Excerpt: Gladiator Academy

She heard the turning of her doorknob, and swiveled her chair around in time to see her father entering, holding a slip of paper—a letter?--In his hand. Keli scowled at him.
“Geezus dad, knock before you enter. Please.” She crossed her arms.
“This is my house, Keli, I’ll enter whatever room I want to,” he replied.
“Is it too much to ask for a little privacy?” she groaned. “Go away, I’m busy.”
“Keli, I have important matters to discuss with you. More important than your drawing.”
“Yeah? Like what?”
“Like what school you’re going to next year,” he said, holding up the envelope.
“Dad! I thought we’d already decided on that! I thought I was going to Ca—”
“This came in the mail today,” he said, placing the envelope on the desk in front of her. Keli picked it up. It was printed on navy blue paper, with gold lettering on the front that addressed it to Miss Keli Spencer in Lowell, Massachusetts. The return address read “Gladiator Academy”.
“Open it,” invited her dad, and she did, reluctantly, removing a similarly-colored letter.

Dear Keli Spencer, it said, you have been chosen for a 100% free scholarship to four years of high school at the prestigious Gladiator Academy for Empowered Adolescents, located on the scenic shores of Lake Erie, Canada. The reason for this is because we have found records of your having Class B powers of Water Control. Because of the lack of proper training for those with supernatural gifts such as yourself, the Academy offers full courses in mastering your abilities as well as a complete and comprehensive high school education. It is highly recommended that you attend; refusal to do so may result in more drastic measures to be taken.
Enclosed in this envelope is a list of courses as well as all the necessary forms; please fill them out and mail them to the return address promptly.
Sincerely,
Edward I. Herbert, Principal

Keli stared at the letter held in her hand for a minute, stunned. Her father, who was reading over her shoulder, was silent as well.
“’More drastic measures’?” she finally said, incredulous.
“It… it sounds like they’re forcing you to go… but, Keli, really, I… listen. This scholarship is a wonderful thing, it really is,” said her father, eagerly. “And, I mean… you were going to private school anyway, so you don’t need to worry about your friends.”
“Dad! This is different! This is—didn’t you read it? It’s on Lake Erie! It’s a boarding school! I—I chose the school I’m going to this year! We paid for it and everything!”
“Well, we haven’t made a final payment yet… we can still get a refund. It’s not too late to switch, especially if we explain to them about the scholarship…”
“What do you mean, it’s not too late?!” Keli asked, growing angrier little by little. “Eighth grade is almost over! I—I spent time applying there, filling out forms, being accepted! This is—this is—”
Her father sighed. “Keli, there’s something you need to understand. I am not made of money, all right? And I’m not sure you realize how much work I had to do in order to earn the money to pay for this private school for one year, let alone three. I don’t have a steady source of income ever since your mother left, so whatever money I can get, on royalties off my books and inheritance and things, go towards feeding this family. If I pay for you to go to private school, then I don’t know what we’ll do for college. But this is—amazing. It means I can save all that money that I would have spent on your private school and use it for your college fund. Please. Consider it, at least. Besides… well, you’re right. If it really is a school for people… like you, then I don’t think we actually have much choice in the matter.” He sighed. “Frankly, it’s about time they established an organized method of educating Mutants… I mean, what with all the stories you read about if they go bad—”
“Dad!” Keli cut in. “I thought I told you not to use that… that word! It’s offensive! Insensitive!”
“Sorry, sweetie. I forgot. Your gifts are… amazing. I cannot believe I would ever have such a wonderful, special child.”
“Right, right, yeah, okay. Fine.” Keli huffed air through her nose and shook out the contents of the envelope onto the desk. There was a brochure, which looked like any other high school brochure—navy blue and gold, with photos of the campus and the school’s logo on the front. Gladiator Academy, eh? She thought to herself as she traced the logo—the letters “GA” emblazoned on a shield, in front of two crossed swords—with her finger.