This is my Nanowrimo for this year and also my first story on this site. Take note that this is the unpolished first version draft and I'm adding it as I go along. I'll come back to edit later. In the meantime, if you spot any mistakes, feel free to point it out. Enjoy.

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Chapter 1

“Stop sulking, Alison,” her mother muttered disapprovingly. Alison shrugged and gazed mutely at the scenery outside the plane window. She was angry, yes, but she didn’t have the courage to go up against her tigress mother who had once taken Taekwondo classes back in Japan. It wasn’t her fault her parents had to choose this time of the year to move all the way across the globe to the US. Just because they felt stifled by the Japanese society didn’t meant that they had to do something so drastic. Couldn’t they have just moved to some nearer- Africa- maybe? She would probably have had more fun playing with the hyenas than staying in boring old US.

“America is your homeland, dearest, you should never forget that.”

That was one of her mother’s all-too-typical phrases. True, she was technically born in America but she had been living in Japan for twelve years. And while the Japanese typically didn’t approve of Caucasians in the country, she could fit in pretty well in school despite being part of the minority. Alison had once read about mean high school girls in those romance novels she bought and she wasn’t too pleased to find herself in the shoes of the new girl- vulnerable and susceptible to the teasing and bullying.

“Alison, look at that pretty bird!” Her sister, Carrie, who was two years younger than her, pointed at a magnificent eagle which was gazing curiously at them as it flapped its arch wings. Alison sighed once more. Even Carrie seemed excited about enrolling in an American high school but probably because she had a thing for American guys.

“Look, what’s our school’s name again?” Alison asked morosely.

“Cornwall Institution! Isn’t that just so cool? ” Carrie gushed happily and her sister rolled her eyes. Alison didn’t like the name. It sounded way too old-fashioned. She liked her old school which was called “Seifu Senior High School” in Kyoto. That sounded more refined and elegant and besides, everyone was always sunnily polite there.

“Where are we staying, Dad?” Carrie shook her father who was flipping through a Sports magazine and he didn’t look all too pleased to be interrupted during his leisure time.

“Some flat in Seattle,” he grunted.

Some flat in Seattle? Alison had a vision of some rundown apartment with cracks and paint peeling off the walls and she grimaced. She wanted to remain in the large spacious traditional house that they had rented in Japan which was called Machiya. They even had a small little garden and a pond where she reared some goldfish. Why were her parents sacrificing all these luxuries to stay in one of those box rooms with nothing but skyscrapers in the background?

 “Look Alison,” her mother said softly. “I know it’s more difficult for you than the rest of us- leaving your friends behind and having to start afresh again.” Alison listened quietly, wondering what her mother was implying. She continued, “And I want you to know that we didn’t leave Japan because we hated it but because we want you to grow up in a place where you can truly be someone you are.”

 “I can do that in Japan. I feel like a Japanese already! Why can’t we apply for a Japanese citizenship? I don’t want to be an American!” Alison blurted out and blushed. She wasn’t used to talking back to her mother. In Japan, they were always expected to address their parents all the time. Somehow, the idea of going to a foreign land had made her shed off all those customs she had learnt during her childhood. That made her even more pissed.

 “Alison.” Her mother looked worry and tired and for a moment there, she looked much older than usual. “What's the point of obtaining a Japanese citizenship when we can have an American one?” Alison flinched. Having those words said out loud made her parents’ decision to move to Washington more final than anything.

“Enough, Alison,” her father’s voice thundered which invited curious stares from a few Chinese passengers sitting in front of them. They strained their necks and withdrew back when they caught sight of her father’s irritated face. “You will not contest our decision and I expect you to follow your mother’s orders,” he spoke sharply.

Military General. Alison thought. She had a resentful relationship with her father in particular because she couldn’t quite agree with whatever ideology he thinks of. For a start, her father had been brought up in a strict and reserved family who wasn’t accustomed to expressing their own feelings. Her grandparents were the finest examples of why her father turned out to be such a cold and overbearing person.

 “I’m sorry, Father,” she whispered. This seemed to please her father who returned back to reading his magazine. Her mother closed her eyes and fell asleep while her sister was looking at her school package excitedly.

 “Can you imagine that, Alison? They have music classes at high school! That alone is so much better than our previous Japanese school!” Carrie exclaimed. “I hope I make new friends and enjoy a great time there!”

 Yea, I sure hope I do. Alison turned away and a single drop of tear made its way down her pale cheeks.

********

The first thing Alison felt when she saw their new “home” was simply despair. It was better than what she had expected and the interior was relatively clean. But the moment she stepped into the house, she felt the faint musky scent of smog- a probable result of some chemical towers nearby. It was nothing like the faint woody smell she enjoyed inhaling in their old Machaya. However, everyone else was pretty excited- even her Dad- so it was probably just her bad mood getting the better of her.

 “Sorry, are you the Goodall family? ” A blonde man in his late forties poked his head into the house as the door was left open. Alison surveyed him curiously. She looked just like this American- appearance wise- and she felt uncomfortable of being surrounded by so many people of her own race after so long of seeing Asians everywhere.

 “Yes, that’s us.” Her mother emerged from the kitchen and greeted the guest with a pleasant voice.

 “I’m John and we’re the Kingstons from next door and I just wanted to say hello to our new neighbours.” The man smiled warmly and reached out to shake my mother’s hand. Previously, in Japan, everyone would have bowed and exchanged polite yet mundane greetings. Alison felt a little funny doing the Western way.

 “We’re so honoured you paid a visit to our humble house,” her mother chimed in her high-pitched voice. This was something she often said to their guests in Japan but somehow, it seemed overly formal here in America.

 “Don’t mention it, which school are your kids enrolled in?” He peered interestedly at Carrie and Alison.

“Cornwall Institution, a rather reputable school, I’ve heard,” her father added easily. The truth was, Cornwall Institution was the only high school in Seattle which was prepared to accept Alison and her sister. Since they had no formal American education, they would lag behind their other peers and her parents were just thankful they were able to find a school. The reputation no longer mattered to them.

The man looked happy when he heard that. “It’s such a coincidence but my kids are studying there. I’ve a son, Alex, who’s sixteen and a younger daughter, Jane, who’s fourteen,” he answered cheerily.

 “Jane’s my age!” Carrie cried out. “Alison! This Alex person is of your age too! Maybe you would get to be in the same class!”

“Yea, sure,” Alison mumbled and barely managed a weak smile. There was no way she would get acquainted with her neighbour’s son. Imagine him knowing what you were like in school and at home. For her, it was way too close for comfort.

 “Raising two kids surely takes a lot of effort,” her mother said sincerely. “I can’t imagine having any more!” She laughed and after some hesitation, Alison’s father joined in.

 “I have three actually. My eldest who’s nineteen this year has just entered university and he’s going to teach at Cornwall as a part-time job,” John said proudly.

 Hopefully, I’ll never get to meet him – ever. Alison thought. At this moment, John interrupted loudly, “I don’t suppose you have any transportation to school? For the children? The school is of a considerable distance from here.”

 For a moment there, her parents looked a little uncomfortable. They didn’t want to tell this man that they couldn’t afford private transportation and had decided to let Alison and Carrie take public transport there.

Seeing their sheepish expressions, John nodded. “I see. Would you mind if I drop your children alongside with mine? I’m sure it would be a real thrill for them to see kids of their own age every morning instead of their balding old dad.”

 Alison laughed loudly at his joke and her mother silenced her with a glare before bowing politely and said, “Thank you so much, Mr Kingston.”

“We’ll always be indebted to you,” her father said respectfully.

 “Yea, thanks so much, Mr Kingston!” Carrie gave him a toothy smile.

 Hm, thanks so much. Alison thought sarcastically. Now, she was starting to dread school - even before it has started.

 ***

“Now, I want you to be as polite as possible, especially to Mr Kingston’s kids,” her mother instructed the sisters as they waited for John Kingston’s black Volvo to turn around the driveway. Carrie, who was decked out in a white T-shirt and a Gap skirt, was bobbing up and now joyfully and she glanced at her watch from time to time- impatient for school to start.

 Alison, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. She wore a hoodie (despite the hot weather) and dark blue jeans with a bag slung over her shoulders. She was wary as she peered at the road, half-heartedly hoping that Mr Kingston’s car would break down.

 At long last, the black Volvo stopped in front of them and the purring of the engine disturbed Alison’s thoughts. Mr Kingston stuck his head and out and said, “You can hop on now!”

 Carrie eagerly lunged forward to sit at the back while Alison lingered behind with her eyes darting back and forth. She briefly spotted a blonde-haired girl who was listening to music and a bespectacled fair-haired boy who was scribbling on his notebook.

 “Alison? Are you getting on the car? ” Mr Kingston was gazing at her with a strange look and Alison nodded silently before climbing into the front seat. She didn’t feel comfortable squeezing with people  at the back. Besides, she needed to prepare herself emotionally and mentally for the first day of school which can be rather torturing.

 “Hey, Alison, what classes are you taking at Cornwall?” Mr Kingston asked as they zoomed past a grocery store. Alison carefully took out the schedule which came in the mail and frowned. “I’m taking English, English Literature, History and Earth Science,” she answered dutifully.

 At this moment, the fair-haired boy sitting at the back looked up. His interest seemed to be piqued, “Which homeroom are you in?”

 “502.”

 “That’s nice, you’re in the same class as me,” he said in a friendly tone. Alison stared at him for a few moments and shrugged. “I suppose so,” she mumbled.

 “I suppose this must be very different from Japan?” Mr Kingston asked. “I’ve always wanted to go to Asia but never had the chance.”

 “Well, Mr Kingston, I’m sure you wouldn’t miss anything! America’s so much more exciting than Japan!” Carrie cut in as she snuck a peek at Mr Kingston’s daughter who was strenuously ignoring her.

 Gritting through her teeth, Alison grumbled, “I think the East is much better than the West.”

 “You think so?” Mr Kingston laughed merrily. “Wait till you experience the American culture. I bet you won’t even think about Japan anymore.” He said it so confidently as if it was true.

 No way. Alison pulled a face and sighed. Whether she liked it or not, there was no escaping from the fact that she would not be returning to Japan. Her only hope was to finish high school as soon as possible and apply for a Japanese college.

 Not that her parents would ever approve of that. They wanted her to go Sarah Lawrence or even Washington State University but the point was, by then, she would be an adult so who would care?

 Possibly no one.