A Private Place

Chapter 1: September 7, 1982 Branthills, MA

Abigail Eileen Hart lugged her bags across a small bridge that separated the parking lot from the campus of Miss Katherine’s School for Girls. Suddenly, she caught sight of one of the buildings. It looked like a castle with deep red bricks, two turrets and lush ivy creeping over its surface. Abbie felt like she had jumped into an entirely different world than the one she knew in her tiny rundown town of Belleville, Vermont.

However, her stomach turned when she saw all the attractive, beautifully clothed girls near the entrance of the main hall. She cast her bright blue eyes down as she followed the gravel pathway surrounded by an impeccably kept emerald green lawn and gently undulating hills. She figured that if she didn’t look at the other girls, it wouldn’t bother her quite as much. That didn’t turn out to be true.

She entered the main hall and walked across the pristine marble floors. She stood in line with the other freshmen and waited for the person at the long table to hand out everyone’s class schedule. She pushed a strand of her chin length light brown hair behind her ear impatiently.

She was standing in front of two girls with long dark hair down to their waists. Both wore rather sophisticated looking sleeveless white dresses with large black buttons. Their features were so much alike Abbie deduced that they must be sisters, probably identical twins. The only major difference was that one had platinum streaks in her hair.

They were so involved in chatting with each other they didn’t notice anyone else around. Abbie wasn’t really listening to them, but from what she caught of their conversation, she realized that they had accents. Listening more carefully in order to pinpoint where they came from, she realized that they were British.

Great, she thought, like I didn’t feel like a yahoo enough already.

She soon realized that she wasn’t the only one who noticed. The person behind her tapped her on the shoulder.

Hey, the girl said, "is there a casting call for The Parent Trap, Part Two around here?"

Huh? Abbie replied, turning around. She found herself face to face with a very short, slightly pudgy girl with a pixie cut and perfectly round red glasses.

"You know, The Parent Trap, with Hayley Mills," the girl said in a thick New Jersey accent.

That’s a movie, right?

Yeah, ever see it?

No.

Well, you should. It’s pretty friggin’ good.

My dad just bought one of those video cassette players, so maybe I’ll go to a video store and rent it when I’m home from vacation.

"Good idea. Rent The Godfather too. That’s the only two movies you’ll ever need to see."

Even though Abbie thought this girl was weird, she felt grateful someone at this school wanted to talk to her.

By the way, I’m Abbie Hart. I’m from Vermont.

I come from Teaneck, New Jersey. Name’s Billie Fiori. So, Ab, what do you do up there in Vermont? Milk cows all day?

No, Abbie replied. We don’t own any cows. My dad runs a horse farm.

So, you guys milk horses?

Billie said this so loudly that a few of the girls behind her laughed. The two British girls in front of them noticed and turned around.

Did someone mention horses? The girl with the blond streaks asked.

Yeah, Abbie replied, My dad runs a horse farm.

Oh really? she replied, her large dark brown eyes widening with interest. Well, my sister and I ought to go there sometime. We really fancy horses.

"I think you mean I, Gina, the other one said. She looked back at Abbie. Did you know that she had the most absurd idea that for our twelfth birthday we should borrow two horses from an estate and go for a ride on them? My dad gave in and after our party the huge smelly beasts arrive at our house. I didn’t want to get on one, but my family forced me to. Well, while I was trying to climb up on the bloody thing, I lost my footing and fell. I had to go to hospital, where I found out I broke my ankle. That wasn’t quite the birthday present I wanted."

Oh, shush, Phil, Gina admonished. The horses were your idea too. Don’t try to blame me for being clumsy. That’s your own fault.

Who the hell named you Phil? Billie asked.

My father, unfortunately, Phil replied. I was named after him. Phil is just a pet name, though. My full name is Phillipa.

Still weird, Billie replied.

I was named after my Uncle George, Gina said. They’re twins too.

Where did he get Gina from George?

Well, my actual name is Georgina.

"Okay, now that’s really friggin’ weird," Billie replied.

The twins both looked very miffed.

If our names are so weird, Phil replied, then yours must be perfectly normal. So tell us, what’s your name?

Billie Fiori.

The twins looked like they were on the verge of laughing aloud.

Oh, I see, Gina said. Are you Billie…as in Wilhelmina, or Billie, as in William?

"No, I’m Billie as in Billie."

Shall we call you Bill?

Call me anything you want, Billie said grudgingly.

My name’s Abbie Hart, Abbie replied.

As in Abigail? Gina asked.

Yeah.

Are you a wally like the specimen of femininity next to you? Gina said.

What’s a wally? Abbie asked.

Oh, never mind her, Phil interrupted. We’re in the middle of nowhere in America and my dear sister here is trying to get us deported as fast as possible. Ignore her; she’s an extremely odd sort of person.

No problem, Billie said. Tell us what a wally is.

It’s a…

Phil raised her hand and covered Gina’s mouth.

A very lovely person, with a magnificent personality.

Gina pulled Phil’s hand off her mouth. It is not, you wench!

I’m only trying to make some friends. Don’t ruin it for me like you did in Stonehaven.

What’s Stonehaven? Abbie asked.

The school we attended before we came here, Gina said. It’s in England.

I thought you two came from there, Abbie replied. I was sort of listening to you talking when I joined the line and I noticed you had accents.

Actually, you and Bill are the one with the accents, Phil said.

You guys have any brothers or sisters you’re glad to get away from? Billie asked. I came here to get away from my baby brother. He’s an annoying little rug rat.

Well, I have a stepbrother, Abbie said. He’s a few years older than me.

Billie and the twins suddenly perked up and looked at Abbie with interest.

"Did you say older, Ab? Like how much older?" Billie asked.

About three years.

Is he handsome? Phil asked.

I guess so, Abbie replied. He’s not bad looking.

Okay, like what exactly does he look like? Billie asked.

Well, he’s really tall and he has brown hair and brown eyes. Like I said, he’s not bad looking at all.

When’s he coming up here? Billie asked eagerly.

I don’t know, Abbie said. He’s working full time at the farm, so I really doubt he’ll be visiting here anytime soon.

You know, Gina, Phil replied, putting her hand on her twin sister’s upper arm, perhaps visiting that horse farm wouldn’t be such a horrible idea after all.

"Especially since we know they have studs there," Gina said with a wry grin.

Just remember I didn’t say it, Billie told Abbie.

Don’t worry, I’ll remember, Abbie said, blushing.

Several minutes later, they finally reached the front of the line where they picked up their class schedules and room placements.

What’s your name? A thin woman with limp blond hair and huge spectacles said to Abbie.

Abbie Hart.

The woman then leafed through a box filled with envelopes and pulled one just behind the tab with a capital ‘H’ on it. There you go, Abbie. Hope you have a great year at Miss Katherine’s.

Do you have any of the same classes as we do? Phil asked.

Wait a second. I have to open it, Abbie tore open the envelope. Okay here it is. First period, I have Algebra I.

I have that in fifth period. What about second period?

Phys. Ed.

Brilliant! I have that in second period too!

You guys have any of the same classes I do? Billie asked.

I have English in first period, Gina said.

So do I! Billie replied. Good, at least I’ll be in a class where I know someone…well, sort of. Hey Abbie, do we share any classes?

Let’s see… Abbie said, as she looked at Billie’s schedule. We have gym together and American History.

Good! Billie said. At least now I don’t have to suffer through Torture by Physical Activity 101 alone anymore.

I have the same class with you both too, Gina replied.

Great, now I got people I can pick to be on the softball team. Are you a good athlete, Gina?

I’m a most excellent athlete, Bill.

Good, because I’m not.

I’m not either, Phil replied. Honestly, I don’t see the point in getting all smelly and wet, especially early in the day.

Tell me about it, Billie replied. Phys. Ed is the stupidest subject ever. I honestly wish they would ban it.

So, we all have a class together. Are any of us going to be roommates? Gina asked.

Abbie looked at her room placement card. I’m in Ellis House, Room 2B and my roomies are Sharla-Anne Moynihan and Paloma Bettano.

They sound like real losers, Billie said and the twins giggled. I’m in Sagar House, 3A with Jacquelin Prendergast and Valarie Langley. So, Phil…Gina…are you guys together?

Unfortunately, no, Phil replied, and I find that quite disturbing. Any school that separates identical twins must be shut down immediately.

So, who are you with?

Actually, I’m with two bitches that call themselves Deborah Masterson and Sheila Thomas.

Billie chortled outrageously. Hey, I think my personality is rubbing off on you, Phil.

No, I was a fairly wicked person to begin with, but being with you is only enhancing that. So, Sister Darling, who are you staying with?

Gina opened her envelope. Fiske House…1A…Odele Guiffre and Isabelle Nussbaum.

Well, luckily, we have rooms right next to each other. I’m in Fiske House 1B.

At least you guys aren’t too far apart, Abbie said. So, what do we do now?

I guess it’s time for us to split and find our dorms, Billie replied. Question is where the heck are they?

We’re going to be separating everyone by house name in about five minutes, A shapely woman with curly dark hair said to them. She sat at the long table where they handed out the class schedules. I’m going to be leading the Ellis House group. Any of you girls in Ellis?

Abbie raised her hand.

You can come over here, next to me, the woman said. She then turned her attention to the rest of the students either waiting impatiently or chatting in the main hall. Attention people! Anyone in Ellis House can come over here and form a line in front of me!

About twenty other girls in the throng emerged and formed a line next to Abbie. She wondered which of the girls would be her new roommates.

Fiske House! The woman with the limp blond hair shouted. Fiske House over here!

Abbie saw Phil and Gina leave Billie and join the line forming for Fiske.

A plump woman in a flowery dress called for Sagar and Billie joined that line. Abbie’s attention then focused on the shapely woman. She pointed to a side entrance and walked toward it with long, confident strides. The twenty students meekly followed her. The line for Sagar and Fiske left in the opposite direction.

Once outside on a winding stone path, the woman put her hand up and the students stopped.

Before we go any further, she said, let me introduce myself. I’m Jayne Michaud, and I’ll be your House Leader this year. I live on the first floor of Ellis, in the room closest to outside door. If you have any problems, questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to come to me. Do you all understand?

The students nodded.

Okay, I’m going to show the way to Ellis House and once we’re there, I’m going to tell you what you need to know about your living arrangements.

She turned and continued down the stone path. Abbie saw a large brick building that reminded her of Sunday school. She hoped it wasn’t quite as dark and dingy inside. Well, she thought, at least there won’t be any mean-looking nuns manhandling rulers there.

Just outside the entrance to the building, Jayne stopped again.

Inside your envelopes are the rules of conduct for all the dorms. I want you all to take it out and read it.

Abbie heard papers ruffling and subdued chatter.

Jayne waited for a few minutes before speaking again. Have you all read the rules?

Yeah, the students replied.

Do you all understand them?

The students all said yes.

Good, Jayne said. She took a key out of her trouser pocket, walked up the steps and unlocked the heavy-looking oak door. Now, I want you all to go inside calmly and quietly. Your names will be on doors and above your beds. On the bed with your name on it will be your school uniform and two keys. The keys are for getting in and out of your dorm room. I suggest you try not to lose them, because the school with charge you ten dollars to get them replaced. Understand?

Uh-huh, the students said. Abbie noticed many of them sounded as impatient as she felt.

Great. Welcome to your new home.

Jayne opened the door and against her wishes, all the girls stampeded in screaming. Abbie, attempting to be a little bit calmer, was almost trampled. She climbed up the mahogany stairs to the second floor, where immediately spotted 2B, the second door to the right. On the front of the door were three names, hers and her two new roommates. She went inside and right away was pleased with her dorm room. A plush beige carpet covered the floor, the walls were antique white, and three super single beds with down comforters and a fluffy looking pillow lined the farthest wall. The bed in the left hand corner had her name over it, and on the bed, was her new school uniform and a set of keys. The uniform consisted of a navy blue vest, with a light blue button down blouse and a skirt. The uniform wasn’t something Abbie would normally wear, but it looked expensive and was preppy, which she liked. Size six white and navy saddle shoes were on the floor next to the uniform. Abbie picked up the keys and tossed them in the air. This is a cool place, she thought. It’s almost like a college or something.

She turned around when she heard the door creak open. A girl with long black hair, olive skin, and very large dark eyes peered in.

Oh, hi, Abbie said to her.

Hello, the girl replied. When she entered the room, Abbie felt a stab of envy. The girl was very tall, about five feet ten inches and was as leggy as the yearlings on the farm. She wore a black silk blouse, designer jeans, and high-heeled boots. Her clothes were very form fitting. She laid her black suitcase on the middle bed and stared at the uniform as if it came from outer space.

So, you’re Paloma Bettano? Abbie said, looking at the sign above the middle bed.

Yes, and you’re…Abigail Hart, right? she replied, doing the exact same thing.

Yes, I am, but everybody calls me Abbie. Nice to meet you, Paloma.

You too, Paloma replied, extending her hand. Abbie shook it. Are you from around here or something? You sound a lot like the locals.

Well, no…not exactly. I’m from Vermont.

That’s cool. My family goes up there and skis every year. Do you ski a lot?

No, I’ve never been skiing.

Too bad. It’s a lot of fun. What do your parents do for a living?

My father runs a horse farm and my stepmother is a nurse.

Paloma’s perfectly plucked eyebrows rose with interest. Hey, we have a lot in common. My father breeds horses too and I also have a stepmother. She doesn’t really have a job though. I guess she’s what you would call a socialite. So, when did your parents get divorced?

They didn’t. My mother died when I was a year old.

Oh, that’s awful. Well, my mother is still living, but I haven’t seen her in years. She’s with some guy back in Spain. She might as well be dead, though. She never calls or writes or anything.

I’m sorry about that. That must be rough.

Don’t worry. I got over it a while ago. So, what do you do in your spare time?

I like roller skating, and horseback riding.

That’s great! I like roller-skating too. I’m also into dancing.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door.

Come in, Abbie said. The door’s unlocked.

The girl stormed