Opening of the new book

So, I haven't done much writing or editing in the past couple of days. I really need to get on this because the next magazine competition's deadline is May 15. I was hoping to submit 3-4 things, but at the rate I'm going I'll be happy to at least get one finished to submit. I think Saturday afternoon I'll have some time to work on them after a graduation and before a party. It's going to be a busy, but extremely fun weekend.

Well, as the title of the entry says, here is the beginning of the new book. Other pieces of it have been previously posted. Enjoy!

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As orientation came to an end the soon to be freshmen of Lucas Steinwick College were shuffled into the auditorium of Ryder Hall. Twelve orientation leaders helped lead them to the front of the room and quiet them down so they could send them home to enjoy the rest of their summer.
“The sooner we finish this, the sooner you all get out of here,” one of the male leaders said. “Please, find a seat.” Students moved towards the aisles and the twelve senior students went to the stage and sat down with their legs dangling off the edge.
“Thank you all for a great two days of orientation,” a red headed orientation leader said. “On0 behalf of all of us, you really were the best group this summer. So thank you.”
“Give yourselves a round of applause,” a blond next to the red head said. The twelve at the stage started to applaud and eventually everyone in the auditorium began to clap.
“So, we're here now to let you ask any last minute questions, but first I want to give you the background behind this hall,” the red head said.
“Amanda, please don't,” the guy on the other side of her said. “They've learned enough this weekend.”
“I'll keep it short. Ryder Hall was named for one of the first graduates from the school,” she said. “He was a transfer student when the school began, so he only ended up spending a year here. He went on to found his own law firm in town. Ryder and associates is still here. See, Charlie, that was quick.”
“Great, let's keep moving,” he said.
“Okay, do any of you have any other questions? Anything you haven't asked this weekend?” Amanda said.
A girl on the front row raised her hand timidly. Amanda nodded at her to speak. “Will you tell us the story about the statue?” she asked.
The orientation leaders glanced nervously at one another. “We're really not supposed to provoke that superstition,” Amanda said.
“What could be the worst that could happen?” Charlie said. “It's the last night, the last group. It's not like they'll fire us or kick us out of school.”
“Charlie, we're not supposed to,” she said.
“I'll tell you the story,” he said. “If any of you want to fill in any details be my guest.” He glanced around at his nervous co-workers. “Okay, so the legend of the statue man dates back to the beginning of the school opening, in 1897. Steinwick was founded by a man named Lucas Steinwick, like we already told you or should have told you. This man was a great wizard that did many great things in the United States during that time, while avoiding those people who opposed the idea of witchcraft.”
“So, the school is named after a wizard?” an awkward guy sitting on the fourth row asked. “That doesn't make sense.”
“He had a lot of money to open the school. And this is a legend, remember that. This isn't necessarily real. Now, where was I?”
“He avoided people who didn't like magic,” Amanda said. She was sitting off the side of the stage with her arms crossed.
Charlie smiled at her. “Right. Thank you. Well, Mr. Steinwick liked to hang out at the O'Nally Pub, the one just off campus, because the O'Nally's always let him be.”
“Then how is the pub still around?” the awkward guy interrupted again.
“The O'Nally's still live in this area. I think Kitty O'Nally owns it now. She's an alumni from here. Anyway, Mr. Steinwick would spend three or four days a week drunk at the pub. He was a nice enough guy, but he was rumored to have a bit of a mean streak when he had a few too many, if you know what I mean. He taught classes here for the first probably fifteen or twenty years. One class a semester. I guess it was the best way to keep up with the way things were going.
“Well the pub wasn't just a great place for him to go. Being walking distance from our beautiful campus made it a great spot for students as well. By the way, it still is great to go. The food is great and when you're old enough try a drink. They have many great ones.” He chuckled to himself. “I think I'm going to run by there tonight.”
“Charlie, we shouldn't be talking about alcohol,” the red head urged.
“Sorry, right. So, one frightful Saturday night the first semester the school was open a transfer student from somewhere to the east of us showed up to the pub after Mr. Steinwick was already drunk and particularly loud.”
“Get to the point. Parents are waiting and I've got a date,” the blond whispered.
“Okay, well the drunk wizard and the student got into a big argument over some book, so the wizard turned him into a statue that would forever be stuck reading that book.”
“What book?” a small, blond freshman asked.
“I don't know,” he said. “I don't know if that part of the story is important. The main point of the story is use the buddy system at night so you have a better chance against the statue man. He will forever be tormenting our campus at night, but at night only.”
“Now, that is just a story,” Amanda said. “But the buddy system is important. You should never walk alone at night, even on a campus as safe as ours. Does anyone else have a question?” The students all looked around at each other. No one moved. “Well, if you do sometime before school you should have the e-mail address of your group leader. We'll be more than happy to help you answer any question.”
“Have a great night,” the blond said and stood up.
“Yes, thank you all for a great orientation,” Amanda said. The students were already pushing each other down the aisles to find the best shot to the door. “We'll see you on campus in a couple months.” She looked out and everyone was looking away from her.
As the students headed to find their parents, Amanda went to scold Charlie. She didn't notice the two girls lingering behind to talk to them.
“They asked. I could have given more detail,” Charlie said. “Lighten up, Mandy.”
“It's inappropriate. How many groups did you tell the story to?” she asked.
“Every group I led.” She scowled at him. “Oh, come on. It's a school legend. It's history and tradition. I thought you love those things.”
“Charlie,” one of the girls interupted, “why are you always in some sort of trouble with a girl. I htought you were the good one.”
“Hey, Sarah.” He reached out and hugged her. “Mandy, this is my little sister, Sarah. Sarah, this is my slightly senior co-worker.”
“He fell for the last girl I saw talk to him that way, so be careful,” Sarah said, shaking Amanda's hand.
Mandy pulled her left hand into the air. “I've very happily engaged.”
“Good, then no falling for her, Charlie. Oh, hey, this is my new friend Leann. I invited her to eat with us. She's already gotten permission from her parents. She's not going back home until tomorrow, like me.”
“Well, it's nice to see Sarah's making friends already,” Charlie said, shaking Leann's hand. “Bye, Mandy.”
“I'm not done talking about this,” she said. “I'll call you later.” Mandy walked toward the back of the stage to get her things.
“How about O'Nally's? I'm craving one of their burgers and a beer.”
“Sounds great. I guess we're walking then,” Sarah said. “I'd like to see how long a walk it is. We didn't do that through orientaion.”
“Follow me,” he said, holding the auditorium doors open for the girls.