Day 2 :) It will get better I think.

Vine blinked. “I got in last night as it happens, didn’t realize it showed that much. “

Healn said. “Don’t worry it will pass. Last night? Is that why you are late? It is not a good idea to get in that habit the cops tend to be forgive the first week after a long holiday.”

Vine said. “No, not really I was up and ready, but my Father and his wife felt one of them need to come with me, they had to decide who, then how to get here. I would have been here sooner but spent yesterday in Norhim waiting for the weather to clear. So what are we headed to? How bad are the classes?”

Healn said. “We are heading to English, though it is just about time for history so you won’t get much of it today, being so late. This is our room. See the teaches move, but we stay. That helps to insure maxim learning times after all some need all the time they can get but would be inclined to linger in the halls should they have to mover rooms. As you will see when we brake for lunch, and latter when we have our exercise hour. You are allowed to take any unused desk, but will not be able to change once you are on the rolls. I would recommend taking one of the two on the left side of the room. That will keep the boys from hassling you. Likely everyone will stare, but I doubt if Ms Barens will stop her lesson to have you introduced. Putting you on the roll will likely fall to Mr. Grave, so you will have time to try both desks. There is no talking or moving when the teacher is in the room unless you are called on. Of course we can walk to our places and sit.” She barely gave Vine time to nod before opening the door and entering. Vine had the felling she resented having missed some of the class.

Vine took a deep breath and then fallowed her into the room. She enough all the students had turned to look at the door, the teacher glanced at her but kept on with the lesson, giving no indication of seeing Vine. Healn went to an empty desk on the left side of the room, close to the teacher. The desks were all in evenly spaced lines. The teacher was opposite the door, the lines of desk streaming toward her. There was a row of empty desks in the middle of the room dividing it. the desks left of the row were all taken by girls in dresses. Not a pair of pants among them. As Healn had said there were two empty, both towards the back in under a nonworking light. Likely that is why they had not been taking.  The right side was mostly boys, but all so had the windows.  The row by the windows also happened to be the furthest from the teacher. Vine bet those in that row were the trouble makes, but that empty desk had good light, and something told her she would fit there better than on the left. So it was to that desk she made her way to, and sat down at.  It was about five minutes after she sat that a bell sounded. The teacher said. “Read the rest of Overtions easy for next time.” Put the notes into her bag and left the room.

Once the door closed behind her kids started to stand and move Vine looked around the room. The boy in the desk in front of her said. “It is best to starch ever chance you get. There is a bout ten minuets between teachers. You need to be back at your desk when the next one shows up, but are few to wonder the room until the door opens. The other doors are the rest rooms. They do all they can to see we stay in this room all day. I think they would serve lunch here if it wasn’t so much trouble. Just to see that all we see are this walls from eight to three thirty, and that only because the law said we must have thirty minuets of physical activity a day. Welcome to your new school. I’m Paul, by the way, and you want the red books out for the next class.  The have color code them see, notebooks are to match text books. All in sold colors just like the clothes.”

Vine smiled. “I’m Vine, and I had noticed a lack of prints around here. Is that a city thing or just the school?”

Paul said. “Each school has a dress code to help the officers find the one you belong to. I think this is the only one that goes so far as to make the books conform to it. You are getting glared at for being on the wrong side of the room by the way”

Vine said. “Sounds like I need to invest in some book covers if I want to get anything done during the day. I thought I could take any empty desk. Do I need to move?”

“Only if you want the dress brigade to talk to you. See there is a theory going around that separation is needed for maximum learning, So far though they are just using peer preacher and fashion to separate us. Though there are a few schools testing separate classroom for each gender. Wouldn’t be surprised if it is not the next thing to come. Hopefully though they will wait until I am out to force it on everyone. My bigger fear is that they will change the dress code laws so that we all have to wear gender appropriate clothing. I am sure you were told it was recommended you did so, expect to hear it from each teacher. It is becoming a big movement. I’m Jublry, so what brings you here?”

Vine said. “My father deiced that I should live with him, and I ran out of augments. Now though I am thinking I should have made a few more demands before agreeing to come here, even if they were sounding increasingly childish.. Though one of them was a guaranty that I wouldn’t have to wear a dress more than three time a month so if they do change the dress code I should be able to use that to return home. I didn’t expect to be forced into a classroom all day or would have added something about it as well.”

Healn said. “Vine, there are some desks over by me that would be more comfortable. It is not best to be here.”

Vine said. “Yes I see those desks are empty Healn, but I prefer this one as the light is better, even if it does put me around the boys. They don’t worry me. I take it these here have a reputation for being a bit wild then? I thought they might. We should get along just fine then, as I fear I am going to find my self on the wrong side of the rules more often than not. I appreciate your concern but I must find my own answers.” Healn looked at her, but the sound of the door opening kept saved her from answering as she turned to hurry to her desk.

Paul laughed. “Welcome indeed. I hope you don’t regret what you did. They are not going to talk to you again anytime soon. Not after that.”

Vine said. “I meant it. I knew you all were trouble when I sat down here. It is how I knew this was the right desk for me. Rules and I do not get along in my experience.” He just shook his head and slid into his chair.

The teacher took his place at the front of the room. “I believe we have a new student here someplace.” He located Vine. “There you are, are you sure that is where you want to sit?” Vine nodded, he frowned. “Well then stand and give us your name and that of your last school.” Vine stood and started to speak then stopped. “Come now it is not like I asked for the capitals of sixth century Persa or something, just your name. You only have one of them.” There was a bit of laughter but a look from him and it stopped.

Vine said. “I have three names two of which I could be registered under. Likely he used Vianty Blanknim, but I prefer to be know as Vine Fantly as it is the one I am more used to. This is the only school as such that I have attended. I am most recently from Gather, where I was staying with my grandfather and studying pre-disaster history.” He did not respond but looked vagukly upset. Think he had ment for her to do so she said. “Persa had three capitols at that time as established by Historyian Roaland they were Angent, Rounben and Bath. Some would say Reatherd however Reatherd was in Plexton not Persa, and was not a capitol in terms of government, just a trade center. In truth most of the work of Persa’s government was done in Angent which be came the sole capitol city two years latter.” The room was silent as she sat down, she waited a bit then said. “Clearly I did something wrong but I do not know what. Anyone care to explain?”

The teacher said. “We do not answer hypothec questions and bragging in not welcome. There is no need to pretend you know things you are plainly to young to have studied. Persa’s capitals were moved by the seasons. Now then were are covering trading practices. Chapter four everyone.” From there the class went down hill. Vine was very glad when the bell rang and the teacher left.

Once the door shut behind him Vine said. “Well that went well. So help me out. Was my biggest mistake answering him, or knowing more about it than he does? Good grief am I really supposed to believe that a country that has had salt mines since before the disaster was trading milk to a dairy filled land for it six years after?  Pleas tell me that it gets better this has to be a joke.”

Paul said. “No in the sixth century, not six years after the disaster, we do not talk of the disaster in this school. We are far to young to understand it. If we are approved to study history at university then we will cover that time.. Welcome to the government appropriate indoctrination. You are taught only what is right for your role on life. Nothing extra. Your sin was saying you studied pre history. Daring to answer his comment was just the icing on top. You are only to answer direct questions you see, and do not nod but speak. Nodded at an adult is being sassy. Really. Oh and students do not stand when the teacher is in the room, it is disrespectful of there authority.”

Vine shook her head. “That will teach me not to look at text books. If trade is covered in history what do is economics about? I am confused. This day is going to be even longer than I expected it to be. I am starting to wonder if I will live though the day little own the rest of the year.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry it won’t all be that bad. It helps to have a real book to read during the worst ones. The best are when you see the teacher fighting to keep there faces straight as well. The first three classes are the worst ones. They actually believe that we are too young to think for ourselves. The next classes is economics and it covers modern trades, sadly a lot of the exercises will make just as much since.”