Free Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher

Saturday? He said fine, just as long as the work got done and done right.
    Cody was excited about his first day of school. He laid out his new school clothes the night before. Early Wednesday morning he came into my bedroom while it was still dark.
    "Is it time for school, Bobby?"
    My clock said 5:44 A.M. "No! It's way too early!"
    "But I gotta go to school!"
    My brother was completely dressed. He even had his backpack on.
    "Go back to sleep!" I told him. "It's not time to wake up!"
    "But I'm already dressed. I brushed my teeth!"
    I took him to the den and made him lie down.
    "I'll wake you up in an hour," I promised.
    "I'm not tired!"
    "Close your eyes." I covered him with a blanket and went back to bed.
    My father drove Cody to school on the first day. I waved goodbye, then ran to catch the crosstown bus.
    At school, I swiped Rowan's ID card; the front door clicked and allowed me to push through. At 7:35 there were only a few students milling around the halls. The first thing on my list was a visit to the Whitestone school store. The hallways were busy twenty minutes later when I emerged wearing a green shirt and khakis. I had stuffed my regular clothes in my backpack. I still needed to buy a blue blazer to the tune of ninety-five dollars, but I decided to wait until they assigned lockers so I'd have a place to hang it up.
    Heather materialized as if out of thin air.
    "Well, well, well, look who's rocking the Whitestone duds." She leaned back to admire me. "My, my. That shirt fits you perfectly."
    "Yeah? Not too tight?"
    She smiled. "Oh, no."
    The day began with a school assembly. The place was full; almost everybody was wearing the green Whitestone T-shirt. Including me. I still couldn't wrap my head around the idea that I was a Stony. I felt almost dizzy, like I was floating in space. A dose of gravity, that's what I needed. But where to find it?
    A minister got up to say a prayer. Then Melody Ryder introduced Dr. Paul LeClerc.
    "Our motto at Whitestone Academy is Achievement and Integrity," he began. "Those are nonnegotiables around here."
    I closed my eyes, letting LeClerc's voice wash over me. I tried to imagine this happening at Riverview—the kids all intently listening to this pompous speech—but the picture wouldn't come into focus.
    After the assembly Heather and I filed outside to pick up our schedules. A dozen guidance counselors and other staff members, including Ms. Ryder, were on hand to answer questions or point kids in the right direction.
    "Lemme see your schedule." Heather took it out of my hand. "Oh, no, we've only got biology together. I've got third lunch—you've got first." She looked indignant. "What's up with that?"
    Robin Whaley pushed through the crowd, clutching her schedule.
    "I'm glad to report that I've been assigned to Gryffindor," she announced breathlessly. "How about you, Rowan? Please don't tell me they put you in Hufflepuff."
    Heather frowned. "Don't make that joke again. Ever."
    "Sorry," Robin said sheepishly. "I've never been very good at small talk."
    "What's your name?"
    "Robin."
    "I'm Heather. You didn't go to school here last year, did you?"
    "No." Robin shook her head. "I was at Holy Sisters of Mercy."
    "People say that's a real good school," Heather said, though she didn't sound like she believed it herself.
    On the first day the school had a shortened schedule, with just enough time for teachers to introduce themselves.
    "What do we do now?" I asked. "We've got a half-hour before first period."
    "Dr. LeClerc said we could go see the planetarium," Robin said.
    I shrugged. "Okay by me."
    Robin turned to Heather. "Do you want to come along?"
    "I've already seen it," Heather said with a dismissive wave. "But you guys should definitely check it out. Catch you later, Rowan."
    The planetarium smelled brand-new. Robin took the seat next to me. Most of the other seats filled up with kids too. The seats tilted almost all the way back, so you could gaze straight up at the wide