This is the chapter 1 of the book I'm starting. It doesn't have a title yet so I temporarily entitled it "No Title yet"...weird ain't it?
I haven't copyread it yet so pardon the mistakes. The book/novel is still at its drafts so...it ain't perfect.
Chapter 1 is where i establish the background of the whole book so it's more of a "describe the environment" chapter...here goes...
Chapter 1: The beginning of a new year It was the autumn of 2005 where the leaves of the Fire Trees were at their bereavement and the flight of the migratory birds marked the start of yet another busy season for the citizens of Charleston off the west coast of Seattle. It was as it has always been the start of a new semester at school.
Brentwood Abbey had always been known to be one of the top universities of the state not being far off from Brown, Harvard nor Berkeley. Students throughout the country seek coveted spots to learn from the brightest of minds hoping to become more successful in their future life. It was not only Charleston’s pride but also Washington’s glory.
Though the winds this year were quite chilly that one could instantaneously feel the condensation of the air during breathing, it did not stop the students of Brentwood from practicing their yearly routine especially to the residents of Xavier Hall.
Xavier Hall was one of three dormitories of Brentwood for students living far away from home but unlike the other two, it was the only dormitory housing both the sexes. It was named after Xavier Forthright, one of the founders of Brentwood who fought for gender equality in the academic realm and thus it was only just that the dormitory be coed. If it was not, it would have been an insult to Mr. Forthright.
It had been early in the morning when Austin came down from his uncle’s jaguar clad in a red sweater with red being Brentwood’s school colors. He had been tired from the flight he had taken to get there from California. Being from the east coast, he shuddered from the feel off the cold air in his ears and gave a long heave. “This is gonna be a long year.” he said with a sad look in his face.
It was specifically sad for Austin as he had been assigned by the dormitory manager to be the head of the welcome committee for the new sophomore residents of Xavier. Aside from the tedious task he had to undertake, it was also his last year in college, an event he had dreaded most in life.
“Bye Uncle June! You better get home before Aunt Emily gets Mad.”, Austin said with a forced smile. “Sure you won’t need any help with your things? God may have given you the brains but he didn’t exactly give you the strength of Hercules you know?” joked Uncle June. True enough, when Austin looked at his mounds of boxes and bags he was already weak in the knees. He was slim and feeble, Austin knew that by heart and there was no point arguing.
“I’ll just have someone pick these up. Don’t worry about it okay? Go home okay?” said Austin. With these words Uncle June was gone as fast as he said goodbye.
Austin began walking the path towards the glass doors of the dormitory taking in the view of the place he had called home for 3 years now. He noted that the plants needed trimming and the large pillars at front were newly painted for the new semester. The elaborate photoelectric glass doors that opened on its own will seemingly sensing people entering, he noted also needed more cleaning. He had also noticed a few boys struggling with large boxes filled with dormitory stuffs. “Those are new residents.” Austin saying to himself. He spotted a girl vigorously raking strewn clothes; obviously experiencing a luggage mishap.
Austin approached the dormitory counter where the security guard was sitting with a furrow on her brows. Weirdly, Xavier Hall’s guard on duty also served as receptionist which up to this day Austin finds odd.
“Hello Ms. Kelly! How was your summer? How come you’re brooding over there?” Austin whispered to the lady at her early-forties wearing the standard security guard uniform.
“Hi Austin! I’m fine really.” the security guard said quickly.
“Uhmm, how come I find that so untrue?” jested Austin. “What’s bothering you really?”
“You want to know the truth? It’s those new second year residents? They are all over the place! They don’t know what the standard procedures are and what’s worse is that they bring their parents to do all the talking!” said Ms. Kelly now starting to raise her voice.
“Oh…don’t you think that’s kinda exciting? New faces, new blood?” Austin said to Ms. Kelly hoping to relieve the stress she’s feeling. Ms Kelly, though she would let an old resident get away from violations sometimes, had always been short-tempered with new residents.
“I just hope they’ll learn quickly. I bid the head of the welcome committee this year good luck. He’s gonna have a long year I tell you. With all the tears and bloodshed he has to undergo. Not to mention the welcome night he has to organize and the sigsheet making and designing!” laughed Ms. Kelly. It was kind of odd seeing the expression of the woman changing from anger to laughter in a split second. It was like seeing a circus freak show.
“Uhmm, Ms. Kelly, I’m gonna be heading this year’s welcome committee.” Austin said with both a mixture of reluctance and optimism; two things that never mix.
“Oh my! I’m sorry, dear. Maybe things will look up right?” Ms. Kelly said right away hoping to ease the boy’s worry. The table seems to have turned with the woman now trying to relieve the stress the boy was feeling.
“Will you be needing the list of new residents already? The dormitory manager has it now. I can give it to you now if you want.” Ms Kelly said.
“I’ll get them later. Right now I just want to find someone to carry my things to my room so that I could fix my bed and get some rest. Maybe I’ll just have one of the maintenance people carry my bags right?” Austin said.
“I really don’t know about that Austin because they’re busy fixing the pipes right now. Sorry about that.” Ms Kelly said with a glum. She knew this boy had enough bad news for one day.
“Oh that’s okay. I’m sure Dan would be able to help me out.” Austin replied not knowing quite sure if Dan would be willing to help.
Dan had been Austin’s best friend for 3 years now. They had met in Xavier Hall in their sophomore years and had been friends ever since. They were also of the same major that’s why this has made them closer. Like Austin, Dan was also feeble that’s why Austin could help but give a small laugh imagining both of them carrying all his things. It looked as if they were ants carrying cobs of corn bigger than their bodies.
“Bad news, Austin, Dan’s still not here yet.” Ms. Kelly said.
“I think I had enough bad news for today. I can’t carry my things up which means I can’t rest and I still have to arrange a meeting for the welcome committee and design the sigsheets as well as meet with all the old dormers to plan the welcome night. I think I’m gonna faint!” Austin said remembering pretty well that he was the type of person who fainted easily. Maybe it was because he was anemic and the worst place he ever fainted was at the dormitory parking lot. People had to call the University hospital which was luckily only three blocks away. “I’ll just carry my things myself Ms. Kelly. I think I can handle them. I’d rather toil hard than have my bags freeze in the cold.”
Austin said goodbye to Ms. Kelly and began the long walk going back to where he left his things. As he exited the dormitory doors, more people were headed the opposite way beginning their dorm preparations such as looking for room assignments and looking at the monthly season calendar. Austin remembered he also had to prepare this month’s welcome party as well which means more work for the young man.
Outside, he rubbed both his hands together for friction to ease the pain the cold air was giving. It was still beginning of autumn and yet it was as cold as winter. Austin did not like this one bit.
He picked up the largest of the bags he had brought with him. For Austin, it weighed almost a ton knowing pretty well it contained pretty much all his school books. He gave it a strong yank but it seems to have moved only a millimeter. Austin cursed in his breath swearing he should work out more this year.
After a few more heaving and pushing, Austin finally gave up the ordeal knowing he could never win the battle and sat on the luggage which pretty much won over his strength.
Austin felt exhausted both from the flight and the hour drive from the airport to Brentwood that he swore he could sleep then and there. He was now pretty much oblivious to the fact that he would be sleeping at the cold dormitory walkway.
Now almost falling asleep and dreaming of sunny Newport, California where he grew up and tasting the salty blue beach water of the marina instead of the cold icy wind of Charleston, he had almost given up the resistance not to sleep.
He had dreamt of home until he was brought back to reality with a tap on the back…
Current Location: Sunrise Hill
Current Mood: 
embarrassed
Current Music: "Invincible" by Christian Bautista
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mac_gregor's journal
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