Edward Gold's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

Edward pulled out his notebook and opened to a fresh page. He needed to start somewhere, and planning meant nothing without action. His paw gripped the pen tightly. First, he had to figure out how much money the school would cost. His tail curled around his legs as he wrote down numbers—supplies, desks, computers, teachers. The total made his whiskers droop. He would need help, lots of it. Edward closed the notebook and tucked it under his arm. Tomorrow he would visit the bank to ask questions about loans. Today he learned that dreams cost more than passion. The next morning, Edward walked through the doors of La Feet Education Development School. The tan brick building with yellow trim stood quiet in the early light. Other educators had built programs here, and Edward needed to see how they did it. He spent hours reading through teaching manuals and curriculum guides. His glasses slipped down his nose as he took notes. The ancient manuscripts showed him that good schools started small and grew over time. Edward left with his briefcase full of copied materials and new ideas. Back at the empty lot, he pictured students sitting outside under the sun. He ordered blue tables and chairs for a patio area. Students could work on projects together in the fresh air. Business lessons worked better when people could talk and share ideas. The outdoor space would give them room to think. He spotted one more problem as he looked at his building plans. Power outages happened in Tongassia, sometimes for hours. Edward found a sleek black generator with red trim at the supply store. The solar panels would keep the computers and lights running when everything else went dark. He set it up near the building site and tested it twice. His school would stay open no matter what. Edward adjusted his glasses and smiled. One step at a time, his dream was becoming real.