"Hello everyone," stated a middle-aged looking man. "Welcome to Hayfield Hall. My name is Mr Hobson and I'm the headmaster at this school. Since we recognise that it's very emotional leaving your families at such an early age, we have a support team in place. They are here to look after you. They can override everything and everyone at the school, including me. So it's a good idea to stay in their good books."

That caused a nervous ripple of laughter from the children.

"I'll introduce the support team. As I mention their names, they will step forward so you will know who they are. First off, we have Rachel Ruiz."

Rachel stepped forward.

"Then next we have Daniel Mathews."

Daniel Mathews stepped forward. "Dan, please," he said indignantly, the effect being spoilt by his big friendly grin.

"Sorry Dan," grinned back Mr Hobson. "Carrying on, we have Tracy Dine."

Tracy stepped forward and gave a little wave. She was a petite blond who looked like she was in her mid forties.

"Next," continued the headmaster, "is Rebecca Thompson, or as she prefers Becky."

Becky stepped forward and with a grin said, "And lastly we have Keith Thompson. The reason we share the same last name is that we're married."

Keith stepped forward with a big grin on his face, as Mr Hobson spluttered for a moment and said with a shrug of his shoulders, "They've done it again. Each introduction they do something to throw me off track. You've all been assigned a support person. They're always available. If for some reason they aren't available, such as them being ill, or with another student, possibly from one of the other years, please feel free to approach any of the others."

Mr Hobson took a big gulp of orange juice as the five members of the support team sat down. "Okay," he continued. "One thing that all the test results show is that you are all extremely intelligent, but had issues that stopped you excelling. At Hayfield Hall, we hope you will be able to excel. You will probably take your GCSE exams earlier than you would have done in your old schools. In fact, you will probably take some exams in under six months. That will be two and half years earlier than normal. All pupils will study all lessons. Each person will study one subject in more depth, to make them an expert in that field. I am going to call peoples names. I'm not going to ask you to speak but please just stand so the other pupils can see who you are. Then your support person will say what your study major is. Let's start with Richard Barnes."

Richard stood up to allow everyone to get a good look at him. Tracy Dine stood up and said, "Richard specialisation is learning how communication systems work."

"Communication systems?" queried Richard, as he and Tracy sat down.

"Yes," replied Mr Hobson. "Communications systems are used everywhere these days. How do satellites work for television signals? What about mobile phones? All these are important in today's society. Just think of the range of jobs that require that knowledge."

"Sorry, I didn't think," said Richard bowing his head.

"Now don't you do that," said Mr Hobson sternly. "Lift up your head. We are a team. I expect you to behave and do as you're told, but if you have a question then ask. Never be ashamed of using your brain. You will have to learn your skills well as there will be projects that use your skills, and then we will be reliant on you."

"Yes sir. Does that include LAN communications?" asked Richard in response.

"Good question," said Mr Hobson grinning. "Now that is the correct attitude. You will need to know the basics of LAN communications, as there is overlap. However, we have a LAN communications expert in the year above you, who you will often work with."

"Next we have Richard's study partner, Sam Hood."

Sam shyly stood up, trying and failing to remain invisible. Dan Mathews stood up, "Sorry I wasn't able to collect you earlier," he said. Sam gave a little shrug. "Okay," continued Dan, "your specialisation is electronics."

Sam sat down smiling. When not avoiding people, Sam loved to build electronic devices.

"No questions?" Mr Hobson asked Sam. When Sam replied "No", Mr Hobson continued, "Next up is Brian Young."

Brian stood up. Becky Thompson rose and announced, "Foreign Languages. You all have to learn the languages, but Brian seems to have a knack. Therefore, Brian will learn them in more depth."

"Merci," replied Brian, as he sat down.

"Next is Brian's study partner, Lewis Johnson."

Lewis stood up, as did Keith Thompson who said, "Lewis is the only person who has never played a musical instrument. Therefore, he is going to learn how to be a conductor. Since he has a lot to learn, this is going to be his speciality."

Keith sat down, but Lewis didn't. Lewis said, "I've an announcement regarding myself. I was born female but last year decided to live as a boy. Apart from school, I have lived as a boy since then. Eventually it would become known, so I'm mentioning it to you all now. I have been told that this school is tolerant, so please treat me as a male."

"Okay, let us have a break introducing everyone," said Mr Hobson formally. "Lewis is very brave in revealing what he just has. Not everyone in this school is living as their birth sex. Some have tried it and reverted back. Others have never tried it. Not everyone at this school is a transsexual. This school does not discriminate, positively or negatively, against gender or sexuality. You are what you are. All that is important to us is that you be happy with yourselves, treat each other with respect and work hard in your education."

"Some people decide to live fully as the opposite sex and go on to have surgery to complete their transition. Others just decide to live as the opposite sex but never have surgery. Some might decide to attend school as one sex, but relax in the evening as the opposite sex. We've even had some that alternate genders each day. Gender is irrelevant to some and they attempt to live without gender. Sam is such a case."

"That is gender. Now, sexuality is also something not to discriminate against. If people are gay, lesbian or bisexual isn't important. Remember, gender and sexuality are separate. Just because you might decide to live as a different gender, it doesn't mean that you have to change your sexual preference. We have birth males living as females that prefer females, others that prefer males. We even have transsexuals that prefer other transsexuals. It is irrelevant to your education."

"Every so often, we go on field trips abroad. When we're due to go abroad, we ask that you stick to the gender you are living as for up to three weeks prior to going. That way we can make sure that you are passable and don't draw undesired attention. In addition, it is a major pain to change your passport in less than three weeks. Can you all adhere to that?"

I looked around and saw we were all nodding our heads.

"Good. Now let's finish of the introductions before I get carried away into another lecture. David Grant."

I stood up and let everyone have a good gape at me. Rachel stood up and said, "David's specialisation is going to be Computer Systems."

I sat down, as did Rachel. After being hushed when I wanted to ask questions about this place in front of other people, I decided to hold my questions till I could have a private discussion with Rachel or Mr Hobson. I had an idea that the things I learn would be very interesting and not things normally taught in schools.

"Next is David's study partner, Helen Jackson. One thing of note, Helen and David attended the same school. This is the first time we have admitted, into the same year, two people from the same town, let alone the same school."

Helen stood up and so Rachel, who had just sat down, stood up again. "Helen's specialisation is metal and woodwork."

"Next is Paula Plumtree."

Paula stood and so did Keith Thompson, "Paula specialisation is mechanics."

As Paula and Keith sat down there were a few gasps of surprise. I'm sure I heard someone say, "A girl doing mechanics?"

"Why not?" I retorted. "This school is about not discriminating against gender. So there are no girl's jobs or boy's jobs. Just skills that is suited to our abilities."

"Sorry Paula," said Brian. Apparently, he had made the comment. "I was out of line."

"No problems," said Paula, with a disarming grin. "I know its strange being thrust into a world like this. All I know is I like mechanics and I'm quite good at it."

"I'm glad to see that you're learning quickly to resolve internal issues between yourselves. You will be expected to work as a team, relying on each other's skills. Now, the final person to introduce is Emma O'Conner."

Emma stood and so did Tracy. "Emma is going to be our transportation expert. Emma used to live on a farm and can already drive. This school is on a vast amount of private land and sometimes transportation is required to other areas. When Emma is up to speed, she will be your driver. You will all learn to drive well before your seventeen. However, Emma will also learn to drive larger vehicles safely."

Emma and Tracy sat down and Mr Hobson again spoke, "Your class schedules should now be available on the computer system. You will notice that you all have lessons together, apart from when you will be learning your skills or having instrument lessons. The whole school has orchestra practice on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons between four and six. There is a large practice on a Sunday afternoon between three and six. I'm glad to see that Emma is a bassoon player and David is a horn player. Two positions which we were short on. However, we still don't have an oboe player so you will get introduced, on Monday, to Jill who goes to a school in Milton Keynes."

"Is Jill aware of us?" asked a very nervous Sam. Sam was shaking and Richard put his arm around Sam to provide comfort.

"Jill has given me permission to tell you about her", said Mr Hobson. "Jill was born Bill, but has a medical condition which, while still a fertile male, has the body of a female. Jill decided six months ago to live full time as a girl, but is not planning on having a sex change. Jill's biological father is a male to female transsexual who recently underwent her final operation to become a woman. Julia is a fulltime IT director who also teaches computer studies here. Julia will certainly impress you with her technical knowledge. She might be management but that doesn't mean she doesn't know what she is doing. Does that answer your question, Sam?"

"Yes," said a calmed down Sam. "Sorry if I was skittish."

"Its only natural," said Lewis. "It's hard to trust again after threats and embarrassment, isn't it?"

"Yes," Sam replied, brightening up. Richard removed his arm now Sam was okay. "It's great not to be alone again."

"This school will serve your last five years in education. Since we aren't a standard school, we don't follow the standard schooling number. You will be year one; the first year in the school."

"One last thing before we go and eat, sleep arrangements. You and your study partner have interconnecting doors. There are times when you need support. You'll probably be lonely, having moved away from your family. If you fall asleep, in the same room, nobody is going to know or care and you won't be told off. However, we ask one thing; keep your underwear on. At your age, it is illegal to have sex and we don't want the school shut down. We are a school not a brothel."

There was polite tittering at Mr Hobson's lame joke.

We went back to the plush entrance hall and went down a corridor. After about twenty meters, Mr Hobson opened the door on the left. Inside was the dining area. There were five large round tables, each with ten seats. To one side was a smaller sixth table. The tables had large white tablecloths that extended halfway down to the floor. I looked around for the waiters in their penguin suits, but saw none.

"Each year has eight students," explained Rachel as we sat down. "One person from the support team will sit on each year's table. We rotate which table the support team sit on. This evening you have me. The headmaster will either sit on one of the year's table or, if we have guests, sit with them on the sixth table."

I had Helen to my right and Rachel sat to my left. Our table was towards one of the walls, which I had my back to. Therefore, I had a good view of the rest of the tables. A girl from the year five table stood up and said, "We all want to welcome the new students to Hayfield Hall and hope you all enjoy your stay."

All the other students then stood up and applauded.

"Enjoy your stay?" I thought to myself. "They make this sound like a hotel; either that or a prison."

I looked around at the eager happy faces on the other older children. They didn't appear to be unhappy, in fact, quite the opposite.

"Okay, that's enough," said Mr Hobson, when he thought the clapping had gone on long enough. When they had quietened down he said, "Thank you Stacy for the introduction."

Mr Hobson then turned to just our table, "Today I am sitting on year three's table. So if you will please excuse me."

I watched as Mr Hobson went across the room and sat down next to Tracy, who was the psychiatrist on that table. There seemed to be a bit of a commotion, as one of the girls on that table was upset. She kept looking towards our table and shaking her head. The other students in her year were trying to comfort her.

Helen nudging me brought me back to focus on what was happening on our table. "Okay, now David is paying attention I'll explain about the meal. The cooks will make your meal and two people from each table will go and collect that year's meals from the kitchens. The meals will be on a trolley, which can hold six meals. So for this table there will be five on one trolley and four on another. The meals are ready when the bell rings."

A single bell rang. Rachel glanced across at table three, where things had calmed down. I noticed Tracy give a slight nod, which I wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't wondering what was going on. "Richard and Sam, can you please collect the meals for this table. Just follow the other people."

A few minutes later Richard and Sam were back. I watched Sam walk trying to get some sort of clue. I didn't have any. I decided to ask Richard tomorrow, as Sam might have opened up to Richard by then.

The upset girl from year three was also one of the people that had gone to collect the meal. When she got to the table, she sat down and burst into tears. One of the boys on the table helped put out the food while Tracy and another girl helped comfort the distraught girl. My thoughts were brought back to my table when Sam plonked my plate of food in front of me.

"Sam," frowned Rachel. "Waiters and waitresses serve with style and finesse. They don't just plonk it down. Let me demonstrate."

Rachel got up to serve Brian. "The main rule to remember is that you serve from the left and take from the right. Now Brian's napkin is still in front of him. Before you bring across the plate, unfold it and place it on his lap. Then bring his plate across and serve gracefully from the left."

"Are we all going to be professional waiters now?" I asked, my tongue firmly in my cheek.

Rachel laughed, "No, but if you know how to be one you will know what to expect. Now this is very formal, like you would get in a silver service restaurant. You wouldn't get this in the local Little Chef."

For the second time today, I ate something that tasted like food. It had a taste rather than being the charred overcooked remains, which I had been accustomed to. What I'd eaten at lunchtime was good but this was out of this world. No sooner than I'd started, I'd finished. Sam and Richard took our plates and returned with the deserts. This wasn't a prison; I was in heaven.

As we were talking after the meal, the young girl from year three approached our table. She was accompanied by Tracy and the other girl that had comforted her. The girl looked very nervous and looked like she was going to run at any moment.

Rachel moved to the vacant seat next to Richard. "Richard, I'd like you to meet Wendy."

"Good to see you again, little brother," uttered Wendy, wringing her hands together. "I've changed a bit in the last two years."

"You're...you're," stuttered Richard.

"I'm Wendy," she said firmly, raising her head and smiling confidently.

Richard stood and stared at her. Everyone on the year three and one tables held their breaths. I wonder what was going through Richard's mind. I soon found out.

Suddenly a big grin came across his face and tears started to fall, like mini waterfalls, down his cheeks. He reached out and grabbed his sibling into a warm embrace. "Why didn't you say you felt like this?"

"I didn't know," she sobbed back into her brother's arms. "I only knew something wasn't right. Nobody outside this school knows about me and that is the way it has to stay till I'm older. You were told I'd gone to live with Aunt Harriet in America. That's because younger siblings haven't to know, just in case it influenced their tests."

"But when?" asked Richard.

"When did I stop being William and become Wendy? It was late in year one. I knew it was what I wanted to do. I dressed a lot in my room for a while before I had the courage to talk about it with Tracy. It took longer for me to pluck up the courage to show the rest of the year. Yvonne, my study partner knew and helped me."

"When did you know I was coming here?"

"Tracy told me Sunday night. I hear she is also your support er, support-"

"Psychiatrist," I helpfully finished off.

"Sorry," I said talking over the seven other babbling year one students. Obviously, it wasn't something they were expecting. Rachel and Tracy just glared at me. Oops.

Rachel eventually burst into fits of laughter. "Well there goes the softly, softly approach."

Tracy then spoke for the first time since the reunion. "Wendy, Richard needs to find his feet. There is a lot for him to learn and he has only just met his study partner. I know you have a lot to catch up on, but please wait a few days."

Wendy nodded in understanding. "I'm just down the corridor from you. The computer system will tell you were to go," she explained to her brother. "Give it a week. There is a lot for you to learn."

Wendy went back to her table to help clear up. Richard was too emotional to do anything. He just stood there watching Wendy.

"Rachel," I whispered. "Why don't you let Richard and Sam go to the year one common room? I'll cleanup. I'm sure Helen will help."

Rachel whispered back, "If you don't mind, that would be helpful. The year normally leaves together, but in these circumstances, I think this would be good for him. Thank you David."

"Helen, can give me a hand to clear the table? I volunteered us to do it, as Richard isn't in a fit state. He needs to discuss things and its best he does that with Sam."

"Just like at home," she said with a grin. "You clear the glasses and I'll get the desert plates and bowls."

"At least you don't have to wash up," Emma giggled, as Richard and Sam snuck out of the room.

"I don't think I would be able to cope with that tonight," Helen laughed heartily back.

When we had returned the trolleys to the kitchen, we sat down at the table with something to drink. Some of the older years had tea or coffee. I had decided on a nice cold glass of milk. We chatted for a bit, giving Richard and Sam time to talk.

When we were finished, we cleared up and we trooped back to the year one common room. As we were leaving, so was year three. Wendy dragged me to one side for a moment.

"I saw what you did for Richard," she said. I might have known her birth sex but there was nothing masculine about her. Looking back there was nothing odd about anybody else in the dinning room and I'm sure some of those people were not living as their birth dictated. "Thank you", she continued. "At this school a persons study partner is the most important thing. They're always there for each other. I hope Richard learns that sooner than later."

"I saw how hard it was for you," I replied. "Not only was Yvonne there for you, but so were all the students in your year. I noticed how they rallied round to support you. I take it you were supposed to introduce yourself when you went for the meals?"

"Yes, though I didn't do it as I was frightened of his reaction. In the end, I couldn't have wished for a better result. I hope they explain why no one can know what happens in this school."

"I think I understand. I've noticed too many things which can only lead to one conclusion. If I'm correct then I can perfectly understand why everything about this school stays a secret. Not just till your eighteen, but forever. You can never go back to your parents, can you?"

"No," she sobbed. "I can't. None of us can. At the end of the day it is best for everyone."

When we got to the year one common room door, Helen and Yvonne where waiting. "Take good care of her," I said to Yvonne, "She will need a lot of comfort tonight. She desperately wants to explain things, such as the post eighteen issues, to Richard but she knows she can't. He isn't ready for that kind of revelation yet."

Yvonne looked at me with wide-open eyes. "A lucky guess and logical thinking," I said.

I grabbed Helen and we went into the common room, leaving Wendy and Yvonne to comfort each other. I knew Helen would not ask in front of other people, but I expect a good grilling later.

Everyone was in the room, including Rachel. She had seen me talking to Wendy, so she came across to see me before I got too close to the others. "Is all okay?" she asked.

"I hope so," I replied. "However, I think I need to explain something to Tracy. I extrapolated on Wendy's situation and added in some ideas that you have stopped me expressing. I went forward a few years and explained the result to Wendy. It hit the nail on the head."

I was glad to see that Helen looked confused. She was very close to her parents, so I was trying to keep her in the dark. Rachel noticed that because she said, "Before bed I want to see you both in my office. I need to explain all of this too you both." I started to complain but Rachel firmly said, "No, David. You can't carry that knowledge on your own. You need to trust Helen."

"But I can't. She isn't ready."

"No, but nor are you. You think you are, but you're not. Together the pain will be shared. It will be somebody that you can discuss things with. You must never have a secret from your study partner. No one here will expect or demand that from you."

Rachel whipped out a PDA. I wonder where she was carrying that. Her outfit didn't seem designed to store such a device. "Tracy will be in her office in two minutes. Go up the stairs onto the first floor. Our offices are down the corridor on the left."

"Will you be okay?" Helen asked me, as Rachel went to talk with the other students.

"I think so," I replied. "I best go and see Tracy. I shouldn't be too long. Can you update me tonight on anything I've missed?"

"Sure," she grinned, pushing me towards the door.

I followed Rachel's simple directions and ended up outside Tracy's office. I knocked but there was no reply, so I stood waiting outside. Tracy soon appeared and I was let into her large office. On her desk was a computer like in our bedrooms. There were three chairs opposite the desk. Against the far wall were two three-seat settees, which is where I was directed to sit.

Tracy sat next to me and said, "Rachel said that you had some important information for me?"

"Maybe," I replied. I relayed my discussion with Wendy. "Rachel said she was going to have a chat with me and Helen tonight."

"I think that is very much needed," she said. "You're right to tell me about Wendy. Yvonne will help emotionally, but I will need to make sure that Wendy can talk about this rationally. I will need to keep her in the loop of what Richard knows and doesn't."

I had a small chat with Tracy before going back to the year one common room. When I got back, Rachel was in the process of issuing PDA's to us. These were registered to our thumbprint.

"These PDA's are linked into the school network. You can use it as a phone, send messages, check schedules and use it for note taking. All that you can do on your PDA can be done on your main terminal, in your bedroom. Any notes you take will be automatically available from the terminals."

I used my thumbprint and pulled up my schedule. I noticed it even included the orchestra practice tomorrow. I clicked a few times and pulled up tomorrow's meal choices, which I had great joy in filling in.

Rachel then went on to explain how the television and radio system worked. "You have to be in your bedrooms by ten. From year four, it is midnight. So currently, you have an hour to yourselves. Normally, time from last lessons till bedtime is yours to relax in any way you want; after you have done your homework. Evening meals are normally half six, unless advertised. Today's was half seven so we could get the introductions done."

Rachel turned to Helen and me. We were sitting together on a two-seater leather settee. "Follow me and let's get this discussion over with."

We followed Rachel up the stairs and into Rachel's office. It was furnished identically, but instead of a green leather sofa, this was maroon.

Thirty minutes later, I was comforting Helen as we made our way back to our rooms. "Forever?" was all she could say. I wasn't numb with shock as I had worked out most of it. Even so, things were a lot bigger than even I suspected.

I opened my door and ushered Helen in. "Go to your room, clean your teeth and get ready for bed," I advised her. "Then we can talk for as long as we need to."

I got ready and was in my pyjamas when Helen came in. She was dressed in a satin pair of pyjamas with a matching dressing gown wrapped around her. She looked stunning. We sat on the settee in my room and we chatted about what we had been told. When we had finished, the clock showed midnight. We'd gone through two boxes of tissues. I'd been as upset as Helen had. Rachel was right; it is something that needed to be shared.

Helen went off to her room and I slid into bed. Helen had left the interconnecting door open. I struggled to sleep; the details were still too fresh in my mind. No, that wasn't true. I could still see the image of Helen crumpling when she knew she would never see her family again. They would be able to write or email to each other, but that would be it. I would never be able to see my parents or my brother again. I was as bereft as Helen was. Less than twenty-four hours ago I was sharing a room with my brother, now I was alone in a school that was nothing like I'd expected.

I pounded my over plump pillow to try to put an indent into it. It was too high for me. As I put my head down, I heard sobbing coming from next door. I went in and found a distraught Helen hugging her second pillow. I climbed into bed next to her and put a comforting arm around her. I only meant to stay till she was feeling better, but I fell asleep with Helen in my arms.