"Elphaba! Don't go that way!" Nessa stared in horror and embarrassment as her sister scaled a tree to get over the high wall and to the sweet apple trees on the other side, quite different to the ones which grew along the road. "I'll be back in a minute. Stay right there." The rubber wheels of the chair melted slightly and fused to the road. "Elphaba!" Nessa pouted to show her disapproval. Her sister was already over the wall. Soon she was back, carrying a basket of apples she had collected. She turned the chair around – the wheels suddenly free.
They walked for a while by the side of the yellow road. Elphaba looked around dreamily. "I wish trees could talk." Nessarose snorted. "Why would you want that?" Elphaba turned the chair off the road. "This looks like a nice place". A large and empty field stretched before them. Elphaba plopped down on the ground, grabbing an apple out of the bag. She munched happily – core, seeds and all. Nessarose patiently took a bite each time Elphaba held an apple in front of her. Soon they both began to grow bored.
Elphaba stood and began to spin around, eyes closed. "Elphaba" Nessa frowned "You don't act sixteen." Elphaba's eyes flew open as the sound of a carriage broke upon them. "You don't act twelve. You should have been the eldest." The carriage trundled past. The top was down so the girls could clearly see the occupants; and hear them. A teenager and her male companion sat inside. She appeared absorbed by her animated friend. "But Galinda…" he said, and the girl shook her head, blonde curls bouncing. "No. We can't!" The noise faded. Neither the girl nor the boy noticed Elphaba and Nessarose by the side of the road. Elphaba snorted and turned her attention back to her younger sister.