On Monday morning Dani was in director Lemaan's office. She knew why she was here and had already prepared herself to apologize.

Lemaan sat down with a sigh after giving Dani a cup of coffee. 'Tell me what happened?

Dani told her story. 'You should have seen her sir. She was afraid of her own father. I know I shouldn't have said those things and that he also has a lot of grief, but his children shouldn't suffer. Even Nessa suffers. She is always in between and trying to get her way. She is simply spoiled.' Dani added after finished her story.

Lemaan nodded. 'I get it Dani. You are a passionate teacher with a good heart. But he is the governor. So unfortunately I have to fire you.'

Dani looked at him defeated. She didn't expect to be fired, maybe suspended for a few weeks, but not fired. 'And now?'Dani asked in disbelief.

'Now I am looking for a replacement and will have to take over the class.'

'But can I get another class now?'

Lemaan shakes his head. 'Frex has clearly stated that you are no longer allowed to come into contact with Elphaba.'

Dani was speechless. 'Can I say goodbye?'

Director Lemaan nodded. 'I will stick with it so there is nothing wrong. Dani I'm sorry. I really don't want to fire you, but he's the governor.'

Dani still looked white. 'I understand' she said with a sad smile. 'It's my fault. I'll pack my things in advance. I've already got the work for this week's children ready so they can get started.'

Director Lemaan nodded. 'That's nice. What are you going to do now?'

'I'm going home. Then I'm going to inform my parents about the incident and move back to the Emerald city in a month if I don't find a job here. I think. I do not know. It comes so suddenly.'

'I'm sorry Dani' said Lemaan seriously. 'I can write you a letter of recommendation for the other schools.'

'That would be nice. Thank you.'

Dani went to class and sat in her chair. She still couldn't believe it. Everything she worked so hard for gone by one man. She thought about fun things she had done with the class. Despite everything, she was still concerned about Elphaba. Her mind was interrupted when she heard the bell. She packed her things in the bag and decided to come back after school to pick up the rest.

The children were already entering the classroom. Everyone went to their own place. Director Lemaan came in and looked at Dani encouragingly.

'Good morning class' Dani said when everyone was inside.

'Good morning Miss Dani and Director Lemaan' came from the classroom.

'I want to thank you all for the fun and fantastic weeks. I enjoyed your work, conversations and games. I will miss you very much.' The class looked surprised at Dani and at Lemaan. 'Unfortunately I have to go.'

'WHAT?' Sounded from the class.

Dani sighed 'I'm very sorry but it is the way it is. I will live in my house for a while so we will see each other again at the market.'

The whole class was silent. Some girls got tears in their eyes. They didn't want Miss Nilok to leave. She was a good teacher and they loved coming to school for her. Dani slowly walked out of the classroom. There was a noise in the classroom. All children tried to understand what was happening.

Director Lemaan took over the controls of the class. 'Boys and girls. I'll be here in class for the next few weeks until there is a replacement. We will miss Miss Nilok very much.'

'Why does she have to leave?' someone asked

'Because she have to.'

'Can we make her something?' someone else asked.

'That is a good idea. But now we are going to start with math.' Everyone packed their things. Elphaba jumped from her chair and ran to the door. Lemaan sighed but said nothing. He knew where Elphaba was going and would later bring her back.

Dani walked down the hall. 'I'm sorry' she heard.

Dani turned to see Elphaba standing with her hands fisted and tears in her eyes.

'Sorry?' Dani asked.

'I'm sorry' Elphaba said again. 'It is my fault. If I hadn't been ill, my father wouldn't have gotten you fired. We heard you arguing on Friday. When I heard this, I knew it's my fault you have to go.'

'Ooh Elphaba it's not your fault. I said some stupid things to your father. It's not your fault.' she said as she got down on her knees and held her arms open.

Elphaba ran to her and gave her a hug. 'I'm sorry ' she kept saying.

Dani soothed her.' It will be all right,' she said, rubbing Elphaba's back. 'Elphaba baby look at me.'

Elphaba looked at her with tears in her eyes.

' It's not your fault. I don't want you to think it's your fault. I've said things I shouldn't have said. Do you understand?'

Elphaba nodded slowly.

'Remember when I told you about my brother and I blamed myself?'

Elphaba nodded again.

'Well my parents told me that I couldn`t control the behavior of the animals and the people. This is the same. You cannot control the behavior of your father or mine.'

Dani saw Lemaan walking down the hall. 'Go back to class and promise me you'll do your best with the next teacher.'

'But I want you' said Elphaba softly.

Dani was glowing. 'I want you Elphaba too, but I'm not getting what I want now. So promise me you will keep making friends in class. You are doing very well. I'm proud of you.'

Elphaba hugged Dani again and began to cry softly. Dani rubbed Elphaba's back again. She said softly. 'Master Lemaan is waiting for you.'

Elphaba wiped her tears and nodded. 'I promise.'

Dani nodded well. She got up and put a hand on Elphaba's shoulders. 'Go back to your class.'

Elphaba nodded and went back to class.

Lemaan gave Dani a nod and she nodded back. Dani had no idea that it was so hard for her to say goodbye to the class, especially Elphaba. She walked home with tears in her eyes. When she got home, she started cleaning up and writing the letter. She still couldn't believe it but slowly it became reality that she had been fired.

When Elphaba got home she didn't say a word. She was in a bad mood. Nessa and Miss Gutter tried to cheer Elphaba on, but she remained angry and grumpy. She went to her room to do her homework. Elphaba tried to be kind to the other children all day long, but it was so difficult without Miss Nilok, Elphaba thought. despite Lemaan doing his best to give Elphaba challenging work, Elphaba found it far too easy.

'Elphaba come to my office now!' She heard Frex shout.

Elphaba walked down with a sigh. She knocked softly on the door.

'Come in,' Frex said angrily. He pointed to the chair for Elphaba to sit on.

'Elphaba I just received a letter from director Lemaan. Do you want to tell me something?'

Elphaba glared at Frex. 'I want Miss Nilok back. Director Lemaan cannot teach. He explains everything wrong.'

'That is not your job to improve him young lady.'

'Still, I was right,' Elphaba said stubbornly while crossing her arms.

'It is not about Elphaba. It's about you being rude to the teacher again. I want you to apologize to director Lemaan tomorrow and to behave well. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to read in the coming weeks until you know how to behave.'

'It's not fair,' Elphaba shouts angrily. 'First Miss Nilok is fired and then everyone is mean to me. I'm just trying to help.' Elphaba felt her strength rise. She saw that she started to shake windows.

Frex noticed too. 'Elphaba, you are going to your room now! You only come out to eat. And I hope that you will eat well otherwise your books will be taken away in the evening.'

Elphaba and Frex glare at each other. Elphaba turned and walked away. The moment she walks out of the room, the rams stop shaking. She angrily went to do her homework. She missed Miss Nilok more than she cared to admit.

Frex heard a knock on the door again. 'Come on in'

Miss Gutter entered. 'Okay talk to me Frex. You act strange and you express your anger against Elphaba.'

'Not true'

Miss Gutter raised her eyebrow. 'Normally you gave Elphaba two chances before you started threatening to punish her if she was being rude to the teachers.'

'Now she's older.' said Frex cocky.

'Yes yes, this has nothing to do with your discussion with Miss Nilok last Friday.'

Frex glared at Miss Gutter.

Miss Gutter sighed. 'You should know for yourself Frex, but I haven't seen that girl so happy since Melena passed away. Now she has lost someone she could turn to. Try to imagine that.'

Miss Gutter closed the door and went to prepare dinner. Nessa was playing alone in the living room.

Frex sat in his chair with a sigh.' I miss Melana too,' he whispered. The rest of the week, Frex struggled with himself to determine whether to call the psychologist. Now that he had finally gathered the courage, he reached for his phone. He made an appointment with the assistant for Friday morning.

On Fridays he often only had paper work. He sighed and went back to work. He preferred to call again to cancel the appointment, but he knew he couldn't make it. I'm doing this for Melena he thought

For the rest of the week, Elphaba did not speak to Frex. She was still angry. Despite this, Frex no longer received complaints about Elphaba. It hurt Frex more than he wanted to admit that Elphaba was ignoring him.

Nessa and Miss Gutter did their best to keep the peace between Frex and Elphaba.

Dani, meanwhile, had gone looking for work. She still had a lot of contact with Lemaan about the class and she was happy to hear that everything was going well. Friday morning, Frex was waiting uncertainly in the psychologist's waiting room.

'Mr. Frex' he heard. Frex got up and walked in. He sat down in a chair and looked at the psychologist.

Hi Mr. Frex I am Dr. Tanron.'

'Hello Doctor Tanron I am Frex. Please call me Frex.'

'Very well Frex can you tell me a little bit about yourself?'

Frex began to talk about his childhood and about his work.

Dr. Tanron wrote down a few things.

'And your family?' asked Dr. Tanron when he noticed that Frex was trying to avoid that topic.

Frex sighed. 'My wife, Melena, passed away six years and seven months ago while giving birth to my youngest daughter'

Dr. Taron nodded. 'How old are your children?'

'The oldest Elphaba turned ten two weeks ago and the youngest Nessarose is six years and seven months old.'

'How is your relationship with your childeren?'

'Nessa and I are doing very well. Her character is exactly Melena. Gentle and always cheerful. She resembles me in appearance. Elphaba on the other hand is more like Melena in appearance. Long dark hair with dark chocolate eyes. Only her skin color is different.'

'Yes I heard she is green.' said Dr. Tanron.

Frex nodded. 'In character she is exactly me. She reads a lot of books and has a temper.'

Dr. Tanron nodded. 'Tell me why you are here Frex.'

'I uhm I don't know how to deal with Elphaba. She seems to be doing everything I don't want her to do.' Frex confessed, looking down at the ground.

'Don't be ashamed of yourself, Frex. It is normal for a single parent to raise your children. Have you already processed your grief for Melena?'

Frex shake his head.

'This is also normal. Parents first think about their children, then about themselves. Their grief doesn't come until much later. I am just surprised that you say that Elphaba is so much like you, don't you know how to handle yourself in the situations?'

Frex was silent. He thought. Whenever he was angry with Elphaba, he knew he would react the same if he stood in Elphaba's place. Frex shake his head.

'So you deal with Elphaba in a way that you know it won't work because it won't work on you?'

Frex nodded.' I had never realized this' he whispered. 'Elphaba looks like me and I have to approach her in the way that I like.'

Dr. Tanron nods. 'That would be handy. Has Elphaba come to terms with the grief about her mother?'

Frex looked down again. 'I do not think so. I do not know. She never talks about it like I do.'

Dr. Tanron frowns. 'It is not healthy not to share your feelings. Especially at such a young age. You know that right?'

Frex nodded.' But I did not think about it. Melena always took care of Elphaba I was too busy working and didn't have time for her. After that, Nessa needed all the attention. She was born crippeld. Her legs where al tangled. She can never walk. So I focused on her. The older Elphaba got, the more she became like Melena. I couldn't be around her anymore. It hurt me too much. Elphaba never demanded attention and was very independent. Until she got very sick. There was a time when she didn't eat anything at all. We had to force her. After that, our relationship deteriorated even more. I have to force her to eat every day. It's so exhausting. I don't know what to do anymore.' Frex said with tears in his eyes. While he was telling the story he felt like a very bad father to Elphaba on the one hand, on the other it felt good to vent.

Dr. Tanron listened to him carefully. He wrote down a number of things. Of course he had an opinion about Frex's behavior, but they now had to respond professionally.

'How would you react if you were Elphaba?'

Frex muttered 'the same.'

'How would you like your parents to react if you were in Elphaba's position?'

Frex thought for a moment. 'I would like to know why I have to do those things and if I do they are proud of me.'

'Are you proud of Elphaba?'

Frex thought for a moment. 'If you had asked me this question a few weeks ago I would have answered no. Although I didn't know why. Now I think I am proud of her. She is very smart and gets extra work. She stands up for herself and is friendly to the other children.'

'Does she know this?'

Frex shakes his head. 'I do not think so.'

Dr. Tanran sighed deeply. 'Mr. Frex I`m gonna be honest with you. This is going to be a long process. You must first process your own grief and Elphaba must also process it before your relationship improves. Is that going to work?'

Frex nodded firmly yes.

Dr. Tanran sighs and smiles at Frex. 'Then it will be fine. You should know that there will be many against blows. But you have to rebuild the relationship with your daughter. She has actually been emotionally abused for six years and seven months. That is very long. I also hear that you want to make it right and that you want to do everything you can to make it right. Do you know a way to make it up to her?'

Frex thought. 'I got her favorite teacher fired. She made me look at Elphaba differently,' he said slowly. 'She was the first to notice that Elphaba is way too smart and that was the reason why she always leaves work behind.'

Dr. Tanron nodded. 'That's a good start. Something else or will things go too fast for Elphaba?' Surprised, Frex looked at the doctor.

'You know Elphaba better than I know her. A sudden change in behavior from your father can be fearful of children. Both positive and negative changes.'

'What would you like to know if you were in Elphaba's position?'

Frex thought again. 'I think I should tell Elphaba.'

Dr. Tanran nodded. 'That's a smart plan.'

Frex and Dr. Tanran were still discussing the approach to apologize to both Dani and Elphaba. Then they talked about Melena and Nessa. Then they closed the conversation and made a new appointment for the following week. Frex left the office with a smile. He had never felt better in all those years. He had no idea that he still hadn't come to terms with my wife's death. It was going to be fine, he thought.