This was definitely not Graham Pancahm's best week; and it was only Wednesday.
Monday had been as boring as any other and he had gone about his ninth grade
lifestyle as usual. But Tuesday morning, Graham had woken up to find himself in the
body of an otter. He had run about his room in a panic until his parents came in and
found him. They filed a missing person's report but kept the "otter" they found. Mrs.
Pancahm thought it looked kind of like Graham so she kept it for comfort as well as for
any possible evidence left on it. Meanwhile, the headmaster of Danton Academy, Dr.
Jon Sleece had been looking through police reports for cases like Graham's. Animal
transformations were common among first shifters. Dr. Sleece happened upon
Graham's report and rushed over to the Pancham household. He quickly informed the
family that their only son was a shape-shifter. After he had convinced them that he
was not just some random looney, he proceeded to explain about Danton Academy.
After this, he spoke to Graham.
"Now, boy, please concentrate very hard on what you looked like before your
transformation. Once you have that image, keep it in your mind and you should return
to normal."
So Graham did as the man said. He pictured himself in his head and concentrated on
that image. Suddenly, he felt a tingle run up his spine. Then he opened his eyes
(which had instinctively closed during the transformation) and he was again his former
self, although he was naked. Embarrassed by his nudity, he rushed into his room to
get dressed. While getting dressed, Graham happened to look in the mirror above his
dresser and see that, although his body was normal, he still had otter ears, teeth and
tail. Meanwhile, Dr. Sleece was informing Graham's parents about his powers.
"Seeing as he just gained his powers, we have no clue as to their extent. He could be
limited to just otters, just animals, or he could have no limits at all. The Danton
Academy is a place where he can continue his schooling and hone his powers under
trained supervision. There is no cost other than the fact that you will not be able to see
him until he has mastered his powers. Depending on his skill and power level, this
could possibly take longer than just the next three years of high school." But Mrs.
Pancham wasn't too comfortable with this.
"Isn't there a way we could see him? You mean to tell me that no place in England
has these facilities? That we HAVE to send him to your academy in the United
States?"
"Unfortunately, ma'am, yes. You see, your government is currently ignorant to the
importance of proper training for these kinds of students. They do know that this power
exists, but they do not wish to spend taxpayers' money on something that they cannot
even reveal to the people who are paying for it. Whereas in the U.S, our government is
used to taxing people and not revealing where the money is going. Well, honestly,
both governments do, but Americans fell less guilty about taking other people's money.
But more to the point, you really don't have an option."
So now, Graham was sitting alone, in a plane bound for somewhere in the U.S.A. with
no clue as to what was going to happen to him.
*Sorry about that being so boring. Introductions usually are. But hopefully you guys can
do this story justice*