Confessions from the Principal's Chair by Anna Myers

way I dressed than just because no one wanted me around. I dreaded the thought of the first day at the new school less now. I would walk down the hall, and they would all stare at me openly. It would be better this way.
    Rendi had made arrangements on Friday for our Internet connection, but they had told her it would probably be Monday before we could get online. We were surprised when we got home Saturday to learn that Judy had let the workers in, and our phone and Internet had been connected while we were gone. I spent all the rest of that day and most of the next writing long e-mails to my friends about how Rendi had almost gone to jail and about my choice of clothing. I could hardly wait for them to write back to me.
    The computer was on a desk in the living room. On Sunday afternoon, I saw Sheriff Walters drive up and park in front. For a minute, I thought he had come to check on us, but he went into Judy's side of the duplex. Pretty soon I saw them both go out and get in his car. I guess they both had Sunday off and were going out for a hot date or something. I waved to them. Judy was such a nice woman, and I was beginning to have a warm spot in my heart for the sheriff too. I mean, what if I had really been kidnapped?
    On Monday morning I was up early. I pulled back my hair and tied it loosely with a black scarf. Then I put on the navy suit and a pair of black flats that I had hardly ever worn. There was a long mirror on the back of the door in my room. I stood in front of it staring at myself. I didn't even look familiar. I took a tube of lip gloss from my bag and put on just a bit. For a minute I considered taking off the suit and begging Rendi to take me to return those five outfits. I could buy some other things and start school the next day. Finally I got my courage back. "You look wicked," I said aloud. I was certain that Rendi would be ashamed of my appearance and know she had ruined my life.
    "Good morning, Mother," I said when I came into the kitchen. She was eating cereal at the little table beside the window. An empty bowl with a spoon sat on the other side of the table along with a box of my favorite cereal and a jug of milk.
    "Good morning, Daughter," Rendi said. She smiled, pleased that she had come up with a good reply. "Would you like some orange juice?"
    "No, thank you, Mother," I said. "In fact, I don't want anything for breakfast." I twirled about slowly. "How do I look?"
    "Very nice," she lied, and she stood up. "If you're sure you don't want to eat, we can leave now for your school."
    "No!" I shook my head. I hadn't thought about Rendi going with me, but, of course, she would plan to go enroll me. I desperately wanted to go alone. I was afraid of what would happen if Rendi went with me. I was afraid I would break down when she got ready to leave. I was afraid I would cry like a kindergarten child whose mother leaves her for the first time.
    "Bird, there will probably be something that I need to sign. I know you're mad at me, but the school is still going to want to see me. They will want to know there is really an adult involved, that you're not a runaway living under a bridge or something." She walked to the fridge to put away the milk.
    "You can go tomorrow. I'll tell them you will sign stuff tomorrow. Please, Rendi. This is very important to me."
    I guess my going back to her name convinced her because she said, "Okay."
    I didn't go straight to school. I walked around, going a long way out of my way. I wanted to get to school after the first bell had rung. See, the thing was I wanted to walk down that hallway for the first time when it was empty instead of being full of strange eyes.
    Until I got hit in the face with the date, I was kind of enjoying the pretty morning, but then I realized it was October 31, Halloween! Tonight my friends would be having a party without me. I considered just walking off. Maybe if I got back to the interstate, I could get a ride to Denver. Of course, I knew I would