I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Two

The morning of my departure Mother began barking orders first thing, though my flight wasn't until evening. Most was directed at my father, as he loaded my bags into the car. I sat by the driveway with our Chow, Grover, and watched. My sister, who looked more like Mother every day, appeared on the front steps. 'You still here?'

'No.'

The morning of my departure Mother began barking orders first thing, though my flight wasn't until evening. Most was directed at my father, as he loaded my bags into the car. I sat by the driveway with our Chow, Grover, and watched. My sister, who looked more like Mother every day, appeared on the front steps. 'You still here?' 

'No.' 

Mother snapped at me, 'Wiseass, don't talk to yer sister that way. Say yer sorry.' 

I hugged Grover's big head and mumbled into the fur, 'Sorry, Carla,' and threw her a nasty look. She rolled her eyes and went back inside. 

Mother turned her attention to me, 'Is that what yer wearin'?' 

I looked at my jeans and jumper, 'Yes, ma'am?' 

She sighed as if I were beyond hope. 'Aw right, everybody git in!' 

Noni sat in the backseat with me and Father drove in silence whilst mother gave advice nearly non-stop for the two-hour drive to the airport. I'd never flown before and was anxious and excited over it. I had a burger in a restaurant that had a huge window that overlooked the tarmac. Several planes took off and landed—I thought it funny how they rolled along on skinny little wheels. Mother snapped, 'Don't be so messy with that ketchup!' 

When my flight was finally called I hugged Noni and picked up my bag. Mother said, 'Well, ya cain't leave without givin' me a hug!' I obliged and she kissed me on the head, 'Luv yoo.' 

I slung my carryon over my shoulder and turned, 'Yeah.' As I was walking up the covered corridor to the plane Mother shouted after me, 'Now call when ya git there!' I waved again and lugged my bag up to the flight attendant. 

We landed at Heathrow mid-morning and I took the train to Oxford entranced by the landscape: all shades of green and the colours of autumn. The first term of the year, Michaelmas, would begin in a few days—their academic year began much later than the ones in America. I marvelled at how small the roads were. 

At the train station I hired a taxi—on the ride to my college, Oxford castle with its tiny stones passed on the right. Each college was kept separate from the others by wrought iron fences with spikes on top inside the gates were grassed areas and flowers. Stone paths lead to the buildings. Bikes leaned against buildings and fences in long lines. I thought the colleges looked like castles. A lot of them were made of yellow stones, though some were red brick and I passed a couple that were quiet modern looking—glass and chrome. I preferred the golden stone ones, as they seemed to have more history. I'd looked online and seen that my college was one of those—founded in the fourteenth century by the chancellor of England—it had a clock tower and several parapets. 

The cab turned off the main road onto a small lane and stopped in front of a huge wooden gate that had a regular sized door open in it. Above the archway were statues of the Virgin Mary and two people kneeling to her. It seemed so formal and ancient I was suddenly frightened they'd take one look at me and know I didn't belong there. I carried my bags through the door and to my right was an office. An almost perfectly round man stood and put on a bowler before asking cheerfully, 'Hello, young lady. May I be of assistance?' 

'This is my c-college.' 

He chuckled, 'Aren't you the lucky one? Not everyone gets the pleasure of seeing Mr Phipps every day. I'm the head porter.' He nodded once. 'Always nice to meet one of my charges. Allow me to inform you of the rules here at the fine college of Wykeham: You must obtain permission from the Dean three days in advance if you plan on having parties involving more than ten people, and music must cease by quarter to twelve. You must also have prior consent to entertain overnight guests, who must pay for a room or a camp bed. We ask that you refrain from putting tape on the walls or using drawing pins. Battels come due at the beginning of the term and should be made to the Bursar's office.'