Hello all. I can't exactly say it's been long since I posted, so I don't feel a need to apologize. Sorry for my sour mood—I seriously have my reasons. The next chapter is written—I'm starting on grammar/spelling correction right now.

Tarra

Chapter Nine

Finally Going To Class

Tarra walked through the royal menagerie the next morning, thinking through all that had happened. Mark had said that mother and father where out on business, but he didn't say what. She brushed it off. Probably something unimportant, like what to do with all the extra centaurs that had been born not too long ago. That would explain why Queen Ella went with—she wanted to keep them instead of selling them to that Duke. Tarra liked the unicorns the most—but the centaurs where her second favorite. She didn't really want to get rid of the babies—but, of course, it was not her decision so make.

After feeding some apples to mother's centaur—Apple—I decided to get back to the castle to get to my first class. There was nothing else to do, and I didn't want to make Mark in an even sadder mood.

"I'm very happy you decided to join us, Princess Tarra." Was Brannon's only remark as I slipped into class. Millie was already there.

After calligraphy, I had Elfish, then writing, and then I was free for another hour until I had dancing lessons. Calligraphy was just as hard as it usually was, but Elfish went pretty smoothly. During writing I had some problems paying attention, though.

"Miss Tarra, are you even listening to my lesson?"

I jerked up. What had Miss Lorena said? "Oh...uh... could you repeat the instructions, please?"

She shook her head. "I just asked you and your sister to copy the stanza from the board into your books, Princess. Can you do that?" I felt like saying something smart, but I just nodded and looked at the board.

The Rainy Day

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

The vine still clings to the moldering wall,

But at every gust the dead leaves fall,

And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

My thoughts still cling to the moldering past,

But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,

And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! And cease repining;

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

Thy fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary.

I stared at the board. 'I must remember that poem,' was all I could mumble. I quickly copied it down.

"This week we will learn a new stanza every day. Next week you will pick one out and read it in front of the class. The next day we will have a few more people come in so that you can experience what it is like to recite in front of a crowd. Please keep in mind that you are not supposed to memorize the stanza—I would like you to read it well without having to practice much. That is all for today."

It always perplexed me how the teachers liked to pretend that there where more than two or three people in the classes. It made them look some-what stupid at times. I sighed. I would probably have some problems reciting a stanza. It was hard enough getting in front of a crowd. I shrugged it off. No need to worry about it until next week, anyway. Since we were done, I grabbed my books and walked out of the classroom so I could savor the hour I had before dance lessons. I dreaded them already. Not because I dislike dancing, (I actually enjoy it, if you will believe that) butI amterrible at it. And since I had missed my last class, I was probably worse now.

Walking kind of fast down the hall, I suddenly collided with someone. After pulling my upper torso up off the floor, I looked at whom I had collided with.

He was already standing up and brushing himself off. The lamp above us shone in my eyes and I couldn't make out his face. "Are you alright?" he asked me.

"Ben?" I asked in disbelief.

Do me a favor—please review. I feel less and less like posting because I have been getting exactly 0 percent of reviews. I will post the next chapter, but unless I get reviews, I will probably take some time to post after that. (What, does that sound like a threat? Well... that was kind of the point.) Please keep in mind that I have had a terrible month, (I have visited the dentist at least once a week—I absolutely hate going to the dentist), and on top of that my brand-new 18-speed bike was stolen right out of my back yard. Please—just one little review wont kill you, will it?