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There was only one listing for Gottfried on the Internet I clicked on it and was brought to an incredibly siold border, which I assumed were the school colors

Gottfried Acade School Dedicated to

Studies of an Existential Nature

Contact:

207 Attica Crossing, Mailbox 4

Attica Falls, Maine 04120

Beneath the inscription was a crest of arms and a very realistic pencil illustration of what I assuothic, with cathedral-like buildings surrounded by a giant wall that looked alh in the picture, they wouldn’t have looked out of place Above the buildings, ominous dark clouds filled the sky Out of curiosity I checked the weather forecast for Attica Falls, Maine Sighing, I scanned the weekly prediction Sixty degrees and cloudy Every single day

What was an existential boarding school anyway? Opening a ne, I looked up the word "existential," which the Oxford English Dictionary defined as "of or pertaining to existence" How helpful, I thought, and went back to the Gottfried Web site I clicked on the crest of aro deeper into the site, but that was it Frustrated, I closed theIn addition to lacking pleasant weather, Gottfried also seeht to myself There probably wouldn’t even be a wireless connection in the dor off the computer, I went into the hall I had avoided my parents’ rooraze ine the left to do, I opened it

The room was perfectly preserved: the bed made, the dresser cluttered with books, the closet door ajar, a few pieces ofstill draped over the top It was ainst the s That’s when I saw the answering ht table The irls from school, the insurance company, and other people I didn’t know I skipped ahead until I heard Wes’s voice: "Renée," he said, "it’s Wes I heard about, well, you know I just wanted to see how you were doing, and to say that I’m sorry I’ain You’re probably busy with family, but I wanted to say hi So hi Calla pillow to ht need a friend That’s all, I guess" Rewinding the tape, I slipped under the covers, breathing in the smell of my parents on the sheets, and listened to Wes’s voice until I fell asleep

That night I snuck out My bicycle was propped against the side of the house, where I’d left it teeks ago Quietly, I walked it to the end of the driveway So barked I ju so easily frightened After glancing back at randfather’s , I rode down to Baker’s Field

The football stadium ide and flat, with the eerie stillness of a place trapped in tiht sky spill onto the grass It was ehter and the tap click hiss of beer cans being opened Hopping off my bike, I walked toward the voices

Annie was the first person I saw She was there with soirls from our class, and ran over when she spotted"You’re here! I was starting to worry"

I gazed at all of the people on the turf The girls froroup ofaround three coolers filled with beer Behind the with a few upperclassarettes, the red ash of the butts flitting through the darkness "What is all this?"

"It’s your good-bye party, of course You didn’t think I’d let you leave without seeing everyone, did you?"

A good-bye party It seen In the face of s like parties were still taking place I s into her hair "I’ to miss you so much"