Before I had even gotten dressed in a uniformal gown the next morning, Beautricia had turned the other three Daisy Room occupants against me. Everyone gave me the cold shoulder.

I ate breakfast wishing Ella was here, but she would be for lunch. I sat alone, again. After a bit though, the girl that had been sitting next to Ella in sewing sat next to me.

"Hello... you came in with Ella?" she asked. It sounded like she said, "Heyyo... you caimp in with Eyya?"

"Yes..." was all I said.

"So... you know her?"

"Yup..."

"Alright."

We ate silently.

"Well... what room do you sleep in?" she tried again.

"The Daisy Room. And Beautricia has turned them all against me... because of Sewing Class yesterday." She looked happy that I had finally opened a chance for conversation.

"They're just jealous... well, Beautricia is. She used to be the best at sewing. The others probably just don't want to get made fun of or rejected or anything. I know what it is to be tormented... see, I'm not wealthy, and I'm from Ayortha, so I get made fun of all the time! You are better off. If you'd lie low, you'd fit right in."

I laughed.

"Yeah? It's not like I'm around here or anything."

"But you're from Frell, right?"

"No."

"But Ella said that you're Sasha of Frell."

"Oh. Yes. Well. I'm actually from New York City, but know one seems to have heard of it, so they call me Sasha of Frell."

"I see. Sasha is a different name." She didn't mean it meanly, she seemed to just be thinking out loud.

"Well, what's yours?"

"Areida."

"Wow! That is so cool! It's like, totally mystical! I love it!"

Areida looked taken aback, but she looked happy all the same.

"Well, alright, thank you!" She said.

So at Singing Class, (At least I can sing) Music Mistress gave me a sheet of song and said that is what we were going to sing. It was a song entitled, Ode to Spring, by Anna Laetitia Aikin, music by Greg of Mater. I had never heard of it before.

I started to sing,

"Sweet daughter of a rough and stormy fire,

Hoar winter's blooming child; Delightful Spring!" when Music Mistress singled out Ella's voice.

"Ella does not notice that there is more than one note," she announced, "Come here child. Sing this." She played a note on the harpsichord. Ella tried, but failed to hit the note.

"Higher, or we shall send you to a different school to sing with the young gentlemen." Ella tried again. Beautricia covered her ears, for it was too high now. She tried again and was too low. Then she tried once more before hitting the note. Music Mistress played another note and Ella sang it. She sang a scale.

"Whose unshorn locks with leaves

And swelling buds are crowned," we continued, before Music Mistress singled out my voice.

"Ah Sasha! Such a lovely, heavenly voice! Like an angel!"

As I felt my face burn, we continued.

Half an hour later, we had a Dancing class. My partner was a girl named Delicia, one of Hattie's friends.

She was so annoying. She complained about everything. I needed to dance faster, slower, a maid had acted above her station, the room was too drafty, supper last night was ill prepared, Beautricia wore rouge, Sewing Mistress had called her a pansy like her sewing for sewing big stitches, blah, blah, blah...

In Gym Class in my old school, I had excelled in the dancing units, and sure enough, it was only a short time until Dancing Mistress praised my dancing and put down Ella's.

I was finally put down at lunch.

"Uh! The king would be ashamed of you Sasha! Posture like that! Sit up straight! Are you a sack of potatoes or a maiden?" I sat up stick straight but as Manners Mistress moved away, the whole room giggled. I looked at my food.

In Writing Class, Writing Mistress praised me too.

It went like this:

"Now, who can tell me what this means: I see many maidens making much progress." I raised my hand and she told me to try. I thought, Can this get any easier? I told her, and she told that my knowlege of the Ayorthian Language was quite impressive. HUH? Ayorthian? She sounded as if I had just translated something- but she never stopped speaking Kyrrian! Wait! Why did I say Kyrrian? I meant English!

Everyday was the same. I dreaded the other kids hate, and the teachers' praise. But neither let up.

I

wish

I

was

home

!

Author's Note: Please Review!