Darkness of Light by Stacey Marie Brown Read Free Book Online Page B

the place. “We offer many different options here at Silverwood. We try to accommodate as many unique situations as there are unique people here. 
    “You will be here Monday through Friday, eight to four. There are no exceptions to this. You check in and check out with a faculty member. That is our rule. We run a tight ship around here. We have to.” Her face softened a little. I think she knew I didn’t belong here. 
    “That doesn’t mean you won’t have fun at Silverwood. We have a lot of activities. You’ll have classes from eight until noon, lunch from twelve to twelve-thirty, group counseling and individual counseling from twelve-thirty until two, then outdoor exercises and activities from two until four. We understand most of the kids who end up here don’t learn the typical way, so we don’t run our school program like ordinary schools. We do a lot of outside classes and projects, and we try to make the students know they belong and matter. 
    “There are a lot of reasons why kids are in here. We run the gamut. A few simply come once a week to talk to one of our counselors. We have many who can no longer remain at home and live here permanently. Also there are kids who have committed crimes or struggle with drug or alcohol abuse problems. All ages and types. I don’t feel we have any bad kids, just misunderstood and mistreated ones.” 
    I nodded in understanding.
    She took us for a quick tour around the facility so I could get my bearings. The main room where I’d be was large, bright, and open. Glass windows lined the entire west side from top to bottom of the building, making use of the natural light. Through the windows I could make out some picnic tables and a basketball court that broke the line of the forest outside. Turning back to the room, I noticed there were no individual desks but instead there were long tables. Behind the tables, dozens of bookshelves sat in rows like a library. In the far end of the room were four high-topped counters lined with microscopes and other science equipment. Maps of every country hung on the walls around the room. It was not a classroom, but a learning center.
    Mrs. Sanchez walked us out to the parking lot and shook my hand. “Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Ember. I think you will be happy here.” 
    I wasn’t sure how I felt about all of this, but at least she made me feel more comfortable in attending Silverwood. No matter what, the choice of me being here was no longer in my hands. 

Nine
    Wednesday was my first official day at Silverwood. Mark drove me to school so he was sure I had at least made it to the parking lot.
    I looked out the truck’s window at the facility. “Okay, I changed my mind. I don’t care how long it takes, I’ll get my GED, or maybe do school online.” 
    “Having a little déjà vu from the ghost of school-time past? You go through this every time you start a new school.” Mark shook his head as we slowed to a stop in front. “You’ll be fine. You’re strong, Em. You won’t let something get the better of you. You have too much of your mother in you.”
    “Wow, hello manipulator.” 
    Mark chuckled. “Guilty, but that doesn’t make it any less true.”
    “Have I told you lately that you are a cruel, cruel man?”
    “Yeah, this morning when I tried to wake you up.” Mark had to get me up extra early so he could get to Silverwood and still be to work on time. I would get to school early, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to get situated before the other kids showed up.
    “Right.” I nodded, then leaned over and kissed Mark’s cheek. “I love you.”
    “Love you too. Now go prove Sheriff Weiss and Principal Mitchell wrong.” He pointed towards the school. “Remember I can’t leave work till four-thirty. I have a meeting, but I’ll come straight after.”
    “No worries. I’ll start on my homework or something.” I opened the truck door and slid out. “See you later.” 
    Mark waved and took off. I