The Scythe-Bearer

Chapter 3: Sy goes to school

Let me just clarify something; I am not happy with situation. I stand in front of Willberry High on a Monday morning, still fuming from my conversation with Lucas. High students gather into the building like a disorganized herd of sheep as the bell rings, I have never seen so much diversity in humans before. This one guy that passed me in a rush looked like a nail gun went wild on his face; he joined others who looked like they could make up the rainbow with the colours of their hair. They hive-fived and went into the school building. As the door closed the outside became desolate except for me who stood, hands in the pocket of my dull black jacket I pulled my hood on and sighed “Time for school.”

I sat in the principal’s office getting the speech about how I will enjoy my time at Willberry High “Yeah right…”

“Now Sy I know this is a big change from your last school but I am sure you will fit in perfectly.”

The middle aged woman smiled, the layers of stress showed in the creases in her face. She then motioned for the man of her left with her hand.

“This is Mr. Thorne; he will escort you to your register class.”

The man, Mr. Thorne, nodded and signaled me with his head to follow him. I gave my thanks to the principal and reluctantly followed him out the door.

The hallways of the school were plastered with various posters advertising celebrations and team spirit creating the plastic image of unity but I am pretty sure that that was far from what the school is actually like. Mr. Torne didn’t speak, just gruffly walked ahead of me. I focused on the door ahead of us; inside I heard muffled laughter and shouting that just proved my point about the school having a tipped sense of equality and organization. Mr. Thorne opened the door and it went still. “Here goes nothing.” I stepped in after him. I was greeted with a bright classroom filled with students who were watching every footstep of mine as I walked in; I have to admit it made me feel uncomfortable to be the centre of attention.

“Class, you have a new member joining you today.” He gestured towards me. “This is Sy, please treat him well.”

A few snickers and words passed along the students, Mr. Thorne dismissed himself and the register teacher came forward.

“Sy I hope you enjoy your time here. You may be seated anywhere where there is an open seat.”

I picked a seat in the dark corner of the classroom, far from the windows which flooded the class with morning light. I earned a few stares, “This is going to certainly be interesting…”

At break, I scanned the crowd for clues to the smokie but came up with nothing; I decided to relax against the trunk of an oak tree situated west from the graffiti dominated tables.

“How am I supposed to find what I can’t see? All of this feels like a bloody cat and mouse chase!”

I didn’t even realize my eyes were scrunched closed until I heard a sharp whip-like tone.

“I am sorry to disturb your nap but this is our hangout, if you want to sleep, go to the infirmary so bugger off.”

It was followed by a softer voice that enveloped my senses like a soft blanket, safe and secure, a strange but warm feeling.

“Come on Lee-Anne, he is perhaps not feeling well. There are plenty of other places to go, we don’t have to sit here.”

I opened my eyes at the strange feeling I got from this voice, I focused my gaze at the three people in front of me; a guy and two girls. The girl with the soft voice approached me; she had absorbing hazel eyes and soft strawberry blonde hair. She knelt beside me, her expression filled with gracious concern and her aura was a sickly sweet colour of pink.

“Are you feeling alright? If not I will help you to the infirmary.”

The girl with long ebony hair and greenish eyes crossed her arms and turned to the guy with dark blond hair.

“Well Jason? Come on; tell him to move from our lunch spot.”

Jason shifted uncomfortably

“Lee-Anne, you know we don’t have the right to tell him where to go. I mean we don’t own the tree.”

Lee-Anne huffed and faced me with hostility clearly burning in her eyes and her jaw was grinding from frustration. I looked at the girl knelt beside me

“Thank you for your offer but I am fine just tired. I didn’t mean to disturb your lunch.”

The girl smiled and shook her head slightly, her smile brighten the air around her.

“I am sorry for Lee-Anne she gets a bit cranky when she is hungry. I am Sarah, what is your name?”

For the first time in a long time I actually felt warm, not the warm you feel in the sun but the warmth that makes you want to smile and laugh. It was strange and confusing but at the same time reminded me of something long forgotten.

“My name is Sy.”

Lee-Anne snorted and nudged Jason who also looked at bit amused by my name which I still don’t see the absolute humor with, but Sarah seemed to look at me with genuine excitement.

“Well Sy I think we are going to get along just fine. “ She shifted to sit next to me but left a respectable amount of space between us. “What do you think about some peanut butter sandwiches?”

That’s how my assignment at Willberry High started, with no progress, strange mixed up feelings, stupidly aggressive humans and a girl offering me a relationship that seemed futile for the likes of me, or so I thought…