when she saw a surly looking man standing there.
“Hello!
Here I am!” Brenda stated cheerfully. The man studied her Amabile clothes with a doubtful look. “I’m
from the public boards, I’m the new vocal teacher sir.” She said thinking that this man could be a person
who could fire her. She had decided at the public school that she would try to make friends with anyone who could make
her life miserable.
“And I’m the old janitor Miss.” The man stated in an annoyed tone.
“Oh.”
Brenda stated disappointedly. “Well, how do you do?” Brenda stuck out her hand for the man to take,
but he didn’t. “Hmm” The old janitor then beckoned her to walk with him. He lead her to the
plaground.
“You'll, uh -- wait here please.” He said. And with a last dubious glance at Brenda,
the janitor stalked away. As if in a trance Brenda walked slowly towards a wooden door she hadn’t seen when
she was bolting past to get to the door. She stopped at the door, went inside and observed her surroundings. Never
before had she seen such a stage! There were some pretty stars on the curtains and a door beside the stage that
was slightly open. She gently pushed the door open and stared onto the small wooden stage.
Brenda entered hesitantly,
and wandered towards the centre. She started to recite a play she had learned in grade school. She was bent
low as the script asked, when, suddenly, the door to the room banged open. Brenda straightened from her bow hurriedly.
A woman’s shadow crossed the floor. Brenda slowly lifted her eyes to the principal of the school.
They met a hard cold stare. Brenda gulped.
Chapter 3
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