I woke up and slammed the snooze button. Turning over I rolled out of bed and hit the floor. My new roommate hadn’t arrived yet thank good. The office had said she was coming today. I yawned and changed into my first day of school outfit. My favorite pair of jeans and my favorite attitude shirt. “Sarcasm: It beats killing people” I had just finished putting my hair in my standard pigtail braids when there was a knock at the door. Standing outside was Mark. I vaguely remembered him offering to help me find where I was supposed to go. A bit spooky but whatever. After all, he was a nice guy.

“Nice shirt,” he grinned.

“Thank you much. Yours too.” His was an anti-Bush shirt. “So what happens today?”

The smile on his face was got much wider as he teased “You’ll have to wait and see.”

“But I hate surprises.” The frown on my face lasted about a second before I burst into giggles. His excitement was contagious. “So where are we?” We were walking up the steps to a huge mansion.

“The drama department. Some rich guy died and donated it,” he responded, answering my unasked question.

“Freshmen this way!” Bellowed an upperclassman, indicating a small room.

“Well, my class is this way. Catch you later!” He said before walking off. I joined the small group of about twenty in the freshmen room. I was looking around when a voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Hi, my name is Becky.” A girl my height stood beside me. I took in the streaks in her blonde hair and she giggled. “I am experimenting with my look.”

I smiled in return. “I’m Crys. Do you have any idea what we’re doing here?”

“Nope. But I think we’re about to find out.” And she was right. A man stepped up to the podium.

“Attention! Attention, please! Thank you. I am Mr. Stamen, the Department Head. Welcome to the Drama House. I bet you are all wondering why you are here.” There was a general murmur of agreement. “You are part of the chosen few. All of you are very special, and you all have something in common.” A ripple of confusion spread throughout the group. “You all have a gift. I sure you have all read comic books. You know the tales of the heroes who helped save the world. You are about to join their ranks. I must warn you. The rest of this school is an actual school. If any of you mention this to anyone not in the “Drama” department, you will be not only expelled but also relocated. The matter of security is very real and very important. Now please help your selves to the buffet behind you and in half an hour you will receive further instructions. Good bye.” And he disappeared. No smoke no mirrors, nothing. Just vanished.

I looked at Becky. “ Did you know?”

“No,” she replied, “but I have always wished about it. How about you?”

“No clue.” I answered, but inside I wasn’t so sure. Maybe this would explain the voices in my head. Since I was very young I would hear things, people talking, conversations about real things. I had never told anyone, because I was not about to be sent to a padded room. Trying to change the subject, I countered, “What do you wish you gift could be?”

“Something with horses. Turning into one, talking to them, anything. I don’t take lessons but I wish I could. What do you want?”

Since I brought it up I decided to try and be sincere. “I think something with nature. You know; weather, trees, plants. That sort of thing. Where do you live?” Finally started on innocent conversation, I was able to look around. There seemed to be your standard mix of people. A cluster of those girls-you-love-to-hate were giggling at some boy who was obviously used to the attention. Then something Becky mentioned dragged me back to the conversation. “Wait. You’re here on a full scholarship, too? No way!”

“Yes way! I got this really odd letter…”

“Saying I won this scholarship,” we ended in tandem. Before we could pursue this interesting phenomenon, Mr. Stamen reppeared at the podium.

“Alright students, time for your first lesson!”

To find this shirt, visit your local HOT TOPIC.