As I walk back into the kitchen, I suddenly feel the most scared I've ever been. Maybe it's because I haven't talked to a stranger in forever, but I just have a bad feeling.

"Do I have to do this?" I ask.

"Just get it over with," Mom replies.

"You'll be fine," Dad says.

I gulp and head over to the doorway, where a young woman stands. She looks exactly like a business woman, with a nice suit and shoulder length brown hair that's as straight as a ruler. Her eyes match her hair, and she wears a sweet smile that only means trouble. I've seen her for a second, and my first impression is not to trust her.

"Uh, hi," I stammer. "I'm Cassidy."

"I know who you are," the woman replies. "But you don't know who I am. I'm Ms. Carol Meyer, the director and founder of MAD: Massachusetts Academy of the Distinct." That doesn't sound too inviting, I think.

"Is this a school? Because I'm home-schooled, and I don't plan to change that. Thank you for coming and I appreciate your visit." She stops the door I'm closing on her, causing for me to sigh at the realization she won't be leaving anytime soon.

"This isn't any ordinary school, Cassidy," she interrupts. "It's a special school."

"I don't have any special needs, as you can see."

"I didn't say it was a special need school," Ms. Meyer corrects. "It's a special school for kids like you."

"Like me?" I ask. There's no way she knows about me and being able to fly. Mom and Dad make sure no one outside of the neighborhood know, after the incident with me and Lindy. Even so, there's no way other kids could fly, or else I would have been aware of it or any "special school" Ms. Meyer is part of. She doesn't know anything.

But she does, somehow. "Kids that have special abilities. You can fly - a very unique gift, if I may add - while some can control the weather and some can make plants grow with a thought and so on."

"I can't fly," I lie. "You must be mistaken."

"But I'm not," she says. "I saw you flying a couple nights ago. You don't have to hide anything."

"Cassidy Emma Woods!" Mom calls from behind me. I hate it when she uses my full name, and she knows it, which is why she uses it whenever I'm in trouble. I feel like kicking myself, too. Had I known that a strange woman would come to be about a strange boarding school, I would have let Mom and Dad lock me inside with pleasure. Too late.

"Well, if you're trying to convince me to become part of MAD, then I refuse," I reply.

"It's a great school-"

"I said no," I repeat. "Goodbye, Ms. Meyer."

"Think about it, will you?" she asks, which actually means, Whether you like it or not, you're coming to MAD, and I know your parents will agree, so don't even try to object.

"Fine," I fib, although we both know it's not true.

"Thank you, I'll come back tomorrow morning to hear your answer," she says, and then leaves. I know that she'll only come back so that she can take me away.

Mom walks into the room, and Dad follows. "Cassidy! I am very disappointed in your rude behavior."

"I'm just not interested in a school called MAD!" 

"Still, you should have been-"

"Let her choose," Dad interrupts. "All we're saying is that we love you, and want what's best, and we think that it might be good for you to be around other kids like you. Wouldn't it be cool?"

"My answer is no," I repeat.

"You have until tomorrow morning. Just sleep on it. If you do agree to go, I'd start packing soon."

I grumble in response. It doesn't matter that I don't want to go to some stupid boarding school that's probably as crazy as its name. I'm still going, and that is that.

I stomp over to my room in frustration. "Walk!" Mom calls out to me, like a teacher telling her students not to run in the halls. I don't walk, but just stomp quieter. I have every reason to be angry. Why did Mom and Dad want to just send me away? Then again, they had probably personally invited Ms. Meyer.

It's times like this when I wish I have an older sister. She would talk to our parents and convince them to not send me away, and do fun things with me. In my imagination, I have my whole life planned out if I had an older sister. It would be so much easier.

But I don't, so I'll be going to a boarding school named MAD with some crazy lunatics. I throw all my clothes into my suitcase, which really annoys me because I just put them away. Mom probably had me clean my room to either annoy me or she wanted it to look nice when Ms. Meyer came. Knowing her, I'll go with both.

The only good thing about going to MAD is getting away from my parents. Okay, that sounds harsh. But it's tough love. I mean, they raise me and all, but I can't wait to get away from Mom's constant yelling and Dad always going along with her.

Yeah, that's definitely something I won't miss.

Ms. Meyer knocks on the door at ten-o-clock sharp. As I predicted, Mom and Dad insisted I went to MAD. My suitcase is small, and I haven't packed much. We live in a small house in a small town in the corner of Massachusetts, and I never need an excessive amount of clothes. The only people that ever see me is Mom and Dad, who try to get me to come with them to buy new clothes, but since I refuse, they do it themselves. I'm pretty sure it's a form of punishment, the clothes are so ugly. I can't even think of what they wore to prom twenty-five years ago.

She spots my suitcase that I roll over to the door. "That won't be necessary," she assures. "MAD provides everything, including a uniform, but I appreciate your preparation. I take it you have accepted my offer?"

"Yes, we have," Mom confirms, speaking for me as I'm too dumbfound to reply. First, a weird woman comes to my house and tells me about a boarding school named MAD. Then, I'm forced to go although I don't want to, and now I was being deprived of my belongings. Taking away my family and home was one thing, but my clothing is my clothing, and I plan on wearing it.

"I'm not putting on some stupid uniform," I mumble.

"Cassidy!"

"It's bad enough I have to go. I'm wearing what I want to wear." I don't care what they say. I stand by my statement.

"I thought I raised you to be more respectful," Mom sighs.

Ms. Meyer just smiles her annoying smile. "If it helps, you can bring some photos or a stuffed animal-"

"No!" I interrupt. I'm not one of those girls that need a stuffed animal to not get them homesick and a bunch of nonsense. I turn to Mom and Dad. "Do I have to go?"

"Yes," Dad answers. "You can call us whenever you like-"

"Actually," Ms. Meyer interjects. "Technology is strictly prohibited. It is only a distraction."

"Talking to my parents is a distraction?" I ask, and roll my eyes. Are my parents really letting me go to a boarding school where I can't talk to them at all? What kind of school is this?

Dad has a mental light bulb. "You can visit us on holidays!"

"MAD is a boarding school," Ms. Meyer informs. "And that will not be allowed."

"See? I won't see you guys at all! Won't you miss me? Don't let her take me away," I beg, but I know that even a miracle can't change Mom's mind. Once she's set on something, she can't turn away.

"You'll be perfectly safe. Goodbye, Cassidy, we'll miss you." I doubt that, I think. If they will, then why send me away? I'm tempted to plead with them one more time like a criminal at court, but I know the decision is final, and it's no use.

Mom kisses me on my forehead. Gross, I think. I lift my hand up to wipe it away, but Dad takes it as a You do it, too! message and kisses me as well. I moan in response. Dad gives me a You'll be okay smile and rolls my suitcase away.

"Bye," I echo without much effort.

 I'm sure that MAD would drive me mad.

"Come along," Ms. Meyer says, taking me by the hand and leading me outside, but not before I take one last look at my parents that I won't see again for a very long time.