Cathy Cursed

I grit my teeth.  Today will be the day.  I will… nuts.  I stopped before the stop sign and I couldn't move.  Just walking to school in the morning was an impossible task in itself.  I stared at the stop sign, willing it to say "go" but it naturally never did.  Instead I would stand there until my step-mother drove to work and told me to get to school.  The weather was freezing and I chattered my teeth fiercely. 

"G-go Cathy.  Go!"  I sighed.  I couldn't command myself.

Why hadn't I dressed more warmly?  That could be explained in one tantalizing and evil word: hormones.  Ian was definitely a sexy beast, but so were Mark and Aaron.  In fact, about half of the guys in my school appealed to me.  I don't think it's completely my fault either.

Nobody believes in magic anymore.  I wish I could join those ignorant masses who laugh at curses and those who claim to see miracles.  I am living proof that fairies exist and are pains in my rear-end.  I don't know why and I really don't know how, but I have this curse of obedience that lurks around every corner in every word and sign.  I no longer watched T.V. for fear of the commanding commercials. 

I don't know my fairy, I just remember a really pretty lady who told me to come to her.  I wisely stuck my tongue out of her and got the shock of my life when she said it again and there was no fighting her words. 

"One day," she sang, "you may break the spell!"

One day, I thought, I will break your nose.

Just as my nose became utterly numb, I heard the honk of my step-mother's horn.

"Get to school!  What the hell do you do out here every day?"

"I-."  Again, I tried to explain to no avail.  "I don't know."

Tell no one, the fairy had commanded, grinning manically.

"Well, go!" 

I ran to the school, late for the zillionth time in a row.  All the detentions I might have served if it hadn't been for Ms. Cook.  I don't even know how she knew me, but she was always sticking out for me.  I scrunched my eyes shut as I pushed open the door.  I knew from past experience that it said PUSH on the handle and after pushing the door I would continue pushing everything I saw.  Ms. Cook had scolded me and told me to stop pushing. 

Day one of high school, months ago, started with me being late and the attendance officer yelling her head off at me.  I tried to explain that I was sorry and that it wasn't my fault.  When she asked why, I couldn't explain.  Ms. Cook chanced coming by and asking to see me.

I sat in her office, huffing angrily, so irritated that I couldn't explain and that no one wanted to believe me.

"My name is Mandy Cook, if you weren't already aware.  I don't mind being called Mandy, but in this day and age it is better to refer to me by title."  She had smiled kindly at me.  She was a stout old woman who always donned skirts.  "And you, of course, are Cathy Kyrria."

"Yes."  I had grunted.

"Is there something you would like to tell me?"  She asked kindly.

I had nodded but stopped and shook my head against my will.

She had frowned but allowed me to go, obviously detained in thought. 

I still wonder what she was thinking about.

"Late again, Ms. Kyrria?"  Ms. Cook had been waiting for me in the hall, a book in hand.

I nodded glumly.

"Come with me then." 

I followed her down to her office, wondering if I was in trouble this time.  I took a seat in a chair across from her desk and crossed my arms, wishing that I hadn't had to follow her.  The pain it caused to attempt to refuse orders was unbearable in the end.

"Cathy," Ms. Cook started.  "I need you to tell me the truth.  Tell me: why is it you stop in front of stop signs until someone directs you to leave?"

"I'm cursed."  I said, for the first time all my life.  "I'm cursed, I'm cursed, I'm cursed!"  I cried in triumph.  I stood from my chair and pumped my fist into the air.  "And now I'm free!  I did it!  I broke the-."

"Sit down, Cathy."

Caught off guard, my legs gave out and I sat on a chair, defeated.

"But I…."

"You are obligated to every command, whether or not it contradicts another."  Ms. Cook explained calmly.

"Poop."  My step-mother had told me never to swear, so I had my supplements.  "How did you know?  I mean, how did you know what and how to ask?"

She heaved a great sigh.  "Take this, Cathy; I want you to tell me what it says."

I took the tome in my lap and glanced over the contents.

"'Queen Eleanor of Kyrria, also known as Ella, was once inflicted with the Obedience Enchantment as placed by Lucinda the Fairy.'"  I looked up and stopped.  "What shenanigans is this?"

"Ella was under a curse just like yours."

"But she managed to over come it!"  I gasped.  "How?"

"I can't tell you that.  That's something you must discover on your own."

"Oh come on, that's crap, and where the kablooey is Kyrria?  Hey, you made this up!"  I was so pissed.  So angry.  So frustrated.  "That's my last name!"

"Kyrria is from another world, one that your ancestors crossed over from."  Ms. Cook smiled wryly.  "And from where I had to come in order to keep Chelmak and Cyrillianna in check, though I am doing a very poor job I'm afraid."

My mouth hung open and I raised my eyebrows.

"Oh, I must let you get to class."

"But I don't get it." 

"I will explain.  Give me a week, all right?"

I wanted to say no, not all right but she had commanded me to give her a week, so I shrugged.

"I need a pass."  I said dully, wishing again that the curse would dissipate.

"That you do."  Ms. Cook wrote and signed one for me.  "Get to class and behave yourself."

Like I'm not told to do that every two seconds.        

(Disclaimer: I don't own Kyrria, heck, I don't even live there.  I do own the United States of America.  Actually, I don't, because if I did I wouldn't be suffering New York State and it's dumb-bum regents.  Cathy Kyrria is half my own character because I own one half of her name.  Mandy Cook is one half my character because I gave her a last name.  Ian, Mark and Aaron are my slaves.  I will lend them to you for a nice juicy review.)