Thirty Eight: Making amends
Plot: Having enough of Rebecca getting to Sofia, especially with her now going to Ever Realm Academy with her, Amber with James' help devises a once thought of plan with understanding Sofia's blindness.
"No! I'm not coming out!"
The future queen of Enchancia sighed, leading against her future advisor's bedroom door as she hoped that Sofia would come out.
Even since they had returned home from the royal school fair her sister had been in a mood that was more than usual.
"Any luck?" James asked, dropping his school bag to the door.
"No," Amber sighed. "She's been like this since we came home. She only let Buddy in, but no one else."
"Is her door locked?" James asked.
"No, thank goodness," Amber shook her head. "But we should really talk to her."
"We should," James sighed. "I've never see I mean heard Sof be this upset. Not even when she smashed her picture to bits."
"You mean tried," Amber smirked a little. "She smashed Rebecca's instead."
"Good! One less picture of Rebecca to worry about!" James tried to look angry, but Amber saw him smile.
"My thoughts exactly," Amber smiled, "But we should really talk to Sofia right now."
Sofia looked up when she heard the knock and heard Amber's voice. "Come in," she sighed.
Buddy nudged her with his nose as he said, "It's okay, Sofia; James and Amber are our best friends!"
Sofia nodded softly, feeling Buddy nuzzle against her. Yet she was still upset.
It was bad enough being the only blind princess to sign up for Ever Realm Academy as an advisor but Rebecca had to be in the way.
As she usually was.
But for her to have the nerve of asking why Sofia couldn't go to a school for the blind in front of everyone not only had Sofia embarrassed but humiliated.
"The next time you see Rebecca, I give you permission to bite her, Buddy!" Sofia said angrily. "I don't care if you get in trouble! I'll tell everyone I told you to do it! Rebecca's been nothing but trouble for me ever since I became blind, and I want her to suffer!"
"That's true, but I can't believe you just said that, Sofia!" Amber gasped.
"Amber, I mean it! I'm sick and tired of Rebecca being so mean to me!" Sofia started to cry now. "Why did she have to sign up for Ever Realm too?"
"Actually, Sof, the fairies told me and Amber that Rebecca won't be allowed to go there," James murmured as he pulled her into a hug. "They took her tablet off Ever Realm's section of the wall when she left the fair, and put it someplace else. I don't remember where they put it, but you'll never have to be bothered by her again."
"She's not going to Chivalry Hall with you, is she?" Sofia asked.
"No she isn't," James assured her.
"I heard that it's a school that wasn't on the wall," Amber added, patting Sofia on the back.
"L-Like a reform school?" Sofia hiccuped.
"Well I couldn't hear what it exactly was but I guess it could be it," Amber assured her and a glaring James. "I was more focused on how to help you when you and I go to Ever Realm."
"Will they let Buddy come with me?" Sofia asked.
"I'm sure they will, Sofia," Amber murmured.
"Everyone saw Buddy helping you around the fair, so they must allow guide dogs if someone needs them," James added.
Sofia smiled at the thought. It made her feel a little better but not by much.
"Don't you remember that one time where we all thought it would be a good idea to blindfold Rebecca?" Amber asked with a smirk.
"That was the best idea we ever thought of!" Sofia giggled, feeling Buddy lick her hand.
"We should do it," James agreed, scratching Buddy behind the ears. "We did that same experiment with some of our friends when they came over for play dates and sleepovers, and they gained a better understanding about blindness."
Amber smiled in agreement. Like James had done, Hildegard had tried to remember where everything was in the room when she was blindfolded, but she had the same amount of difficulty that he did. She and James shared sympathetic smiles when they remembered how Hugo had tripped over a footstool. He and Buddy weren't hurt, but they were happy to know that Hugo's bruise had faded at last.
"But how do we get Rebecca to put on the blindfold? We can't just tell her to do it," James added.
"Maybe it can be just the two of you," Sofia suggested. "Buddy and I will be far, far away from her!"
"Oh no you don't Sof! You're going to be involved with this!" James smirked. "Whether you're interested or not."
"You want Rebecca to understand what it's like to be blind, don't you?" Amber asked.
"Well, yes," Sofia hesitated.
"So tomorrow at Royal Prep, we're going to conduct an experiment with her," James started. "We're doing that class project on 'walking a mile in someone's shoes', right?"
"Yeah?" Sofia frowned thoughtfully.
"So that's when we blindfold Rebecca and teach her what it's like for you," James continued.
"You think it'll work?" Sofia asked softly.
"Of course it will," Amber assured her with a hug.
"But does anyone other than us know about this?" Sofia wondered, starting to look a little uneasy.
"James talked to the fairies about doing this," Amber explained, "You had to leave the room, either to go to the bathroom or get a drink, and I was keeping Rebecca busy with talks about redecorating my closet or something. But I still heard them, and they're all for the idea of having Rebecca walk a mile in your shoes."
"Okay, but will Rebecca have to use Buddy when she does this?" Sofia asked. "I didn't have any problem letting our friends use him when they did the experiment."
"Rebecca using Buddy? Sof, are you crazy?" James gasped in mock disbelief. "Of course not! Even if Rebecca does deserve it, we don't want Buddy biting her since he doesn't trust her!"
Sofia giggled at James' dramatic outburst. "Okay, so how will she get around?"
"She can use your cane," Amber offered. "Which the girls and I know you haven't used since our last Princess Adventure Club meeting."
"It's been that long?!" Sofia gasped playfully.
"So I'm getting that Buddy wasn't allowed to go?" James wondered as Buddy yelped at the sound of his name.
"He stayed on Zooey's hydrofoil for the duration of the trip, but while we explored, I got to use Princess Cassandra's guide lemur," Sofia explained. "She was really nice, and almost as good as Buddy when it came to helping me."
"That's right," Amber nodded. "You brought your cane with you in case you needed it, but Princess Cassandra said she'd let you share Sally if you needed extra help."
"Though she was shocked to find out that I couldn't see," Sofia smiled. "I mean the last time we met, I could see."
"I thought you didn't like the word see," James smirked, musing her hair.
"I know, but I just remembered what happened the last time we met," Sofia smirked. "But I have been getting used to saying and hearing those words again."
"That's good, Sofia, but you know you never had to be embarrassed by those words," Amber assured her.
"I see what you mean," James smirked.
"Get him?" Sofia whispered.
"How about we work on our idea for Rebecca first, then we get him?" Amber whispered back.
"Okay," Sofia smiled, feeling her hair in her face. "But how will you get Rebecca to wear the blindfold?"
"I'll tell her it's a surprise," Amber smirked. "Like a present of some sort."
"What kind of present?" Miranda asked, not meaning to interrupt.
"It's a...shall we say, special pair of shoes?" James smiled.
"Oh, you want to have Rebecca walk in someone's shoes?" Miranda guessed. "I think that's a very good idea!"
"As do I," Roland agreed, "She should know what it's like for Sofia, instead of just constantly teasing her. Although I am happy that you won't be going to school with her much longer."
"Me too," Sofia smiled.
"We know you are," Miranda smiled, musing her hair.
"We're just hoping she doesn't know beforehand," James said, seeing Buddy yawn and curl up beside Sofia.
"I don't think she knows that she's not going to Ever Realm," Amber frowned as she scratched Buddy's ears. "James said the fairies put her tablet on a different school after she left."
"We can always ask tomorrow when we do the experiment," James agreed. "We'll talk to them before class when Rebecca's not around."
Sofia smiled at the idea, trying to hold back a yawn. The events that had gone on had made her exhausted and emotionally drained, having her snuggle close to Buddy.
"Someone's tired," Roland smiled, gently stroking Sofia's hair.
"Then we should let her sleep," Miranda smiled. "She's got a very interesting day tomorrow."
The next day, Sofia made sure to stick close to James and Amber. She knew Buddy was with her as well, and she wanted all the friends around her that she could sense.
"It's going to be all right, Sofia," Amber murmured, squeezing her hand as she saw Rebecca storming up to them.
"You!" she glared at Sofia. "It's all your fault!"
James got between Sofia, Buddy, and Rebecca, and kept his voice calm as he asked, "Good morning to you too, Rebecca; what's all Sofia's fault?"
"What did our sister do to make you mad?" Amber teased playfully, stroking Buddy's fur.
She knew that his growling sometimes spooked Sofia unexpectedly so if he was calm than her sister was also calm.
"I'll tell you once she restrains Buddy. He keeps growling at me!" Rebecca pouted, crossing her arms.
"He's only growling because of you teasing me!" Sofia shouted, standing up for herself. "I don't even care if he bites you!"
"Well you should care! If that dog bites me I'll tell Miss Flora, then you'll have to get rid of him!" Rebecca shouted. "You made it so I can't go to Ever Realm Academy anymore!"
"No we didn't," James feigned innocence, "We were talking about our future schools with our friends. Your tablet was still on the Ever Realm section of the wall when we left."
"Well, it's not there anymore!" Rebecca shouted. "I looked for it to show my parents, and it was gone!"
"Where was it?" Amber asked innocently.
"Some place other than the wall," Rebecca grumbled.
"Really?" Sofia asked excitedly, hearing Amber and James hold back their laughter. "Tell us."
"Then we have a surprise for you," James smirked a little. "But after you tell us your school."
"I found my tablet on the wall of the Prescott Remedial Prep School!" Rebecca shouted. "I know I didn't put it there!"
"We left the wall after we wrote our choices down, so you can't blame us for this," Sofia smiled sweetly.
"I know you had something to do with that!" Rebecca yelled.
"And you certainly deserve to go there," Amber frowned. "I've heard that place helps royals who don't behave properly, and they learn all sorts of lessons on how to act around people with special needs."
"I won't go there and you can't make me!" Rebecca shouted.
"Maybe they can't, but we most certainly can," they heard Miss Flora's voice behind them.
"You can?" Sofia asked in surprise. "But I—"
"None of the students know about the school as they find their chosen school," Miss Fauna explained with a smile before she apologized for interrupting.
"But there are exceptions," Miss Merryweather muttered as Sofia sensed her anger.
"We watched as Rebecca put her name on the tablet for Ever Realm Academy," Miss Flora explained. "Since we didn't want her to be in the same school as you again, we simply moved her choice to Prescott Remedial Prep School after she and her family left."
"We also sent a letter to her parents about what we did," Miss Merriweather added. "They contacted us and told us that they agree wholeheartedly with our decision."
"Princess Rebecca has a lot to learn about treating other students with respect," Miss Fauna continued. "And that especially means students who might need extra help, or who are blind."
"Thank you for doing that for us," Sofia smiled.
"But I assure you that our project won't be unnoticed," Amber added, gently petting Buddy.
"We discussed it with Sof yesterday and she's in agreement," James smiled.
"We were sure that she would be," Miss Flora grinned, giving Sofia a hug.
"What project?" Rebecca frowned.
"The 'walk a mile in my shoes' project," Amber replied. "During class today, you're going to find out what it's like for Sofia!"
"I have to be blind?!" Rebecca pouted.
"That's right, but we're blindfolding you instead," James replied. "But the only difference is, you're not using Buddy since he doesn't trust you."
"But we do have an extra cane you can use," Amber agreed.
"You mean a stick?" Rebecca frowned, crossing her arms.
"It's not a stick but you're not the first to say it," James smirked.
"Sofia thought she was feeling a stick when she first got hers!" Amber giggled a little.
"When does she use it?" Rebecca asked, getting a little interested.
"When she goes down the halls," James explained. "She uses it as a kind of guide for her when she comes near an open door so she won't run into anything."
"You know she was using a cane first before she got Buddy," Amber agreed.
"She never liked using it," Rebecca grinned a little. "I've heard her talking to you two about it."
"You have? I thought we were in private whenever I complained about it," Sofia blushed
"I always followed you, so I was able to hear you," Rebecca admitted.
"So you could tease Sofia about that too?" James frowned.
"Well...yes..." Rebecca admitted.
"Take it easy, James; Rebecca's sounding like she's interested in doing the experiment," Amber whispered.
"And if she's interested, she'll leave me alone," Sofia whispered with a grin. "I haven't heard a sneer all morning."
"Alright Sof. I believe you," James sighed before clearing his throat. "Rebecca?"
"Yes?" Rebecca asked, a bit fearful of Buddy.
"It's okay, Rebecca; Buddy won't go near you," James assured her, "That's why we decided you're using the cane."
"Stay away from Sofia, and we'll get along just fine," Buddy growled.
"Buddy, it's all right," Sofia murmured, "Just stay close to me and you'll be okay."
"Ready, Rebecca?" Amber asked, holding out a long dark hair ribbon.
"Okay," Rebecca nodded. She let James tie the ribbon over her eyes and she took the cane. "It feels different. It feels like a stick."
"Told you!" Sofia giggled, gently petting Buddy.
"She's right. But I can't work with Buddy here. I-I'm scared of him," Rebecca admitted, hearing Buddy growl.
"Come on Buddy. Maybe we can find a squirrel for you to befriend," Sofia suggested, leading Buddy back outside.
"Are you scared of dogs?" James wondered as Rebecca started to walk.
"Ever since I was little," Rebecca murmured, "I was going to a neighbor's house and a dog that looked like Buddy, who lived down the street from me, and the neighbor, ran up to me. I wasn't doing anything to it! He barked at me and I was just walking! Then I heard his owner come up to me. He was blind, just like you are, Sofia. And he was shouting at me to leave the dog alone. I tried to tell him that it wasn't my fault, but he kept bumping me with his cane."
"Is that why you've always been so mean to me and Penny?" Sofia asked.
"Yes! I just kept thinking about the dog and the man!" Rebecca shouted. "I didn't know he couldn't see me! I didn't know about his dog!"
"Rebecca, don't shout. Sofia gets scared sometimes over certain noises," James explained though he could hear her trying not to cry.
"I'm sorry, Sofia," Rebecca lowered her voice, but she smiled as she felt Sofia squeeze her hand. "I didn't mean to make you feel so bad before."
"But why did you always say that Sofia and Penny were faking being blind?" Amber asked.
"Fun? Not meaning to?" Rebecca admitted. "I know it's too late to apologize. Especially after what I said yesterday."
"You made me feel embarrassed and ashamed," Sofia grumbled, holding back a growling Buddy.
"I'm so sorry, Sofia," Rebecca murmured, feeling tears escape the blindfold. "I know a simple apology won't take back all the things I ever said and did, but I hope it's a start."
"Buddy, it's okay," James murmured, slipping Buddy a few treats to keep him quiet. "Rebecca and Sofia are trying to make peace with each other."
Buddy licked up the treats James was giving him, but he still kept his eye on Rebecca. "I'll be the judge of that," he muttered. "She always made Sofia feel so sad, and I want to see her happy!"
Being Sofia's guide dog and friend, Buddy wanted her to be happy. What he didn't want was Rebecca near her.
"Buddy, she's okay," Amber assured, pulling out his Sofia doll from her bag.
Buddy sniffed the doll, calming down at seeing the blue button eyes staring back at him.
"Where did you get that?" Rebecca asked, lifting a corner of the blindfold.
"James and I made that for Buddy, so he has something that reminds him of Sofia when she has lessons with Cedric," Amber replied.
"It's really good," Rebecca admitted. She smiled softly. "Maybe you can make me something like that?"
"Sure. But you're forgetting the project," James smirked.
"No I'm not!" Rebecca pouted, putting down the corner of her blindfold.
"Aren't you supposed to walk a mile in my shoes?" Sofia asked.
"Okay," Rebecca agreed.
"We'll help you navigate too," Amber added. "And James will be writing down what happens, since we have to have a written part of this project too."
"Okay," Rebecca nodded. "And I don't know if I ever said this, James, but you're an incredible writer."
"Thank you," James grinned.
"He is one!" Sofia giggled with a smile. "Our sorcerer Mr. Cedric never wants him to help me when I'm learning Braille."
"He only says that because James wants to help you with every word," Amber smirked.
"I've seen him in action when we play word games to help us study for vocabulary tests," Rebecca smiled as they led her down the hall. "How did he get so good?"
"He came out reciting the alphabet when he was born, he transcribed his own birth, and our birth mother read the dictionary and thesaurus to him every night," Amber grinned. "He also spells the words Sofia's trying to spell in his head before she can figure it out. Cedric's always telling him to let her figure it out herself!"
"That's funny!" Rebecca chuckled, trying to be careful. "Maybe I can visit sometime?"
"I don't know. We talked about you a lot at home," Sofia grinned sheepishly. "But our parents won't bite. Mr. Cedric might turn you into a toad though."
"A toad?!" Rebecca gasped with disgust. "Yuck! It's slimy and gives you warts!"
"But they sing songs, just like frogs do," James smirked, singing, "Uncle Toad said you had best get it right, when Uncle Toad spoke it was not a pretty sight!"
"And you're good with music too!" Rebecca smiled as they guided her around a few obstacles the fairies had set up earlier. "I've seen you at some of the school concerts, and you sound really nice."
"Careful! This part can be a little tricky," Amber warned as Buddy sniffed the ground.
"Trust me. I hadn't had the best of luck here myself," Sofia grinned softly.
"You mean you trip?" Rebecca asked, falling on her knees. "Ow!"
"That happened with Sofia when she was first learning to use the cane too," James said as he helped Amber clean the scrapes Rebecca got. "But since she got Buddy, he helps her steer around obstacles more easily."
"And it does take practice using the cane to feel along the walls and around the corners," Sofia added. "I had James and Amber try the cane around my room when I first got it so they knew what I was feeling. They tripped a few times themselves."
"Sofia was always angry and emotional during that time," Amber shuddered.
"And I probably made it worse," Rebecca sighed, lifting up the blindfold. "I thank you for letting me do this but I'll probably never get your apology after everything I did."
"That's where you're wrong," Sofia smiled. "Rebecca, I forgive you."
"Well, it's a start," Rebecca smiled. "But I still have to go to that other school. And I really did want to go to Ever Realm, and not just because you were going there."
"It's only for a semester or two," James assured her, "The fairies told us about Prescott Remedial Prep after they moved your tablet there. They told us that the headmistress is really nice, and though students who go there can be difficult and don't learn their lessons right away, they said that people who do learn how to act the right way usually get to go to the school they wanted in the end."
"So maybe I'll get to go to Ever Realm after all?" Rebecca asked.
"That sounds about right," Amber replied.
"But how can I make it up to you?" Rebecca asked with a sigh. "Especially to Sofia?"
"Maybe by finishing the course?" Sofia grinned.
"No! Something bigger than that!" Amber suggested, leading Rebecca along.
"Oh no. You broke Amber," James joked.
After a short time, the course was completed, and Rebecca took the blindfold off. She turned to face Sofia, even though she knew that she couldn't see her. "I never realized how hard doing something like that was," she admitted. "I should have been nicer to you about this whole thing."
"Just because you had a bad experience with one blind person doesn't mean they're all like that," Sofia smiled.
"And the man probably thought you wanted to play with his dog while he was working," Amber added, "I mean, I don't know what the matter was, but when they have their harness and vest like Buddy, it means they can't play."
"I don't think he had a vest on," Rebecca mused, "I saw him break away from his owner when he saw me. I wasn't even doing anything when he ran up to me."
"Maybe he wanted to play with you," James suggested.
"Whenever we get Buddy out of his vest and harness, he always wants to play with everyone and everything," Sofia smiled, hearing Buddy yelp excitedly. "But sometimes there's an occasional butterfly or squirrel to distract him from his work."
"And he's trying to catch the butterfly," Rebecca grinned, gently grabbing Buddy. "You can play later. Sofia needs you right now."
Buddy, still thinking that she was bullying his owner, growled at Rebecca before sinking his teeth into her hand.
"Buddy! How could you?" Sofia demanded as James ran for Miss Flora. "We were making progress with Rebecca and now you bite her?"
"She was attacking me!" Buddy growled.
"She wanted to play with you! Buddy, how could you do this?" Sofia scolded. "Now I'll have to leave you at home when I come to Royal Prep, or when I go to Ever Realm now!"
"Rebecca, are you okay?" Amber asked, cleaning the bite, which hadn't broken the skin, and seeing James and the fairies approach.
"Why would Buddy just bite me like that?" Rebecca asked as Amber saw her shaking in fear. "I-I'm scared."
"It's okay," Amber shushed, wiping away tears from Rebecca's face. "I assure you that Buddy will be punished when we get home."
"Rebecca, please don't start being mean to me again because of this," Sofia pleaded. "We were getting along so well before!"
"I won't," Rebecca promised as the fairies examined the bite. "I learned so much about blindness and I want to help you too, Sofia!"
"It's good that you learned a lesson, Princess Rebecca," Miss Flora said as she bandaged her up. "Fortunately, the bite is not deep, and will be healed in a few days. But Princess Sofia, I'm afraid that Buddy will not be permitted to come to school with you for the rest of the year."
"I understand, Miss Flora," Sofia murmured.
"I just can't believe it. He goes guard dog on Rebecca just as we're getting along," James frowned.
"You're not the only one," Amber muttered, glaring towards Buddy. "Bad puppy. Now you made Rebecca more afraid of dogs."
Buddy placed his head between his paws as he only wanted to now go home to await whenever punishment he would be getting for biting Rebecca.
"It's not his fault," Rebecca sniffled. "I shouldn't have grabbed him like that. I'm so sorry, Buddy."
"I think we should take Buddy home," Sofia murmured. "We'll tell Mom and Dad about this, and see what they say. But I'm worried now. I was planning on taking Buddy with me when I went to Ever Realm. Will we have to train another hunting dog or guard dog to help me?"
"We'll just see what they have to say Sof," James assured her. "Rebecca, don't blame yourself. Buddy only thought of you as someone who used to make our sister so miserable."
"And I'm sorry!" Rebecca sobbed, looking at Buddy for a moment. "I'm so sorry!"
Buddy howled a little before digging in Amber's bag as he laid his Sofia doll towards her feet.
"Thank you, Buddy," Rebecca smiled a little as she hugged it. She handed it to him, murmuring, "You're a good dog."
"Rebecca, would you like to come with us?" Sofia invited, "We can all tell Mom and Dad about what happened, and maybe Mr. Cedric can give you a potion to heal Buddy's bite. They might also like to hear that you've learned your lesson and you're being nice to us now."
Rebecca smiled a little. "I'd like that."
Sofia smiled softly as Buddy lead her out and to the couch. Rebecca was actually nice despite her bad experience with dogs and the one blind man.
That was something that she was going to have to get used to.