’ I was used to, in a previous existence, waiting positively ages for the preening to finish. Thirty seconds later she emerged from down the hall c...utching her small clutch purse and wearing a smile a mile wide. ‘Well, how do I look?’ When I hadn’t yet managed to get my mouth into gear within twenty seconds she decided to interrupt my thoughts. ‘So, from your lack of response, am I to gather that my beauty has left you speechless?’ ‘What? Yes, speechless am I. And I’ll stop doing my Yoda. "Thanks, Mrs. Greene", I said as I went back to my seat. When I told my mom what had happened that evening, she said "I think we need to think about an alternative to public school for you next year. I think I know just the place". The next fall found me in a private academy about 25 miles south of our house. I was a day student, (as compared to the twenty students that boarded there) so that I could continue my ballet studies with Miss Tingley and my mom, and so that I could stay at. Are you sure that you want to let this continue?" James was hesitant to contradict her little sister, but at the same time, this little convoluted soap-opera had the potential to create more problems than it would solve. "Not really." Anne said, looking back at Elaine. "It was really sweet of you to make up a story about Maggie, but I think that it would be a lot better if you told the truth." "Aww..." Elaine sighed, looking at Julie with a bitter expression. "Ok. Maggie was my brother. After wiping what remained of me off her face, she stepped out and I followed a minute later. We took our seats and buckled up as we were about to land. She sipped back on some water with ice and I told her that she would never forget this trip. We landed at Nairobi airport, hopped into a Land Rover, and set off into deepest Africa. After about two hours, we reached the campsite where just the two of us would be for the night. It was within a reserve and there were a few rather secluded luxury.