When it comes to accepting new students, Mr. Hendersen is “picky.” When he interviews an applicant he looks for certain things: A down-to-earth personality, a caring about others, a desire to make one’s self better, and a conscience. And when he sees these things the acceptance letter is typed up and mailed out. Admittedly, it is difficult . . . in the short time normally allotted for an interview . . . to accurately assess the inner workings of a person, but Mr. Hendersen tries, under these constraints, to select girls who approach the afore-mentioned ideals . . . or have the potential to approach them . . . as nearly as possible.
At Barclay’s there are no income requirements for an applicant’s family to meet, and tuitions have, at times, been reduced and, in a few instances, waived when Mr. Hendersen felt that the girl had the right stuff.
So, while he is interviewing Madison and her parents, and it becomes apparent that the mother and father care deeply about their shy daughter, he knows that . . . she is in. The acceptance letter will not get into the mail for a few days, but, as far as he is concerned, the decision is already made.
After the interview, the four of them head over to the cafeteria for some lunch. As they enter the dining room, it is, to the students eating there, a fairly familiar sight: A prospective student and her parents being treated to lunch. That is what everyone sees . . . everyone, that is, except Rachel. When she notices the group, she takes one look at Mr. Hendersen’s face, and she knows, “A good one.”
Rachel waits for them to sit down at a table and then gets up and walks over. She addresses Madison and says:
Rachel: Hi. My name’s Rachel. What’s your name?
Madison: Madison.
Rachel: Hi Madison. Do you want to come sit with us?
At this, Madison looks to her mom and dad, and they tell her that it is fine. Madison gets up and Rachel says:
Rachel: Here . . . I’ll carry your tray.
The two of them walk back to Rachel’s table, where introductions are made, and where Jody, Laurie, and Missy give Madison warm-hearted, and a bit funny, greetings. And Madison sits down.
Madison’s dad: They’re pretty friendly here.
Mr. Hendersen: Yes sir. It’s a good group of girls.
After lunch, Mr. Hendersen escorts Madison and her parents to the school building’s exit. He bids them farewell and returns to his office. On the walkway that leads out to the parking lot Madison is walking between her mother and father when, for no apparent reason, she starts skipping.
Then she grabs a hold of her father’s forearm. “We haven’t done this in a while.” he thinks to himself, and he “curls” his arm up into the air . . . lifting Madison off her feet.
A good one. Indeed.