Flame Saturday, September 3 Another year, more new students. I’ve been reassigned to Red this year, so I’ll have one more year at IJA after this. I’ll probably become a teacher here. What else would I do? This place is my life and it’s not like I have anywhere else to go. I even stay here during the summers. “Welcome to a new year at the Isle of Jade Academy,” Headmaster Bumblebee’s voice booms through the auditorium. “I hope you enjoyed the dinner we provided tonight. Anyway, to the business of tonight. We are pleased to have you, whether you are returning or just starting your journey here.” It’s the same speech as every year before this, for as long as I can remember. “I am Headmaster Bumblebee. At IJA, we rank students by color, with purple being the lowest and red being the highest. A rainbow, you see?” It’s so stupid, I think, as I do every year. Why do we have to be ranked using a rainbow? It’s the most childish thing anyone could ever think of. “After every trimester,” Bumblebee continues, “we reassess you and move you to the next highest color if you are ready. After one year of being in the same color rank, you graduate. Now, without further ado, let’s move on to the rankings!” Every student takes a test before they arrive at the school. This test determines their initial color rank. They are then given their cloak and color brooch. I’ll be honest, I zoned out during most of it. Normally I zone out during all of it, but this year Bumblebee made a special announcement. “We have a special case this year,” she announces. “Sol Sharp. Come up to the stage.” A boy with shaggy brown hair gets up and strolls onto the stage. “Would you like to share with us your circumstance?” “My sister, Luna, is here with me. I wouldn’t have come without her, so please treat her nicely.” “That’s right,” Bumblebee says. “Luna and Sol are so close that Sol wouldn’t come here without Luna. Treat them both with respect.” Snickers echo throughout the auditorium and I know they’ll be treated with anything but respect, but I recognize how lucky they are to have each other. I wish I had someone who cared for me that much. Sol is given his purple IJA cloak, and then Bumblebee pulls out Sol’s brooch. It’s red, just like mine. In my time at IJA, I’ve never seen anyone be awarded a red brooch on entering the school. In fact, I’m the one of the only red rank students they’ve ever had at IJA. I’m almost intimidated by Sol and his intelligence. “Luna Sharp. Come up to the stage,” Bumblebee booms. A small Black girl with long, dark hair down to her waist slowly rises from her seat. She nervously walks up to the stage to stand beside Bumblebee. Bumblebee pulls out Luna’s cloak, and then her brooch– indigo. The second lowest ranking. Of course a few kids get assigned indigo every year, but it’s not common. That doesn’t mean I think Luna’s stupid, though. This is the most respected school on the Isle of Jade. Of course the students here are smarter than average (well, book-smart… not always having-good-sense smart). In fact, if everyone on the Isle of Jade were to get rankings, most of them would probably get indigo. Luna’s ranking looks even worse next to her brother’s impossibly high one, though. I almost feel bad for her. Even I wasn’t humiliated nearly that much when I came to IJA.
