My taxi pulled up to my house, said bye to Ashton and got off. I headed up to my house, uncertain of how I was going to explain this to my parents. Especially my father, who never goes without a fight and he normally won. It would take an idiot to argue with him. Maybe if I wasn't autistic, these things wouldn't be happening.

As I entered, I saw my mother sitting on her usual chair in the living room reading a note and looking disheartened.

"What's that?" I asked.

"From school," she replied.

I went over to her and took the letter from her. In all the suspense, I began reading:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Lamswith,

It is with irksome regret that I had lost authority of my position as headmaster in Henghara Comprehensive, owing to the fact that Miss Marjorie Wilkes has insisted that children are getting to spoiled and unruly, venturing into places where they were not allowed – it is this very incident she made me right about which is the reason that Henghara Comprehensive will now become a boarding school, to "stamp the autism out of pupils". These new teachers believe there is no such thing as autism, only laziness and stupidity. I disagree that the pupil in question would do such a thing, but I was threatened with arrest should I go back on what they order.

The semester begins promptly next week and the pupils are expected to be ready before then and have everything; pyjamas, toothbrush, toothpaste, everything essential to daily life including medications, as summer breaks will only be in the summer.

Percy Robertsmith, former Headmaster of Henghara Comprehensive.

"Unnecessary," said my father from the kitchen, his temper boiled. "These bitches are the ones who are stupid. Of courseautism bloody exists! Why do they think it's a special need school? And our son is a top pupil towards most of the teachers."

I was close to blurting that I wasn't to Miss Wilkes, but I thankfully caught myself.

"They say they have legal rights," I said in panic.

"We will fight it," said my mother. "But for now, I think we need to let all this unfold that way we can find a way to get them in trouble."

I was shaking all over, but I was not going to let myself cry. I watched my mother flip over another sheet of paper stapled onto the letter. It heled the list of all the other teachers.

"Starling Mavaroo," she read aloud.

"Do you know her?" I inquired curiously.

She looked up at me with a suspicious frown.

"I have a sneaking suspicion," she replied. "Do you know this person who has been intruding?"

I felt a burst to tell her the whole story, but then I would be in more trouble with Miss Wilkes and she would even call the police on me if I denied it being a lie, which it wasn't.

"No," I said.

I headed up the stairs where I was met by Ben.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"I'm a boarding pupil," I explained. "Teachers think autism is stupidity. House all to yourself, mate."

And I went into my room. I half expected Ben to celebrate, but curiously he didn't. Normally we'd party if one of us was having a sleepover or going away for the weekend, but he didn't this time. My guess was that he knew something was up when I mentioned about these so-called teachers calling autism stupidity.

I walked over to the rabbits surrounding Scrabble's cage, that rabbit snoozing around half-eaten carrots here and there. I looked at all the Watership Down figurines.

"I'm going away," I said. "It's not fair, just because Miss Wilkes thinks I'm lying. I wish you could all talk. You would know what to say."

To which, I imagined what they would say: Hazel would be saying something like "Don't lose heart, Billy. Things don't last forever."

"Like death," Hawkbit would say with Bigwig glaring at him for his lack of helpful motivation.

"Buck up, lad!" Bigwig would say to me. "These are all just women. They're not deadly, are they!"

"Don't be frightened, Billy," Fiver would say to me. "If it were possible, we'd come with you."

It was there where I was given the idea; of course! Why not? I would take them with me to this new boarding school including Hannah and Kehaar. Their amazing characters gave some healthy envy of wanting to be like them what with Hazel's wisdom, Fiver's strength, Bigwig's courage, Pipkin's gentleness, Blackberry's intelligence and Primrose's determination. Hannah the mouse was also a role model of competing despite size and fragility. Miss Wilkes and Miss Varsay, not to mention Miss Hullaville, were all giantesses compared to my own height, but Hannah wouldn't stand for their wickedness as she would not stand for Bigwig's rot.

I glanced at the figurine of Fiver. He was my favourite character because I saw a lot of myself in him. I was autistic, he was a runt. But I was a person with strengths, as he was a runt with strengths as well as a forgiving soul, such as in the Lostepisode, he motivated Hawkbit who was melting down without a drop of grudge in his blood after the amount of time Hawkbit had bullied him.

"We found Watership Down because we believed we could," he told him. I imagined him saying that to me, so to comfort myself into believing that I can get through this. But then, he was only a toy as were the others. Then again, it didn't hurt to imagine I was the one in another character's shoes being comforted by one character or the other.

I put on the soundtrack of the TV series as I packed everything I possessed; the figurines my books, the dramatized recordings, my plush fox known as Prince, some movies, the Watership DownDVD set, DVD player and my iPod. I loved music, very therapeutic and puts me in the mood I always wanted. But in this case, it was sadness. I went to my very favourite place in the whole world the day before labour day; Gnoll Park. There I listened to a woeful-sounding song from Mike Batt called Waiting for a Wave. I couldn't make out what he was saying from it, but I feel that there is a sense of hope when he says, "There I are times I float around for days waiting for a wave". I had no idea what it meant but it felt like waiting for something good. I wandered through the greenery of the place and found a perfect spot where the winter sun lay. If these rabbits were real, I could recommend them digging a burrow here. But then I changed it into a sweeter music like the Watership Down soundtrack where he had On Watership Down, Fantasia on a Flying Themeand Winter on Watership Down– especially A Kind of Dream (Choral Fantasy), those beautiful heavenly voices an orchestra. It helped to maintain my faith for what is to come. I must be strong, the Winter Song also helping me through it.

We ordered a Domino's Pizza that night as a little treat before the whole thing started.

"What are these teachers?" asked Ben.

"We don't know, love," said my mother.

"I don't trust them, that's for certain," said my father.

"Arrogance," said my mother. "Saying autism is stupidity. How can they get all these legal rights and how can Miss Wilkes bring herself to do this?"

"She was always nasty," said Ben taking bite of a mouthful of his pepperoni pizza. "She always shouted at me when I do the slightest thing wrong."

"It seems to me her mother hasn't been smacking her bum enough," said my mother. "Grandma smacked me and your aunt each time we ever misbehaved."

"She also has good days," I said. "Sometimes, she would be laughing or joking."

I stopped there, remembering what Miss Wilkes told me about telling tales.

"Tell them, Billy," Pipkin's voice whispered to me. "I made the mistake twice about keeping secrets."

"I've noticed that too," said Ben. "I guess people are afraid to ask why to her."

Normally I would watch a movie before bed, but I couldn't tonight. So much was in mind and the idea that this would be the last time I ever wake up in my bedroom with its bookshelf, Harry Potter merchandise and wild ornaments, but I would miss waking up in my own soft bed. It was like cuddling with a huge animal in its big furry arms, bushy tail or soft tummy. It would also miss coming up to my room to see Scrabble and stroke him after a long day at school. The least I could do is pretend I am asleep with the Watershippers all around my bed, better pretending that I were a rabbit so to feel like them. Which reminded me, I got up from my bed and picked up the wooden rabbit from my windowsill, the rabbit that Grandma Jane and Grandpa Elliot had gotten me for my birthday. I crept over to my sports bad and stuffed it in. I had a feeling I might need it. When that was accomplished, I tried to dose off, imagining I was a rabbit sleeping the snug warren under the beech tree, miles from Miss Wilkes and those possible jipplers and close to the soft bodies of Fiver, Hazel, Dandelion, Primrose, Blackberry, Pipkin, Hawkbit and Bigwig – a tough, but soft, plump rabbit.

The dawn was cracking when I woke up and got into my uniform, a white shirt and a black jumper with the school logo on it, with grey trousers and shiny black shoes. Breakfast was served of buttered toast. When that was done, I brushed my teeth, went to my room, brought down my sports badge and we all went outside to wait for the taxi. I was really scared as were my parents – even Ben.

"Are these teachers like Nazis?" he asked.

"No," I said. "They are just idiotic women who somehow have the rights to treat autistics like dunces. Autism is a form of intelligence, something they obviously know nothing of."

"There will be a way out, son," said my father placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Yes," said my mother. "We'll find a way if we have to complain to the Queen herself."

"I'll help too," I said. "I will try to get something out of them, even spy on them if necessary. Good always triumphs over evil."

"Good boy," said my other. "We're very proud of you. You're very courageous and will brave through this. We'll get you out as soon as possible."

"I will even say something to Mrs. Dobbers if I have to," said Ben. Mrs. Dobbers was the headmistress of my primary school – no better headmistress than her.

"Starling Mavaroo though," said my mother. "She's the hint of this mystery. I have a good hunch I know her, but I cannot remember where."

My thoughts of her were interrupted when the taxi appeared by the corner of the row of houses. My dad picked up my sports bag as I hugged my mother tight.

"I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too, Mam."

I turned to Ben and held my hand out.

"See you soon," I greeted.

"Good luck," he wished.

Then I went up to my dad and we shared an embrace.

"Good luck, son."

"Thanks, Dad."

I boarded on, grabbed the seat next to Ashton Tarr and turned my head best as I could to see my parents and brother waving to me. Soon as they and the house were out of sight, I turned my face to Ashton.

"This is stupid," Ashton remarked. "Miss Wilkes is evil."

"Tell me something I don't know," I replied. "There is a forgery somehow, my parents said they are going to get to the bottom of it."

"As are mine," said Ashton. "My dad's a lawyer after all."

This was a comfort. I know we were in for a rough time with these horrible women, but a lawyer would be firmly smart and will have an answer to almost everything. If my parents knew of Mr. Tarr, thane maybe they would also have a share of comfort.

All the other passengers in the taxi were in silence. They looked tearful, others breathing heavily, and they seemed to be avoiding eye-contact with me. I soon learned why when I met with Josie, Jenson, Peter and Sally in our usual spot in the play area.

"I hate you!" rebuked Josie.

"Nice one, Lamswith!" hissed Jenson.

"This is all your fault!" scowled Peter.

"I don't like you!" snapped Sally.

I was hurt by all these welcomes and I ventured to know why they were greeting me like this.

"Going into the girl's toilets and lying," said Josie. "You know it's wrong to go into the girl's toilets and now we are in a boarding school."

"You believe Miss Wilkes?!"

"Of course," Josie said. "All our parents are blaming you for this."

"Didn't you tell them I wouldn't?"

"No, because we know that teachers don't lie," said Josie.

"Neither do you idiots have logic!" I shouted, very hurt how my own friends could betray me. I stormed off at the fact that they believed that witch. I wandered around where everybody was talking sadly or upset and wondering why all this was happening. I saw some of them stare at me and I was guessing they were blaming when it was Miss Wilkes who caused the entire mess. I could sense complete misery here, all because I told the truth. What happened to logic?

The bell rang and we all queued for assembly. Every form had their own line. We were all in our fourteenth year with others in separate classes. I queued well away from the others, especially the bullies.

Miss Wilkes was standing by the doorway and she announced the younger class to start walking into assembly follow by the other forms, this time without any of the other teachers. As we sat ourselves down in the gym, the eeriness of it all began to find none of the nice teachers sitting around there, but the seven new teachers who stood before all of us, the ancient headmistress Miss Jawf sitting before us. As we were sitting at the front, I got a good full glance of her. Like how she was from last time with her attire as well as her companions, but her eyes – there wassomething wrong with her eyes. I wasn't sure if I was hallucinating or not; every eye has one pupil on each of them. Miss Jawf had, not one pupil on each, but two! What's more they were yellow. Yellow like the eyes of a snake. She was glaring around snakelike too.

"All here!" she announced.

Everyone nodded.

"ANSWER, 'YES MISS JAWF!'" she roared. Her voice was very loud for an ancient being.

"Yes, Miss Jawf," we all said.

"Much better," she hissed. "You have all been brought here under the circumstances of one's actions. But more so the fact of forcing intelligence into your stupid little minds. We will start by showing you the new uniform that awaits you all!"

Miss Varsay approached with a uniform dangling by a clothes hanger, all brown, except for the white shirt and darker brown tie, the girls' uniform was almost the same except for just the skirt and stockings.

"Makes you look distinguished," remarked Miss Jawf. "You'll be thinking why you so-called autistics are wearing clothes only smart people."

"We are smart enough, stupid bitch" murmured a female voice behind us.

Miss Jawf's eyes widened and she stepped forward, scanning the room with her odd eyes.

"STAND UP, SPEAKER!" she screamed.

Very slowly a fat girl with short, black hair got to her feet. Her name was Natalie Cack, a girl below us. She was a very filthy girl indeed. Before we broke up for Christmas, I drew a picture of Pinocchio from the animated Italian film back in 1978 and I was quite proud of how he turned out. She asked to have a look at it and she purposely faked a wet sneeze and the picture was all smudged with her spit! Worse than that, early October I was eating my breakfast from the tuck shop the school opened at morning breaks. She insulted me (though I cannot remember) and talked back. She just so happened to be eating toast herself. She went up to me, stuck her tongue and sprayed pieces of toast all over me! She was also the girlfriend of Carl Miller.

She had now gotten herself in trouble and I was quite pleased too. I remembered that Miss Jawf mentioned the cane the other day, so I was actually hoping that she would be flogged. But when the headmistress beckoned at her to come forth, I took back everything I said.

"Roll up your sleeve!" Miss Jawf demanded.

Natalie did so and with her sharp fingernails, Miss Jawf gripped the girl's arm and jabbed the nails into it, the victim screaming and shrieking so loud that it hurt our ears.

Finally, Miss Jawf released her and she dropped to the ground clutching her arm.

"Back to your seat, brat!" she hissed at Natalie.

She got back up still clutching her arms and limped back to her seat, tears streaming from her eyes. She may have been a reprobate, but I didn't want her cut open through discipline.

"ATTENTION!" boomed Miss Jawf. "We shall resume!"

She went through almost everything she talked about the other day with the lessons and threats she warned us about, as well as reintroducing these vile teachers reminding us of their systems in the topics that were to be taught to us.

"And best I remind you all," remarked the headmistress eying us like a magistrate form the Victorian era deciding whom she would hang first, "The stick will be in my office to welcome you horrid little nincompoops should you ever get out of line, like that fat, stupid girl did just know."

We all looked at Natalie Cack who was still clutching her arm.

"Do I make myself clear?!" whipped Miss Jawf.

"Yes, Miss Jawf," we all said.

"Wonderful," she remarked nastily. "Now Miss Varsay will show you all to your dormitories! Stand and wait! For so-called autistics to understand, it means get off your seats and stand there."

These patronisations were more than I could bare but I had to keep it in considering what happened to Natalie Cack back there. We were being led by different teachers to the dormitories. Miss Varsay was the one escorting us through the schoolyard of what used to be full of happy shouts of children at play and now with the vacancy and the cold February chill added with the tensity of the horror this school had become.


The dormitories were located on the left side of a planked staircase which turned right if we were to go to class, but this area was one we never entered before. The rooms all had golden plaques on them saying the name of each pupil. Girls had their own separate quarters. Varsay told us to stay put as she saw them out.

"Remember that the girls live there, Billy," said Patrick Frozeridge.

"Well done," I said. "So you were watching for once."

"He's simply reminding you, Lamswith," said Carl Miller nastily. "Like how we make an effort to know where they are stored."

"Oh, an effort is it?" I replied. "I hope you have enough condoms for you and Natalie."

"WHAT WAS THAT?!"

I turned and like a vicious alligator, Miss Wilkes stared down at me ready to feast upon me.

"THAT WAS VERY DISGUSTING, BILLY LAMSWITH!"

I was shaking again.

"I shall take you to your dormitory."

She grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me along the corridors. She was walking so fast I had to keep up as well as holding onto my heavy sports bag. My dormitory, wherever it was, was divided form all the others as there were no doors along this corridor and down the hallway in another corner was a door at the dead end. When we reached it, I saw my name plaqued on the door.

Miss Wilkes threw the door open and shoved me in, turning me into her direction.

"I want no trouble form you as long as you stay here," she warned. "If I hear anything bad about you, I will tell the police what you were doing in the girls' toilets."

"I was standing outside," I said.

"LIAR!" she screamed in my face. "I shall give you five warnings before I call the police. This is your first warning. Use the four warnings well."

She turned and slammed the door so hard it made me think of the magistrate's gavel.

This was my welcome to this new boarding school. I looked around my dormitory; it was not really bad in respect. The walls were painted a nice white, the bed covers were bright red and there was a small study desk with a table lamp in the centre of the room by the window where there were white curtains.

I began to make it look more like home unpacking my things and storing them. I placed my books under the desk and DVDs under another desk beside my bed. But my most treasured I panned to place upon the desk, being the Watershippers. Their company was comfort to me at least despite only being figurines. And with my DVD player and the complete seasons with me, I could watch it and pretend I am there with them on a journey of survival, fear, hope and courage far away from this Efrafan burrow. Little did I realise I was soon to step into that adventure.

I looked up and gasped at the sudden appearance of Miss Varsay who was right in my face leaning down at me.

"How did you get here so quietly?" I asked, looking at the door which was still closed.

"Question, not to be answered, boy," she hissed. "I will be watching you. I can see so much trouble from you, like in that very shop I saw you contemplating magic."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

"Rabbits!" she hissed, like a deadly snake. Her eyes sparked at me with malice and threat, but she was grinning very disturbingly. "You – spy – rabbits!"

My eyes left her for a second and where she stood leaning down at me, she had vanished. All I could see were pieces of white sparkles like glitter flaking off from a line of glue on a drawing. Curiously, I grabbed a nearby cloth and caught the sparkles folding it up. After that, I brought out the rabbits and Kehaar and Hannah, except Woundwort.

I was intrigued. If this was magic maybe I could make them come to life and at least then through this I will have company and no loneliness seeing as how the others had turned on me, except Ashton Tarr, Aidan Jovers, Alicia Heel and Kerry Chess - well I hope anyway, I know Ashton still stood by me. But the fact I would be alone in this room and scared, I was desperate. Varsay was obviously a jippler and trying to scare me. I placed all the figurines (except Woundwort, I repeat) and picked up the cloth I had placed on the bed. I walked up to the figurines, cloth in hand, unfolded it and showered the sparkles onto the tiny rabbits.

I watched as the sparkles floated down upon them and after a minute something commended; the rabbits started to smoke all around and they were beginning to grow. They had grown to the size of Scrabble my pet rabbit. After that something 3D about them began to stick out all around them and they began to look like they were hand-drawn. Their expressions began to alter from smiles to confusion and their grassy stands decorated with country followers disappeared as they began to move about on their own paws and feet. The smoke cleared away and there stood all the rabbits of Watership Down looking at me. I could hardly believe myself. I made them come to life!