She didnt respond. He cleared his throat and tried again, a little louder.

Excuse me. Im a new student, enrolling today.

Finally, she turned her eyes from the computer to Oliver. She squinted. New student? she asked, a look of suspicion on her face. Its October.

I know, Oliver replied. He didnt need reminding. My family just moved here. Im Oliver Blue.

She regarded him silently for a long moment. Then, without uttering another word, she turned her attention back to the computer and started typing. Her long fingernails clacked against the keys.

Blue? she said. Blue. Blue. Blue. Ah, here. Christopher John Blue. Eighth grade.

Oh no, thats my brother, Oliver replied. Im Oliver. Oliver Blue.

Cant see a Oliver, she replied, blandly.

Well… here I am, Oliver said, smiling weakly. I should be on the list. Somewhere.

The receptionist looked extremely unimpressed. The whole debacle was not helping with his nerves one bit. She typed again, then let out a long sigh.

Okay. There. Oliver Blue. Sixth grade. She turned in her swivel chair and dumped a folder of paperwork on the table. Youve got your schedule, map, useful contacts, et cetera, all in here. She tapped it lazily with one of her shiny red nails. Your first class is English.

Thats good, Oliver said, taking the folder and tucking it under his arm. Im fluent.

He grinned to indicate that hed made a joke. The side of the receptionists lip twitched up, just barely, into an expression that might have resembled amusement. Realizing there was nothing more to be said between them, and sensing that the receptionist would very much like him to leave, Oliver backed out of the room, clutching his folder.

Once in the corridor, he opened it up and began to study the map, searching for the English room and his first class. It was on the third floor, so Oliver headed in the direction of the staircase.

Here, the jostling kids seemed to be even more jostly. Oliver found himself swept up into a sea of bodies, being pushed up the staircase with the crowd rather than of his own volition. He had to fight his way through the swarm to get out at the third floor.

He popped out onto the third-floor corridor, panting. That was not an experience he was looking forward to repeating several times a day!

Using his map to guide him, Oliver soon found the English classroom. He peered through the little square window in the door. It was already half full of students. He felt his stomach swirl with anguish at the thought of meeting new people, of being seen and judged and evaluated. He pushed down the door handle and walked inside.