Rayellen was excited when the first day of fourth grade finally arrived, however she was a little more nervous than usual, now that she would be attending school with the presence of her best friend. Throughout it all, Sue had been someone that she could turn to and people honestly didn't seem to tease Rayellen as much when Sue was present. Still, school was a haven of sorts for her since the relationship with her mother was basically nonexistent. Even with Sue in Virginia, Rayellen had Ms. Bowen to turn to if things got rough. She still had one person she could trust.

She walked into the classroom that first day and slowly made her way to a seat in the front of the fourth grade side. It felt strange knowing that Sue wouldn't be sitting in a seat nearby, but she was determined not to dwell on that. She had to focus on the positive, which was that in a few minutes she would see Ms. Bowen again. However, she couldn't help but wonder what was keeping her favorite teacher. Usually Ms. Bowen was in class before her students arrive. Rayellen hoped that Ms. Bowen was okay.

In a few minutes, the door opened and Rayellen turned to look at her pretty teacher. However, it was not Ms. Bowen who was walking into the classroom. This was a large woman: standing nearly 6' in her flat, dress shoes with broad shoulders and a square figure. She had dark, brown hair streaked generously with gray and her cold hazel eyes surveyed the room, missing nothing. Everything about this woman was severe and it seemed as if every student was somewhat afraid of her. "Quiet down," she commanded, although most of the students were not talking but rather staring at the newcomer.

The woman made her way to the desk as Rayellen finally found her voice. "Who's that?" she whispered to the girl next to her. "Where's Ms. Bowen?"

The other girl seemed so startled by the woman that she didn't appear she recognized that it was 'Blueberry' who had asked her. "Ms. Bowen got married," she whispered back, "Don't ya remember that big ring she had?"

Rayellen did seem to remember that one day Ms. Bowen had shown them all a beautiful ring she had said was an engagement ring. "But I don't understand," Rayellen whispered back, "Just because she got married didn't mean she had to quit teaching."

"I said to quiet down!" the teacher shouted. She marched quickly over to Rayellen's desk, grabbed her by the arm, and roughly jerked her from her seat. "Can't ya follow simple directions?"

"I'm sorry," Rayellen quickly apologized, pausing slightly because she didn't know her new teacher's name.

"Mrs. Williams," the teacher prompted.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Williams."

Mrs. Williams sighed dramatically as she walked away, practically dragging Rayellen along behind her until they walked out of the room. Mrs. Williams slammed the door closed so that they were now alone in the hallway and no one in the class could see them. Rayellen began to tremble slightly. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew that it wasn't good.

"I've heard about ya," Mrs. Williams hissed, "about the blue child. I don't know why they let you in a classroom for regular children."

Rayellen didn't know how to respond. She stared up at Mrs. Williams innocently, wondering what was that she had done that was so horrible. What did her teacher mean about letting her in a classroom with the 'regular children?'

"I won't have ya bewitchin' the others" Mrs. Williams added, "I've heard about some of the trouble ya've caused, but I won't have none of that here. Ya understand me?"

Rayellen didn't, but she the feeling that admitting that would only make her teacher angrier. Helplessly, Rayellen nodded slightly. "Yes, Mrs. Williams," she responded, humbly.

The older woman seemed somewhat relieved. "Good," she responded, "Remember that ya said that. Now, I'm goin' back to the classroom. I think that perhaps ya should stay in the hallway for awhile so ya can think about what I told ya. That way, ya'll be able to really remember."

With that said, she turned and walked back into the classroom, leaving Rayellen completely alone in the hallway. Defeated, the girl slunk down to the floor, her back against the wall, as she began to cry. She didn't know what had just happened, but she knew that it wasn't fair. She had always tried to be a good student - and a good girl. Maybe she did whisper to the girl next to her, but that was just because she was so shocked to see Mrs. Williams instead of Ms. Bowen. Was all this happening because there was something wrong with her?

Ms. Bowen had always told her that she was just like anyone else, but she had learned that Ms. Bowen could not be trusted. Just like everyone else in her life, Ms. Bowen had left her when she had needed her most. No doubt, Ms. Bowen had lied about everything. Rayellen chastised herself for having believed in her pretty teacher. She had known not to trust people because that only made you vulnerable to be hurt, but she had trusted Ms. Bowen anyway. All this pain that she felt, she had caused herself and maybe Mrs. Williams was just her punishment for letting her guard down with Ms. Bowen and Sue. She had learned her lesson well.

As the day progressed, no one seemed to notice the blue girl quietly crying in the hallway. Her class went to recess, but she was not allowed to join. She was allowed to go to lunch with them, but now no one would sit near her. In fact, the name-calling began in earnest as several spitballs were thrown at her as she attempted to eat. After lunch, they went back to the room and Rayellen waited patiently by the door, hoping Mrs. Williams would allow her to come back inside once more. Yet, Mrs. Williams said that she should stay out a little while longer.

Sitting down once more, she tried to keep from crying again as she listened to the class through the closed door. As she listened, she hoped that tomorrow would be a better day.

It had to be better, didn't it?

There was excitement when she returned home, but she wasn't sure why. Her mother was home, and she looked flushed and happy while Mamaw seemed about ready to dance. She quietly made a snack for herself in the kitchen as she listened to their conversation, hoping that she could figure out what had happened.

"Arnold is so nice," Elizabeth was saying, "and he's so smart too. Much smarter than Robert ever was."

"That's great, dear," Mamaw responded.

"And he don't care I was married before," Elizabeth went on, barely listening to her mother, "'Cause he was married before too, only his wife died a few years ago. He even has a daughter: a pretty, little girl named Lynn. Oh, Ma! I'm so happy!"

"Do ya think he'll ask ya to marry him?" Mamaw asked.

"Why he practically asked me already," Elizabeth responded. "I didn't think I would ever get married again!"

"Well, then ya should invite him over so yer Pa and I can get to meet this new son-in-law of ours," Mamaw stated.

Elizabeth faltered slightly and Rayellen saw her mother's eyes briefly look towards her. "I'm not sure," she finally said.

Mamaw also looked towards Rayellen. "Will ya go out and see if I gathered the eggs today?" she asked her granddaughter.

"O.K." Rayellen agreed, walking out of the back door to the kitchen, but she didn't go to the chicken house. She had seen the eggs in the refrigerator, so she knew that her grandmother was just trying to get her out of the house. Standing beside the door, she strained to hear the rest of her mother's conversation with her grandmother.

"Ya've told him, haven't ya?" Mamaw asked.

"I've told him," Elizabeth responded, "but it still might be different when he sees her. Ya oughta to see his Lynn. She is so pretty with this fair skin and long, black hair."

"But we're talking about yer daughter - YER DAUGHTER. Ya can't hide her until the wedding. Besides, there ain't nothing to be ashamed of. Rayellen is pretty and plus that child is smart. Have you looked at the papers she brings home?"

"I know Rayellen is smart, but ya know how it is."

"No. I don't know. I've never acted like I was ashamed of my own kin and I ain't about to. That youngin's life is gonna be hard enough without her own Ma acting like there's something wrong with her."

"There is something wrong with me," Rayellen said to herself as she walked out to the chicken house to check the nests she knew would be empty. She was a little surprised at the way Mamaw defended her, but she wouldn't allow herself to put much faith in her grandmother.

She had already learned, and learned well - people lie.

So there's Chapter 7. Chapter 8 should be along soon (in fact I'm going to start typing on it right now). Things are expanding more than I expected so the first shape-shifting experience will probably be in Ch 9. I appreciate all the reviews I've received so far! Thank you so much!