James watched them smiling as they enjoyed themselves painting, sketching and sculpting their masterpieces of art as he walked down the classroom looking at their work, encouraging them with 'well done' and 'oh very nice', along with 'that looks very good' from him. He smiled as he  walked over to Mike's desk and looked at his coloured sketch and blinked a few times wondering if he was seeing things, the sketch looked rather life like from the careful lines and how he had coloured and shaded the tones, "Mike have you been drawing for long?" he asked as he crouched beside his desk looking at the drawing more.

Mike looked at him, "um since I was about six I think, it was a fun passtime for me" he smiled at him, "you think they'll like it? I kinda did it from memory" he chuckled a little and looked back at his paper, "I sorta got a photographic memory, kinda always have had one even when I was a little kid, crazy huh?" he smiled at him.

He chuckled at him, "I think that's a pretty good skill to have, you won't get lost from remembering certain things you've seen, you have a good talent for art. You know there's a art contest coming up here in a month, why don't you enter it?" He smiled at him, "you're sure to win first prize."

"Thanks, yeah that's a plus huh?" He chuckled, "thanks I just like drawing to pass the time. There is? Really? Oh um I don't know...I mean sure I'd like to enter but if little kids are gonna be there too and they worked really hard on their stuff I don't really want to upset them by taking the prize from them when they worked really hard and did pretty good drawings or paintings, you know?" He replied to him.

He smiled at him, "don't worry this contest is for teens only, the little ones have their own art contest and it's with macaroni and glue," he chuckled smiling at him, "so do you want to enter? I don't mean to try and push you, it's really up to you."

Mike looked at him, "could I sleep on it? I'm not sure if I want to or if I did, I'm not really sure what I would draw or paint," he replied smiling nervously at him before looking back at the drawing.

James smiled at him, "of course, take your time on deciding," he said getting up, patting his back reassuringly before walking back to his desk glancing at the clock, seeing it was two minutes until lunch time and smiled, "okay class it's almost time for lunch, put down what you're doing the bell will chime any moment now," he said smiling at them.

He looked at him and carefully placed the paper in his desk, making sure not to bend or wrinkle it, as he placed the lid of his desk back down the bell chimed signalling lunch time for them, watching everyone get up and head for the door. Getting up he decided to explore the school as he walked out the door watching them all head down the left corridor towards the cafateria. Mike looked around before moving back and walked towards the right heading down the opposite corridor glancing in a few rooms, noting that most of them were for students no more than five years at least.

As he walked down the corridor he couldn't help but shake the feeling he was being watched, glancing back a few times over his shoulder, he wondered why he kept getting the feeling of being watched when there was no one there, or at least no one he could see.  It was unlikely he could not see who would be behind him, the corridor was well lit, anyone who would be following him could be heard and seen rather easily, yet he just couldn't shake the feeling he was indeed being followed.

Once he came to the end of the corridor he looked around at the door in front of him, obviously they were for the back of the school, deciding he had enough of exploring the school corridors he turned and return the way he came, with just enough time to get lunch, luckily there was plenty of pizza left, thankful he took two slices with it being the meat feast one he enjoyed it's spicy part as it filled the empty spot in his stomach before drinking his orange juice as the bell chimed signalling lunch was over and it was back to the lessons. Getting up he took his place and cup to the drop off area for the school cook to put in the dishwasher and left the cafateria, however he had no idea what lesson he had next or which classroom he was meant to be in. 

Mike looked around trying to spot any of the teens that were in his previous class to see where they were heading, but infortunately for him they had already gone to their classroom and had taken their seats, "great my first day here and already I'm gonna get a bad rep for being late for class," he sighed walking down the corridor glancing into each door hoping to spot someone he recognised, so far he didn't recognise anyone, this was starting to turn into a bad day for him when it was going so well. He suddenly jumped as a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Ditching classes there kiddo?" Sam said, "I haven't seen you before, you're new here?" he asked looking him over, "new and already ditching lessons?" he added raising a brow at him as he let go of his shoulder and crossed his arms, his cowboy hat leaning to one side on his head.

"No sir, I don't really know what lesson I have or which classroom I'm meant to be in. I've been walking around looking to see if I can spot anyone from my earlier class, honest," he replied looking up at him, "um you wouldn't my next teacher would you?"

Sam chuckled, "no I wouldn't be, I'm the headmaster here. Now if you're lying to me, which I doubt, you look like the ones to tell the truth. But if you were lying to me, you will be given five swatts with the strap while over my lap with your trousers around your thighs, I haven't yet had to do this with anyone here, and I would not like your first day to come to that, I thought of giving you the heads up on what happens when you misbehave in this school. I'm not mean nor try to be, I like to give pupils a good education and a choice of learning other than being unable to sit down," he said chuckling, "I'll make out a time table for you of the lessons you'll be getting this week until you come used to it, now which lesson did you have before lunch and who with?" he smiled at him.

Mike looked at him gulping a little and gave a slow nod to what happens to those who misbehave, "umm well it went from mythical creatures to art and it was with James sir," he replied, "oh um am I allowed to go back to the class to get the drawing I did to take home?" he asked.

He smiled giving a nod, "ah yes James, he likes to make lessons rather fun and interesting to new students, I don't see why you can't take the drawing home," he replied, "now your next lesson has already started five minutes ago, it is another art lesson. I'll take you there," he added giving him a smile as he escorted Mike down the corridor and to room 27, "here we are," Sam smiled, "you'll soon get used to the classroom little one," he said patting his shoulder before leaving.

He looked at him giving a smile before looking back at the door, slowly opening it and looked in a little, glancing around before stumbling in slightly as the door was opened further from the other side, Mike looked up at the slightly dark green turtle, "umm...I didn't know what lesson or where I was meant to be, the headmaster just brought me here," he said.

Raphie looked at him and smiled, "new right? Don't sweat it little man, you can take your seat and do anything you like, you can even just read a book it's a free lesson on anything with art," he replied chuckling closing the door, "what's your name?"

"Mike sir," he smiled at him, "yeah just came here today," he said, "so is every art lesson a free lesson or just for like certain days?" he asked.

He smiled at him, "just call me Raphie, well yes, what better way to express your creative side than just going to it," he replied chuckling, "what would you like to do?" he asked smiling at him, "we have canvases, all sizes, art paper, paint, clay, colouring pencils, chalk, playdoh," he chuckled, "yes we even have just kids playdoh if you just wanted to have fun," he smiled.

Mike looked at him and smiled chuckling, "umm I'll just take the playdoh, I haven't played with that for a long time," he smiled at him, "so you're the art teacher right? You heard of the art contest James told me about this morning? He said I should enter it, but I don't know if I should, I don't really draw to win prizes I just draw because it's fun and a fun passtime for me," he said.

Raphie smiled at him, "yes I'm in charge of the contest." he replied, "really? So you draw often as a passtime?" He asked crossing his arms in a casual way, "what did James see to tell you to enter the contest? If I may ask." He smiled at him.

"well I kinda did a shoulder portrait of my new parents in a coloured sketch from memory," He replied, "I told him I have a photogenic or photographic memory, which ever one it's called," he chuckled a little.

"Really? I wouldn't mind seeing that drawing of yours, but if you don't want to show it I understand," he smiled at him, "some things are just personal to an artist." He added chuckling.

He looked at Raphie, "I don't mind showing you, but I kinda don't want it wrinkled or bent in half, I don't know if they'll like it. They only got me yesterday," he replied, "um is it okay if I start with the playdoh?" Mike asked feeling a little uncomfortable talking about the adoption.

He smiled at him, "of course, I could tell you were starting to get a little uncomfortable on the subject, my bad. Sometimes I just get carried away with a conversation," he replied chuckling as he reached over to a shelf handing him a bag of playdoh, "have fun making dinosaurs or well whatever it is you guys make out of them," Raphie chuckled.

Mike looked at him and smiled a little taking the bag, "thanks, uh probably dinosaurs, they're the easiest to make out of this stuff," he said chuckling at him and walked to an empty desk at the back of the class as he began to roll, shape and mold the playdoh, smiling to himself of the old times he would often make little funny looking dinosaurs from the kids clay, so far this was turning out to be a pretty good first day for him at this new country school, the teachers were nice, at least the ones he met so far, even the headmaster seemed rather nice, despite the warning of a strapping if he misbehaved. Although something made him wonder what type of misbehaviour was he talking about, he was sure he was going to find out sooner or later, but for now he was going to enjoy himself in the art class making the playdoh dinosaurs.