Chapter 4: I Walk the Line

Elphaba got suspended from school and spend the rest of the day on her own so Lily won't know she got suspended. Every time she took the bus on her own, she would mostly sit at the roof of the bus, but the bus driver doesn't mind that she's on there. When she got home, Elphaba saw her aunt sitting in the dining room and Lily looked like she was expecting Elphaba to come home at the usual time she comes home from school.

"I didn't see you from the window." Elphaba remarked.

"Why didn't you see me then?" she asked, "How was school?"

"Oh, you know, teachers just talked all the time. Giving us a lot of homework. Mostly on math, science, and Oz's favorite, history."

"Don't lie to me, Elphaba Thropp!" Lily shouted, "Where have you been? Sally Lunn tells me she saw you on the roof of the bus. It's as if you chose to embarrass me. Just remember all the things I've done for you. Without me, you would be in a children's home!"

"Like you'll ever let me forget!" Elphaba lashed out which made Lily threw a fruit at her. "That hurt!"

"Good!" They were interrupted when the doorbell rang and Lily got up to get it while Elphaba is starting to leave. "Where do you think you're going?! Don't you walk away!" she shouted at Elphaba but Elphaba left the house. Lily went to the door and saw a young man in clean clothes and fresh cut hair standing at the door. "Whatever it is you're selling we don't want any." Lily said as she opened the door.

"I, erm, here for the ad about an open room." the man said.

"Oh, that's right."

"I'm Avaric Bobbins."

"Who are you?"

"I'm sorry?"

"I meant what are you. What do you do?"

"I'm a university student."

"Of what?"

"Astronomy. I studied astronomy."

"Oh, then come in." Lily said and let Avaric in.

After her little argument with Lily, Elphaba went to her mother's home. Elphaba knocked on the door, but Melena doesn't want to answer the door. Melanie is all alone in her home while Nick and the girls are away and she looked really tired.

"Go away." Melena weakly said.

"Mom? It's me, Elphaba." she said through the door but she decided to leave. When Melanie heard Elphaba's voice, she seems tempted to let her in, but she decided not to answer.

When the mail arrive at Lily's home, new tenant Avaric Bobbins went out to get the mail, but Elphaba got it first. "Hey. Hey. A lady could get the mail herself you know." Elphaba said.

"Sorry about that." Avaric said.

"Oh it's alright there. So how are things at school?"

"It's a university."

"Same thing anyway."

"I study astronomy. You know, the stars."

"Really? That must be exciting. Well, see you later Bobbins. And stay out of trouble, lad." Elphaba said as she gave any unwanted mail to Avaric while Elphaba got one letter. Elphaba saw that the letter she has is from her school about the suspension notice. Elphaba went somewhere far from the house and burn the letter so Lily won't know about her being suspended.


The next day, Elphaba spend the day with her mother at a diner and danced to Elvis Presley's that was playing in a diner. "Oh why can't Lurline made me Elvis?" Elphaba said.

"Because she was saving you for Elphaba Thropp." Melena happily replied, "And I'm really sorry that I didn't let you in yesterday. I was really tired."

"I understand, mom."

"So how was school?"

"I've been suspended, me and Boq."

"Oh Elphaba, what for?"

"Showing off sugar and claiming it was drugs."

"You've not told Lily, haven't you?"

"No. But can I stay at your place? Just during the day. I burned the notice and Lily thinks I'm in school. Please?" Elphaba asked.

Melena agrees, but she wants to make it worth Elphaba's time. When they got home, Melena go banjo out so she can teach it to Elphaba. "Hold it like this. Arm horizontal from the elbow. Strum from the wrist. Think Bo Diddley." Melena said.

"Strum from the wrist." Elphaba joked.

"Do you want to be serious, or I'll phone Lily myself." Melena told her, "Now just strum. And try to hit all the notes." Melena plays the banjo perfectly and sings along while she plays.

I went down to the crossroads,
Tried to flag a ride.
I went down to the crossroads,
Tried to flag a ride.
Nobody seemed to know me,
Everybody passed me by.

"What was that?" Elphaba asked.

"Blues. The father of Rock and Roll." Melena replied, "Well, since you're here, why don't you learn something from it." Melena gave Elphaba the banjo and she started to play. Elphaba practiced the banjo for three days in her mother's house and each day, she's getting better.


When Lily is eating breakfast with Avaric, she received a phone call from Boq's parents. "Oh you don't have to introduce yourselves. I already known about your son being friends with my niece." Lily said through the phone. Boq's parents told her what Boq and Elphaba are up to and she looked concern. Lily decides to go to Boq's home so she can get her answer clearly. "Where is she?" Lily asked Boq. Boq is afraid to answer her but his parents tell Lily where Elphaba is.

"Everyday, it's getting closer. Going faster than a roller coaster. Love like yours will surely come my way..." Elphaba sang as she and Melena played instruments together but Melena stopped playing when she saw Lily with a disappointing look on her face and standing right behind Elphaba. "You're missing it, mom. Come on." Elphaba said since she didn't notice Lily.

"No, Melena. This might be your life, one big common mess, but it's not her's." Lily told Melena, "Are you aware that Elphaba was suspended?"

"Yes. Now I want you out, now." Melena calmly told Lily as she pushed Lily out of her home. After she closed the door, Melena hugged Elphaba thinking that she might not see her again.