White Feathers Academy

By Phyllis Cherry

WHAT IF - Somewhere in the galaxy there is a school taught by angels?

WHAT IF – A young person with no special talent finds the one perfect gift?

WHAT IF – Youngsters who failed to survive their first life are given a new life?

WHAT IF – One evil young girl threatens talented students with her greed?

 

Halo Havens didn't know that angels had special talents and different jobs.

 

She'd never met an android, talked to a giant fish or met an angel.

 

Life changed the day she skated in front of a car trying to rescue a puppy and was transported to the fantastic world of White Feathers Academy. There she makes new friends, accepts the challenge of a seemingly hopeless job and embarks on the greatest adventure of her new young life, if she can survive the tests.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
• Release date: May 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781949931624

Book preview

White Feathers Academy

Phyllis Cherry

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

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If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this stripped book.

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White Feathers Academy

Copyright © 2020 Phyllis Cherry

All rights reserved.

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ISBN: (ebook): 978-1-949931-62-4

Inkspell Publishing

207 Moonglow Circle #101

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

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Edited By Kate Richards

Cover art By Najla Qamber

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This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Dedication

To George....always

ASIA

1

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In less than a microsecond, Asia claimed a child’s soul, leaving only the empty shell and her crumpled body behind. Earth time moved on, even though time on Earth for the child ceased.

The world beneath them faded to nothingness, becoming a glass marble marked with patches of green forests, golden-red wastelands, and clumps of gray cities surrounded by swirling blue-green oceans.

Asia’s mission took her light years away from Earth, to the far-away galaxy of angel realms and the myriads of planet villages. She glided toward a dusty patch on the edge of an ancient star to whisper a prayer.

"Thank You, God, for this little girl.

We ask You to help her in the

New world.

Thoughts of hurt and sadness flee,

Bless this child and let it be."

Asia held the child close and blew across her face, sending the warmth of new life into a new, unbroken body.

Thick clouds shielded the planet Asia called home. It was one of the places she brought her precious Earthly charges. Children who died before they reached an age of accountability, or whose mortal lives became struggles they could no longer fight. She loved watching them grow up, discover their own unique talents then depart to their chosen realms.

WHITE FEATHERS ACADEMY

2

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The child coughed, gulping for air with an open mouth. She struggled against strong arms holding her tight and discovered a face too beautiful and frightening to be real.

Let me go. The arms tightened. She pulled against them and panicked at the sight of her roller blades tangled in the billowing folds of a gauzy gown. Cool air and fuzzy white fog surrounded them. Her stomach tightened, and the hairs on the back of her neck tingled at the flapping sound of what? Was she flying? No way. They couldn’t be flying.

Suddenly the creature flipped forward and began a downward dive. She squeezed her arms tight about the creature’s neck, her eyes shut tight, and held on for dear life. She screamed when her stomach did a flip like a ride on the downhill side of a roller coaster and peeped with one eye open. She was high above a tiny speck in the middle of an ocean, and it was growing bigger by the second. She held her breath, wishing for a parachute. Then the creature shifted positions, cradling her to its chest so she could see the view below and behind them. She saw the wings, giant ones made of long silvery white feathers. They were beautiful, the creature must be an angel.

They glided above canopies of jewel-colored trees where the air smelled clean like Christmas trees. She flinched as they skimmed over rocky cliffs towering above a dreary gray sand beach. Waves crashed against the black rocks standing guard over the harbor. Beyond the beach and in the very center of the island stood an enormous white building shaped like a star and topped with a sparkling glass dome. The building was surrounded by miles of curved white walls.

The angel creature folded her wings, launched toward solid ground, and landed upright beside a gray-haired, freckled-faced woman wearing thick black-rimmed glasses. The woman was sorting through multicolored strings of star-shaped lights, chattering nonstop to herself. Now, surely there must be a red one here. Orange, green, and yellow, but not red. Oops, what was that? She patted her ample bosom in surprise at the arrival of visitors.

Asia, you startled me. And who’s this? Ah, you must be Halo. Come. We’ve been expecting you. She reached out to give the young girl a welcome hug but was rejected.

Halo wanted to run away from the woman with the big white apron and the angel person. She was dizzy and the ground moved under her wobbly legs then sank down on the grass, head in her hands, trying to sort it all out. She remembered skating along the sidewalk and seeing people wait for the light to change at the busy intersection. A woman pushing a white poodle in a baby carriage passing her. Yes, that’s it! The little white puppy ran into the street. She’d tried to pick it up, but it ran away, back to the woman. Then, the noise—horns, people yelling, and pain—and then everything went black. The next thing she remembered was flying through the air with this creature.

She untied the laces on her skates and feigned interest in the grass, hoping it was all a dream and she would wake up in her own room. She paused to steal a glance, but they were still there, the creature with wings and the woman in the apron. They were still there, staring at her.

One of them was a real person, resembling a life-size rag doll, but the other one, the one with wings, well, she was surely an angel. Not that she had ever seen an angel or known anyone who had seen one, but what else could the creature be?

The angel’s eyes didn’t match. Her left eye was the most amazing shade of blue, and the right one was purple with a sparkly blue thing on her cheek under it. She didn’t have eyebrows, either. Her long silver hair streamed down her back, over her shoulders, and between long beautiful wings. She wore the most beautiful silvery gown, but the colors changed with the angel’s every move.

I don’t know what’s happening here, or who you are, or where I am, but I need to go home. My aunt Dora worries a lot. Halo sat up straight, struggling to keep her voice steady. I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but where am I, and who are you? I’m not supposed to talk to, or go places with, people I don’t know.

I am Asia. This is Miss Ruth. The name of this island is White Feathers, the beautiful winged angel replied.

I’m okay. It was a silly accident. See, not a scratch anywhere. She held out her arms and shook a foot to demonstrate. Aunt Dora will pay you back if you’ll tell me how to get home.

Miss Ruth dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and pretend to cough. The angel hovered above the grass, the bottom of her dress a few inches off the ground. The angel didn’t walk. The girl wondered if angels had feet. After all, they had wings, so maybe they didn’t need to walk.

I’m fine. Really. I couldn’t stand there and watch the poor little dog get run over. You understand? I’m careful when I skate. Ask anybody. I had plenty of time to get back on the sidewalk. The puppy made it back, didn’t it? I would have, too, except... She realized the truth, and the truth made her sick, really sick.

What’s happening? Please tell me. Why am I here? You’re an angel, aren’t you?

Yes, I am an angel. I carried you here to your new home. The blue crescent under Asia’s purple eye glowed as she spoke.

I live with my aunt Dora. I need to get back, now! Halo stomped her foot, tears of fear blurring her vision.

White Feathers is your new home. You will go to school at White Feathers Academy. You’ll make friends and discover talents you didn’t know you had.

She opened her mouth to argue, but Asia faded into a mist and disappeared.

Come back. Please come back and take me home. I’m not dead. Please tell me I’m not dead. But there was no answer.

Tears ran down her face as Miss Ruth hugged her close into the folds of a crisp white apron as if protecting her from the truth. She watched the woman pretend to adjust the oversized glasses while wiping away a tear.

You know it’s a mistake, don’t you? She looked directly at the woman with the bold blue eyes.

No. Asia doesn’t make mistakes. You’ll be fine. You’ll see. She cleared her throat, and offered a tissue to the new arrival.

I won’t be fine. I’m dead. That’s what Asia meant, isn’t it? I’m dead, and she brought me here. She bit her lip and shoved away from Miss Ruth.

You’re tired and angry. I’ll show you to your room. You will feel better when you meet Zadie. You’ll like her. She’ll introduce you to some of the other students here.

She recognized the sound of authority in Miss Ruth’s voice and submitted to the firm but friendly grip of her hand.

Miss Ruth led the way across the grounds toward a large white domed building that could have easily been in Disney World.

Did you feel that? Halo swatted at the swarm of blue glittering flakes spinning around her head.

Feel what? Miss Ruth asked and continued to maneuver them across the lawn, dodging two young boys running backward, their dragon kite lifting in the breeze.

This stuff. It’s getting in my eyes. She swatted at the flecks again and looked up but saw nothing.

The dizziness and the sick feeling in her stomach disappeared, but nothing made sense. Aunt Dora said people died and went to heaven, unless they did something committed a terrible sin. If she was dead, why wasn’t she in heaven instead of White Feathers? She’d never done anything really bad, at least not bad enough to keep her out of heaven. Maybe she’d get to meet her mom and dad. They were dead, too. Aunt Dora said that’s where they were, in heaven

Be brave when scary things happen. That’s what Aunt Dora would say.

ROOMMATES

3

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Halo followed Miss Ruth through the door of the main building where a circular foyer branched off into five wide hallways. The halls were crowded with dozens of students hurrying across the black-and-white tile floors toward the various doors and gates. Sunlight streamed through diamond-shaped windows in the domed ceiling above, creating iridescent light patterns on the floor.

What is this place?

This is the Star Compound. It is divided into five sections. Star I is administrative offices, Star II is the boys’ dorm, Star III is classrooms, Star IV is the girls’ dorm, and Star V is the dining room. We are in Star IV, between the dining room and the boys’ dorm, Miss Ruth explained while steering them down the Star IV hallway.

Students hurried from one hall to another with their books and sports equipment, waving hello but not stopping to talk. The woman walked fast and appeared to be the only adult in the building.

She slowed down and tugged Miss Ruth’s hand, trying to get her attention. 

Yes? Miss Ruth didn’t slow down.

What kind of school is this?

It’s a place to learn.

Learn what?

What you need to know, of course.

I don’t see hall monitors, teachers, or any grown-ups. Are you a teacher? The wide hall of Star IV featured brightly colored doors decorated with shapes, symbols, and nameplates.

No, I’m a housemother, Miss Ruth answered.

They stopped in front of a purple door with a metal knocker shaped like a music note. Under the knocker was a brass nameplate reading Zadie and Halo.

Miss Ruth knocked once, pushed the door open, and entered without waiting for a response. Musical sounds of wind chimes and bubbling water drifted from a speaker above the one window in the room. Big fluffy pink-and-purple floor pillows were piled in a corner beside a workstation painted in the same vivid colors.

Hello. The music stopped like magic when a petite, olive-skinned girl with dark, almond-shaped eyes emerged from behind a beaded curtain to greet them.

Hello, Zadie. I’d like you to meet your new roommate. Halo, say hello to Zadie.

She stood straight, unable to respond to Miss Ruth’s nudge forward.

Hi. She wanted to sound normal and forced a smile while eyeing the room. It had two of everything—beds, chairs, workstations, and bookshelves—but the sides didn’t match. On one side, concert posters decorated the walls, and the bookshelf was crammed full of plastic disks and sheet music. A flute, keyboard, and violin-shaped doll rested on the top shelf. An unusual-looking object on a pedestal was sandwiched between the workstation and a bed draped in pink.

The other side of the room with its white walls, clear acrylic workstation, and matching chair and bookshelves could only be described as boring. Even the bed lacked personality.

She was dizzy again. The names on the door indicated the room was theirs. Zadie talked about the room and which side was hers, but her head was spinning.

Are you okay? There’s the bathroom. Do you want to wash up? Zadie pointed in the direction of the room behind the beaded curtain.

She was happy to stay in the bathroom, splashing water on her face and running her fingers through the tangles in her hair. She sat on the floor holding her stomach, listening to them talking but not hearing the whole conversation. Finally, the sound of the door opening and shutting roused her off the floor. She slowly returned to the room where Zadie was standing alone by the door.

Want to see the campus? Zadie offered.

She slumped on the side of the white bed and shook her head. What is this place?

White Feathers Academy. Come on, let’s go to the park. You’ll feel better outside.

I don’t have shoes. My shirt has a hole.

It doesn’t matter. I’ve got some straps you can wear. Zadie ducked behind the door and came out holding a pair of flip-flops.

The weird music started up again when someone knocked on the door. A pretty girl entered uninvited.

Hi, Zadie. I heard you have a new roomie. I’m Annie.

The girl had perfect teeth, dimples, sparkling blue eyes, and long blond hair. It was bad enough to be in a strange place, but to show up dirty with holes in her shirt was really humiliating.

I think you’ve had a rough day. You’re in music, right? the new girl asked.

In music? No. I don’t know what you mean? She peeled off the grass-stained socks and slipped her feet into Zadie’s flip-flops.

Zadie’s into music. You’re her roommate. Soo, I figure your talent is music, too. Right? the pretty girl asked with a shrug.

I like to listen to music, but I can’t play anything or sing. Is that what you mean?

The girl answered with an eye roll toward Zadie