Boarding School

By Eva Hitchcock

Samantha trudged along the pathway leading to her new dorm. In her hand was one suitcase filled with her belongings. She felt like bursting into tears, but held them back. It was her first day of boarding school and her first time far away from her parents. She had begged her father to not make her go, but he was determined that she needed such strict discipline and education. “You know that you can visit me on Easter, Christmas, and two weeks in summer,” he said.

“Can I visit you on my birthday?” inquired Samantha.

“I’m sorry Samantha. No.”

She couldn’t help it any more. Samantha started to sob. How could she ever be so far away from her parents, as if they were strangers to her? She felt empty inside, and only wanted her father to understand her.

Her dad dropped her bags in her new room and kissed her. “I’m sure that you’ll meet new friends honey.”

Samantha hugged him, “I’ll miss you so much daddy.”

“I’ll miss you too.” He walked out the door not even stopping to look back. Samantha wept into her pillow. She had never felt so miserable in her life.

At that moment a bell rang in the hall. “Will everyone please report to the cafeteria!” boomed a loud voice from the overhead.

Samantha wiped away her tears with her sleeve and strode to the cafeteria. She tried to forget her father but couldn’t. A girl in a blue-collard shirt and pleaded skirt walked by her and smirked, “So you’re the newbie, huh?”

“Yes. My name is Samantha. What’s yours?”

“My name is Chelsea. I already have friends. Good luck on your first day. You’ll need it.” Chelsea ran ahead. And so started Samantha’s first day of boarding school.