Chapter 3: Something Bad
The next morning, the students were all busily talking to one another, waiting for the teacher to arrive. Lindsay sat alone with no one to talk to. It was nothing new for her to expect, no one wanted to be seen talking to her especially since she and Rissa hated each other. On the other side of the room, Rissa was surrounded by her friends, flipping her curls and talking to her friends.
Finally, the teacher came, but it wasn't a man. Lindsay couldn't help but smile, for the teacher was a goat! It looked like she wasn't the only person who stood out at Shiz.
"Settle down now," said Dr. Ross-Johnson, "I've read your most recent essays and I am amazed to report the progress, although some tend to favor form over content… Miss. Ma-rissa."
Rissa's face displayed bewilderment as she spoke, "It's Rissa, there's no 'Ma' in the beginning."
"Excuse me… Ma-rissa." once again Dr. Ross-Johnson failed to pronounce her name correctly.
The young girl couldn't help but sigh in exasperation, "I really don't see what the problem is! Every other professor seems to be able to pronounce my name"
Lindsay was becoming fed up with Rissa, "Maybe pronouncing your name isn't the sole purpose of Dr. Ross-Johnson's life. Maybe he's not like every other professor." She snapped. The girl got upset over the smallest details, and yet she mispronounced Mat's name every time she talked to him, not that he minded. Didn't this girl have an appreciation for uniqueness? "Maybe some of us are different."
Marissa just sneered, "Oh! It seems like the artichoke is steamed." As she laughed, others began to join her laughing at Lindsay.
It was then that Dr. Ross-Johnson had to step in, "Class! Class!" he raised his hands to get everyone's attention and gestured to Lindsay, "Miss. Lindsay has a point. As you know I am the sole animal on the faculty. But it wasn't always this way." Dr. Ross-Johnson suppressed a sigh, "Dear students, how I wished you could've seen it as it was. Where you could walk down the halls and see an antelope explicating a sonnet, a snow leopard solving equations! Don't you see how our dear Oz is becoming less and less…" the professor paused to search for the right word until his eyes settled on Lindsay, "colorful."
Deciding to start his first lesson, Dr. Ross-Johnson asked "Now who can tell me what sent these events into motion?"
Lindsay's hand shot up immediately, "From what I've read, it all started with the Great Drought."
"Exactly! Food grew scarce, people grew hungrier and angrier. And the question that became was 'whom can we blame?'" Dr. Ross-Johnson cleared his throat before proceeding to the next question, "Can anyone tell me what is meant by the term 'Scapegoat?'"
Lindsay's hand was the first one in the air again. She began to realize that none of the other students were even trying to participate in today's lesson. However, Dr. Ross-Johnson wanted to hear other opinions, "Someone else besides Miss. Lindsay?" he asked, "Miss. Ma-rissa."
Rissa let out another exasperated sigh as she said, "It's Rissa, there's not Ma- in the beginning. I don't see why you can't just teach us history instead of always harping off on the past."
Lindsay watched in amazement. Was this girl clueless? Weren't they just talking about history a while ago?
Dr. Ross-Johnson, to Lindsay's admiration, kept calm about the situation.
"Perhaps, these questions will enlighten you." He replied as he flipped the reversible chalkboard. Everyone gasped, for on the chalkboard was a message that seemed to be written in…blood.
"Who's responsible for this?" Dr. Ross-Johnson asked, frightened and furious, all calmness forgotten. "I'm waiting for an answer!" After no one in the room spoke, Dr. Ross-Johnson sighed, "Very well then, that will be all for today." No one seemed to respond so he tried again, "You heard me, class dismissed!"
Students quickly left the room, not wanting to stay a minute longer. Lindsay met up with her younger sister at the door.
"You go on ahead Ellisa." She said.
Her sister hesitated and finally wheeled herself out. Lindsay turned around to read the board aloud, "Animals should be seen not heard."
She casted a worried glance at Dr. Ross-Johnson, but he waved her off saying, "Oh Miss. Lindsay don't worry about me. Go along and enjoy your friends."
"Oh it's alright, I have no friends!" Lindsay replied. She brought out a chocolate bar and offered the wrapper to her professor.
"Would you like to share my lunch?"
"That's very kind of you." He said. Lindsay couldn't help noticing that her teacher would look at the board every so often.
Finally, he gave back the wrappings, "I seem to have lost my appetite."
Lindsay did her best to comfort Dr. Ross-Johnson, "You shouldn't let statements like that bother you. I mean, I always do… but you shouldn't!"
"Oh Miss. Lindsay," Dr. Ross-Johnson sighed as he looked at her, "if only it were only a matter of words on the chalkboard. But the things one hears these days... dreadful things!"
Lindsay stared in interest as her professor began to explain, "I've heard on an ox a professor from Quox no longer permitted to teach. Who has lost all powers of speech! And an owl in Munchkin Rock, a vicar with a thriving flock forbidden to preach, now he only can screech! Only rumors-but still-enough to give pause to anyone with paws something bad is happening in Oz."
Hearing this Lindsay gasped in shock, "Something bad? Happening in Oz?"
"Under the surface behind the scenes something baaaaaah…" Dr. Ross-Johnson paused and cleared his throat, "Sorry, I meant bad."
"Dr. Ross-Johnson," Lindsay started walking towards her teacher, "are you alright? Shall I fetch a glass of water?"
"No, I don't know what came over me." Her teacher replied.
"So," Lindsay started wandering back to the topic of the talking animals, "you're saying that there are some animals that have, somehow, forgotten to speak? How is that possible?"
"Well," the goat began, "with so much pressure not to-"
"I heard there was some sort of a disturbance in class. Are you alright Doctor?" a new voice joined in.
Lindsay turned around to see Madame Vasquez standing right next to her.
Madame Vasquez took notice on Lindsay's presence in the room, "Oh, Miss. Lindsay, you're still here. I thought you would have been on your way to my seminar by now."
Lindsay nodded, "Yes Madame, ordinarily I would be, but…"
"But what?" the headmistress asked, "I hope I have not misplaced my trust in you. Magic is a very demanding mistress, and if one has ambitions of meeting the Wizard… I'm sure Dr. Ross-Johnson sees my point!" in one swift motion, Madame Vasquez pointed towards the door.
Lindsay stared at her professor and quietly mumbled, "I'd better go," before she left the room she said, "Dr. Ross-Johnson, if something bad is happening to the Animals, someone's got to tell the Wizard. That's why we have a Wizard. So nothing bad…"
Dr. Ross-Johnson laughed, "I hope you're right, nothing truly baaaaaah," once again he cleared his throat, "Sorry, bad."
As Lindsay allowed herself to be led out of the room by Madame Vasquez, she casted one look out the window.
"It couldn't happen here in Oz…"
Hey! I'm still working on this story, but I need more reviews to continue. I got to see the real Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre and it was spectacular. Now I just need the inspiration from you reviews. Thanks! \(^u^)/