Hitting My Stride Alone

[Elijah Taylor]

Eli wasn't surprised, to say the least, that he was on his way here in a taxi. Why risk a flight for Hattie if they could just wash their hands of their son, claim it was a sign of his independence, and wave him off at the airport?

Well, he'd show them. He'd managed, because he wasn't going to screw up here. He didn't want to be sent back home, and at this point, he'd really rather not think of home at all. He paid the taxi driver and collected his luggage - Two suitcases and a backpack that had been his carry-on. He left the two suitcases just off of the sidewalk, and then headed into the main office. Once inside, he walked up to the desk with a smile and spoke, "Hi there. I'm Elijah Cole, checking in."

[Fiachra Fitzsimmons]

Fitz gave a warm smile as a boy approached his desk and introduced himself. "Welcome to Blue Ridge Academy, Elijah." He said warmly as he typed the name into the computer and read through the page. "You will be residing in room twenty three, of the Blue Ribbon House, which is here." He pulled a map from the tray on his desk and circled the placement of the building. "Your horse will have a stall prepared for him in Red Willow Barn." He circled the barn in another colour. "Anyone in the barn will help you out with directions, if you have any problems, the manager is Ms Robinson."

He located the room key from the drawer under he desk and placed it on the map. "There is a list of helpful numbers on the back of the map." His smile deepened. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

[Elijah Taylor]

Eli nodded at the room number, noting the location the man had marked. He almost missed the next words, since he hadn't exactly been expecting that. "I think there may have been a mistake made, sir." He paused, "I don't have a horse. I was told there would be a school horse I could ride?"

[Fiachra Fitzsimmons]

Fitz's eyebrows shot up at the new student's words, and he frowned toward the computer screen. Yes, there was indeed an equine under the boy's file. He shook his head sympathetically toward the boy. "I would suggest that you go and speak with Ms Robinson, as she'll know more than I do." He offered, feeling somewhat useless - and not for the first time in his job. "It could be a cross-over from another file. There are times when I am sure this machine has a life of it's own. And if that is the case, I apologise in advance." And if it wasn't, the boy's parents had a lot of explaining to do to their son.

[Elijah Taylor]

Eli considered that for a moment, then nodded, "I'll do that straightaway, thank you. Could you give me the horse's name, or would she see the same file? Just so I have the full scope of what's going on." Sometimes mistakes happened, and this Ms. Robinson would be able to sort it out, he was sure. He needed to meet with someone about a horse anyway, so that would probably be a port of call either way.

After receiving the name, Eli picked up the map and key, and smiled at the man behind the desk, "Thank you for your help, Mr.-" He paused, glancing at the nameplate, "Mr. Fitzsimmons. I'll go sort out the horse stuff now."

[Fiachra Fitzsimmons]

Fitz's smile deepened as he grabbed a memo block and wrote out the information as he spoke. "A Morgan gelding, named Northwood's Compass." He slid the slip of blue paper toward the boy. "If it helps, rumour around campus has it that riding your own horse is better than riding a school one." He shrugged.

He bowed his head at the thanks. "If you find yourself in need of anymore help, my door is always open." Ok, really lame joke there. "And feel free to call me Mr Fitz." Or even leaving the Mr bit off, but the school frowned upon that kind of thing, since he was the face of the school... kinda.

[Elijah Taylor]

Eli took the slip of paper with a nod, his eyebrow raising at the breed. Perhaps he'd heard wrong, but that definitely wasn't something he'd consider a western breed at all. At least he had a name, now, and a plan. He'd go clear this up. "Will do. Thanks, Mr. Fitz. Appreciate it."