What Do You Mean There’s No School Today?

Lisha rubbed at her nose to warm it up and pulled her woolly coat tighter around her body. It really was starting to get cold. She could tell because the lens of her red glasses fogged up from the redirection of warm air. She paused to wipe it clear and adjusted her backpack before she continued walking. This was the same route she took to school every day, though she was often oblivious to the changes in the atmosphere around her.

Her big brother, Jeran, used to walk with her to school but ever since he graduated to become a noble knight of the kingdom, it was just her by herself. She wished she had a buddy to walk with but no one else lived close enough for it to be viable. Lisha didn’t mind too much though, she was able to practise reciting spells and learning her time tables out loud on the long walk there. Unlike some of the other students in her class who groaned at the thought of school and would rather hang out at the milkshake cafe, Lisha loved going to NeoSchool and learning new things every day. She learned about history and geography, language and music yet her thirst for knowledge never waned. Her most recent interest was magic. Her homework was always submitted on time and she sat at the front of every class, raising her hand with earnest intent whenever the teacher posed a question. Her friends sometimes teased her about being the teacher’s pet but Lisha truly did not mind!

Finally, she approached the pewter gates of her NeoSchool and noticed that it was awfully quiet today. Usually, there were at least a handful of other kids running around on the oval out front but today there was no one in sight. Lisha frowned slightly and checked her red watch that just so happened to match her red glasses. 7:30 am exactly. Sure, she was a bit early for school but this was unusual. She rechecked her watch. Still 7:30 am. Odd.

Pushing open the gates, she entered the school grounds and sat for a bit by her lonesome self on a bench, swinging her legs, waiting for more students to arrive. Her best friend usually arrived by 7:55 am but there was no sign of her either. She waited until 8:00 am for the school bell to ring but still there was nothing and no one. Not even a teacher.

That’s it, she decided. She was heading to the office reception to find out exactly what was going on.

“Hello? Anyone here?”, she slowly pushed open the door.

No one was inside the front reception either. Lisha lingered a while longer before she decided to press the bell. Ding ding.

A shuffling sound indicated that someone was indeed present and, within seconds, Ms. Ellis the office lady came out, papers in hand.

“Lisha?”, Ms. Ellis sounded puzzled. “Why are you here?”

“For school, of course,” Lisha was equally puzzled. “Where is everyone?”

“Honey,” Ms. Ellis laughed. “There’s no school today. Did you not get the neomail?”

“What neomail?”, Lisha was still confused and scratched her forehead.

“The one that was sent out to all students earlier this week,” Ms. Ellis crouched down to Lisha’s level and said gently. “No school today! Everyone is at the Annual Gormball Championships.”

“Oh, no. I didn’t get any neomails?? Are you sure?”

“Yes, Lisha. That’s where I’m heading to right after I’m finished with this,” Ms. Ellis gestured towards the papers in her grasp. “You poor thing, I’ll give you a ride there once I’m done? Won’t be long.”

“Oh, no, miss,” Lisha said. “I think I’ll just head home.”

“Are you sure? Everyone’s at the Gormball Championships. Once a year only! You don’t want to miss out.”

“No, I have to study but thanks,” Lisha smiled and waved goodbye to the office lady.

“You know, you can take some time off studying to have a little fun,” Ms. Ellis encouraged but Lisha was already ducking out of the building.

Ms. Ellis was confused but shrugged it off and went back to her work. Strange little girl.

Lisha started the long walk back home. She was a little miffed about school being cancelled for a sporting event but decided that she could make good use of her time with some self study at home.

The wind had picked up even more now and Lisha wished she brought a beanie and a scarf. Shivering, she picked up the pace and tried to ignore the cold. After walking for a little while more, she noticed a magnificent pile of fallen leaves by a sidewalk to her left.

No… that’s so silly… But… Could I…

In a totally uncharacteristic move, Lisha dropped her heavy backpack on the floor and ran towards it at full speed, launching herself in the air and jumped right in! The leaves flew up in the air at the pressure and descended back down amidst Lisha’s hysterical laughter. She was almost breathless between fits of giggling.

THAT WAS SO FUN.

Lisha felt exhilarated, no longer shivering or cold. It had been a long time since she let loose like that but Lisha relished in this little moment.

Picking herself back up and dusting off leaves from her clothes, Lisha picked up her backpack and resumed her walk. Hmm, maybe Ms. Ellis was right. Maybe she did need to take the time to have a little fun sometimes. She was still a kid, after all.

In the spur of the moment, Lisha changed course and started running in the opposite direction all the way to the Gormball Championship fields.

She could hear it before she saw it. The whole school was indeed there.“Lisha!”, a familiar voice called out from across the fence.

She squinted and saw her best friend rushing towards her. “Gilly!”

“You’re here! I’m so happy,” Gilly shouted as she sidestepped to the door in the fence to get to Lisha’s side and pulled her into an embrace. “Where were you all morning? We couldn’t find you and thought you were homesick or something like that.”

“School.”

“You went all the way to school?! Why?”, Gilly’s eyes were wide.

“Long story,” Lisha blushed. “Actually, I didn’t get the neomail that school was cancelled today.”

Gilly erupted into laughter. “Well, I’m glad you’re here now.”

Gilly grabbed Lisha’s hand and took her to join the rest of their classmates who were deep in the middle of a round of Gormball.

“Guys, move aside, let Lisha have a turn,” Gilly commanded and she ushered others away and pushed Lisha to the front.

Lisha took the Gormball that Gilly handed her and got right into it. As she turned around to high five her friend, she noticed Ms. Ellis was in the background looking on and smiling.

She grinned back at Ms. Ellis and gave her two big thumbs up.

The End.