We find our way to the main office and a door marked ‘Principal’. A stern woman in her fifties is sitting at a large desk, going over paperwork. She looks up as I rap on the door.

“Mr. Price, I presume,” she says.

“That’s me.”

She walks around the desk and extends her hand. “I’m Principal Jean Craig.”

Her handshake is like her demeanor: firm. “Nice to meet you.”

“And you must be Caitlyn,” she says, repeating the gesture.

“Hi,” Caitlyn replies, also shaking her hand.

“We’re very happy to have you here at Concord.” She then addresses both of us. “How are you liking Kingsbrook?”

“So far, so good. We took a little tour this morning, didn’t we, Caitlyn?”

Caitlyn nods.

“And the Nightingale House?” Principal Craig asks.

“We love it.”

She slips momentarily into a wistful smile. “I love that Nightingale House. I grew up in Kingsbrook. Seems like everything has changed, except that house.” Her stern demeanor quickly returns. “You’re not planning on doing any renovations, are you?”

I laugh. “No.”

“Good. Now, Caitlyn, let’s go meet your teacher; Ms. Hancourt.”

*

Principal Craig gives us a brief history of the school as she guides us down the hall.

“The school started with one building with six rooms, one grade in each room. Now, it’s one grade per hall.” We stop outside a door with a plastic plaque marked ‘Hancourt’.

Principal Craig knocks. “Ms. Hancourt?”

“Come on in,” a voice answers.

Principal Craig motions us to go inside.

Sunlight spills through the windows and across the desks. Books and papers are neatly stacked on shelves and cabinets around the room. The markerboard is a pristine white. At the markerboard is Ms. Hancourt. She’s in her mid-thirties with cropped brown hair and plastic-rimmed glasses.

She approaches us with a broad smile. “Is this the Caitlyn Price I’ve heard so much about?”

Caitlyn seems delighted by the idea that she somehow has a reputation that has preceded her.

“I’m Ms. Hancourt.”

“Hi,” Caitlyn replies, warming to her instantly.

“Are you ready to start school in a few days?”

Caitlyn thinks for a moment, treating it as a serious question. “Not really. We haven’t gone shopping. I don’t have any papers or pencils, yet.”

“We’re going shopping right after this,” I quickly say, feeling the need to defend myself for some reason.

Ms. Hancourt laughs. “Well, I can’t wait to have you in my class.”

I glance at Principal Craig, who takes the hint.

“Caitlyn,” she says, leaning down to her. “Why don’t you come with me, and I’ll show you the rest of the school?”

Caitlyn looks at me and I confidently nod.

“Okay,” she enthusiastically answers.

Principal Craig leads her out of the room. We can hear her asking Caitlyn about her favorite subjects as they walk down the hall.