First meeting

You park your bike back in the garage, wondering whether you should report meeting the reporter to Diana Naylor. You're not sure how she'll respond to the news and decide to wait until after the orientation meetings.

You walk across the quad noticing as you do that a good number of students wearing the full uniforms including their white jackets are heading in the same direction as you are. As you walk along side the groups of students you see a few skirts that are quite a bit higher than the four inches from the top of the knee that the dress code calls for, and others whose blouses aren't tucked in, but for the most part, it looks like the students at the Academy are off to a good start. A closer look reveals that a half dozen or so of the students are wearing ties that don't look right, instead of the short burgundy and forest-green plaid that you expect, there are several in scarlet and black and others as well that look to you like men's neckwear tied loosely around their necks.

Diana is already standing in the front of the library with Miss Wilder by her side adjusting the focus of a large projector. You make your way through the groups of students noting as you do yet another non-uniform tie, this one a solid black tie that looks to you for all the world like the uniform tie of an Annapolis midshipman.

"What's with those ties?" You ask Ms. Naylor and see her grimace.

"The girls wear them as trophies from the boys they're seeing." She explains, "In my days we wore pins and class rings, now they take their ties." She turns back to check with Miss Holloway and you notice a pair of scissors sitting on Alice's desk and pocket them with a smile.

"Ladies, if I may have your attention!" Diana's clear voice raps her knuckles on the table . "Settle down, this won't take long and then you will be free to enjoy the rest of the day." The students settle down quickly with that as an incentive although most look pretty disinterested.

"Welcome to another year at Pink Rose Academy. As second year students, most of you are familiar with the routines of the school, but there have a few changes since last year so I'll ask you to pay close attention." A dark-haired student wearing one of the scarlet and black ties mimes a yawn, but Diana ignores her laughing friends and continues calmly. "I'd like to begin by introducing the faculty, many of whom will be familiar faces, but we have some new members this year." This gets the attention of the assembled students and as Diana asks each teacher to stand as she introduces them by name and subject, you get a sense of which of the teachers are liked. She saves the four men for the end.

"Mr. Sharp will be teaching History and Geography this year, and brings very impressive credentials to the job. Mr. Carter, our biology teacher, returns to education after a short sabbatical, and we are very pleased to welcome him." You are a little surprised at the amount of attention they get. Neither of them strikes you as someone that these pretty young women would fantasize about. Carter for example is easily as old as their fathers. You are not at all surprised by the reception Mr. Watts gets when he is introduced.

"Mr Watts, Coach Watts I should say, will be teaching physical education, coaching softball and helping with both the soccer and basketball teams. We are very lucky to have him join us." There is a smattering of applause and a few bursts of giggles that you guess have little to do with his coaching ability. That handsome young man will need to watch himself with all these hormonal young women.

"Finally, I'd like to welcome Dean Hawkfeather." You rise and nod at the tables of curious students as Ms. Naylor introduces you. "The position of Dean of Students has been re-established, and his office is in the Mellon building. Dean Hawkfeather joins us after a career in the military, and brings a wealth of experience to his position."

"As I mentioned at the start of the meeting, there have been several changes since last year," Ms. Naylor continues. "I'm going to call on Dean Hawkfeather to explain one of the most important ones." She takes a seat as all eyes in the room turn to you. As your mother says, a person only gets one chance to make a good first impression.