Port Dore - Chapter One
Chapter One: New Home
I opened my eyes, I found myself leaning against the window of a car. I looked around at the interior, my father and mother were sitting in the front seats and I was alone in the back seat, pushed against the left side of the car by all the luggage and bags we had packed the week before. My muzzle was almost squished against the window. Then I remembered why I was in the car.
We were moving. Dad had got an important job in some crappy town two states away from where we came from. We'd been living in Queensland since I was a boy. And suddenly my dad gets a promotion and we HAVE to move to some crappy down thousands of kilometres away from home, just for him. I remember passing over the South Australian border, before falling asleep shortly after that. Now I could see where we were heading.
I looked out the window and glanced at the sky. The sky was covered with a grey blanket of clouds. I frowned, this wasn't my home at all. Back where I used to live, it barely rained and it was almost always sunny. Or was it just me? Maybe it was, I don't know.
All I know is that this isn't a good sign. I'm really not going to enjoy this place. "Where are we even heading anyway?" I glanced at the front seat. "We've been travelling for days." I added.
"Mornin' son, I didn't realise you were awake." My father took his eyes off the road ahead of him and glanced at me for a second. "We're only a few kilometres out of Port Dore." He answered, clutching the wheel.
"We couldn't have stayed in Barglow could we?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Look Sid, I know you had a lot of good friends back at Barglow High, but you'll make more down here. And besides, I needed the extra work." My father replied, in an uninterested tone. "Try not to worry about it, I'm sure you'll make some friends on your first day." He added, trying to remain positive.
"You're deluded." I muttered, glancing back out the window. We had turned off the freeway and we were driving along an almost deserted highway.
Soon enough, we entered Port Dore. I looked through the window, checking out the surroundings. It actually didn't seem that bad of a place. I mean, there's no crystal houses and massive gardens, but it still looked moderately clean. "Here's our stop." My dad said, pulling up at a small house. The car stopped behind a truck which was carrying all of our furniture and we stepped out.
I closed my door behind me and stretched my legs. I breathed in the air, looked at our new home. "Nice place," I commented, glancing at the front of the house. "I could get used to living here." I added, looking at the house with a confident look.
"Hey Sid, mind helping us with the furniture?" My dad asked, ushering me over to him. I walked over to him and helped him pull out a couch. "This'll go in the main room." My dad said, helping me carry the couch to the door.
Eventually, all the furniture was placed in the house and all three of us threw ourselves on the couch. "That took forever..." I said, panting.
"You said it." My dad sighed. "Well...here we are." He jumped back up again.
"I guess." My mother shrugs. "But what now?" She adds.
"I've gotta wait for a phone call from my boss so I know where I can begin working." My dad answers. "Until then, we can just rest. It is Saturday after all." My dad says, walking over to the kitchen.
"You better go take a shower, pup." My mother says, rubbing my hair. "You kinda smell." She commented.
I jump off the couch and glance at her. "I don't smell." I say, lifting my arms and taking a whiff. "Where's the shower?" I ask.
"Upstairs." Dad says, taking a bottle of wine out from the fridge.
"Thanks." I smile at him and ascend the stairs. I reached a hallway and glanced to my right. I noticed a sign on a door which read; Bathroom. "Always with the signs." I mutter to myself, as I enter the bathroom.
I shut the door behind me and locked it. "Not bad." I commented, studying my surroundings. The whole room was covered in white tiles and the shower sat in the corner. I take my shoes off and throw them away. I took off my black shirt and threw it with my shoes, followed by my cargo pants.
I stood there, just in my boxes staring into the mirror that rested against the wall above the sink. I look at myself for a second. I have an average body and build, I'm not muscular, but I admire my body all the same.
I mess with my hair for a second and move it away from my emerald coloured eyes. "Looking good." I say to myself as I lean on the sink. I remove my boxes and walked over to the shower.
'Will the shower work?' I thought to myself as I opened the shower door and stepped in. I turned the knob and sure enough, water came out of the shower head. I shut the shower door and quickly regulated the shower to the correct temperature.
I just stood under the rushing water for a few minutes, letting the water soak my fur. 'Wait, will I go back to school?' I thought to myself. I remembered how hard it was to adjust and fit in in my old school. It took over a year before I actually begun making friends and fitting in. That was over a year ago.
I'm fifteen now, and in grade nine. And I don't see myself fitting in well down here. I'm so used to the city life, and now I'm here. In this country town.
A sudden knock at the door startles me and I almost fall out of the shower. "You alright in there, Sid? You've been in there for forty minutes!" My dad shouts. Forty minutes? I'd been in here for that long?
"I'm fine!" I reply turning the shower off. "I'll be out in a few minutes, alright?" I said, stepping out of the shower.
"Oh good, because your mother's got dinner on the table." My dad replied. "Don't be too long, you don't want it getting cold." I heard my dad walk down the stairs. I grab a nearby towel and wrap it around my waist.
A few minutes later, I slip my boxers back on and throw my clothes in a washing basket close by. I grabbed my shoes and left the bathroom and into the hallway. I closed the door behind me and walked into my room, which was opposite the bathroom.
I entered my room and opened the dresser. I reach in a grab a blue shirt and black cargo pants and slip them on.
I walked downstairs and saw my mom and dad waiting for me at the table. "Took long enough." Mom jokingly said.
"Takes a long time to keep my hair in good shape." I said, sitting at the table. After finishing dinner, I retreated to my room for the night.
Eventually, I managed to fall asleep.
The next day was pretty quiet, we stayed in the house for the whole day, talking about dad's job. We were sitting at the kitchen table. I suddenly remembered what I was thinking about yesterday and decided to inquire about it.
"Hey dad, am I going back to school?" I ask, giving my parents a serious look.
"Of course you are." Dad chuckles. "You didn't think that you'd get off that easy did you?" Dad chuckled.
"You could've told me earlier." I said, a smirk appearing on his face. "We told you before we left Barlow." Dad shakes his head.
"Go upstairs and get your stuff ready for tomorrow, you'll be walking to school." Dad said, pointing to the stairs.
"I don't even know where the school is, why can't you drive me?" I asked. 'I bet it's something to do with work'. I think to myself.
"I gotta get to work early, to make a good impression. And the school is just down the road, a few streets away." Dad answers. "Now get to it." Dad sends me upstairs.
"Fine." I rolled my eyes and left the table and walked upstairs. I would never be prepared for my first day.
The next morning, the sound of my alarm clock startles me and wakes me up. 'Damn thing.' I slap it, turning it off. I glanced at the clock; 7:43AM. "I better get ready, don't want to be late on my first day." I said to myself, jumping out of bed.
After getting ready, I walked downstairs and said goodbye to mom. Dad had already left, so I didn't see him before I left. I walked outside into the front yard and glanced to the left. "Here I go, I guess..." I let out a sigh and begin walking to my new school.
As I walked down the street, I looked at my appearance. I was only wearing a long blue t-shirt and long black pants, so it wasn't a big deal. I adjusted the straps on my backpack and scratched the back of my neck.
I glanced at my arm and pulled up my sleeve, revealing my wristwatch. It was already eight thirty, though I didn't worry. I could see the school. I approached the school quietly and stopped when I reached the steps.
'This place is huge!' I thought to myself, as I stood in awe at the massive building in front of me. I glanced around me, there wasn't a single fur that was alone, and all furs were in their own group or clique.
'Okay...I'll keep my head down today, and I'll make friends another day.' I thought to myself as I walked up the steps of the school. I pushed open the door of the school and walked in. I looked down the hall and saw lots of students talking amongst themselves.
I walked down the hall, trying to avoid eye contact. However, as I approached the office, I would continuously get glares from some of the other students. I stood in front of the office and was greeted by one of the staff.
"You must be Sid Williams, correct?" She asked, holding a clipboard in her hand.
"Yeah." I answered, looking at the clipboard. "I'm just here to grab a timetable." I added.
"Sure, I'll go grab you one. I just need a few minor details for when you start your education here." She said, not taking her eyes off of the clipboard.
"Name?" She asked.
"Uh, Sid Williams?" I cocked an eyebrow. She already knew my name.
"Age and grade?" She asks again.
"15 and grade nine." I answered, my patience slowly running out. The bell suddenly ran and students began rushing off to their classes. "We'll finish this later." The staff member said, putting her clipboard down and walking to the other side of the office.
A few seconds later, she returned with a timetable. "Period One has just begun, if you just head to your first class, I'm sure you'll get there in time." She said, watching me walk away.
'Where do I go?' I ask myself, looking at the empty halls around me. I glanced at my timetable. 'English, Room E3.' I read, glancing at the timetable. 'If I just walk down the halls, I'm sure I'll find my classroom soon enough.' I said, walking in a different direction.
But before I could do anything else, someone ran into me and I fell onto the ground.
Did you like it or hate it? Please comment so I know if I'm doing an alright job. :3