The Dorm Guard

Chapter Two: Introduction

Fritz: Misfit, to stop working efficiently, to be inefficient. 

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The majority of my things were to be sent to the place where I was staying, so I wasn't so much worrying about them as I worried about where said place may be. 

I went to the supermarket to grab a couple of things for my new job, so my handlebars endured the weight of three plastic bags. I knew the dormitory I was staying at was out of the main town and in the pine forest. I wouldn't call it isolated, but it wasn't exactly close to anything from my knowledge of it.

It also meant it was supposedly easy to find. 

The pathway that led to it was dirt which looked like every other dirt pathway around the pine forest and up the mountain. I found myself standing before a path up the mountain at one point. Everywhere looked the same! I became convinced I passed a lot of the same trees.

There were only a handful of houses throughout the forest, yet I managed to find every other home in the area. I saw one house that belonged to a lovely old couple holidaying for the week who helpfully guided me to the student dormitory I was trying to find. A shake of the hand, a thank you, name exchange and a flower from the woman, and was off once more in search of my dorm. 

I was going to be a 'Dorm Guard,' whatever that may or may not have entailed. I expected it to be like that of a Dorm Mother, or in my case Father. It was a position my Mother urged me to accept as part of my scholarship community service. All scholarship students required to do one form of maintenance, service or donation to the school, as a means of making sure the scholarship students weren't getting everything for 'free.' I could understand this on one level and respected that we didn't have to do anything overly strenuous, but I didn't understand why my Mother and the school recommended I be a Dorm Guard. 

Furthermore, I didn't know why a Dorm Guard was needed.

I managed to find the dormitory. It was a gorgeous, huge house. There was something elegant about the polished wood that stood in the form of an impressive two-story building, with stain glass windows which reflected an array of colours from the setting sun. It had a large yard decorated with some pine trees and other low hanging trees with a swing set tied to one of the lower branches. A half in half brick and metal fence surrounded the whole property. 

As my bike came to a stop, I scanned the surrounding trees and path for any other houses or a sign of the school. Nothing. "How far away from the school is this place anyway...?" I wondered. 

I approached the gate to the dorm. It was an extravagant pattern of leaves and flowers with a simple lock the side of my fist. 

I didn't have some friends in this town, but I haven't seen any of them in years, so I don't know if I can still call them friends. I at least hoped some of the guys in the dorm would be willing to watch movies or maybe ride bikes. 

I looked at the sign on the opening gate which read; 'Dormitory 200-210.' The school I was to attend, White Winter Prep School, has their symbol of a fox with two swords crisscrossed behind the fox head, which presented itself proudly on the face of the gate. I could hardly remember the story of the fox and the swords the school had based the emblem on, something about cunningness and bravery. 

I saw my suitcase at the front door of the building and approached. I wondered why my stuff was out on the porch but dismissed the thought as I rested my bike against the wall of the building. I only just noticed how big the house was now that it was in front of me. 

The door had a cold bronze knocker, and it pulled an ugly face at those who approached, with red stone eyes, large thorns and uneven teeth that snarled at visitors. I found it an amusing way to be greeted. I grabbed the ring that hung from its mouth and tapped it against the door. The knock echoed through the wood on the veranda and prompted the muffled speech of people inside. They sounded like girls.