Page 130 - Mobile Magic

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The whole school felt deserted. It was surrounded by high, iron railings with spikes on the top so no one could come in and steal things or vandalise the buildings. As she stood in an echoing corridor of concrete, watching the band unload the van, shivers crept up and down Saffron’s spine. What a cold, unfriendly place this was without the kids. More like a prison or a ghost-town than a place to hold a dance!
She set up her tables and hung her posters just next to the main hall entrance. It would be the only entry and exit once the dance started. Wooden double doors with flaking paint opened out onto wide steps that led down to the now deserted sports ground. Only having been there once before, at Charles’ orientation day, Saffron went and explored the hall.
There was a raised stage and podium against the back wall, where the band was setting up their equipment. Behind it were huge plaques with the names, in gold, of past sporting heroes, school captains and the dux of the school. There were basketball hoops at each end and one wall was set up for rock climbing. So that’s how Chuckie got so good at climbing, she thought.
Outside, it was starting to get dark. Voices could be heard in excited conversation moving towards the hall from the carpark. Suddenly, there was Abigail, with Ashley and Claire following her through the door.
'Hi, guys, I'm glad you're here. This is a strange place, remarked Saffron.' The huge, echoing hall felt much smaller and friendlier now. They all went off to the toilets to change