4- Just a Perfect Day
"Did you want to see me, Madam Morrible?" asked Elphaba from the threshold.
Her headmistress looked up from the pile of books and notes on her desk, and the slightest smile curled on her lips. "Oh yes, dear, do come in."
Elphaba nodded, and did as she was told.
"Have a seat," Madam Morrible motioned towards a heavy chair in front of her desk. "Will you have tea with me?"
Elphaba, who had just sat down, shook her head. "Thank you, Madam, but I'm not-"
"Oh, but I insist!" She got up and poured tea into two delicate porcelain cups. She handed one of them to Elphaba. "So, tell me, my dear. How do you get along here in Shiz?"
"Get along, Madam?" asked Elphaba. She didn't quite understand Madam Morrible's question.
"Why yes! Not just in school, for we both know that you are at the top of the class in all the courses you take, including my seminar. This is very good, Miss Elphaba. Highly important, but I want to know how do you get along… socially."
"Oh, socially," Elphaba slowly repeated. She hesitated, then softly replied, "Well, I don't have many friends, obviously. I do have Nessa," she added quickly, at the sight of Madam Morrible's dismayed expression.
"How about Miss Upland? I hear that you two became quite close to one another."
"Galinda? Yes, I guess you can say we are. We are roommates, after all."
"Oh, yes, I know you are." She smiled again, that small, almost unnoticeable smile of hers, and continued. "And what did your father say about the great news of your meeting with the Wizard?"
"Well… frankly, Madam… he doesn't… quite… know… just yet," Elphaba replied slowly, carefully.
Madam Morrible looked surprised. "Haven't you told him?"
"I guess Nessa did. But me? No, I didn't. I'm here to look after her. I can only guess his reaction considering that going to the Emerald City, I'll have to leave her behind."
"Between you and me, Miss Elphaba, I believe that Miss Nessarose is quite able to look after herself. Why, she is nearly 18 now, isn't she?"
Elphaba nodded. Nessarose's birthday was due in four weeks. How typical for Nessa, to be born on a sunny day in the middle of the spring. Her birthday, on the other hand, was one stormy night, in the middle of the coldest winter Oz had ever known.
"So I don't see any reason for you to take care of her," Madam Morrible said, looking pleased with her conclusion.
Elphaba hesitated, for she wasn't sure if she was allowed to contradict her mistress, but then quietly said, "She is my sister."
"Yes, dearie, but you have just turned 19, am I right?" Elphaba nodded again. "You are becoming a young woman now; you must start considering your future life and career. Miss Nessarose will be alright here in Shiz. She has many friends, as far as I can tell. And a young suitor as well, if I might say," she glanced carefully at Elphaba, as if waiting for her confirmation regarding her last point.
Elphaba frowned. Surely, she meant Galinda's suitor.
Madam Morrible obviously realized her silence as admittance, for she clapped her hands and gave Elphaba a knowing-all look. "So you see, my dear, your sister will manage, don't you worry about her. If you want, I can write the letter to your father."
"Oh, no, Madam, I'll do it. I just need to spend some time over it, thinking how to say it so he won't get mad."
"Mad? Why, he should be proud at his daughter! Meeting the Wizard at such a young age, being so talented at such a young age! My dear Miss Elphaba, when I was your age I only dreamt of doing half of the things that you are already capable of doing."
Elphaba blushed deep Emerald. She wasn't used to get compliments, surely not from the headmistress of Shiz. "Thank you, Madam."
"Now, the reason I called you here was to discuss the details of your trip to the Emerald City. I'll take care of everything, including the train arrangements. You'll leave the day after the spring dance." Elphaba felt a ting of excitement within her. That was in exactly five weeks. Suddenly she couldn't wait. "You will return in time for the opening of the new semester, two weeks later. The Emerald City is in its best in this time of year. I believe you'll enjoy it."
"I know I will. Madam, I want to thank you again for everything you-"
Madam Morrible raised her hand, cutting her off. "Nonsense my dear! Go there and make me proud. Make us all proud!"
Elphaba felt like giggling. She held it back, and flashed a polite smile at her mistress. "I'll do my best."
"Now go along to your next class. You don't want to be late, don't you?"
Elphaba felt a little embarrassed; she was late to Morrible's class that morning. She shook her head. "No, Madam, I don't."
"Well, then, Oz speed, my dear! And don't forget the letter to your father!" she called after Elphaba as she left the room.
xoxoxoxox
Several hours later Elphaba still stared at the blank parchment in front of her. She chewed her pen thoughtfully but couldn't think of a way to begin the letter to her father. She leaned against an old oak tree on the lawn and watched the passers-by in that late hour of the afternoon. She noticed Boq pushing forward Nessarose's wheelchair, and waved at them. They waved back and approached her.
"Good afternoon, Miss Elphaba, great day, isn't it?" asked Boq cheerfully.
Elphaba nodded. "Beautiful." It was a wonderful day. Not a single cloud in the sky.
"You can tell that the spring is just around the corner," Nessarose said while Boq carried her in his arms out of her wheelchair and on the grass. Elphaba was impressed by that small act of affection. It was sweet of him to do that for Nessa.
"What are you doing, Fabala?" asked Nessarose.
"I'm trying to write a letter to Father, telling him I'm going to the Emerald City. Morrible insisted I'd do it."
Boq looked confused, from one sister to the other. "Fabala?"
"This is how I used to call Elphaba when we were small children. Father said once that this was how our mother used to call her, so I wanted something to remember her by."
Boq nodded, then looked at Elphaba. "What did you write so far? Maybe we can help."
"So far? 'Dear Father'," said Elphaba with a frown, sending Boq and Nessarose chuckling. She shook her head, somewhat desperate. "Thanks Boq, but I have to write this one myself."
"Oh, do you want us to-"
"No, no, no, stay. I won't be able to write it now anyway. This is such a beautiful day, let's not waste it on talking about school or anything."
Nessarose raised one eyebrow, laughing softly. Elphaba wondered how in Oz she managed to do that and still appear graceful. "It sounds like something that Fiyero would have said."
"Here is Fiyero right now," remarked Boq.
The three of them looked at Fiyero, who walked at the same road that Nessarose and Boq went on few minutes ago. He had his expensive leather satchel hung loosely on one shoulder, and several books in his arms. He walked slowly, lazily, as if enjoying the sunlight on his face. Surprisingly, he was Galindaless. Elphaba wondered how come. She was sure that Boq was wondering the same thing. One of the important decisions she had made the other night was to forget any emotion she might have had for Fiyero, except for purely platonic friendship. Having him as a friend would be better than nothing, she thought. She was about to do it in the only way she knew- hiding her emotions behind a thick mask of sarcasm.
Fiyero noticed them sitting on the grass and smiled. Moments later he was sprawled on the grass next to them, letting out a contented sigh. "This is what I call life!" he said, smiling in satisfaction. "I just love spring time!"
"Me too," agreed Nessarose and picked some wild flowers that grew nearby. She began to braid them together.
"That's because it's your birthday, Nessie," said Elphaba and stretched her legs. They were at the same color as the grass, thought Fiyero, an amused smile curling on his lips. She glared at him, as if she knew what he was thinking, and he looked away.
"Really? When is it?" asked Boq.
Nessarose blushed slightly. "In about four weeks," she relied shyly.
"Right before the spring dance," said Fiyero. "How old will you be, little lady?"
"Oh, what a gentleman," Elphaba remarked sarcastically.
"Elphaba!" hissed Nessarose, embarrassed.
Fiyero laughed. "That's okay, I have never pretended to be a gentleman, anyway," he said, looking directly at Elphaba.
She looked away. So it wouldn't be that simple; he was answering back. Well, she'd just have to be more assertive. Assertive, that's right. She could do that. She'd be alright.
"I'll be 18 if you must know."
"All grown up now, huh?" asked Fiyero and kissed her palm.
She giggled. "You are impossible!"
"He's a prince, this is what they do," said Elphaba dryly.
He turned to look at her. "Oh, we do more than that, Miss Elphaba, trust me," he said and winked.
Elphaba frowned, not the least embarrassed, if that was what he was hoping to accomplish with his lame innuendo. "Oh, please. My sister is merely a child, don't ruin her." But that didn't have the desired effect; he threw his head back and laughed.
"I am not a child!" Nessarose protested.
"Where is Miss Galinda?" asked Boq suddenly.
"Yeah, where is my pink roommate?"
"I believe she is practicing spells somewhere," Fiyero replied.
Elphaba smirked. "She'd better! She'll need much more than knowing how to curl her hair in Morrible's practical exam!"
Nessarose shook her head in dismal at her sister's remark. "That's a wicked thing to say."
"Oh, well, let all Oz be agreed- I'm wicked!"
Nessarose knew better than contradicting her sister.
