"You know before they'll let you live up here you have to pass Yankee School."

This is what he tells me. "Yankee School", an indoctrination into the ways of being a Yankee. Apparently, Southerners cannot legally become a citizen of the Island unless they pass this secretive training camp. And just WHERE is this all-important Yankee School located?

"Yankee Stadium. You'll have to go there for two weeks."

I can feel my heart pounding and the faint tingling of a burn in my eyes. Two weeks?! How am I ever going to survive two weeks in Yankee Stadium all by myself, well all by myself with presumably hundreds of other potential Yankee wanna-bes, or possibly-bees, or how-the-hell-did-I-end-up-here-bees people? It was time for some serious action and negotiating.

The law says I have to pass Yankee School to live there, but it doesn't say I *have* to go to Yankee Stadium. That's just the most common and largest gathering place to convert, I mean teach unknowing Southerner's about the mysterious ways of the North, including their clipped, edgy vowel sounding vocabulary. What if I had a private tutor? What if he was my private tutor? Surely there is precedence for that.

He’s being stubborn. Or coy? Or perhaps playful? “I dunno. Why do you need a private tutor?” He asks.

Oh why indeed. *puts on her most innocent and sincere game face and commences with the powers of negotiation*

Throughout history there have been distinct fashion differences between the North and the South. One has only to watch the transformation of Michelle Pfieffer in the movie “Up Close & Personal” when she moves from South Florida to a news station in the North to realize that there are still distinct differences in acceptable attire for specific roles. And is not a “school girl” a specific role? I believe it is. And thus my argument in favor of a private tutor is that coming from Florida I have only the proper attire for a Florida School Girl and not a Yankee School Girl. It would be unacceptable, inappropriate, and possibly illegal for me to venture out to Yankee Stadium dressed in such clothing. Therefore requiring me to have a private tutor for the duration of my “Yankee School.”


Exhibit A – Proper Yankee School Girl





Skin: Curio – Sunkissed Elf Light Freckles Snug 1
Hair: Truth – Lillian in Blood
Eyes: Poetic Color – Poison Ivy
Shirt: SF Designs Flexi Tie in Ruby
Tie: SF Designs Fair Isle Vest and Short Sleeved Shirt in Gray
Skirt: *Last Call* Hunt Club – The Baroness in Blood
Stockings: Deviance Flirt Stockings (From the Deviance Flirtatious outfit)
Shoes: Vignette – Toasties in Soil
Ears: *Dreams* Snowy White - Tied with a Bow
Pose: [LAP] Spice – Back to the Wall
Desk: Basic Desk v3
Bookshelf: RFD - Biedermeier Book Cabinet
Laptop: PixelTrix Laptop 1.33 - White


Exhibit B – Typical Florida School Girl





Skin: PXL – Lt NE Rose with Light Eyebrow
Hair: Truth – Ashlin in Blood
Eyes: Poetic Color – Poison Ivy
Shirt: B@R - Kar shirt in white
Tie: B@R - Kar pink tie
Pants: Branded – Denim Rolled Shorts
Shoes: N-Core – High School ExtremeHeel in Black
Ears: *Dreams* Snowy White - Tied with a Bow
Tail: *Dreams* Snowy White - Tied with a Bow
Pose: eMOTIONS - Aloof
Backpack: SF Designs – Puppy Backpack
Window seat: Second Spaces - Camille Window Seat w/accessories (Down the Chimney Hunt Prize)


Hopefully I've presented a strong enough case to win him over and have him be my private tutor. A poor Florida kitty wouldn't survive a day, much less two weeks in the chilling New York climate and harsh fashion critical eyes.