THE BIG OLD, worn down, and sinister

looking building towered over me

intimidatingly as I walked inside; this

is where I went to school. The building

was first originally an orphanage, until

one-by-one all the children dispersed

and it became abanonded. Years later,

they decided to make it into a school.

But had no bother to re-model it,

except for molding walls that they

needed to replace. Inside smelled like

damp oak, and our desks were old

fashioned, with carvings and initials

displayed on each seat. Kids rushed to

their classes, with thick hardback

books in their hands. It was an old

fashioned school, and the principle and

teachers didn't believe in upgrading

our technology, which sometimes got

annoying.

Walking along with the crowd of kids,

like a pack of salmon swimming in a

stream, I walked into my classroom

and took a seat just before the teacher

raised her voice in attempt to start the

class. Mrs. Angela was our history

teacher, and the most modern teacher

there was in the school. No pun

intended. All the other teachers were

  as if they were in the 1940s:

precise, strict, scary, and wouldn't

hesitant to whip you with a ruler if you

talked out of line.

I wouldn't be sad a bit if I had to change

schools, but because my parents

wanted the 'best' for me, they wanted

to put me in the best school in the state.

And this Best School of the State was

the worse. It was like a butterfly in the

middle of the heart in a bee hive. It

really didn't belong here in Miami.

They should've left the building

abandoned or torn it down when they

had the chance.

Yes, I might be a bit overexaggerating,

but for me, the building creeped me

out. The thought that this was once an

orphanage gave me the chills. I don't

know why. Perhaps it was the many

horror stories I read about abandoned

buildings that used to be orphanages.

And here I was, in an abandoned

orphanage. Well, not anymore, but you

get the idea.

. . .

After school, I headed home. I didn't

have work today since I work part-time

and get the weekends off. Walking back

to my house, I noticed the same man

again, at least it looked like the same

man, dressed in black, but leaning

against another alley way wall. He

looked like he was waiting for

someone. But who would wait six

hours for someone? I ignored him.

Again. It wasn't in my interest to pry or

be curious. Nonetheless, I kept walking,

and when I was yet again back on the

wet cobbled stone path, I glanced back.

But the man was gone.

Or, I just didn't see him.

I shook my head.

None of my business.

. . .

Aunt Jodie placed a large plate filled

with terriyaki chicken, green beans

and fried rice.

It was Chinese take-out for tonight.

"How was your day?" My aunt asked.

"The same as usual," I mumbled, and

when I saw her perk her ear towards

me, I spoke up, "Everyday is the same.

Nothing is new. Why is that?" I asked. I

was exactly complaining. A change

isn't something I really like, so you

could imagine how grumpy I was when

I had to move here. But the constant

circle of everyday life, it was draining.

It was like every day repeated itself.

Nothing new.

"That's because you have no life."

Thanks Aunt Jodie.

I looked at her with a raised brow. It

was true, however.

"Well- that's not what I mean. What I

mean is, you're not living for a better

one. Why don't you have any friends,

dear? My, I would be thrilled if you

brought a cute boy home one day!"

"Aunt Jodie I don't want a boyfriend.

Yeah sure, I'll marry a guy one day but

it doesn't sound fun. Maybe instead I'll

just get a home in the middle of

nowhere and live alone when I grow

up. Yeah- I'll do that."

My aunt sighed and took a large

spoonful of fried rice. "I'm just saying,"

she spoke, not noticing some rice fly

out of her mouth, "you don't want to be

alone forever. That won't end well for

you."

I didn't say anything back. Just ate

quietly. I knew what she was saying,

but I didn't want it to apply. I think I'll

be just fine if I stay to myself. I don't

need anyone hurting me anymore.

And the rest of the night was without a

word from either of us. I went to my

room, took a quick shower, and put on

my plaid pajamas before wiggling

under the comfort of my sheets and

disappearing into the fantasties of

dreams.