Amelia lowers her hairbrush and carefully gazes at her reflection, folding her ears as she looks left and right, then nods ever so slightly. 

"It'll have to do," she says to her reflection, which rudely stuck out its tongue, making her giggle. She slips  the brush inside a burlap sack and ties it shut.

Next to the bag was her bright, yellow raincoat, which she put on carefully over her folded wings with just a slight rustle, and checked to make sure she was wearing her shoes.

All the other children were still in their beds when she creeped out into the hallway with her bag, only Ms. Stanley in her robe was waiting for her by the door. 

"Sun's not even up yet, pet," the house mother said, sipping her tea. "Sure you're not peckish? I can get Henry to drive you over if you'd like."
"He'd just have to clean it afterward," Mia replied, a hint of blue highlighting her cheeks. "I can walk there in time."
"Best you be careful then, pet," Ms. Stanley sniffs, dropping two mandarin oranges into her hand before opening the front door for her. "Lots of dangerous people still about."
"None as dangerous as me," Mia sighs ruefully as she slips out into the chilled air. 

The early morning train pulled into the station at six twenty-three A.M., fortunately it had only a few riders in her car. Fortunately, she didn't have to share a seat with anyone, everyone too groggy. Picking up her burlap sap, she got out of the car and headed towards the city map on the station wall, noting where the station was and her new loggings.

"This should be fun," Mia smiled wanly as she picked up her burlap sack.  

The shop door was open as two big cases were just inside the door as large figures were helping up another girl from a pile of books. Part of Mia just wanted to dive in and start reading, but she needed to get her boarding room sorted out first.