It's a new school year. The ninth grade was started this very morning. My uniform, crisp and clean for today. It was raining today. Not lightly either, pouring. Nothing looked my way. Not even a bit of hope, or so I thought. I was not especially excited for today. It was the same as any other day. Except It was a new year for school, that just meant more new kids, some different teacher, and another desk to sit in this year." What could change" I kept asking myself. I would be the same and everyone else would too. It was just another rainy morning.

My alarm ring in my ear driving me absolutely crazy was the way I had awoken. I stood up and turned it off. Before I could even look at my own hand I remembered today is the day where school starts. I glanced over to my uniform my mum had folded the day before and placed on my drawer knowing I'd never find it unless it was bluntly obvious.

"I am ready for today. I am ready for today. I am ready for today." were the words I was quietly thinking to myself. I got dressed, put my hair up into a bun, or at least I was trying to. It kept falling out. I wanted to be on time for the first day so I just left it down for today. I looked better this way in my opinion though. It was just easier to keep it up. I checked my watch and I had over 20 minutes to spare. I wasn’t so nervous for today that I woke up especially early or anything. I wasn’t nervous in the least. I just liked to be on time. Punctual personally equals a spiffy person was my philosophy.

"I could eat breakfast, or I could go now " It is an easy question with an easy answer. Definably school. It isn't like I'm so hungry I couldn't wait till lunch. I'd rather be there early so I can walk into the class room, ovoid anyone who would most definably annoy me, or read my book. I like books. The book was called "April". It had the same name I had. My name is April Xing. I just go by April though.

School was real nearby to where I lived so I could walk there fast and easily. I lived in Kyoto, Japan. But I am Korean. It's a long story on how I came to live here but the important thing is that I am here now. I put slipped on my whine knee socks and Dark red slippers. Slid off any dust or lint that could have ended up on my new uniform. Slimmed down the creases and walked through the door.

It is raining. I had forgotten. I took my umbrella near the steps which was readily prepared for days like today and took it into my hands. It was a red umbrella with yellow polka dots. I liked it. I liked it because it was unusual. Most umbrella's were dark and reminded me of funerals, but this on didn't. This one made me smile.

Just as I had thought. The rain was very heavy. My shoes were soaked but I didn’t car. I liked the rain. It was wet and the smell made me like to breathe more. All the stinky smells vanished. Like the smelly trash can our neighbor next-door fills until it explodes smelled not as icky. The sick cat in the neighborhood was jumping and running like a young kitten. Even the smell of our messy neighbors next-door compost smelled strangely sweet. I don’t know if it is just my neighborhood, but when it rains here, it was like a healing gift.