It was Monday morning and Sandy had just stepped back out of the school block in a state of confusion.
Something had happened to her school over the spring break. Her classroom had students she did not know putting up and adjusting decorations, notice boards and displays. It had been the same with every classroom that she had passed.
Outside, there were pavilions on the school field and driveway. There were students hurrying around, ferrying supplies and props. Instead of the usual calmness before the start of school, it felt more like preparations for war.
At the front of the school, Sandy spotted Annie and her sister at the gate talking to a bespectacled golden-blond girl. It appeared that Annie had survived whatever Connie had done to her. Still, Sandy had other things to worry about, like what to do at that moment.
Then she saw Ariel, Esper and Selina further up the driveway. Sandy went up to her friends.
"What's going on?" Sandy asked her friends when she joined the group, "There's strange people in our class."
"It's the School Festival," Ariel replied acidly, "It was announced before spring break, and mentioned in that handout you never read. Not paying attention again?"
"School Festival?" Sandy asked.
"It's when the clubs put up displays to let us know about what they do," Esper explained, "They do it to recruit new members."
"New member's very important, since club funding is directly dependent on membership size," Selina added.
Sandy noticed that her friends did not have their schoolbags. Ariel only brought her handbag. Esper carried a large tote bag while Selina had a small knapsack.
Ariel noted Sandy's full schoolbag. "We didn't have to bring our books today, you know."
"Really? So there's no classes?" Sandy asked.
Ariel shook her head.
"So what do we do now?" Sandy asked.
"We wait," Esper answered, "There's an assembly, then we're free to check the clubs."
The conversation changed to a different topic after that. While Esper and Ariel argued about the best boy band, Sandy stepped next to Selina.
"The other day, when I was kidnapped again, weren't you supposed to rescue me?" Sandy whispered to Selina.
"They were amateurs." Selina shrugged. "The police can handle them."
"Are you still protecting me?" Sandy asked. With her latest kidnapping, the cops had assigned officers to watch her again. A patrol car had brought her to within a block from school. That car was at that time waiting opposite the street.
At least she did not have to cycle that day. In addition to that, she could finally wear a skirt to school.
"Yes," Selina replied, "but I think the police can handle most of what's coming after you. I'll step in if necessary."
Somehow Sandy still had her doubts. But she did not have time to worry about it since they had to gather for assembly. It was fortunate that the weather was good since the assembly was held on the driveway instead of in the gymnasium. The gym that day had been assigned to the court-based sports teams for the Festival.
The school principal gave a short monotonous introduction to the School Festival. There were less students at the assembly to suffer the speech since many were still busy with final preparations. Those that were present survived the short ordeal and were soon dismissed to explore and see what the clubs had to offer.
Previously, Sandy would have explored the school with Ariel. That day, however, Ariel had dragged Esper off into one of the school blocks immediately after the end of the assembly. And Selina had excused herself to check on matters, unknown matters.
Sandy thought of other people she could go with. Darla in her class was already in her usual clique. The same with Sarah from 9-A. Sandy was pretty much left on her own.
She started by wandering aimlessly along the school's corridors, looking for the first bright and flashy club to grab her attention. That honor went to the Sewing Club.
On the wall outside the Sewing Club's assigned classroom was a colorful cloth banner proclaiming the name of the club. The doors of the classroom had been propped open. Exhibited near each of the front and rear door was a rack of shoes and a few dresses.
Sandy slipped into the Sewing Club behind a group of girls. There appeared to be many girls within the club, both on the side of the visitors and the exhibitors. Sandy stood behind a few of them, watching a black-haired bespectacled boy as he displayed dresses and explained their design. She assumed by the tape measure that he hung around his neck that he was a member of the club.
The dresses that the boy showed Sandy and the girls were brightly colored and beautifully decorated. Sandy loved how the feathers on the collar and cuffs of a purple dress conjured an air of luxury. The next dress had rows of pink laces at the sleeves and skirt that Sandy thought would grab attention.
Overall, Sandy found the dresses interesting, even if they were lurid to the point of distraction. When the boy was done showing the dress collection, he invited his audience to ask questions.
After the boy had answered a few questions about the material for the dresses and the sewing methods, Sandy decided to speak up, "You must make a lot of money selling such great dresses."
"Oh no," the boy disagreed loftily, "I could never sell any of my great works. I create for the sake of art."
"Oh," Sandy uttered. Well, if there was not any money to be made, she would not be interested.
As the boy busied himself with a new group of girls, Sandy decided to leave and see if she could find something more interesting, preferably something profitable.
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