EXPLORE
1
10
15
1. Becoming part of a commun
live!
MP3
Charlotte has just arrived at her new high school.
Moving schools wasn't easy, but I was feeling quietly confident. I was doing everything right-
pristine' uniform, neat hair, plus I was running wonderfully early. [...]
The first thing I noticed, as I climbed the infinite steps, was that none of the students [...] were
wearing the uniform. I frowned. They were asking for detention.
5
I sat down, opened my bag and pulled out a science textbook. I had science first, so I wanted
to prepare. I flipped through the perfect pages, savouring the sanitary smell of printer ink.³
When the bell rang half an hour later, I placed the book back in my bag and stood up. The
quadrangle was now teeming with students. I paused. None of them were wearing the uniform;
I looked like a unicorn among horses. [...]
The second bell had rung well before I located my classroom. I opened the door prudently,
an apology on my lips.
"I'm really sorry I'm late, I--" My words were drowned out by a torrent of laughter emanating
from the students. A man in a T-shirt and shorts stood behind the lab bench that served as
a teacher's desk. [...]
"I think you have the wrong school," he said. "City Girls Grammar is about 2 k's" that-a-way."
He pointed a finger out the window then looked back down at his paper.
"I don't think you understand. I'm the new student. Charlotte Georgina Underwood."
Keely BROWN, A New Type of Education in My First Lesson: Stories Inspired by Laurinda, 2016
The House System is a
way to fos
BANJO
BANJO
STA
W
Nagied for t
bosh poet,
COLOR: Oran
of Paterson's
LEGACY: Crea
Success
MASCOT: Bru
CHARITY: Bey
BR
SELFI
Named