THE FOLLOWING morning Vetta Mindal stepped off the great passenger flitter into a new world.
She had in fact slept right through the trip and was all of a panic to get ready before landing, not just to freshen up but to study the additional paperwork on the place she was going so she understood what was expected of her. She soon found there would never be enough time in a dozen lifespans to take in all the new things she needed to know.
Portangel in the north of Frangea was a large bustling space full of bright sunshine next to a roaring sea. Crowds of girls wandered about outside the flitter port that had brought them from far and wide, for it was the arranged meeting point for not only the new arrivals at Miss Plazenby's but returning pupils also. The seminary drew students from every land across the Face of the World and was something of a melting pot of diversity. Now, from a somewhat secluded land, Vetta Mindal was about to step into that colourful rainbow of chaos.
Vetta stood, holding her clutch bag tightly, gazing in fascination at all the new faces around her, chattering and smiling and full of energy. She thought it all wonderful. So many new friends to make, life long friends. So many stories to share, thoughts to exchange, and knowledge to absorb. It seemed the possibilities for pleasure were endless.
'You there!' came a loud voice next her ear and she flinched. Standing right up close to her was a girl about her own height, dressed in a blouse that seemed partly untucked and a tie slightly to the left. Atop her hatless head was a mass of curly red hair and she was so close Vetta could see her own startled reflection in eyes as deep and blue as her own. The girl was smiling but her manner seemed abrupt. 'Do you know where you are meant to go? A mistress has already begun roll call for the new arrivals.'
'I am Vetta Mindal from the Blessed Hub of Poldorama,' she announced carefully.
'Well, they're calling family names by the alphabet so you won't have been summoned yet I guess,' the girl said. 'See that lady in the grey dress with the board? She's making the roll call. When you hear your name go to her and she will give you stuff to help you when you get to Mount Syzywyg.'
Vetta sniggered.
'What a funny name,' she said.
'No more so than yours,' and with that the abrupt girl with the untucked blouse went off to accost other girls who were milling about uncertainly.
Vetta blushed for she had forgotten to thank the girl for her advice even if it had been delivered in a frightening way.
'I must remember,' she said to herself, 'not everyone is content to approach matters in a simple, unhurried way. People love to bustle sometimes.' Then her name was called and in a panic she rushed forward, tripping as she did so. Her hat flew off and landed at the roll call lady's feet. Amid general merriment the hat was retrieved by the same lady and given back to Vetta in an impressively imperious manner.
'Vetta Mindal?'
'I am she, ma'am.'
'There is no need to call me ma'am. Rather call me miss, as you might Miss Plazenby herself. She will welcome you later. For now here are the instruction codes for your on-grid access and personal tablet. You have brought a tablet?' She searched the girl's figure for the said device but it was nowhere to be seen.
'It is in my luggage miss.'
'Well, retrieve it as soon as you're settled. You have been assigned a first year dorm which you will share with five other girls. We call this sharing of space and close confinement character building. Your family might own half the land where you come from but here at Miss Plazenby's a sense of comradeship, tolerance and understanding are essential qualities you must learn and apply in the everyday things of life. From today you are a Wonder girl,' and with that she moved Vetta to one side and called the next name on her list.
Wondering what it meant to be a Wonder girl, Vetta wandered a little off from the noisy crowd until she almost bumped into someone else.
'I'm sorry I laughed,' a soft voice sounded in Vetta's ear and she looked up into brown eyes set in a pretty pale face framed by soft brown hair. 'I mean with the tripping over and everything. Are you a Sensation?' came the curious question as if she was expected to perform stumbles on request.
'I don't think so. I'm just me really.'
'And who might you be? I'm Petal Mara from Greenvale. I meant have you been assigned to Sensation Dormitory?'
'Ah no. I am Vetta Mindal. It is all I am I think, though the mistress considered I was a Wonder.'
'Then you have been assigned to Wonder Dormitory. Never mind. It would have been nice to share with you as you seem really sweet.' With that the girl drifted off towards a waiting crowd as the roll call was almost done and elder pupils, prefects by their badges and bearing, began shepherding the newcomers to the assigned passenger vehicles that would take them on the long drive south along the coast and then up into the pine wood hills where the school was located.