Part 3 (2/2)
”No,” the girl behind her was saying in a low tone, though the names had long since been read out and the freshmen dismissed to the ”home rooms.”
Only scattered groups of resting pupils were here and there in the seats. Betty was in the next to the last row and three girls had just entered the last row together.
”I'm a wreck from standing in that line,” said the first one, as she dropped into a seat. ”Aren't they going to serve lunch today?”
Then came the answer, for which Betty listened. ”No; don't you remember that we never have lunch at first?”
”Well, I've only one year to remember, May, and I never did get anything straight when I was a freshman, at first anyhow.”
Betty's heart warmed with a fellow feeling.
”I certainly wish that we could have one of those good lunches, but I suppose it won't kill us to starve for once. Let's go down to you know where and get a Swiss chocolate sundae. We can get back in time.”
”I'd rather not, May; besides I've only got my street-car fare and ten cents, I think.”
”I'll lend you some more,” suggested May.
”Can't possible this time; too tired, besides. There used to be a place opposite the school. What's become of that? I used to get chocolate bars and sandwiches there.”
”New building across the street. Well, if you aren't going, I am. Shall I bring you something? Maybe I'll have a sandwich, too.”
”If you can get one for ten centsno, here are some coppers. Hurrah!”
Evidently the girl behind Betty was emptying her store of small funds into the hand of the other girl. There was giggling and a scrambling after a copper that had dropped and rolled. Then one girl left and the other strolled over to join a group of girls by a window.
Betty wished that she had brought a chocolate bar which by the irony of fate she had taken out of her bag to leave it home! But she could go without a meal if she had to do it. She could get something to eat as soon as she reached home.
Rested now, she thought she would go over to the building which housed the junior high school and see if Doris and d.i.c.k were also waiting around. It was quite a little walk, or seemed so to Betty, but it was interesting when she reached the place and entered it. Scarcely any children were to be seen. She walked through vacant halls and decided that Doris and d.i.c.k had already gone home. She hoped that her mother would not be worried about her. There was no way of getting her word, though she had seen a telephone in the office. But of course she could not use that.
Time slipped by in some fas.h.i.+on. She went back to the auditorium, now about deserted. She watched the time, determined to be one of the first at the office door, and as all things come to an end at last, she found herself talking to a sober, dignified, yet kindly man in the office, arranging her schedule or, more properly, answering questions about the work she had covered, and receiving a ”slip” to present to her ”home room teacher” the next day.
It was all more or less puzzling to the young freshman from away; but she understood the next step and where she was to report on the following day. That would have to be enough. A somewhat breathless, excited, and very hungry Betty reached home at about two o'clock in the afternoon, welcomed by her mother as a returning prodigal and directed to where she would find the ”fatted calf” or a more attractive subst.i.tute.
CHAPTER IV: A REAL FRESHMAN AT LAST
Mother suggested putting up a lunch for the children on the second morning of school, but d.i.c.k said that they would not need any. ”One of the kids said that we get out the same time tomorrow,” said he. And Betty corroborated d.i.c.k's statement.
”I'll not have to wait in line today, Mother,” said Betty. ”That's all attended to. I know just what to do. You go to your home room, do whatever you are told to do and I guess you report to your different teachers. We get out at twelve-thirty. After we really have cla.s.ses and two sessions there will be a place to get lunches, somewhere upstairs.”
Back again in the echoing halls of the school building, Betty felt that the worst was over, yet she was both lonely and a little timid in regard to what was still before her. Oh for Janet or some one of the girls she knew! Other girls, who must have been in the eighth grade together, were walking arm in arm, or with arms around each other's waist as they approached the door of the same home room to which Betty's feet were carrying her. She wondered if poor little Doris felt the same way. She went into the school room with the others, finding its back seats well filled already. Accordingly she dropped into the nearest front seat, which was on the outside row near the door.
As it was not polite to stare, she believed, she did not look at the girls sitting around her except for glances here and there; but it was perfectly legitimate to gaze forward at the home room teacher. Was she going to like her?
Two teachers were standing, near the large desk in front and before the blackboard, which covered its appropriate s.p.a.ce on three walls. The fourth side of the room was devoted to windows. The teachers were laughing and talking together, apparently in the best of spirits. Then a gong rang, or something made a sound in the halls and a corresponding ring in the room. Immediately one of the ladies departed and the other turned to face the cla.s.s with a great change of countenance, not exactly stern, Betty thought, but it was quite obvious that her home room teacher was ready to handle any obstreperous little freshman who did not want to keep order.
But no one was disorderly this morning. It was an event to enter high school. The expectant faces met the dignified survey of the teacher. In due time she explained what was to be done. Cards were there from the office. Schedules had been made out for each one. They were to report to their respective teachers at the rooms whose numbers were given. Lockers could not be given for some time. They would be obliged to carry their books and take them home, but it was remarked that they would want to study at home in any event. Books would be given out on the next day.
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