2.) Dear Old Shiz
Shiz University had always boasted a reputation of the highest prestige, second to none in Gillikin, or in fact, the entirety of Oz. When Galinda Upland gained a place there, aged a tender 18 years old, her parents had been so very proud and impressed that they had at once ensured their precious only daughter the finest suite available to enjoy with her friends, many of whom had also gained places at the famous establishment. Galinda had been enthralled at the prospect of the generous present- how impressed her peers would be! She was set to be the most popular girl at Shiz, just as she had been at Gillikin Upper-Uplands Girls' Grammar, where she had made such a very good head girl.
On their first day, the new students of Shiz had gathered and awaited the arrival of the headmistress and her welcome speech in the great hall. While they endured the delay, two other teachers taught them the traditional university song, in an attempt to relax the youngsters and create a sense of unity among the very different cliques, which were already naturally forming. This unexpected singing lesson suited Galinda, whose outstanding, sweet-soprano talent was immediately noticed by the teacher conducting them. He was a frail and thin looking, greying man with greying hair and matching thin, grey spectacles who went by the name of Professor Grinkle.
"You're all still falling somewhat off the melody!" he cringed slightly. "You there, the only one in time, what is your name?" Galinda tried to act aloof momentarily-nobody liked TOO much of a show-off. "Yes you, Miss…"
"…Oh, me? Upland, Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands Sir." She beamed.
"Would you be so kind as to come to the front so that your example might be followed Miss Upland?" Galinda was already shrewdly sat at the front, giving her pretty voice every chance to be noticed but she stood up on her brand new, brilliant white plimsolls and trotted forward a few paces.
"Oh, well certainly Sir. Although you flatter me, I'm sure I wasn't the only student singing in time." She said sweetly, glowing with just the right amount of modesty. Galinda had ensuring her popularity down to a fine art. She was pretty, talented and well-off enough to be envied, modest enough to not be thought arrogant and confident enough to be influencing. Secretly though-if she was even aware of it at all, her downfall was that she too was influenced, by this intense need to be well-liked. Her insecurity made telling people what they wanted to hear and siding with the majority all too tempting at times. However, as popular people went, she took pride in being one of the, if not the nicest.
"From the beginning then, if you please Miss Upland." Professor Grinkle instructed the other teacher, a rather large and rosy cheeked lady who was sat at a grand piano. "Students, let us listen and learn from Miss Upland's example…And a 1, 2, 3…"
"Oh hallowed halls and vine draped walls,
The proudliest sight there is…"
The students looked at each other and widened their eyes in reference to the beauty and accuracy of Galinda's singing.
"Isn't she good?" One whispered.
"So good! And such good dress sense, I do love her outfit…"
Professor Grinkle gave an agitated glare without looking up and the students were silent, although he had, in fact, been irritated by the banging of the door to the main hall as a latecomer arrived. Galinda continued, uninterrupted:
"When grey and sere our hair hath turned,
We shall still revere the lessons learned,
In our days at dear old Shiz.
Our days at dear old….Shi…zzzzzz"
By the time that Galinda finally trailed off the somewhat elongated note, everyone had had a good chance to see what had caused it and with raised eyebrows and in some cases, open-mouths, their direction of focus matched Galinda's. One girl even fainted and was caught just in time, with a little difficulty, by two Munchkin boys who were either side of her. The latecomer stood perfectly still, holding an old, worn, leather suitcase and glared back at them, looking unsurprised but naturally defensive…and as green as an envious lime tree.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm looking for Madame Morrible. I need to consult her on the arrival of my si…what?" Demanded the strange girl, suddenly changing her tone to an accusing one, mid-sentence. The predictability of her reception disappointed her. "Ohhhhh, do I have something in my teeth?" She grinned sarcastically before her expression fell into automatic reciprocal hostility again. She dropped her case onto the wooden floor with a thud, which made the students jump and take a step back. "Fine, let's just get this over with." She grimaced, in a tone of tired frustration "No, I'm not seasick. Yes, I've always been green. No, I did not eat grass as a child…" The students had no idea how to react to this unexpected bout of angry answers to questions they hadn't asked, or at least, hadn't asked out loud. Apart from the odd snigger here and there, they didn't change expression at all, except to look round sharply, as once again, the door swung open.
"Oh!" Exclaimed the bizarre character, with little surprise, as if the new addition was right on cue, "And this is my sister, Nessarose. As you can see, she is a perfectly normal colour…" Her fragile-looking sister looked anywhere where there was no eye contact to be had, in apparent embarrassment. The two couldn't have been more different. Indeed, the newcomer was much more regular-looking, with pale, buttermilk skin, glossy mid-length brown hair and delicate features. She had a slight frame, which sat neatly and primly in a simple wooden wheelchair, in timid silence. Her outspoken and abrupt sister's features were much more striking. Beneath her small, thin glasses, her dark and captivating eyes shone fervently, matching her midnight-black hair. Her hair was, comparatively, even longer and more dramatic than her introduction at Shiz had seemed. Indeed, a lot of things about her appearance seemed to match each other. The hitch lay in how nothing about her matched her surroundings or context.
"ELPHABA!" A bellowing and welcome interruption echoed through the hall. A stern looking, middle aged man entered shortly after Nessarose. He wore an expensive suit of deep russets and gold. The peculiar older daughter fell silent, but looked more defiant than afraid. "Stop making a spectacle of yourself! You know I'm letting you attend Shiz for one reason and one reason only!"
"I know." Elphaba said with a sigh, speaking quietly for the first time. "…To look after Nessa." The governor turned his attention to his younger daughter and smiled.
"For my precious little girl, a parting gift." He announced, proudly. By now, under the presence of the authoritarian father of the two latecomers, the rest of the students had been distracted by Professor Grinkle. Respectfully, he attempted to get them back into order in preparation for another try at the school song. However, Galinda, still at the front of the group and undisrupted, continued to listen in on the episode. She strained to see what was being taken from the small wooden chest as Nessarose seemed to gasp in delight. However, she didn't need to wait for long as Nessa announced:
"Jewelled shoes!" Galinda's jaw dropped and she was almost blinded as Nessarose lifted one of the sparkling, silver shoes from the chest. It glittered like the moonlight on a night time sea. Galinda looked round to see if anybody else had noticed the unveiling of this impressive gift. Luckily, they seemed to be too occupied under Professor Grinkle's instruction-or else this Nessarose might have been the envy of the student body. No doubt she and her sister were now already set to be the focus of first impression gossip, rather than Galinda and her fine singing! The odd pair of girls' father turned to the green one-Ephabla-or whatever her name was, and Galinda held her breath, waiting for another awesome gift to be presented…but there wasn't one.
"Elphaba, take care of your sister…and do try not to talk so much!" he instructed sternly.
"Yes father."
"Now, I'd better be on my way." He leaned and kissed Nessarose, his eyes seemingly brimming with a few tears. He forced a smile he gestured towards the shoes once again. "As befits the future governor of Munchkinland." He beamed. Galinda couldn't believe her ears! She wondered if anybody had heard that! "Take care, my precious Nessa."
"You too, father." And with that, he left. Nessarose turned her attention to her older sister who held the wooden chest that had contained Nessa's dazzling new slippers. Her slender fingers traced the contours of the empty box. Her expression was blank but Nessarose spoke in a tone that suggested that she spotted more behind it.
"Elphaba…I…" Elphaba looked up, her expression brightening suddenly.
"Oh come, what could he have given me? I clash with everything." She giggled, almost.
All at once, the attention of all of the students turned once more as yet another new loud voice echoed through the hall. A bellowing female voice that was deep and naturally loud, not simply raised as Elphaba's had been. A voice that appeared conditioned to addressing great numbers of people.
"Welcome students, welcome! I am Madame Morrible, headmistress here, at Shiz University." The speaker appeared seconds after her voice. She was a voluptuous woman, with bright, white hair piled up elaborately on her head. She had pale, wrinkled skin which looked almost as if it was in conflict with her heavy and flamboyant makeup. May I offer my most sincerified apologies for my tarditure? I trust that my fellow faculty members have both occupied and entertainerated you. Thank you Professor Grinkle, Madame Petullia. The two nodded with a smile, gathered their equipment and left the hall. "It is an honour and a delight to meet and greet you all here today! Whether you are here to study law, logic or linguification, let me assure you that my colleagues and I have nothing but the highest hopes…" she paused as she examined the varied sea of faces. "…For some of you." She suddenly noticed the girl in the wheelchair and clasped her hands in delight. The rotund, elaborately decorated woman squatted to the Nessa's level and placed a long-nailed finger under the girls chin before gazing at her lengthily and nodding knowingly. "Why, you must be Miss Nessarose Thropp, the governor's daughter! My, what a tragically beautiful face you have my dear!" Nessa smiled, blushing a little. Madame Morrible, aware of the other presence standing behind the chair, stood up again. "And who is this with you…agh!" She couldn't quite conceal her surprise as she came face to face with Elphaba and she jumped. Even after so many years at Shiz, she had still apparently not seen everything. Elphaba didn't bother, or perhaps, dare challenge the reaction this time.
"I'm Elphaba Thropp Madame, the other daughter." She informed her. Her unique sense of humour couldn't resist a small contribution. "I'm beautifully tragic." Madame Morrible gave a polite smile.
"I'm sure you are very bright."
"Bright? She's phosphorescent!" Galinda thought to herself, not so silently. It was loud enough for those near her to hear, but quiet enough that she could have withdrawn it if the comment was badly received. But, to Galinda's delight, it wasn't badly received by the other pupils, who were longing for someone to break the ice with an opinion on the obscure girl. Everyone fell involuntarily into giggles-everyone except for one and a half of the two sisters. Even Nessarose couldn't help but smirk.
"Now," Madame Morrible continued. Her years of teaching had made her immune to juvenile disturbances and she preferred to keep out of them where her intervention wasn't necessary. "There is so very much to deal with. Let us begin with room assignments. Are there any problemations with…" Galinda and Elphaba were the only two to raise their hand. She smiled at Galinda, inviting her to speak first.
"Yes dear, your room allocation, is there a problem?"
"Oh!" Galinda smiled. "No. Thank you for asking Madame, but I have already been assigned a private suite!" She made sure that 'private suite' was louder than the rest of the sentence. It had the desired effect, as half of the students behind her 'oohed' and the other half looked around to see why. "Oh and, my dear new friends, you can all come and visit me by the way, whenever you want! How selfish of me it would be to keep it to myself!"
"Oh how good of you Galinda!" beamed one girl, Shenshen. Shenshen had been a member of Galinda's head girl's team at the Grammar and she was a secure, long-term admirer.
"You are so good!" agreed another, Pfannee, who Galinda had only met an hour earlier, but had clearly impressed.
"Oh, no I'm not!" Galinda feigned embarrassment and even convinced her cheeks to flush slightly.
"Yes you are!" The two genuinely insisted.
"Oh stop!" She laughed loudly, tossing her gentle blonde curls behind her left shoulder.
"If I may interrupt, was there a question Miss Upland?" Morrible asked, shaking her head.
"Oh I do beg your pardon Madame, I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands. I have applied to your sorcery seminar, perhaps you remember my entrance essay: Magic wands-need they have a point?"
"Oh…yes…however, I do not teach my seminar every semester. Of course if somebody special were to come along I might reconsider…"
"Well exactly…I…" But Madame Morrible's attentions turned when a voice came from behind her.
"Excuse me, Madame Morrible?" Elphaba had interjected, seeing that this irritating, blonde thing clearly had nothing important, or even relevant to say. Madame Morrible turned around. "My sister and I haven't received our room assignment."
"Oh yes, your father made his concern for your sister's wellbeing quite clear. Your sister will share my compartment where I can personally assist her, as needed."
"Oh no Madame, I couldn't let…I mean, I've always looked after my sister."
"He never mentioned you. Just a slight gulch, not to worry my dear; we'll find some place to put you…"
Galinda was left in a fluster of disbelief by what had just happened. Losing Madame Morrible's attention in the middle of her pre-planned introduction, and to her! What about her sorcery seminar? Galinda had told the whole family about her plans to train in Madame's lecture in no uncertain terms. She would have had her heart set on it if she had realised that it wasn't a guarantee.
"Are you…are you alright Miss, Miss Galinda?" came a small, timid voice. Galinda turned to see a small Munchkin boy looking up at her.
"I don't think she even read my essay!" she only replied, still startled.
"That's really unfair, you should say something. I'm Boq, by the way…"
"You should definitely say something Galinda!" Pfannee cut in.
"Do you really think so?" More of the students, who were listening in, gathered around Galinda and nodded. They were glad to be part of such a strong alliance already- to such a good cause, to this poor, kind and sweet girl who had been interrupted by that horrific, outlandish Elphaba.
"But Madame…" Meanwhile, Elphaba wouldn't cease her severe protest to stay at her sister's side.
"Dear I simply insist and as I said, you mustn't fret. Now, which of you young ladies will volunteer to share a room with Miss Elphaba?"
Galinda, having been pondering her predicament, had not been concentrating and her peers' unanimity had convinced her to try to regain Madame Morrible's attention.
"Madame Morrible, I…" she began.
"Oh thank you dear!" Madame smiled. "Problem solved, you will share with Miss Elphaba. How very good of you." Galinda and Elphaba both gasped in horror. "Now if that's all, everyone is free to go. I'm sure you have much to get done. Miss Nessarose, you come with me my dear." The protests of Galinda and Elphaba drowned each other out.
"She can't do that can she? What about my assigned suite?" Galinda asked in high pitched hysteria to the now, rather large crowd of sympathetic Shiz students.
"Madame Morrible, you don't understand…" Elphaba objected.
"Elphaba just leave it, I'll be fine!" Nessa assured her sister, trying to prevent any more of a scene being made.
"But I promised father!!" Elphaba exclaimed, and she felt that uncontrollable feeling of anger and panic bubbling up inside. "LET HER GO!!"
Nessarose's chair was somehow pulled from Madame Morrible's grip and it wheeled itself, spinning and almost toppling, back to Elphaba's side. The whole room seemed to spin in fact. The lights began to flicker and the students shrieked and ducked for cover in sheer terror, mainly the terror of not knowing what they were hiding from! When everything had calmed down again, a room of faces full of fear and bewilderment were fixed on the green girl, once again.
