Drafted English: My Special Place

It's after school, we all start charging in, ready to attack the one who got afternoon tea. Noise quickly rises. One girl after another comes through the double doors, and everyone is greeted with boisterous excitement, as if we haven't seen each other in days. The over- used, felty couches are overflowing with girls trying to squeeze in to sit down. The afternoon light is glowing, filling the room with so much exuberance. Girls rushing past you, in a hurry to get to their afternoon sports. Others, are slouching in their spots. The TV then flicks on, making it more difficult to speak to others, so we all start talking even louder. But not as loud as we get when the afternoon tea comes. As we come to realise that "it's the gross lemon cakes," the excitement rapidly decreases. Gossip is the hot topic every afternoon. As one girl shares, others eagerly wait for their turn to share. Each story embraced with roaring laughter or utter shock. As time flies by, the kitchen table turns its glossy self into a foul space. Stench of rotting food steals into your nose. By 4.30, spoons and knives become scarce. And somehow the highly cherished Milo runs away, only to leave an empty can when it comes back. By 5, the noise is almost gone. You sit on the couch by yourself watching the TV, wanting someone to come through the door so you can have some company. You can almost hear the buzzing brains of the girls as they are doing their studies. Others, busily telling gossip or jokes. And the whole time, the common-room sat still. It sits there, whilst the space is full and when it is empty. It brings everyone together. Together as a family, because every boarder is family to me