Monday, January 8th, 2013
The officie of the high teacher of the Uldartre academy sat like a marvelously well-decorated bird dropping atop the large marble tower at the western side of the main building.
It's vantage point afforded it marvelous views over the bounteous grounds of the school, with its well-apointed sports complexes and fruitful orchards.
In the spacious office, in antique, uncomfortable-looking chairs, sat 5 people, an old man, 3 boys and a girl.
The old man, Miro Derali, sat behind a stout-looking old desk that seemed to be carrying a small library of paperwork. In the midst of all this squaller, however, he had a glint in his eye, like a child on the night before his birthday.
For it was on this day that his special branchild was about to occur: the very first foreign exchange program that the uldartre academy had ever launched.
The teens sat in a row across from him were the 4 people he had selected as 'Buddies.' They were, collectively, Blacksen domination, Liam O'clane, Jean-luc Gordavris and Laura Mccabe, and it was clear that they too were happy to have been selected, if they didn't share all of their teachers passion about the program.
"So, you all know what your jobs will be, don't you?" he asked the students.
"Yes, High teacher," Blacksen Domination said in his drawling, imperius voice. "We're to help get them settle in, make them feel at home. Show them some of the culture, learn about their cultures and turn them into nice little Vakolicci agents."
"The last one must be your final priority, Mr. Domination. Do you understand that? We're not trying to cause problems here, just let them know how our culture is so strong, and how their's is so sadly lacking."
"Of course," Jean-Luc said.
Out of the window, Blacksen could see several cars pulling into the car park, and...were those space ships? Yes, they were space ships. However, it wasn't as if he hadn't seen people from other planets before, he knew what to expect. They were mainly all human.
"Looks like their arriving," Laura commented.
"Then go!" Delari said, laughing slightly. "Mrs Higgins is meeting them at the door. You need to go and help her out."
"Sorry?"
"You heard me, Mrs Higgins is giving them a warm welcome at the door."
"Yes," Blacksen said. "The reason I said Sorry is because I was surprised that you'd given such an important job to a--"
"Mrs Higgins has taught here for 54 years, Mr. Domination."
"She's also losing the plot. Come on everyone, I wouldn't leave a houseplant in the tender loving care of Mrs. Higgins."
The 4 students walked in single file down the long, marble staircase before turning towards the large, polished double main doors, that stood open.
Mrs Higgins, a short, fat old lady was standing their, dancing from one foot to another. "Oh, their you are!" she said happily. "I say. It's so good you've arrived, welcome to the greater Vakolicci Haven."
"Mrs. Higgins, turn and look. We've lived here all our lives."
"Oh Yes, yes! I got carried away there. What's your name again?"
Blacksen sighed inwardly. How more famous could one person become! He was an international footballer, he had released a few albums, and he was effectively a Prince. It wasn't very hard to remember such an unforgetable name, was it?
"Blacksen Domination, Mrs Higins."
"Ah Yes, I remember now. Well, are you waiting for the international students?"
"Yes," Laura interjected before Blacksen could reply. "Derali's selected us to welcome them."
"That's Mr. Derali to you, Ms mcnabe."
"It's Mccabe, Mrs Higgins, remember? Laura Mccabe."
"Ah, her."
"Yes," Laura said, sighing.
None of them could help wondering why Mr. Derali had chosen Mrs Higgins of all people to welcome a group of international students to the GVH, Perhaps he saw some strange thing in her that nobody else could, possibly a mind.
