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 Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:21 pm
 Winter sighed. She really didn't want to go see a councilor. The caregiver told her they could help her, but as far as she knew nothing was wrong. She over heard them say that she was exhibiting unhealthy antisocial tendencies. Winter wasn't sure but she had a hunch that had to do with how she doesn't like to talk to people. The guardians always stare at her when she would try to read on her own during free times instead of talking to the other kids.It wasn't her fault that she didn't fit in with them. She had tried to speak to the others before but they always talked over her or forgot she was there. She walked down the long hallway until she reached the wooden door with the maple leaf on it. That's were she was suppose to meet the councilor lady. Some other students had called her Miss Nutmeg but she was pretty sure that wasn't her name. After lingering outside the door for awhile she decided to knock.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:36 pm
 Megan had been a councilor at the Academy for a year or two now. Due to her gentle nature and warm appearance she was always assigned to the more withdrawn students. A lot of her kids were from the orphanage and liked having someone to confide in. However, she also dealt with a lot of the students who had issues adapting or socializing. She knew how hard it was to try and find where you fit into the world so she made it her life goal to make every child feel safe and important. Her most recent assignment was a young fey named Winter. The freshling was from Enoch so she could already tell they would be a bright one. The file said that Winter didn't want to play with the other children. They often avoided talking in class despite always turning in A+ assignments. It seemed Winter always favored a book over a person.
This whole wallflower mentality was concerning the caretakers since she wasn't learning the social fundamentals the Academy so highly encouraged in their youngest students. Megan had seen this more than once. Sometimes students just prefer to keep to themselves. It was never as huge a deal as the staff made it seem but then again caretakers were very happy social people. Despite all this she had agreed to see the student and get to the root of the issue. Just then, there was a knock at the door. That must be Winter. "Come In!" Megan chimed. "Door is always unlocked."
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:53 pm
Winter walked into the room. Her room was very cozy looking. Everything was some shade of red, orange, or brown and the room smelled fondly of cinnamon. It reminded Winter of the Academy during Autumn. Miss Nutmeg was sitting on a large couch drinking what appeared to be tea. She was really fluffy with her long hair and extra poofy tail. They introduced themselves as Megan and asked Winter to come sit next to her, so Winter did. Megan assured the fey they weren't in any sort of trouble and they just wanted to talk to them for a little while. Winter shrugged. "Okay". They asked Winter to tell them about herself. What type of things did like?. "I like to read.. and learn. I like flowers too, gardening is fun.". she paused for a moment. Blue likes flowers too, hes my fluffbug."
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:09 pm
Megan smiled. "Flowers huh? Thats cool. I like trees. They all have different bark, different leaves, different smells. Some trees can even grow to be 360ft tall.". Winter lit up like a lightbulb "Redwoods!". Megan grinned. Sharp as a tact, just like she thought. "That's exactly right. Aren't you just a smart one." According to the assessments Winter was academically advanced for her age so that could be contributing to the social distance. It would make sense that she'd feel outcasted if no one else shared her smarts. She knew quite a few freshlings who were advanced to say the least. They get so accustomed to keeping to themselves they often miss the chance to interact with people who would understand them. "What do you do besides reading? Do you have any friends you hang out with?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:10 pm
Winter was quiet. She didn't really do much else. She read books, she took walks, she watched people but .. she never really did that stuff.. with someone else. "No. I don't hang out with friends. I don't have friends." the tone of her voice was soft and sad. "The other kids don't like me. I'm not fun...I talk like a grown up" Winter scrunched up her face as if mimicking what someone else said. It wasn't that she liked being alone all the time but it was easier. No one ignored her or made fun of her if she didn't try to talk to them. She looked up at Megan who was starring at her with a gentle sympathetic smile. It was a warm comforting smile that made Winter feel somewhat better.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:10 pm
Megan sighed. This was the issue with the caregiver system, they had yet to implement a gifted program. Children like Winter were often just labeled antisocial and are never given the chance to interact with other kids like them. You can encourage socializing and sharing and playing together but things tend to go a lot smoother when there are similarities in the kids. The house system was a good example of this. Like minded children were groups to and environment that favored their strengths and interests. "Well I know it might not count for much, but I understand what its like to be different". She offered Winter a cookie. "I was a smart kid too growing up. It might seem like a bad thing now, but when your a grown up its like a super power".
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:11 pm
Winter rolled her eyes. Superpower.. Ha. She knew better than that. However, she liked Miss Megan. They didn't talk down to her like the other adults did. And, if they were smart like her and grew up to be alright...thats good right? Up until now no one else at the Academy had made Winter feel normal. Her mother always told her that she should never let anyone make her feel like there was something wrong with her. She was perfect in her own way no matter what anyone said. Since she got to the Academy she had all but forgotten that. Winter swung her feet over the edge of the couch. It wasn't completely horrible she had to come here instead of the library. Just then a coo coo clock on the wall started to chime which startled the kidden sleeping in the corner.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:12 pm
Megan knew by the chime of the clock that the session was up. Her kidden Pumpkin was now making laps around the office in a panic... they really didn't like that clock. She scooped up Pumpkin as they made a pass by the couch. "Well Winter, thats our time. Your free to go! However if you will humor me. I'd like you to ask something of you". Megan had a hunch that unless she gave a little nudge Winter might give up on finding friends of her own age. "You see, there is a playroom unique children like you to play, supervised. I know you don't like to be around the other kids but I'm hoping you might find somewhere there to talk to". Realistically the playroom was a place for the children who didn't fit into the Academy's social norm. A lot of the time this just meant this was where they referred the children in "shells" but it was also a place for "troubled" freshlings to be watched during free periods. She looked down at the fey who seemed very not okay with this request but they agreed anyways. "Of course your welcome back here anytime, my door is always open if you want to talk".
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:14 pm
A supervised playroom? Any other freshling would probably be ecstatic to have a whole period to just hang out and play with toys or board games. Winter on the other hand, was filled with dread at this suggestion. However, it was only one period and then she never had to go back. Since Miss Megan was so nice to her it wouldn't be the end of the world, probably. She was handed a slip of paper with the information on it and told to give it to her caretaker. After consuming a couple pumpkin spice cookies Winter hugged Miss Megan and left the office. It was going to be a long trot but if she hurried she could make it back for her math class!
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:15 pm
Megan saw Winter out. She was such a sweet child. They would make a good teacher some day. Seeing her gave Megan a new spark. She was going to speak with the board again about that gifted program. Children like Winter deserved classes that would challenge them and opportunities to socialize that weren't just..go play with some toys. We focus so much on growing their communication skills at this level we forget to expand on their intellectual skills. Megan imagined Winter all grown standing infront of a class of freshlings teaching them about plants and that made her smile. With her rediscovered determination Megan picked up her telephone and started making some calls. The future was bright, and so were these children!
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