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Settling In

They knocked on the director's door, and a warm voice called out, "Come in!"

As they opened the door, they were welcomed with a smile by a woman with a kind face and a firm handshake. "Hello, please have a seat," she said, gesturing to two comfortable chairs in front of her desk.

Angelica smiled, "Thank you," and they sat down.

"Welcome to Lillies International School," the woman said, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "My name is Erica, and I'm the director here. How may I help you?"

Angelica took a deep breath, launching into their story. "We've just relocated to the States from Europe, and we're looking for a school for my daughter, Lucretia. We're interested in learning more about your school and seeing if it might be a good fit for her."

Erica's smile broadened, "Well, you've certainly come to the right place. We're a diverse and inclusive community here, and we welcome students from all over the world. Can you tell me a bit more about Lucretia's educational background and what you're looking for in a school?"

Lucretia sat up straight, her eyes fixed on Erica, eager to hear more about the school and its programs. Angelica smiled, feeling a sense of relief that they had found a school that seemed to align with their values and needs.

Erica smiled warmly at Lucretia, "You have a lovely daughter, Angelica. I'm sure she'll thrive here." She handed them some forms to fill out and a prospectus detailing the school's requirements. "Please, take a few minutes to fill these out, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions."

Within a few minutes, they were done, and Erica bid them farewell, welcoming Lucretia to the school community.

As they walked out of the office, the cab driver greeted them with a smile. "Welcome! All set?"

Angelica nodded, "Yes, thank you. Can you take us to town now? We need to get some things for Lucretia's school supplies."

The driver nodded and drove off. As they sat in the back, Angelica asked Lucretia, "So, what do you think of your new school?"

Lucretia's face lit up, "I like it, mum! I'll make new friends, but I'll still miss Anita and Linsey."

Angelica smiled, "I'm glad you like your new school, sweetie. And don't worry, we can Facetime Anita and Linsey anytime you want." She playfully pinched Lucretia's cheeks, making her giggle.

Just then, the driver pulled up in front of a uniform shop. "Here we are!"

They strolled in and picked out Lucretia's uniform: a crisp white blouse, a navy blue skirt, and a blazer with the school's crest. They also got her the necessary books, stationery, and a lunchbox.

After shopping, they spent the rest of the day sightseeing, taking in the city's sights and sounds. Lucretia beamed with excitement, feeling happy about her new school and her new life in the States.


Here is the continuation:

Later in the day, around 4 pm, they returned home, tired but happy. Angelica thanked the driver and handed him a tip. "Thank you so much for your help today!"

The driver smiled and drove off, leaving them to march back into the house in a happy mood.

As they settled in, Angelica asked her daughter, "Hope you enjoyed yourself today, sweetie?"

Lucretia nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, mum! I had a great time!"

Angelica smiled, "I'm so glad to hear that. Now, I'm going to get something ready for dinner. Why don't you go play with your puppy in the garden?"

Lucretia's face lit up, "Okay, mum!" She sped out of the room, her puppy racing after her.

Angelica chuckled and headed to the kitchen, feeling grateful for the wonderful day they had shared. She began preparing dinner, humming a happy tune as she worked.

Meanwhile, Lucretia was having the time of her life in the garden, playing tag with her puppy and laughing with joy. The puppy yelped with excitement, chasing after Lucretia as she ran around the garden.

As they played in the garden, their laughter and shouts carried over the fence into the neighboring yard. A curious boy, who had been playing alone in his yard, heard the commotion and followed the sound.

He walked along the fence, trying to locate the source of the noise, and soon found himself standing at the entrance of Lucretia's garden. He hesitated for a moment, then walked in, drawn by the infectious laughter.

Lucretia and her puppy were so caught up in their game that they didn't notice the boy's arrival. He stood there for a moment, watching them with a smile, before Lucretia finally saw him.

She stopped in her tracks, surprised, and stared at the boy. He was about her age or a year older, with messy brown hair and bright blue eyes. He looked friendly, but Lucretia felt a little shy.

"Hi," the boy said, waving awkwardly. "I'm Philip. I live next door."

Lucretia smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "I'm Lucretia," she replied. "And this is my puppy, Bella. We're new here, we just moved in a few days ago."

Philip's eyes widened with interest. "Really? Where did you move from?"

Lucretia hesitated for a moment before answering. "We moved from Europe. My Dad got promoted here, so we relocated."

Philip nodded, taking in this new information. "Cool! I've never met anyone from Europe before. What's it like?"

Lucretia laughed. "It's different, but I like it here so far. It's just...new."

Philip grinned. "I know what you mean. I've lived here my whole life, but sometimes it feels new too. Can I play with you guys?"

Lucretia smiled, feeling a connection with Philip. "Sure. We were just playing tag."

Philip joined in, and soon the three of them were laughing and chasing each other around the garden. Angelica, who had been watching from the kitchen window, smiled at the sight, happy to see her daughter making new friends. Lucretia is gradually fitting in she can't tell how glad this makes her.
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