First day of school

Riding the shuttle, Little Bee tiptoes holding onto the rail. Many of the children do the same. The ones at the center lean on the railing that is in place of seats. The landscape before them zooms by. Looking further into the horizon, the scattered sunlight bounces off the tall tin buildings peaking at the passerby. Smoke reaches out to greet the sunlight filling the city like a roof. Besides the shuttle, there are red subways that sink into the distance outside of the city. Other shuttles or electric cars zoom by them.Giddy at the scene before him, Little Bee turns to Vail who exclaims, "Wah! So fast!" while peeking outside. He stares eyes gleaming and turning happily to Little Bee who merrily agrees "Mhm!"

They happily begin chatting about the crafts coming by:

"They're like woosh! or zoom!"

"I like the red one! It can go outside!"

"I like the red one!"

"We can both like the red one!"

"Those small ones can fly so high!"

"Those large ones loop the most!"

Happy chatters like this fill the cabins of the the shuttle. It arrives soon to an open a hill where some older children still linger. "Children, get ready to get off!" announces Mother 1003. The shuttle stops. Mother 1003 waits to make sure all there children get off. She sweeps the cabins once more and gets off. Blinking, Mother 1003's eyes turn red looking at the straggling children that had lingered. The children glance away and head down the hill. Turning to its batch of children, Mother 1003 instructs and sternly warns, "Tap one heel on the inner sole of either foot to glide down. Make sure to take it slow and follow the oder children. No tricks or trying to be cool" The children fumble. Some tripping. Little Bee and Vail along with some older children expertly finish the task; their shoes buzzing and rising above the ground. "Follow me" directs Mother 1003 as she glides down the hill scattered with rocks and debris which made walking impossible as such their designated shoes helping them navigate the uneven ground by reducing friction and gravity. Mother 1003 does not head far before returning to the top of the hill to help any children having difficulties.

Following the older children, Little Bee and Vail glide using the debris to propel themselves. Much to Vail's dismay, he tumbles. Before landing on his face, Little Bee catches him. Holding his hand, Little Bee guides him. Soon they come to the arches that announce the institution's name in bold letters: Sunset City Academy.

With glittering eyes, Little Bee turns to look at Vail when he gets shoved on the shoulder heavily. He stumbles and falls on his knees a meter away. The impact makes many children turn to look at him but dismiss it upon seeing the perpetrator. Hugging a wiggly like limb protruding from her bottom, the perpetrator hurries over to pick him up. Crying, she rambles "Waaah! wari,wari! My t-tail d-d-didn't mean it. I just haven't g-gotten used to my t-tail."

Behind her: "If you stopped calling it, 'my tail' and accept it like an arm or a leg, you wouldn't have this problem!" scolds a boy who pushes his glasses up with an arm that protrudes from his back while his front arms are on his hips. "I hope this fumbling fool didn't hurt you...if she did-", he starts saying when turning to Little Bee buts gets cut off by tail-girl who retorts "I didn't!" and then runs off. The boy sighs chasing after her. Vail looks worriedly at Little Bee. Little Bee reassures him with a beaming smile and stands up while saying "Lets go." They enter the plaza the size of a foot ball field whose perimeter is surrounded by the school building. In the plaza's center is a tall clock tower that overlooks the enter campus. Scattered around are benches are obstacle courses deemed 'playgrounds'. Some of these playgrounds have monkey bars covering a great patch of debris. These are joined by mountain climbing walls. Some walls have protrusions to hold onto while others don't have any at all besides the wall's own uneven surface. Vail shivers looking at these while Little Bee looks around excited. Little Bee comments, "do you think your papa and my mommy played a lot on these?"