I stood around, listening to the principal give her "Welcome-to-Shiz-young-students-speech" forcing myself to remain focused and actually pay attention—thanks to all of the training and getting into trouble for not paying attention back at Court—and not zone out, the way I'd wanted to, like I would have in philosophy and get yelled at by the teacher every day.

When we were getting our rooms assigned, I asked, "Would it be possible for Nessa and me,"—deciding that I really wanted to make Duke Gareth proud, instead of talking the way I normally would have before my days at Court—"to get a wheelchair accessible room? I've always cared for her, and I promised Father." Then I learned we wouldn't be rooming together.

I panicked, and when Madame Morrible tried to take Nessa away, I immediately said, "LET HER GO!" Then Nessa wheeled back to me and everyone else just sort of froze. I groaned and muttered, angrily to myself, "I so have to work on control." Nessa glared up at me and said, "You promised this time would be different." Then Madame Morrible walked over to me and said, "You have quite the talent." I shrugged and said, "I only lose control when I get angry, Madame." She nodded and said, "I'll take you as a private student in my sorcery seminar—no other students."

I looked stunned and thought, even Duke Roger wouldn't do that for me back at Court. He just saw me as another student who had the Gift that he had to teach—I know he did—I saw it in his mind.

Then as I listened to Madame Morrible talk about my future, I knew I'd have to talk the Wizard into letting me go on adventures rather than stay in the Emerald City. I also noticed that she seemed a little overly polite—like Duke Roger—and I immediately decided to alert Thom.

"Oh, Miss Elphaba... MANY YEARS HAVE I WAITED FOR A TALENT LIKE YOURS TO APPEAR. WHY I PREDICT THE WIZARD COULD MAKE YOU HIS MAGIC GRAND VIZIER! MY DEAR, MY DEAR, I'LL WRITE AT ONCE TO THE WIZARD—TELL HIM OF YOU IN ADVANCE. WITH A TALENT LIKE YOURS, DEAR, THERE IS A DEFIN-ISH CHANCE, IF YOU WORK AS YOU SHOULD, YOU'LL BE MAKING GOOD..."

I was amazed and I vowed that I'd make good, join the Wizard someday, and most important, I would make Duke Gareth proud of me—because I was the only other female warrior in centuries from Tortall.

I knew Thom would be way jealous if I mentioned meeting the Wizard, though, so I knew it would take me a while to write that letter. I'd worry about it later.

"DID THAT REALLY JUST HAPPEN? HAVE I ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD? THIS WEIRD QUIRK I'VE TRIED TO SUPPRESS OR HIDE IS A TALENT THAT COULD HELP ME MEET THE WIZARD IF I MAKE GOOD, SO I'LL MAKE GOOD... WHEN I MEET THE WIZARD, ONCE I PROVE MY WORTH. AND THEN I MEET THE WIZARD. WHAT I'VE WAITED FOR SINCE—SINCE BIRTH! AND WITH ALL HIS WIZARD WISDOM BY MY LOOKS HE WON'T BE BLINDED. DO YOU THINK THE WIZARD IS DUMB? OR LIKE MUNCHKINS SMALL-MINDED? NO! HE'LL SAY TO ME, "I SEE WHO YOU TRULY ARE: A GIRL ON WHOM I CAN RELY!" AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL BEGIN: THE WIZARD AND I... ONCE I'M WITH THE EIZARD MY WHOLE LIFE WILL CHANGE. 'CUZ ONCE YOU'RE WITH THE WIZARD, NO ONE THINKS YOU'RE STRANGE. NO FATHER IS NOT PROUD OF YOU! NO SISTER ACTS ASHAMED! AND ALL OF OZ HAS TO LOVE YOU WHEN, BY THE WIZARD, YOU'RE ACCLAIMED! AND THIS GIFT—OR THIS CURSE—I HAVE INSIDE, MAYBE AT LAST I'LL KNOW WHY WHEN WE ARE HAND IN HAND—THE WIZARD AND I... AND ONE DAY, HE'LL SAY TO ME, "ELPHABA, A GIRL WHO IS SO SUPERIOR. SHOULDN'T A GIRL WHO'S SO GOOD INSIDE HAVE A MATCHING EXTERIOR AND SINCE FOLKS HERE TO AN ABSURD TO DEGREE SEEMED FIXATED ON YOUR VERDIGRIS, WOULD IT BE ALRIGT BY YOU IF I DE-GREENIFY YOU?" AND THOUGH OF COURSE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. "ALL RIGHT, WHY NOT?" I'LL REPLY. OH, WHAT A PAIR WE'LL BE. THE WIZARD AND I... YES, WHAT A PAIR WE'LL BE. THE WIZARD AND... UNLIMITED, MY FUTURE IS UNLIMITED. AND I'VE JUST HAD A VISION ALMOST LIKE A PROPHECY. I KNOW—IT SOUNDS TRULY CRAZY. AND TRUE, THE VISION'S HAZY. BUT I SWEAR SOMEDAY THERE'LL BE A CELEBRATION THROUGHOUT OZ THAT'S ALL TO DO WITH ME! AND I'LL STAND THERE WITH THE WIZARD, FEELING THINGS I'VE NEVER FELT. AND THOUGH I'D NEVER SHOW IT, I'LL BE SO HAPPY I COULD MELT! AND SO IT WILLL BE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE AND I'LL WANT NOTHING ELSE TILL I DIE. HELD IN SUCH ESTEEM. WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME, THEY WILL SCREAM FOR HALF OF OZ'S FAV'RITE TEAM: THE WIZARD AND I!"