Disclaimer-I do not own Wicked, these characters, or the setting. Just the plot. Please R&R.
The Day-Care at Gawnette's
Elphaba trudged along the path, her small hands clenched into fists. Behind her, Nanny walked briskly to keep up with the green child. Once a routine is established it can be like clockwork to follow it. A week ago, Nanny had convinced Gawnette to let Elphaba play with the other children. Now they marched along the small dirt road every few days.
A clump of children ran about and played at some unseen game. The green girl did not quicken her pace at the sight of the other children, nor did she slow down. Once at the gate, Nanny handed Gawnette a small pouch. Inside were revealed to be a substantial amount of barter tokens.
"Go in child," coaxed Nanny.
Elphaba stepped inside the gate and turned to Nanny and Gawnette.
"Don't stare so," scolded Gawnette, "this is adult business."
"Gawnette, Elphaba understands just fine." Nanny huffed as she walked away.
In the slight shade of a handful of stunted trees, Elphaba watched the other children, and began to learn. She learned the names of each of the children, although she would not say them aloud. She learned that here, food is something to be fought over constantly. Although, most importantly she started to learn how to speak up and be heard.
One of the boys (whose father Bee, was the Mayor of Wend Hardings in Munchkinland) decided to find a way to convince the strange green girl to join the others, and if not that, at least him. His name was Boq. He wasn't quite as short as the other Munchkin children, yet he wasn't as long-limbed as Elphaba. Boq was unusually tall for a Munchkin and short for a normal child, even at this tender age this was evident.
Boq walked over to where Elphaba sat breaking the twigs she had gathered into small pieces. She didn't look up at him or even acknowledge he was there.
"Hi Elphaba," Boq finally managed to say to the green girl
"Horrors," replied Elphaba, her face unchanging.
"What horrors Elphie?" asked Boq with a sense of urgency in his voice.
"Horrors…."Whispered Elphie to Boq
"Can't you say anything else 'sides 'horrors'?" asked Boq indignantly
Elphaba understood and shook her head no. Then she went to the far corner of the garden to smash bugs. Boq was dumb-founded. He knew Elphaba could say more than just 'horrors', but she wouldn't say it. He went back to playing with the other children. Maybe she would join them tomorrow.
The green child watched as a line of ants moved along the ground. She held a stone she had found in her hand and smashed them every few inches. When the other children came near, she held up the rock to defend herself. Gawnette saw this and reprimanded Elphaba.
"No throwing rocks."
Elphaba simply nodded and went back to smashing the ants. She wore a simple smock. It was just a long rectangle with a hole cut for her head. It tied around the waist with a wide strip of cloth in the same color. It was a very dark purple, almost black in appearance. Her hair was black, straight, and already much longer than most other children her age.
The rest of the day she spent smashing bugs and breaking sticks. Nanny came for her in the mid-afternoon. In three days, they would return, but no. Not this time. They were leaving Wend Hardings the next day for Colwen Grounds, the home of the Eminent Thropp. Their family friend, Turtle Heart --who was a Quadling--, was to come with them.