Chapter 1: Chapter 1
As I look out the window, I can see buildings, people, and cars passing by. The van continues down the road, the sound of the engine and the wheels on the pavement in my ears.
I try to distract myself by picking my nails, the cracking sound fills the silence in the van. The guard looks over at me, his expression unreadable
Guard: "Alright, we're almost there. Just sit tight and behave yourself. We are almost at the location.
I look in the rear view mirror, my own eyes staring back at me.
My name is Autumn. I'm 5'1, with a chubby build. My skin was a rich caramel color, and my dark brown eyes were framed by thick, dark lashes. Small glasses sat on my face. I had white teeth, and my dark curly hair fell in messy waves around my face.
I wore hearing aids that were small and unobtrusive, but they made a statement. I could see the clear wire sticking out, the bulky head sitting on top of my ear.
I adjusted them slightly, making sure they were in place. I had always felt a little self-conscious about my hearing aids, but tried to ignore it. I know that they are necessary for me to hear properly, and that's all that mattered.
***
The van pulls up to a large, culdesac campus, there are several cottages surrounding it. As i step out of the van, I see a sign that reads "Sleeping Giant Cottage". You notice several other kids scattered throughout the campus, some walking the circle while others passed notes with other children. Four small buildings spread out in the circle, seemingly trying to impersonate a homely cottage. The buildings were labeled as followed:
Trollhill cottage
Huntington Cottage
Bee Cottage
Kids Cottage
Recovery cottage
I stare at the grounds, taking in the seemingly mundane sight. But when I look closer, I can see the gate close behind the van, and there are staff at all points of the circle. The van stops at the first cottage, the brown brick building in the shape of a L. The cottage was annexed to a bigger building, seemingly a cafeteria and school. The van door opens, and I finally get out.
It really is.. a mini college campus. The campus is filled with buildings going around the entire circle, the middle has a sidewalk following the shape of the culdesac. The main building is across from mine, but to the left. It's a big building, seemingly maybe a old church built into a main office. On the right hand side of the main office is another two story building, the windows having bars and the doors seemingly locked. There were eyes staring at me through the barred windows.. how eerie
Next to the main office building on the left, was a cottage split into two parts. Huntington and Bee cottage - and next to that building is Kids cottage. My eyes scanned the circle, jumping from building to building incessantly, trying to ease the worry in my heart.
I walk up the ramp, to the front door of Trollhill cottage. My bags are with me, and the guard who drove me here seamlessly slipped out, his job completed.
The locks click, staff letting me in through the door. Looking inside to my right, I see a long hall way, stretching down and then splitting into a L shape. There were four doors, each opening up to rooms. One with four beds, two with three beds, and one with two beds. There was also a laundry room, with two bathrooms with showers available. To the left, there is another area - when you enter, chairs scattered throughout the middle, seeming like a dorm common room. On the other side, there is a kitchen as well as a big dining table. There is only that one entrance.. not counting the connecting annex to the school. As I head further down the hall, I stop at the last room on the right. It's a staff office - a huge white board on the wall, 12 names written across it, with chores, points and makes across it. It's seems like a point system for chores and tasks that earn you outside visits or privileges.
My eyes are met by a stern looking woman. She introduces herself as Miss Hela, the leader of Trollhill cottage.
"Welcome to The Sleeping Giant Cottages", she says.
"I'm sure you have many questions - so let's get you settled in, and get you integrated."
***
I had been in trouble with the law for a while, and as a result, you were sent to a Residential facility. I'm clearly nervous about my new living situation, but I have never choice. I have no other family to go to besides my grandparents, and no other place to stay. My grandma couldn't handle me anymore, instead sending me off to somewhere specializing in "kids like me"
I'm fifteen, by the way.
I was then greeted by another staff, an arrogant looking woman named Tierra, who showed me to my room. The room I was given was the door in the middle of the L shaped hall, with three beds. Two beds were taken, leaving me the furthest most for myself. It didn't take me long to put everything away, as there was a dresser, wardrobe and chest for me to use.
I walked back to the staff office, looking at Ms. Hela.
"It's time to break the rules down to you, okay? I'll go over them - ask questions at the end" she says
I nod in affirmation, waiting to hear whatever rules they have.
"You have a set of chores to do every day at certain times, which change weekly. See a staff when you finish, they will check it and give you points. They will mark you with an X if you don't.
Wake up is at 8a, you will be ready to walk to the school next door by 9a.
The cafeteria is open for all meals, when the cottage as a whole earns enough points, I cook here in the kitchen as a treat.
The cell phone used for phone calls is fifteen minutes per call, and under the guidance of a staff.
If you get a good performance in school, you may get to earn outings with the director such as going to eat hibachi.
If you fight or cause a disturbance that a staff needs to step in, you will be forcibly restrained. Our staff are trained and equipped to deal with behavioral issues.
The nurses office is up the hill, if you take medication you will walk to there to take them. We check your mouth by having you raise your tongue.
The berries outside are poisonous, do not eat them.
You have to be in your room for bed by 9pm. If you get good marks on the board, you can earn the privilege of staying in the common room later.
Trollhill cottage has a total of twelve girls, with at least four staff in the building at all times, staff are stationed all throughout the campus.
If you try to run, staff will give chase and restrain. We consider you AWOL, and will take necessary measures, as we are part of the state and funded by the government, these rights are left to us.
School has clubs you can attend if you'd like, such as chess club or book club.
You attend school separately from the boys, and these clubs are the only co ed classes.
All the kids here get to get together during campus activities such as field days. We do summer programs - this year the girls will be building a garden center. You get paid for it.
We have a gym as well, and we do have rec time throughout the week. You can walk around the circle, please do not interact with the other cottages.
We have cottages for children of all ages, and each cottage is set for a specific age range. Across the street is the drug recovery program, those kids are kept separate from everyone else.
Any visits must be approved first.
That's pretty much it," Ms. Hela rasps, voice obviously dry from speaking what seems to be a familiarly script.