Mr. Holtson arrives at the Academy, a campus of red-brick buildings seeming to be in its own little world. As he exits his car and heads to the administration building, he notes that the Academy feels “regular” and “traditional” in its cleanness and order. The Academy’s Director greets Mr. Holtson and then assures him that the Admissions Committee would like to consider a formal application for Mr. Holtson’s son, if Mr. Holtson decides that he wants his son to attend. Mr. Holtson expresses that this is great news before the Director begins a tour of the campus.  They first visit a classroom, which the Director describes as nothing special. The teacher shouts, “Attention!” and the students — all male cadets — leap up to salute the Director. They then head to a cafeteria, which the Director explains is staffed by the cadets themselves. Finally, the Director shows Mr. Holtson the dormitories, where a boy named Cadet Sloan tells Mr. Holtson that he likes the Academy “very well” and everything is “very good.” When the men return to the administration building, Mr. Holtson says that he appreciates the Academy’s military method but is worried that his son may not fit in. However, the Director says that they do not believe in failure and asks Mr. Holtson if he has any questions. Mr. Holtson says he has nothing to ask, but as the Director asks him to sign the offer letter, Mr. Holtson hesitates, clicking his pen. Finally, he signs his name, thanks the Director, and leaves. As he walks back to his car, he notices that several cadets are bald and others are “quite gray” but decides to not think anything of it.