Well I've got this and the next chapter written, so I think I'm back on track – apparently my lack of update the other week caused a doubt to whether it was really Sunday – so I can't let that happen again :p (unless the chapter after next is as hard to write as I think it's going to be – but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it).
Year 1254 – during the great rule of our 37th Ozma
I never thought I would miss Starina, never mind so soon after she had left. However, barely a year later, I found myself hating her for leaving.
"What? But Papa, that's completely unfairifyed!"
"Don't you dare speak to me like that girl!"
But I refused to back down, not for this, "Ianu doesn't have to."
"Ianu would benefit from an education, all you are meant to do is help your father and later your husband, and I need help collecting in the harvest – especially with this year's rainfall and Starina's absence."
I silently cursed the good harvest, "But Papa, I like school."
"And I like little girls who are seen but not heard, but no one ever gets something because they like it, do they?"
"But even Ket didn't give up school at eleven," I whined, "and Rina got to stay on until she was sixteen."
"And did it improve their chances of a good marriage?"
"It might have done," I insisted belligerently, "you wouldn't know – because you took them out of school later than me."
"Nonsense! How dare you disrespect my opinions, when I have kept you clothed and fed for nearly twelve years? I don't see Notta complaining about them."
I looked at my sister, Notta had never cared much for school but she knew how much it meant to me, I begged her with my eyes to stand up for me.
She sighed, "Papa, surely you could let her go in at least a couple of days a week…"
He turned and glared at her; she smiled at me apologetically and slipped out of the room.
"But Papa," I begged again, "Ianu's a boy, he's stronger than me, surely it would be more beneficial to take him out…"
"Hey leave me out of this!" Ianu called from the other side of the room, "I want to go to school. I have loads and loads of friends there!"
I scowled at him, albeit only half heartedly, even Papa wasn't inclined to think that a small nine-year-boy was stronger than his growing (although more sideways than I would have liked) nearly twelve-year-old sister.
I tried once more, "Pleeeeease Papa? I'll wake up at three every day and go to bed at midnight to make sure I get everything you want done, and I'll make sure I run home from school everyday…"
"DELVA! I said no and that is final, now get some work done and get out of my sight before I have to drag you there myself!"
For the next few weeks I was thoroughly miserable. School had always been the highlight of my days, it was a chance of escaping home for a few hours and settling myself in something I loved. Father had also dashed my hopes of ever going to Shiz, the thought that just weeks ago I thought that one day I could attend that beautiful ivy covered university only made me feel worse – that dream seemed so far out of reach now. I would grow up to be an ordinary housewife (if I was even able to find a husband who wanted me) I would never do anything extraordinary, I would never make Oz great again, I would never make Papa proud of me.
"Del, wake up! Del!"
I groaned, what was the point of getting out of bed when there was nothing to look forward to?
"Del, I said wake up. Do I have to pull the blanket off you? Because I will if I have to."
"But Notta it's still dark."
"No it isn't, the curtains are just shut," she went over to the window to draw them, a pathetic patch of light trickled out, "well, it's kind of light, anyway don't you know what day it is?"
"Yes, it's my birthday, and I'm tired."
"No, it's your birthday, you're twelve, and I'm not going away before I give you my present or have fetched a bucket of water and tipped it over your head, the choice is yours."
I sighed, there was no way of stopping Notta when she was in this mood, "fine, fine, I'm getting up." I moved myself to a sitting position and tried to wrench my eyes open.
Notta grinned, dumping a large package on my bed, "Happy birthday Del!"
Her smile was contagious, and I willingly ripped the paper off the parcel. My eyes widened, "But Notta, they're…"
"The school books for the years you're missing, I know!" she said, ecstatic with my reaction, "Now if you don't understand anything in the first two books I can probably help you with them – and after that – well we'll see if we can convince Papa to let you go to night school or something by that time shall we?"
It took me a while to regain my voice, instead I just hugged my lovely big sister tightly, "thank you, thank you, thank you!" I squealed eventually.
She laughed, "It's nothing Del, don't worry, I'll make sure you get into Shiz, if it's the last thing I do."
