"Shoulders back, chest out, chin up, legs together, back straight." "Shoulders back, chest out, chin up, legs together, back straight." a group of students repeated after their teacher. It was an all girls school, the same one I went to about a year ago. I still remember the ugly uniform. It was more of a proper edicate school, Cross Academy was the name of it...and I hated that place. I loath it more than anything. It's not the school I hate, just what they teach, how they teach it, and the people there.
The teachers are all snobby, the girls are even worse with their cattiness. Everything has to be perfect, even if your just with your friends, because the students there compete to become the best of the best. They also send students home if their not "at their exceptional best", like it's some type of elimination round.
I was sent there in the first place because my family saw me as too country which to them is improper. But what did they expect when I lived on a farm with my father (who himself is a farmer, and a good one too), and a mother who sells and grows vegetables for a living? I'm not sure how, but I ended up graduating. Now I'm waiting for my mother in the backyard, watching the schoolgirls get farther and farther away, pitying them.
What took her so long? I was beginning to get impatient. I walked back to the house to investigate. I only opened the door a crack before I heard them say my name in a hushed tone, "Damn that edicate school, now Mikka's too weak to do anything." "You know that's not true, she's been helping out at the house." "Still, you know I want her to have a better life than this." "True. But maybe we should reconsider, she doesn't have to be a ninja, we are a poor family, and extra hands could bring in more money-" "Nonsense, I'll just call Mr. Morrise, he'll know what to do, he can make her stronger." Mother didn't answer him, I heard a kiss noise, then father continue, "I only want what's best for her." There was a long pause then an, "Okay."
Oh god, not Mr. Morrise. He was the witch doctor, I personally find nothing wrong with him personally. But when it comes to his job, I don't exactly...trust him. He's a bit koo koo for coa coa puffs if you know what I mean. I heard some more shuffling, then footsteps, Mama was probably on her way to the backyard now. I panicked and ran to the spot I was in before, trying to make it seem like I hadn't heard anything. She came right by me and sat down criss-cross-applesauce. I didn't look at her, but out of the corner of her eye I saw her put on a small smile, "Let's get started shall we? Let's plant lots of strawberries that way we can make strawberry ice cream with the extras leftover." I smiled a little, Mama always knew my second favorite thing to eat was strawberry ice cream, next to vanilla.
"Now, open your mouth wide and say ah." "Aaaahhhh" This was taking forever, if this was all Dr. Morrise was gonna do, then we could've seen a regular doctor. He checked my pulse, heart, ears, eyes, nose, reflexes, etc. He didn't seem to be doing anything magical or mysterious like most witch doctors do in fairy tales. "Alright, you seem healthy." I sweat dropped and tightened my fists, all this for nothing? He turned to my parents, "I just need to ask you a few questions and have you sign some legal papers before we get started." Get started? With what? He just said I was healthy! "Of course," my father answered, the three of them moving into the other room.
I sat and wandered what exactly he needed to get started on. I hope I wasn't due for anymore shots. A new terror went through me like a shill, I had a thing against needles, they pinched my skin in a painful way and I was positive I got all my shots done last month. I wasn't due for another 5 months, I checked on Mama's big calender notebook. I covered my arms and legs with a blanket, they wouldn't get me without a fight. They walked back in, my parents staying close to the door, Dr. Morrise with some type of tank thing with him.
"This won't hurt a bit, all you have to do is sleep..." He held up a mask that blew out some white gas. Before I could say anything, he held it up to my face. I looked at my parents and tried to scream, but nothing came out. All I saw were two shadows when I saw them...
and then black.
Noises, yelling I think, Someone's hollerin, Father? He sounds mad. I lazily opened my eyes and gazed their way. My hearing was kinda fuzzy, but I got what they were saying: "What do you mean their was a mistake? Your suppose to be a doctor for pete's sake!" "I know, I know, but there was something missing, either in the potion or the body-I-i'm not sure, but I'll come back next week and we can fix it." Mama stepped in before Papa said anything else, "Thank you, we'd really appreciate that, have a good evening Mr. Morrise." She escorted him to the door and Dr. Morrise left with a tip of his black old worn hat.
Father took a seat on the couch with a frustrated sigh, "She's not even my daughter anymore-she's half my daughter!" Mama talked in a quiet tone she used when I was upset, "She's only half puppet, she can get stronger that way, and if it doesn't work out we can always call Dr. Morrise to fix it for free." "No, Morrise is an idiot, he doesn't know anything. He's proved that to me now." "Honey..." My eyes reclosed, the sleep was still there. Did they say something about half puppet? I wandered about this while everything went black.
