On Monday morning, Elphaba hurried into the classroom. The boys were again waiting for her at the door so she had to wait until they were gone. Luckily the boys left before the bell rang. Elphaba wanted to see Miss Nilok again before the bell rang.

Dani saw Elphaba look around her in fear. 'Is everything okay Elphaba?' she asked. Elphaba turned in astonishment.

'Miss Nilok, you are really back.'

Dani nodded. 'I had a good conversation with your father last Saturday and then came the letter from director Lemaan. So yes I am back.'

Elphaba kept looking at Dani. 'So I was right that you had to leave because of me?'

Dani put her papers on her desk with a sigh. She walked over to Elphab and sat at eye level. 'I was fired for saying certain things to your father that I shouldn't have said. It's not your fault. do you understand.'

Elphaba shrugged.

That girl keeps blaming herself for everything, Dani thought. 'You know what. Sit in your seat. The bell will ring in a minute.'

Elphaba did what she was told. The whole class was happy to see Dani again.

'First class I want to say that I am back and I will not leaving.' The whole class began to cheer.

Dani smiled and raised her hand, indicating that she wants to be quiet again.

'I also want to thank you for the sweet drawings and letters. It was very pretty. But now we have to continue with the lessons so pack your things.'

Everyone was happily at work and Dani handed out the assignments. She gave Elphaba the extra work again. Elphaba only gave short and polite answers to Dani. Dani felt like she was back at the beginning with Elphaba.

When the bell rang, Dani was surprised to see Elphaba put on her coat. Dani went out with the childeren and they started to play. Dani saw that Elphaba was watching from a distance. She walked over to Collin. 'Do you want to ask Elphaba if she want to play with us? I think she's still scared to talk to us,'

Collin nodded and ran to Elphaba. 'Elphaba do you want to play with us? We play tag again. But maybe we can play your game again?' Collin said enthusiastically.

Elphaba was very surprised at first but nodded anyway. She ran after Collin and they started playing.

During the rest of the day, Dani noticed that Elphaba was behaving normally again. She still gave short answers, but that would be fine too.

When the last bell rang, everyone walked home happily.

Director Lemaan entered. 'Hi Dani welcome back. How was your first day?'

'Hello Director Lemaan. It was good to be back. The children behaved well.'

'That's good to hear. Somewhere I am curious why Frex has changed his mind. Do you know anything about that.'

Dani nodded. 'He has seen that I was telling the truth and he would like to change himself. He himself apologized.'

'Wow, that's great of him. Let's hope he keeps it up because we don't want to lose you again.'

Dani laughed. 'I'll take care of that, sir.'

Dani went to catch up on work and started preparing for the next day.

Elphaba walked home. She was deep in thought when she suddenly felt something hard against her back. She turned to see the group of boys. 'We missed you this morning, Frog' called the leader of the group.

'I did not mis you,' Called Elphaba back as she took a few steps back. She had to walk home for a few more minutes.

The boys threw another few rocks. Elphaba turned and ran. The boys ran after her. They got closer and closer and Elphaba ran as fast as she could. A boy tugged on her bag. Elphaba was pushed back. The boys started throwing the things out of her bag onto the ground. Two others held her.

'Let me go.' Elphaba shouted loudly. She tried to free herself. The boys laughed at her. She made a circle around her. The boys let her go but she had nowhere to go.

'You can walk away' one of the boys said defiantly. Elphaba tried to get out of the circle, but was pushed hard to the ground.

Elphaba glared at the boys. She wanted to put her things back in the bag. One of the boys kicked stones at her. Another boy stood hard on her hand.

Elphaba grunted in pain and withdrew her hand. 'Leave me alone!' she shouted angrily again. 'I have done nothing to you.'

'But Frog, we're just playing with you. We want to give you a normal skin tone with sand.' The leader said, kicking sand in her face.

No one noticed Frex approaching them.

Frex looked in surprise at the group of boys and wanted to pass by. But his eyes saw something green. He looked more closely at the group and saw that Elphaba was on the ground in the center of the circle. She looked dirty and glared at the boys.

Frex strode toward the group. 'What is going on here?' he said angrily.

Everyone looked at Frex in shock. 'Uhm Mr. Governor we're helping Elphaba pack her things.' Said the leader.

Frex watched the group suspiciously. 'Then why is Elphaba on the ground with blood on her knuckles?'

The boys looked at each other and shrugged. A boy quickly packed Elphaba's bag and handed it to Frex. 'Maybe she fell.'The boy said.

Before Frex could do anything, the group ran away. Elphaba was still on the ground.

'Elphaba, are you okay?' Frex asked concerned when he sat down on the ground too.

Elphaba swallowed and shook her head. 'I want to go home' she said softly.

Frex nodded and picked her up. When they got home, Miss Gutter cleaned her knuckles right away.

Miss Gutter picked up a wet cloth and began to remove the sand from Elphaba's face. Elphaba looked at the ground all the time and said nothing. She feared her father would be angry with her.

'Want to tell us what happened?' Frex asked. Elphaba shake her head.

'Why not Elphaba? What those guys did wasn't right.'

'Why would you do anything about it now. Those guys have been bullying me for two years and you're not doing anything about it. Elphaba said angrily. She was angry with Frex, with the boys and with herself. She was ashamed for not being able to do anything against the boys.

Most of all, Elphaba was confused. Her father was normally not nice to her. Her father was supposed to be angry with her. She didn't understand her father's behavior. It made her insecure. It gave her hope for love she missed.

Frex sighed 'Elphaba I try to help you now if you let me.'

'No!' Elphaba jumped off the chair and ran upstairs.

Frex sighed. 'I want to surprise the children to come home earlier,' he said softly.

Miss Gutter put an arm on his shoulder. 'That's good of you but Elphaba needs time. You cannot aspect that she accept everthing the first time. She is more angry with herself and confused about your behavior than she is angry with you. Maybe the teacher knows a little more about it.'

Frex looked up again, and nodded. 'That is a good idea. Nessa hasn't seen me yet. Then I'll go right now.'

Frex hurried to the school and knocked on Dani's door.

Dani looked at the door in surprise. She saw Frex standing at the door with a worried face.

'Frex when I said on Saturday that we have to schedule a parent meeting, I didn't mean this Monday.'

Frex laughed softly. 'Me neither but I walked home to surprise the girls and I saw Elphaba being bullied by a group of boys. I tried to talk to her but she just got mad at me. Do you know more about this?'

Dani looked shocked. 'How is she now?' Dani reached for her coat. 'Come on, let's go to your house. I might be able to talk to her. Did she say who they were?'

Frex shake his head. 'She didn't say anything. She was completely dirty and her knuckles were bleeding. Her things were all over the ground when I arrived at the place where it happened. They were older boys.' Frex told me as they walked out of the school building.

On the way Dani shared what she knew about the bullying behavior from the boys. 'I know she's being bullied by a group of guys. I don't know who they are either. I do know that they are in a higher group. But sometimes I save her by playing with her. When I did, she started to trust me. She never told me what those guys were doing.'

When they walked to the door. They heard a door slammed. 'Elphaba dear just take it easy, I just want to give you something to eat.' they heard Miss Gutter saying.

Frex glared upwards. 'Sad and pain or not, but she's not slamming a door on Miss Gutter here.' He said angrily. 'Elphaba Thropp come down immediately.'

'Frex just take it easy. You don`t know what happend.' Dani tried. But Frex was already running up the stairs. 'Such a father, such a daughter,' she sighed.

Upstairs was a bewildered Miss Gutter with a drink tray. 'She wants to be left alone for a while,' she said to Frex. But Frex ignored it. He opened the door and stepped inside. Dani followed him.

Elphaba was in the middle of the room and turned her over as Frex entered. She was furious with Frex. 'Go away!' she screamed.

'No Elphaba Thropp we are not going to throw doors in this house you know that!' Frex said angrily. 'You are now going to apologize to Miss Gutter.'

Elphaba know that her father was right but she didn't feel like it and wanted to be left alone. 'No I don't. Get out of my room now.'

Frex went to the bookcase and took out a stack of books. 'Well then you will not be able to read anymore in the near future. You know the rules.'

Elphaba felt herself getting even more angry. All the books began to shake. The windows flew open. 'Leave my books alone' she hissed.

'You should listen to me I'm your father.' Frex said.

Dani could see everything and was shocked by the forces of Elphaba. So she has magic and cannot control it. Dani thought. She walked over to Frex and touched his arm.

For the first time, Elphaba saw that Dani was in her room too. Her anger disappeared immediately. 'Frex lets Elphaba cool down for a while. I think she will apologize to Miss Gutter later.'

Frex looked at Dani and then at his daughter. He realized he did it wrong and nodded,

Elphaba turned so that she was standing with her back to the people. Dani dragged Frex out of the room. 'Elphaba dear we are in the kitchen. When you are ready, you also come to the kitchen.'

Elphaba nodded softly and Dani closed the door. The three adults walked into the kitchen.

With a sigh, Frex sat down. He rubbed his neck. 'Where's Nessa?' he asked to Miss Gutter.

' She went for a walk with Miss Mydie.'

Frex nodded. 'Fortunately she didn't have to listen to the screams.'

'What happened? Dani asked Miss Gutter.

'Well. After Elphaba heard that Nessa and Miss Mydie were gone, Elphaba came back to the kitchen. She wanted to apologize to Frex. But I said you were gone again. She probably thought you were back at work because she turned around and started screaming that she 'knew it'. I wanted to give her a drink so I followed her. She probably hadn't seen me because she threw the door in my face. Then you ran upstairs.'

Frex got up and began to pace. 'I did it wrong. I should have given her time.'

Dani nodded. 'But you still have to learn that. You can't change your entire behavior at once, it takes time. Tell us what else you did this weekend with Elphaba. Elphaba struggled to trust me today because I suddenly left her life.'

Frex talked about their conversation and their moments together.

Dani nodded. 'That's a good start. She must be confused and angry about the situation by now. When she cools down she will see that she herself was wrong and come down. We mainly have to wait now.'

Everyone agreed. Everyone went to work in the kitchen because they said so to Elphaba. Nessa already came home with Miss Mydie. She was happy to see her father and started telling everything. Frex put Nessa on his lap. 'Where is Fabala?' Nessa finally asked.

'She is in her room for a while, she has to think.' Frex said.

'Ooh but I wanted to play with her. Nessa used her pout in the hope that someone else would play with her.

'Miss Mydie is going home so I will play with you' Miss Gutter said. Frex put Nessa back in the chair. Nessa rolled into the living room to get her toys.

'Is she always that cheerful?' Dani asked Frex when Miss Gutter went after Nessa.

Frex smiled. 'Yes, that's her. She always wants the attention and hates playing alone. Elphaba on the other hand can play very well alone. She used to be unable to keep her mouth shut and told Melena everything. After her death she became a lot quieter. Nessa now fills that void.'

Dani kept eating and waiting for Elphaba to come down.

It was only after dinner that Elphaba came down. Nessa was playing with her dolls in the living room. Frex had promised to play with her when the kitchen was tidy. Dani and Miss Gutter were doing the dishes.

Elphaba walked up to Miss Gutter. She looked straight at her and said.' I'm sorry I threw the door. I didn't realize you were behind me.'

Miss Gutter smiled at the frightened girl and nodded. 'I accept your apologies.'

Elphaba swallowed and nodded. Then she walked to Frex. 'I'm sorry I reacted so angry to you. You just wanted to help me.'

Frex looked at Elphaba for a long time. 'I also accept your apologies. I'm also sorry I didn't give you time to cool off.'

Elphaba looked at her father in surprise and nodded.

She wanted to walk away, but Frex stopped her.

'Hold on Elphaba. come and sit at the table, you still have to eat.' Elphaba sat down at the table with an annoying face. She didn't want to eat at all, but wanted to play with Nessa and forget everything as soon as possible.

'Elphaba. do you wanna tell me what happened to the guys today?' Dani asked softly.

Elphaba shake her head. Frex got up and handed her a plate of food on it. He looked at Dani, who motioned for him to go. Miss Gutter figured it out. 'Frex would you just take me to the door.'

Frex looked at Miss Gutter in surprise, but did it anyway.

When everyone left the kitchen, Dani asked again. 'Elphaba will please tell you what happened.'

Elphaba took a bite of her food. 'It was nothing.' she whispered after swallowing the food.

'According to your father, it was not nothing. You were very dirty and your knuckles were covered in blood.'

Elphaba watched her food and continued to eat.

Dani sighed. This was just like the beginning. she thought.

'When I was younger,' Dani started, 'there was a group of girls who were always bullying me. I used to be not the brightest in my class and I made a lot of mistakes.'

Elphaba looked at Dani in surprise. She continued eating quietly. Dani noticed that Elphaba was listening.

'I was ashamed of it too and I thought I deserved it. Until my brother once held a mirror in front of me. He said everyone was different and everyone is smart in their own way. I got another teacher who explained things differently. From then on I understood everything and the group of girls slowly stopped bullying. I made more friends thanks to the teacher. I also wanted to become a teacher because of her. Because you can help others.'

Elphaba had almost finished her food.

'But those guys call me frog because I'm green. That is true.' She whispered.

Dani put her hand on Elphaba's shoulder. 'You're green but that didn't make you a frog. We are pink did that make us pigs?'

Elphaba shake her head.

'They always take my bag and throw it. Sometimes they wait for me at the school doors.'

'That's why you were so scared today when you came in?'

Elphaba nodded. 'They push me to the ground and throw sand at me. They say they want to help me get a normal skin tone.'

'Elphaba' says Dani sternly. 'If this happens again, you will come straight to me or your fahter. What those guys are doing is not right. You can't fight that group of guys on your own, but with the help of others you can.'

Elphaba nodded. 'Every time I said I was going to say it to my fahter, they laughed at me. They knew he wasn't going to do anything anyway.'

'But that is now different Elphaba. Frex came to get me because he wanted to hear the story from you. He's not sure how to talk to you.'

Elphaba looked at her with wide eyes. 'So he didn't go to work?'

Dani shake her head.

Elphaba looked sadly at her plate. She took the last bite. I was more hungry than I thought.

'I thought he was ignoring me again.'

Dani shake her head again. 'Elphaba look at me.'

Elphaba looked into Dani's eyes.

'I understand you think your father hasn't changed yet but he's trying. When we got down, he immediately regretted his actions against you.'

It was then that Frex came in. 'I don't understand Miss Gutter. She kept talking to me about the things that were happening in the market.' He shook his head.

Dani laughed. 'I think Miss Gutter wanted to give Elphaba and me some alone time. Since Nessa is playing in the living room'.

Frex blushed. 'ooh yes of course. How did it go here?'

He looked at Elphaba who was looking away.

'Wow Elphaba you've never eaten your plate so quickly. Well done girl.' He put his hand on her shoulder.

'Thank you father' said Elphaba.

'Elphaba I think you should also tell your father what we just discussed.'

Elphaba shake her head.

Frex sat down in a chair. 'Elphaba if I don't know what's going on, I can't help you.'

Elphaba thought for a moment. She shared everything she had discussed with Dani.

'You did well,' Frex said to Elphaba. 'I'm just going to talk to Miss Nilok. Then you can play with Nessa.'

Elphaba nodded gratefully and ran. She was glad she could finally forget everything and play with her sister. Nessa was happy too and started telling who her dolls were and what to do.

Frex sighed deeply. 'Thank you for your help and for staying for dinner. It helped Elphaba a lot.'

Dani nodded. 'You're welcome. But we are far from there.'

Frex nodded. 'But it is a start. I'll take you home. Elphaba can take care of Nessa for a while.'

'I would like that.'

Frex went into the living room to tell the girls and Dani packed her things. On the way they talked about what had happened.

'On Friday I will go to the psychologist again, maybe he can help me further.'

Dani nodded. 'I can already tell you that it helps to tell your own experiences to Elphaba first.'

Frex looked at her in surprise.

'First I told about my brother and Elphaba told about her mother. Today I told about my own bullying experiences and she started telling her own story.'

Frex thought about it. 'That is very smart. Thank you. I'll try too.'

Dani nodded. 'Thank you for taking me home,' Dani said when they were standing by her front yard.

'You're welcome. I'm going back home quickly now to put the girls to bed. They have been up for half an hour longer than usual.'

Frex quickly went home and saw that the girls were still playing. 'Come girls let's go to bed.'

'But I don't want to' nagged Nessa.

'If you go now I will read to you.' Nessa cheered and cleaned up her toys.

'Elphaba I want you to shower first.' Elphaba opened her mouth to protest, but Frex continued. 'Miss Gutter may have already cleaned you up and you changed your clothes, but you're still dirty.'

'Yes father' said Elphaba.

When Frex finished with Nessa, he went to see Elphaba. Elphaba was already brushing her wet hair.

'May I?' He ask while he came in.

Elphaba nodded gently and handed him the comb. Frex began to gently comb the long dark hair of Elphaba. 'This is nice,' Elphaba said softly.

Frex smiled. I was able to practice well with Nessa now I can comb everyone's hair as the best father from all over Munchkinland.'

Elphaba laughed softly. 'Indeed you can'

When Frex was finished, Elphaba turned and gave Frex a hug. Frex stood for a moment and hugged Elphaba back.

'I love you little girl.'

Elphaba nodded and let go of Frex. 'Good night, father.'

Frex put Elphaba to bed and gave her a kiss on the forehead. 'Sleep tight.'

Frex's heart jumped as he left the room. He got a big smile on his face. He quickly went to bed himself, thinking about everything that had happened today. Best of all, Elphaba gave him a hug.