MY STORY

Chapter 1

STOP!

ELPHABA

"STOP! NO! STOP!" I screamed and ran down the sidewalk. I clutched my books tightly and ran as fast as I could. I got to the doorway of Miss. Kizly's house and dashed inside - grateful the door was unlocked. I walked inside and laid my books and school bag on the floor by the door.

"Elphaba, sweetie is that you?" Miss. Kizly asked from the kitchen.

"Yes," I replied once I caught my breath.

"Oh! Come here! Look what I've made!" she called, I could practically see the smile on her face. Miss. Kizly loves making anything and always has something new for me to try when I come over. I walked down the hallway filled with beautifully painted pictures of butterflies and flowers. The warm yellow painted walls seemed to hug her slender body in the most welcoming way.

Once I entered the kitchen an aroma of freshly baked cookies filled my nose.

"What did you make?" I asked gliding towards her.

"I made sugar cookies with cinnamon and pumpkin seeds!" I looked down at the plate full of cookies – that looked like soft golden rocks with seeds sprinkled over top of them.

"They look delicious," I whispered staring at them.

"Well go ahead grab one or two. I'll grab some drinks," she smiled and turned to the cabinet to get the cups," Then you can tell me what happened at school today."

I gulped. Oh no. I hate to talk about school it's always so awful! I hate school! I grabbed two cookies, walked over to the table and sat down. Miss. Kizly sat down at the table.

"So what happened today?" She asked tucking a strand her long blonde hair behind her ear.

"Nothing, its nothing," I answered and looked down. I could feel her usually soft brown eyes glaring at me. "Some kids followed me while I was walking home. I didn't think much of it but then they started chasing me, with these shields. They were throwing pebbles and pencils. They shouted mean things at me, telling me to leave and… and…" tears started to spill over my eyelids and soon I was sobbing into Miss. Kizly's shoulder. A few minuets later she handed me a tissue and I stopped crying.

"Why wouldn't your teachers stop them? You said they do this at recess too, isn't there any teachers out there?"

"There are teachers out there, but we're in second grade and they think we are just playing around. They think we are playing war and it's everybody against me, and I just never win," I stated.

"What about Lyla? I thought you two were friends."

"I thought so too, but every time the kids start being mean to me she joins them. And yesterday I saw her walking with the cool girls after school and she said 'Look the girls freak show is going mobile now' she said and I started to walk faster down the street. Then she and the other four girls through coins at me and said in unison 'That's enough coins for a bus ticket away from here!' and everybody heard them so the whole way home kids were throwing coins at me!" A tear escaped out of the corner of my eye but I quickly whipped it away.

"Oh, sweetie!" Miss. Kizly cried and gave me a hug," I so very much wish you could stay with me! I'd never let you go to that school again! But sadly we know your father wouldn't approve."

I sighed and nodded. I knew very well that anything I would ever do my father would never approve. And anything I ever did wasn't good enough. My straight A average wasn't. Neither was the fact I done all my chores and my sister Nessa's chores. Or that I am the best tennis player at my school. He doesn't care about any of that, because he doesn't care about me.

"I better go," I said weakly," I have a lot of homework to do." I rose from the table and grabbed my bag and books from the floor. I reached for the door handle and let my hand rest on it. I stared at my green hand. Yes, my hand is green and so is every other part of me. I am the green freak kids make fun of. I am the green freak my father probably wants to sell to the circus. I am the green freak who's only friend is Miss Merlissa Kizly, who is twenty and has babysat her since she was born because her parents were to embarrassed by her to bring her in public. Yeah, that's me.

I walk out the door and sprinted toward my house three blocks away. I made it to the door and sigh in relief that nobody saw me. I gently open the door, hoping I can get inside without my dad noticing that I was home late- he didn't like me being in public for longer than I have to be. That's why I've never been out to eat, on vacation, or play any after school sport.

Sadly the door creeks when I shut it and no more that five seconds later I hear my dad yell ,"Elphaba!"

I sigh. Oh great, my day can get worse.