Is Home Really Where The Heart Is?, chapter 5
We got to a door that had a plaque saying 'PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE' on it.
"So is this the principal's office?" I tried to joke with him. "You seemed to know your way here easily."
"Yes, yes I do. See, most of my school life is spent in this room."
"Really?"
"No, I just wanted to see your reaction," he said giving an evil looking smile. He's got a cool smile.
"Oh, I knew that. But see at my school, we didn't get set down to the principal's office, we just got ISS."
"What the hell is ISS?" He looked at me questioningly.
"It's In School Suspension. We go into this white room where all the desks are separated and there's like little walls between them. The teachers you have would send work down to the room for you to work on."
"So did you get in trouble often? 'Cause you know a lot about it?"
"No, I'm, unfortunately, a good kid. I only know this because the teachers would send me down there and give certain kids work." I turned to him.
"Geeze, if you're that good of a person, I don't know if you can hang out with me and Mike," he joked. At least I hoped he was joking.
"Really?" I asked him.
"No, I'm just kidding around." See, told you so.
"Well, thanks anyway Billie Joe. Maybe I'll see you or Mike after school." I hope so, or I'll never find my way home again.
"Ok then, bye." He turned and walked away, leaving me to fend for myself. I walked through the door and was met by a sour-faced secretary.
"Can I help you?" she said, sounding annoyed at me already.
"Yes you can." I waited a few moments. She was getting irritated with me.
"Well? What do you need?!" Ok, she was officially hating me right now. What did I do? All I did was answer her question!
"I'm new, and this is my first day so -" She didn't even let me finish my sentence. That was kind of rude if you ask me!
"Follow me." She got up and walked to another door. This door had 'Dr. Casserella' written one it. Casserella huh? Interesting name. "Go in there and he'll be right with you," she said opening the door for me.
"Thank you!" I tried to sound excited.
"Mmm-hmm..." Nope, she doesn't like me.
I sat down in one of the maroon colored chairs that was in front of the desk. Looking around I noticed that there were tons of plaques all over the walls. From winning local football games, to college degrees, to articles about the school from a newspaper. Successful school. Then I saw a short guy with jet black hair, walk through another door. Yes, there are a lot of doors in this school.
"Miss Kos-, Kos-, Kosloowick?" he asked as he sat down in his chair.
"Kozlowich." (Pronunciation of this name: Koz-low-vich just for reference). I hate my last name. That's why I just say Carlie Hope and leave out the Kozlowich...it makes life easier.
"Yes well, Miss Koslovik -"
"Kozlowich," I repeated.
"Kozlowich. Miss Kozlowich, I would like to welcome to you to Pinole High School."
"Why thank you," I said politely. I don't want him against me either. I find it's never good to have the principal against you.
"Today we'll be going over your schedule and the rules so you can get the jist of how things run around here," he stated as if he repeated it a million times previously. He went through a few files he had out and began mumbling to himself. Then he realized I was in the room again and looked at me. "First off, the rules of this school are strict and must be adhered to. I'll have you know that..." Oi. This could take a while. I sat there spaced out as he rambled on and on, of course nodding my head at appropriate times. After about an hour of this, he moved on the discuss my schedule.
"Let's see here. 1st period you have Accelerated Geometry with Mr. Romanowski. Then you have your rotational, this means the class will change every 22 days or so, I believe you start off in Art with Ms. Talaska. Next is English Honors with Mrs. Menta followed by American Government with Miss Shovlin. Writing with Mrs. Van Fleet. Then your lunch period, and Biology with Ms. Palmer. Last you have a study hall with Mrs. Kearns. Your study halls, or pep periods, can be put to use for other activities such as band or chorus. You'll just have to talk to your guidance counselor, Mr. Rabel. So you know where your classes are, I'll have a student show you around the school," He finished. Finally!
"Thank you Dr. Casserella." I flashed the fakest smile ever to him.
"Well, you're very welcome." He turned to the intercom on his desk.
"Mrs. Youlles?"
"Yes Dr. Casserella?" it replied.
"Would you please send down Miss Overman to show Miss Koz- Koz-... Carlie around?"
"Yes, sir. She'll be down in a minute."
"Thank you Mrs. Youlles." He smiled and leaned back into his black leather chair. I relaxed a little before the intercom buzzed again, this time Mrs. Youlles voice going first.
"Dr. Casserella, Miss Overman is here. Shall I send her in?" These people are too proper...
"Yes, thank you." He got no reply. The door opened and the way the light came into the room, all I could see was a shadowy figure. Ha ha. That sounds like a horror movie. Now the scream: Ahhhhh!!!!. Ok now that that's out of my system...
"Ah, Miss Overman..." he began.
"Am I in trouble again?! I swear I didn't do it! I'm telling you, I'm not the one dealing the drugs in the girl's bathroom!" A girl about my height, ok so she was like 3 inches shorter than me but anyway, appeared. She had dark brown, poker straight hair that reached just below her earlobes. I could see her blue eyes had a little fear in them.
"Calm down Miss Overman, I was just calling you down so I could have you show our new student Miss Kos- Kos-..."
"KOZLOWICH!" Now he's just doing it to annoy me I think!
"Yes, I'd like you to show her around the school. You know, show her where each class room is. Here is a copy of her schedule so you can know for sure which room to go to." He handed her a schedule. She glanced at it briefly, then looked at me.
"Any questions you have, you can just ask Miss Overman. I'm sure she'll be happy to help. And Miss Overman, we'll talk about this 'drug dealing' later." And with that, he smiled and left the room. At that moment a loud bell rang and there was a lot of commotion heard in the halls, signaling the changes of classes I suspected.
"Come on," she started. "Let's get going." She walked out the door so I followed her like a fat kid would follow cake. Hee hee, I like that! Now if I could just remember where I heard it... She started leading me all around the school down different hallways and stuff. Like I'm gonna remember where any of this is. We were both very quiet, and I guess she noticed since she broached Big word! (I hope I'm using it right) up a conversation.
"So, you just moved here huh?" Uhh...here we go again.
"No." She gave me an odd look. "Like I told my pal Mike, I've been here all along and nobody knew it, I just decided to show up now." Now she looked at me confused. "I am kidding just so you know." I better not joke. She looks like she could lash out at any second. I don't want to hit a touchy topic. Ha ha, 'touchy topic'. That's an alliteration! No! Stop being smart darn you! I hit my head without realizing she was there. Then I slowly stopped and looked at her.
"Sorry."
"It's ok, and I knew that you were joking. I was just wondering how you knew Mike."
"Oh, I was lost coming to school and I walked into him, which was kind of hard considering he's so tall that he's hard to miss. There was a tall person at my old school. Her name was Amanda. I called her 'Tall Amanda'."
"Point of the story please?" she interrupted.
"Well, when I walked into him, he started talking to me and showed me how to get to school."
"Oh." She still looked confused. Am I that confusing of a person?
"So, how do you know Mike?"
"Anyone who listens to punk music knows of Sweet Children."
"Sweet Children?" I questioned.
"Yeah, it's his and Billie Joe's band. They play at the Gilman all the time."
"Gilman?" So many questions!
"It's like a punk palace around here. All the local punk bands play there. It's like a party every time you go there."
"That sounds awesome!" She just nodded her head as we walked some more.
"Wait. Did you say Billie? As in 'Billie Joe'?"
"How many other Billie Joes do you know?" she looked at me with a 'you idiot' look plastered on her face. Well, not literally, 'cause I would think it'd hurt to have plaster on your face, especially if it said 'you idiot' on it.
"You be surprised. But, I mean, I met them today and they didn't mention anything about their band."
"Well I guess that's 'cause they don't go around saying 'We rule and are going to be the most famous rock stars ever.' They're more laid back about it."
"I see. So what instruments do they play?"
"Let's see...Billie is lead guitar, Mike's on bass, Al plays drums."
"I play drums!"
"Ummm...ok." Wait, I forgot her name. What was it again?
"What's your name?"
"It's Sydney. How about you?"
"Sydney...that's shweet name. I'm Carlie."
"'Shweet'?" she asked. How dare she question me!
"You heard me."
"I like you. You're pretty cool."
"Whoa! I don't know about you, but I just don't roll that way and I don't plan on jumping the fence any time soon!" She laughed at me. Mean person! Don't laugh at me!
"No. I mean I enjoy being in your presence. You're funny."
"I see. That's dandy!" I laughed at our stupid-ness.
"'Dandy'?"
"I must advise you that my word choice will not change upon hanging out with you."
"Well, I can at least try."
"I s'pose," I shrugged.
"I think we'll get along just fine."
"Me too!" I exclaimed.
"So is this the principal's office?" I tried to joke with him. "You seemed to know your way here easily."
"Yes, yes I do. See, most of my school life is spent in this room."
"Really?"
"No, I just wanted to see your reaction," he said giving an evil looking smile. He's got a cool smile.
"Oh, I knew that. But see at my school, we didn't get set down to the principal's office, we just got ISS."
"What the hell is ISS?" He looked at me questioningly.
"It's In School Suspension. We go into this white room where all the desks are separated and there's like little walls between them. The teachers you have would send work down to the room for you to work on."
"So did you get in trouble often? 'Cause you know a lot about it?"
"No, I'm, unfortunately, a good kid. I only know this because the teachers would send me down there and give certain kids work." I turned to him.
"Geeze, if you're that good of a person, I don't know if you can hang out with me and Mike," he joked. At least I hoped he was joking.
"Really?" I asked him.
"No, I'm just kidding around." See, told you so.
"Well, thanks anyway Billie Joe. Maybe I'll see you or Mike after school." I hope so, or I'll never find my way home again.
"Ok then, bye." He turned and walked away, leaving me to fend for myself. I walked through the door and was met by a sour-faced secretary.
"Can I help you?" she said, sounding annoyed at me already.
"Yes you can." I waited a few moments. She was getting irritated with me.
"Well? What do you need?!" Ok, she was officially hating me right now. What did I do? All I did was answer her question!
"I'm new, and this is my first day so -" She didn't even let me finish my sentence. That was kind of rude if you ask me!
"Follow me." She got up and walked to another door. This door had 'Dr. Casserella' written one it. Casserella huh? Interesting name. "Go in there and he'll be right with you," she said opening the door for me.
"Thank you!" I tried to sound excited.
"Mmm-hmm..." Nope, she doesn't like me.
I sat down in one of the maroon colored chairs that was in front of the desk. Looking around I noticed that there were tons of plaques all over the walls. From winning local football games, to college degrees, to articles about the school from a newspaper. Successful school. Then I saw a short guy with jet black hair, walk through another door. Yes, there are a lot of doors in this school.
"Miss Kos-, Kos-, Kosloowick?" he asked as he sat down in his chair.
"Kozlowich." (Pronunciation of this name: Koz-low-vich just for reference). I hate my last name. That's why I just say Carlie Hope and leave out the Kozlowich...it makes life easier.
"Yes well, Miss Koslovik -"
"Kozlowich," I repeated.
"Kozlowich. Miss Kozlowich, I would like to welcome to you to Pinole High School."
"Why thank you," I said politely. I don't want him against me either. I find it's never good to have the principal against you.
"Today we'll be going over your schedule and the rules so you can get the jist of how things run around here," he stated as if he repeated it a million times previously. He went through a few files he had out and began mumbling to himself. Then he realized I was in the room again and looked at me. "First off, the rules of this school are strict and must be adhered to. I'll have you know that..." Oi. This could take a while. I sat there spaced out as he rambled on and on, of course nodding my head at appropriate times. After about an hour of this, he moved on the discuss my schedule.
"Let's see here. 1st period you have Accelerated Geometry with Mr. Romanowski. Then you have your rotational, this means the class will change every 22 days or so, I believe you start off in Art with Ms. Talaska. Next is English Honors with Mrs. Menta followed by American Government with Miss Shovlin. Writing with Mrs. Van Fleet. Then your lunch period, and Biology with Ms. Palmer. Last you have a study hall with Mrs. Kearns. Your study halls, or pep periods, can be put to use for other activities such as band or chorus. You'll just have to talk to your guidance counselor, Mr. Rabel. So you know where your classes are, I'll have a student show you around the school," He finished. Finally!
"Thank you Dr. Casserella." I flashed the fakest smile ever to him.
"Well, you're very welcome." He turned to the intercom on his desk.
"Mrs. Youlles?"
"Yes Dr. Casserella?" it replied.
"Would you please send down Miss Overman to show Miss Koz- Koz-... Carlie around?"
"Yes, sir. She'll be down in a minute."
"Thank you Mrs. Youlles." He smiled and leaned back into his black leather chair. I relaxed a little before the intercom buzzed again, this time Mrs. Youlles voice going first.
"Dr. Casserella, Miss Overman is here. Shall I send her in?" These people are too proper...
"Yes, thank you." He got no reply. The door opened and the way the light came into the room, all I could see was a shadowy figure. Ha ha. That sounds like a horror movie. Now the scream: Ahhhhh!!!!. Ok now that that's out of my system...
"Ah, Miss Overman..." he began.
"Am I in trouble again?! I swear I didn't do it! I'm telling you, I'm not the one dealing the drugs in the girl's bathroom!" A girl about my height, ok so she was like 3 inches shorter than me but anyway, appeared. She had dark brown, poker straight hair that reached just below her earlobes. I could see her blue eyes had a little fear in them.
"Calm down Miss Overman, I was just calling you down so I could have you show our new student Miss Kos- Kos-..."
"KOZLOWICH!" Now he's just doing it to annoy me I think!
"Yes, I'd like you to show her around the school. You know, show her where each class room is. Here is a copy of her schedule so you can know for sure which room to go to." He handed her a schedule. She glanced at it briefly, then looked at me.
"Any questions you have, you can just ask Miss Overman. I'm sure she'll be happy to help. And Miss Overman, we'll talk about this 'drug dealing' later." And with that, he smiled and left the room. At that moment a loud bell rang and there was a lot of commotion heard in the halls, signaling the changes of classes I suspected.
"Come on," she started. "Let's get going." She walked out the door so I followed her like a fat kid would follow cake. Hee hee, I like that! Now if I could just remember where I heard it... She started leading me all around the school down different hallways and stuff. Like I'm gonna remember where any of this is. We were both very quiet, and I guess she noticed since she broached Big word! (I hope I'm using it right) up a conversation.
"So, you just moved here huh?" Uhh...here we go again.
"No." She gave me an odd look. "Like I told my pal Mike, I've been here all along and nobody knew it, I just decided to show up now." Now she looked at me confused. "I am kidding just so you know." I better not joke. She looks like she could lash out at any second. I don't want to hit a touchy topic. Ha ha, 'touchy topic'. That's an alliteration! No! Stop being smart darn you! I hit my head without realizing she was there. Then I slowly stopped and looked at her.
"Sorry."
"It's ok, and I knew that you were joking. I was just wondering how you knew Mike."
"Oh, I was lost coming to school and I walked into him, which was kind of hard considering he's so tall that he's hard to miss. There was a tall person at my old school. Her name was Amanda. I called her 'Tall Amanda'."
"Point of the story please?" she interrupted.
"Well, when I walked into him, he started talking to me and showed me how to get to school."
"Oh." She still looked confused. Am I that confusing of a person?
"So, how do you know Mike?"
"Anyone who listens to punk music knows of Sweet Children."
"Sweet Children?" I questioned.
"Yeah, it's his and Billie Joe's band. They play at the Gilman all the time."
"Gilman?" So many questions!
"It's like a punk palace around here. All the local punk bands play there. It's like a party every time you go there."
"That sounds awesome!" She just nodded her head as we walked some more.
"Wait. Did you say Billie? As in 'Billie Joe'?"
"How many other Billie Joes do you know?" she looked at me with a 'you idiot' look plastered on her face. Well, not literally, 'cause I would think it'd hurt to have plaster on your face, especially if it said 'you idiot' on it.
"You be surprised. But, I mean, I met them today and they didn't mention anything about their band."
"Well I guess that's 'cause they don't go around saying 'We rule and are going to be the most famous rock stars ever.' They're more laid back about it."
"I see. So what instruments do they play?"
"Let's see...Billie is lead guitar, Mike's on bass, Al plays drums."
"I play drums!"
"Ummm...ok." Wait, I forgot her name. What was it again?
"What's your name?"
"It's Sydney. How about you?"
"Sydney...that's shweet name. I'm Carlie."
"'Shweet'?" she asked. How dare she question me!
"You heard me."
"I like you. You're pretty cool."
"Whoa! I don't know about you, but I just don't roll that way and I don't plan on jumping the fence any time soon!" She laughed at me. Mean person! Don't laugh at me!
"No. I mean I enjoy being in your presence. You're funny."
"I see. That's dandy!" I laughed at our stupid-ness.
"'Dandy'?"
"I must advise you that my word choice will not change upon hanging out with you."
"Well, I can at least try."
"I s'pose," I shrugged.
"I think we'll get along just fine."
"Me too!" I exclaimed.
