Entry #195310, added on 09-27-02 @ 2:42 pm EDT
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Gina kept her eyes fixed on the knots in the wooden floor. There were a lot of them, as well as many scraps and cracks. This was to be expected since this was an old school, and this building the first one built, but Gina was still grateful for its amplitude of designs for it helped keep her eyes diverted from the two figures sitting in front of her.
One of these figures was an old withered man with as many cracks and marks in his face as there were in the floor. He was Headmaster Gershka, and she suspected that he had been around as long as the school. The other person’s face was tightly smoothed out, and a light layer of sweat always floated over the skin. He wore spectacles that were always slipping down due to his abundance of facial wetness. He was the Headmaster’s secretary, Master Sarsh, and right now he was absorbed in a pile of notes that were scattered over half of the desk.
“As you know, the Academy is a distinguished organization that has been around for hundreds of years. We only accept so many students each year, and those students are always the best to be found. This year is no exception.” The Headmaster droned on as Gina kicked at a small crack that looked a little like a house. “You have gone through all of our tests and shown a fair amount of skill. We were impressed, but we were also impressed with many of the other applicants.” Each word came right after the other in a rhythmic fashion. Gina could tell he had said this many times before. “Sadly, as I stated before, we can’t take all of you. Only a few can be selected and I am very disappointed to have to inform you that you were not included.”
Gina’s head began to whip up to face the Headmaster, but she stilled the urge and looked back to the floor. She had known the possibilities were slim, but she hadn’t been ready to face the reality. Her heart felt weighted down, and her vision was blurred by the coming tears.
The Headmaster was oblivious to it all. He continued on unabated. “Of course, you are still young, and there is always next year. We all hope you come back next year and try again. Master Sarsh will escort you out.”
Gina’s head bobbed up and down slowly, and she found her body following Sarsh outside the Headmaster’s office. There would not be a next year. Her family was very poor and had to spend most of their savings just to get her here. There was no way they could afford to send her again when the chances for succeeding were so slim. All hope of becoming something more then a farmer’s wife had suddenly evaporated.
“Well, here is the door, Miss Gina.” She looked up and was startled by the light that blinded her from outside. “Please do come back next year.”
She turned and looked at Master Sarsh. He was holding the door open and constantly looked over his shoulder. All of them were so pretentious! Why did she want to join their institute anyway? “I won’t be back,” she said.
“What?” Sarsh looked bewildered as he slid his spectacles back up his nose.
Gaining confidence, Gina said “I won’t be back. I don’t want to join anymore.”
The secretary shrugged and gestured out the door. “Alright. Have a good day.”
A small smile slid across her lips. “I will.” She then walked out the door, and headed home without looking back.
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© Copyright 2002 Trintara (UN: trintara at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
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