1 The School

Florence hastily finished signing a few papers on her desk before grabbing her bag. She skipped downstairs to say her goodbyes to her parents, "You don't have to do this you know." Said her mother, slightly disappointed.

"I've made up my mind, I'm going." Responded Florence confidently.

"Women aren't even being drafted, so I don't see why there's a need to throw yourself in the way of danger." Said her father, more annoyed with her actions than anything.

"This will be good for me." She replied. She had only chosen to go because of her lack of an obvious career choice in the future, but her parents didn't need to know that.

"You'll be back." Her father grumbled before hugging her goodbye.

"I hope not."

Her mother shot her a quick glare before saying her farewell, "Love you!"

"I love you too, Mom." Florence exited the front door, and hopped in her car before driving away. She was relieved that she didn't have to make any big decisions and just have her future laid out in front of her. She didn't mind that she could potentially lose her life after she graduated, she had nothing to live for. She loved her parents, but she knew they wouldn't be heart broken, maybe a bit sad, yes, but not devastated. She never really saw eye to eye with them about many things, religion, political standpoint, ect. She was glad that she wouldn't have to deal with them anymore, and she was sure that they were ecstatic to have her gone.

Soon after, she pulled into a large parking lot with several military grade buses. She parked, grabbed her bag, and her forms, and headed to a cheap folding table to sign in.

"Forms?" Asked the stubby lady who was seated at the table. Florence handed them to her to review, and after a few short seconds she said, "You're going to be in bus 3." She pointed at one of the smaller buses and Florence nodded her head in acknowledgment. The lady returned a few of the forms, and Florence headed into the direction of the bus that had been gestured to. She got on the vehicle, which was mostly full at this point, and took an empty seat near the front. A few more girls boarded before the driver started the engine.

A girl who appeared to be an older student stood at the front and began to speak, "Attention!" The bus went silent as she continued, "Today will be your first day at the Luther Military Training School!" A giggle sounded in the back, and the girl gave a glare at the source, "Be sure to listen to my instructions, because I will not be repeating them. Is that understood?" She was greeted with silence, "I said, is that understood?" She barked.

"Yes ma'am!" Most everyone responded.

"Good. I'm going to be your dorm captain, my name's Reese Harlow, but you will all address me as Captain Harlow. Is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" The crowd responded quickly this time, not wanting to be scolded.

"Okay then. When we get to the school, I will call you in alphabetical order to get off the bus. I will give you a red ticket, which signifies your dorm room, and you will join the main line at the entrance. Once you get inside, you will hand your ticket to another dorm captain waiting at the doors. They will tell you which way to get to your dorm. Her instructions will not be clear, you have to figure out how to get there on what info she gives you. This is a test, is that understood."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Well then, enjoy the bus ride, because it's the most fun you're going to have in a while." The bus was silent, and Captain Harlow sat down in the front seat. Soon, the chatter of girls filled the entire bus. It seemed that Florence was the only one nervous about this so called 'test'.