"I am not going to like it!" Janet announced firmly when she met Phyllis and Gale on the campus the next morning after breakfast.
"You are lucky so far," Phyllis told her. "The upperclassmen in the dormitories haven't come back yet. We already have some of the sorority girls in the house—and do we get looked over!"
"Where is Carol?" Gale asked.
"Gone to get our tennis racquets," Janet replied. "We're going to take advantage of the empty courts before the upperclassmen arrive."
"I'll come along and watch," Phyllis offered.
"I want to take a walk and explore," Gale said. "I'll see you at lunch, Phyl."
Classes would not begin for another three days, but the girls had arrived early to familiarize themselves with the campus, their classrooms, and the dormitories.
Gale headed toward the lake on the western edge of the campus.
Diving boards had been set up along the shore, and canoes were anchored nearby.
She paused for a moment, watching the laughter and splashing of girls enjoying the water, before continuing her walk.
Gale sat down beneath a low-hanging willow tree, gazing out over the lake.
Her thoughts drifted.
For those who knew the girls from Marchton, their journey to Briarhurst had not been easy.
They had dreamed of attending this college for a long time, especially Phyllis, who had faced the most difficulty in getting here.
Now, finally, they were all together.
At Briarhurst.
Beginning a new chapter of their lives.
They were ready to study hard.
But also ready to experience everything college life had to offer—fun, challenges, and everything in between.
Gale smiled slightly as she remembered the previous night.
When she and Phyllis had first arrived, they were greeted by two Juniors who guided them through the building.
The staircase had been humorously named the "Golden Stairs."
Whether it led to heaven or not, they hadn't yet discovered.
On the second-floor landing was a large sign reading:
"Senior Avenue."
Each corridor had its own name, and even some rooms were named.
Gale and Phyllis had been assigned to a section called "Sunshine Alley."
But their own room had no name yet.
"How come?" Phyllis had asked.
"You have to earn a name," one of the upperclassmen explained. "Then a special committee assigns it."
"For example," she continued, "next door is the swimming team. Their room is called 'Mermaid Mansion.'"
"And farther down the hall is 'Harmony Heaven,'" another girl added. "Though they argue all the time. The name doesn't fit at all."
It had all been a little confusing at first.
At dinner, when someone asked what floor they were on, Gale and Phyllis had simply answered:
"Third."
That had earned them punishment.
They had been made to run around the table three times for not using the correct name—"Sunshine Alley."
Despite that, most of the girls were friendly.
They had been shown around properly, introduced to the rules, and made to feel somewhat welcome.
The housemother, Mrs. Grayson, had been especially kind.
They liked her immediately.
Then they met the sorority president, Adele Stevens.
She had taken them under her wing at once.
Back at the lake, Gale absentmindedly trailed a willow branch through the moving water.
The current here was stronger, pulling toward a waterfall that led into a rushing river beyond.
Later that day, she had appointments.
One with the college President.
Another with the new Dean.
All new students were required to meet them.
Still, Gale couldn't help feeling nervous.
She was curious about the new Dean.
But also slightly uneasy.
The girls had talked about her constantly the night before.
The Seniors seemed to side with the bus driver.
They didn't like her.
They were ready to oppose any changes she wanted to make.
From what Gale and Phyllis had heard, however, the new Dean's ideas sounded reasonable.
New laboratories.
A new chapel organ.
Stables and horses for riding lessons.
Nothing about that seemed wrong.
So why were the older students so against her?
Gale and Phyllis had quietly agreed not to take sides yet.
They needed to understand more first.
After all—
They were only Freshmen.
And Freshmen were meant to be seen, not heard.
Gale stood, preparing to head back for lunch.
Then she stopped.
Had she heard something?
A voice.
Faint.
Carried across the water.
It came again.
Gale pushed aside the branches of the willow tree and looked across the lake.