Chapter Three

Interview day was upon me, and I was enthusiastic this morning as I maneuvered my bulky station wagon through the dense well-landscaped residential suburb of Los Angeles called“Diamond Bar” hunting for this prestigious girls’ school called“New Beginnings”.

As I surveyed the neighborhood, I discerned that the address Mrs. Steele gave was obviously incorrect, for in front of me is an immense steel gate entrance, with a security guard in uniform. In fact, the prominent metal fence surrounding this entire compound is capped with winding metal razor wire. This must be some kind of a prison. I am obviously lost.

As I went to turn around, I glanced above the guard’s station at a sign that read,

“New Beginnings– The Academy for Girls”

“Authorized Personnel Only. You Are Under Constant Police And Video Surveillance.”

What?

I pulled over to the guard for directions and location of the nearest pay phone. I needed to call Mrs. Steele in order to authenticate make this address.

“Hi. I’m lost - can you tell me where 2627 Las Casas Way is? Am I even in the right city?” I asked the husky older African-American man peering over his glasses to get a good look at me.

“Yes, you’re here my friend. You must be Dr. Snow, we are expecting you,” he smiled and with a push of one button, the huge threatening gate to this armory glided open in front of me.

“Good luck Doctor,” he said waving me through. I curiously glimpsed in the rear view mirror and saw him smiling and waving behind me. I started to feel very uncomfortable, slightly spooked, and even nauseous driving around the campus entrance circle finally parking in front of the red-bricked Administration Office.

Maybe I should just leave now while I can, but that could be considered unprofessional and potentially ruinous to my career. But given these cage-like surroundings, I didn’t care as I put my vehicle in reverse and started to reverse of the parking spot only to be stopped by a desperate knock on my window.

“Stop…Dr. Snow…please…. I’m Elizabeth Steele. Please come on in and talk for a second,” she sincerely begged while knocking.

My first observation about Mrs. Steele was that although her voice was so calming and soft, it carried an underlying authoritarian tone. I instantaneously placed my automobile in park and exited with urgency, for some reason. I did not want to be in trouble.

“Nice to meet you Mrs. Steele, but I think there has been a little miscommunication between us concerning this employment opportunity. You see, I thought this was a private girls’ school, not a prison… it is a prison right?” I asked innocently loo