Vox Academy
First Year: The Voices
By
Ellie Grace
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Vox Academy
First Year: The Voices
Published by Ellie Grace at Smashwords
Copyright 2012 Ellie Grace
Discover other titles by Ellie Grace at www.elliegracenation.weebly.com
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Dedication
To everyone that has ever believed.
Acknowledgments
Thank you Laurel Ornitz, my amazing editor on this book.
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VOX ACADEMY
FIRST YEAR: THE VOICES
Chapter 1
Voices are developed to speak and words were made to be spoken, but there’s so much more to that, it’s the manner in which they are spoken.
If life teaches you anything, you should learn to take a good opportunity when it comes to you. Blythe Ryan wasn’t accustomed to opportunities. She had finished high school and had gotten into a few academies, but had no money to go.
Blythe wasn’t discouraged or sad because she was used to things like this happening. There were always things she would never get or things she would never achieve. She accepted that. While she accepted it, her classmates had always put her down for not having the latest gadget or garment. Blythe had never been the type to speak out, so she stayed quiet and out of the way.
She hid behind her heap of messy dark curls. Her hair was no help either in middle school. They called her Barbet because her long curls looked the same as the Barbet dog.
She never won and she didn’t mind. She worked her normal job stocking shelves at a grocery store called G-Mart near her home. No one came to visit her, and after high school, no one bothered her while she worked.
As the summer ended, the G-Mart was no longer busy with familiar faces. Everyone was leaving for academies, but Blythe was stuck at home.
Today would be a different day for Blythe Ryan.
Blythe stood in the canned food aisle reorganizing cans and restocking empty shelves when she heard a woman call her name. Her heart got cold as she turned, but then she warmed up when she saw Tebah.
Tebah Plᾰ’s family had been friends with the Ryans since Blythe could remember. Tebah was an African American woman with very light caramel skin, the same as Blythe’s. She had very strong cheekbones that came down into dimples. Her dark brown hair was cut into a long bob. She usually wore the color red and her lipstick was always red. Her face had a natural glow and people were always in envy of her beauty. Blythe thought she was beautiful, but didn’t see the big deal.
Tebah reached arms wide open for a hug. “Blythe! How are you, girl?”
Blythe hugged her as she was swallowed by the smell of her perfume. “I’m fine and you?”
“Good. I see you’re still with the same hairstyle,” Tebah said as she examined Blythe’s hair. “You ever think of straightening it?”
“It would take too long,” Blythe answered plainly.
“Beauty at its best takes effort.” Tebah smiled.
“I like my hair this way.”
“Well, that’s fine then. I didn’t come to talk about your hair. I wanted to tell you that I’d love to come over and see the family, so don’t be late getting home.” Tebah kissed her cheek and walked back down the aisle.
Blythe wasn’t shocked by Tebah’s random appearance or the way in which she asked to come over. Whether Tebah had invited herself over or Tebah had invited Blythe to her own home wasn’t an issue. That point was clear. Tebah would be coming over.
Tebah came over unannounced most of the time. She taught singing at an academy, but her parents lived in a wealthy community not far from Blythe’s. Tebah’s visits with her parents usually didn’t end well. Her parents were supportive, but it was clear they wanted more from their daughter.
In the Ryan’s house, there were no judgments. You came as you were and as long as you didn’t disrespect them or their house you were welcome.
Blythe always worked until closing and most nights she would have to stay hours after to make sure the store was ready for the next morning. This night was different. Her manager excused her an hour before closing.
Blythe was caught off-guard, but she didn’t argue about it. She finished up and left. She walked the half mile back to her house in the dark under the streetlights. She felt as if something was different. The world seemed odd to her. As if it was holding its breath before something big happened. She brushed the feeling off as she walked up the steps to her house.
Her parents’ car was outside as it normally was when she came home from work. Her parents had one car. Her father was a light-skinned man, named James. His father had been African American and his mom was Caucasian. He worked as a product salesman in town. Blythe’s mother was an African American woman named Emma. She worked at the newspaper. She wrote a few poems every week for their literary column.
The house was a small, red brick, two-level home with just enough room for the three of them to live comfortable. Opening the door there was a small standing area. The stairway was on the left and there was a doorway into the kitchen. Straight ahead was the living room, which included an L couch, a television, fireplace, and coffee table. That was all that could fit in the small space. Upstairs were three rooms, Blythe’s room, her bathroom, and her parents’ room.
Blythe opened the door and her mother was there to give her an energetic hug. “You’re home early,” her mother commented.
“My manager let me go early and Tebah came by…”
“Yes, she’s here,” her mother said, moving to the side to let Blythe see Tebah sitting on the couch with her father.
“Excuse me,” Blythe said, going into the kitchen to get a glass of water. She came out, placed her bag on the stair, and walked into the living room.
Her parents and Tebah were sitting around and there was nothing but an envelope on the table. She looked at the envelope and her name was on it. She sat next to her mother as everyone stared at her.
“Blythe,” her father said slowly. “Tebah has something for you.” He pushed the envelope toward her.
Blythe picked up the envelope silently.
“Go ahead and open it.” Tebah smiled.
Blythe opened it and it was a handwritten acceptance letter from an academy.
Attention
Blythe Ryan, you have been accepted to Vox Academy. We await your
arrival for your first year. More information will be arriving with
your two standard trunks.
Headmasters Cynthia & Henry Moore
“I don’t know what Vox Academy is,” Blythe said after she read the short acceptance letter.
“It’s a voice academy,” her mother said happily.
“I don’t even like to talk.”
“You don’t have to speak. There’s more to it than speaking. I can assure you. I teach there. It’s a very unique academy. You should be honored to be accepted,” Tebah explained.
Blythe still wasn’t sure. “What do you think?” she asked her parents.
“We both feel like this would be an amazing opportunity. We think you would be great,” her mother answered.
“How will I pay for my books and supplies?” Blythe questioned.
“They have given you a full scholarship. You won’t have to pay for a thing,” Tebah told her.
“I guess I would be foolish if I didn’t accept,” Blythe stated, looking around for confirmation. “I’ll try it,” Blythe said without much emotion.
“You don’t seem so happy? This is going to be great,” Tebah said as if she had been accepted rather than Blythe.
“I am happy,” Blythe said again with little emotion.
“Tebah you know that Blythe has always shown little emotion in her face,” her father said, reminding Tebah.
Blythe had many questions and she planned to have them answered one after the other.
“When do I leave?” Blythe asked.
“In three days, counting today.”
Blythe nodded. “Okay, how much can I bring?”
“As much as you want. You’ll have an apartment with two other people.”