The Old Abandoned Clock Tower- Part 2

Day 2

California was hot, certainly, and humid too. Hot enough for people to strip on the sideways of the road. I was sure that when I reach Alabama, it would be less hot but I was wrong. It took about twenty miles from Cali to North Montgomery Alabama. When we reached the boarding school, it was nothing like I remembered. The school wall suddenly turned into old, wet brick; the freshly new painted gate was now just a rusty old metal. As the car was moving, branches of old trees tapped the left side of my passenger seat window. They were like bony fingers of an old witch. I held my backpack tight and swallowed my saliva.

Chills ran down my spine, this is not where I want to spent my entire year alone. Dad was very keen of this SUV, he took care of it like it was part of the family. So one scratch on the door, he would go mental. Carefully, he drove not to let any old pointy branches hanging from the tree scratch his beloved car. Even though it was still hot, and my body couldn’t stand the heat, the clouds started to get dark. On one hand, I was hoping that it would rain to calm down the heat but on the other, I didn’t want my first day at this creepy boarding school to be ominous by the rain.

“Mom, dad, are you sure this is the right school? Seemed a little different from before,” I said nervously. Mom took her sunglasses of and bend herself forward to look at the sky. The music from the radio made me less nervous about this school.

“Of course it is, see, it says ‘MILTON BOARDING SCHOOL’,” she replied.

The car stopped. I looked around, nervously and to be honest, I didn’t like this place, at all. I knew that if I told my parents, all I’m going to get was just a pat on the back or a kiss on the forehead so I just kept my mouth shut. My dad got out of the car first, followed by my mom, followed by me. I looked around my surroundings and felt a shiver ran down my spine. I gulped and didn’t felt good about this place. I mean, the sun burned my skin and for a second there I was scared of hell fire. I admit, I have a lot of phobia but even the bravest person came here would feel the same.

Dad walked towards the front door of the school. It was definitely not as I remembered it. The last time I was here, the door was painted with a cheerful colour like yellow but now it seems like it has been replaced by a wooden door with cracks on it. He knocked on the door and deep groaned echoed down the school hallway. I stood next to him, staring nervously at the door. Dad nudged me and ordered to take all of my bags and the boxes full of unnecessary things. I helped mom unloaded all of my things from the car and carried it to my chest. The large wooden door opened and a lady stood there, arms against her chest; her hair tied up in a bun with a few strand of white hair. She looked middle-aged, like in her thirties. She was wearing a pencil skirt, and a black coat that seemed to go with her skirt. I licked my lips nervously when this woman approached me and Dad.

“Oh hello, I’m James Austin. Nice to meet you,” my dad held out his hand and waited for the lady to shook it. Instead, she left my dad’s hand hanging in the air and walked past straight him rudely and stared at me sternly. With the box pushed up against my chest, I tilted it up higher so it covered my face but she managed to take a glimpsed at me. To my surprise, she held out her hand and offered it for me to shake it.

“Brown. Laura Brown,” she introduced herself. Her voice wasn’t sweet or welcoming so I hesitated whether to shake it or not. I looked at my dad who was staring at my reaction and I could tell by his expression that he did not want me to give a bad first impression. I put the box down next to my feet and shook her hand. She had bony hands and her fingers were like twigs and she smiled coldly as she studied my face carefully. I tried not to give eye contact but I just had to look at her. Then, the lady walk to my dad, “the next fall doesn’t start until next month. The school is closed, why are you here?” she said coldly. This lady clearly did not want us to be here. For the first time in my life, I saw dad stuttered trying to find the right words to reply her,

“Uh- uh, I- I know... but- uh- I,” he didn’t know what to say. She put her hands on her waist and tapped her foot. Luckily, my mom came from behind and helped my helpless dad.

“We had to send Mike here early. I know it seems a bit inappropriate since the school hasn’t started yet but me and my husband has a very tight and busy schedule and we couldn’t leave him alone anymore.” Mom explained hoping that the lady would be a little more welcoming. She raised her eyebrows and her face looked at bit warmer than before,

“Well, I don’t see any harm. Come in, we’ll discuss about this inside,” she gestured for my parents to come in. I picked the box and followed them hurriedly since I didn’t know my way in the school yet and didn’t want to get lost. The sound of our footsteps reverberated in the hallway. A tall and skinny blonde boy walked past us when the lady ordered him to come over,

“Ah, Ricky,” she said and put her bony hands on the boy’s shoulder. His head were down so I couldn’t make out what he looked like. He looked about my age but he seemed a bit older. He was wearing military shorts up to his knees, and pair of black flip flops and a plain white t-shirt that seemed too big for his size. “This is,” the lady stopped mid sentence, “I believe you haven’t introduced yourself towards me young man,” she said looking straight at me.

“Uh- me?” I asked, nervous by the way she was looking at me. She nodded and looked a bit irritated so I quickly introduced myself, “I’m Michael Austin. But you can call me Mike, so I’m Mike Austin,” I said trying to lighten up the mood but didn’t work.

“Michael, this is Ricky,” she said. The boy gave a faint smile, like he was scared of her. Well, I can’t blame her; this lady looked like she can kill someone just by looking. “Ricky, take Michael’s bags and all of his stuff and take it to the boys’ dorm. He nodded and did as instructed, he took the box out of my hand and carried my backpack.

"Um, I can carry the backpack. Can you help me with the boxes?" I asked as gently as possible. He looked at me with no emotions and nodded like a robot. He took at least three boxes at the same time and walked up the stairs. I looked at him carrying it like it was nothing.

"Ricky is a very intelligent and he is very active in sports, rugby in particular. His parents are away so they send him in early before the semester starts." Brown spoke highly of this kid, Ricky. "Well Michael, go on with Ricky to your new room. He will explain all the rules. I will have to talk to your parents about the Easter break and Christmas holiday. I'll leave you to say your goodbyes, I'll be in my office," she said to me and my parents.

"Well, Mike, we'll miss you so much," mom hugged me.

"I'll miss you too mom," I stood there and hugged her back. My dad walked over, too, we formed a sort of huddle. It was too hot, and we were too sweaty, for the hug to last terribly long. I knew I ought to cry, but I'd lived with my parents for fourteen years, and a trial separation seemed overdue and I'm going to meet them for the holidays anyway.

"Enjoy yourself son," he shook my hand, "and don't do anything stupid."

"What could I possibly do dad?" I replied. We all laughed and they hugged me again- Mom, then Dad- and it was over.

"We'll call you when we're not busy, okay?" Mom said and kissed my cheek. I nodded and they both went to Brown's office. I waited for their footsteps to vanish, and went up the stairs that Ricky did. I looked around the building and it looked so old. I reached the first floor and scanned my surroundings. This doesn't look like the boys' dorm room so just as I went one more step, a deep voice from behind called out my name.

"Where you goin? Ours dorm is right here," he had a slight Southern twang. I quickly walk in his direction.

"So, where's my bed?" I asked.

"I put your boxes over there but y'can pick on anywhere you want to just not on that far side cos that's one's mine." I nodded and walked towards the one next to the windows. The room surprised me, I had imagined a linoleum checkered floor with white wall painting, and an air conditioning. But instead, the floor was wooden and a thin layer of carpet covered some of the wooden floor, the bed was arranged six in a row. The window was dusty, so as I put my bag pack on the bed, I wiped the dust off the window.

"What's that?" I asked pointing out on towards an old building. He looked like he was scared of something and shrugged. It looked like a clock tower and I squint my eyes to get a better picture and saw a graveyard. A graveyard behind our school, I thought. Now this place was really creeping me out.