Flashback #4

By SchammieLynn

The first time I ever interacted with the children of Oz was quite an interesting experience. A few of them came to the palace everyday for various sorts of lessons, and Alexandra thought it would be good for me to meet some of them.

They're playtime was usually spent on the palace green with a kickball. Nets, they called the game, was a slightly more Oz form of soccer. Munchkin children played it all the time, but I was never allowed to join. I knew all the rules, but I had always preferred to watch.

So Alexandra and I walked over to the green. She'd had all new clothes for me, and for once in my life, I actually felt relatively presentable.

She led me over to the bench by the trees as the group of kids were dividing into teams. One of them ran over to us. He was older than me, with a dirt-streaked face and a missing shirt.

"Miss Aly!" he yelled. "Is this her?"
She laughed, "Yes, meet Essie."
He shoved the ball under his arm and stuck the other hand out, "Essie? I'm Terrance! Nice to meet you!"

"H-hi…" I murmured.

"She's a little shy, Terrance. But you'll watch out for her, right?"
"Of course, Miss Aly!" he exclaimed proudly. "Come on Essie! You know how to play Nets, right?"

I looked up at Alexandra in sheer terror.

"Go on, Essie… These kids are some of the friendliest in Oz. I tutor most of them at the orphanage. Why don't you go have fun. I'll be in the garden nearby tending to a few flowers."
Not wanting to disappoint Alexandra, I hopped off the bench and followed Terrance onto the field. There were only a few other girls, and they all looked relieved to see me join in.

"On my count!" Terrence shouted with glee. He counted down, and I stayed in a defensive position near the net. The game mostly took place on the other end of the field, so I was glad that I wasn't about to embarrass myself.

But the tides quickly turned. All of a sudden, the ball came right in front of me. I readied my little legs to kick it away, but the ball flew past, and I slipped and fell backwards, landing awkwardly on my ankle. Sharp shooting pain went up and down my leg, but I refused to cry.

"Essie!" Terrance yelled. As he was the only one who knew my name, I only expected him to walk over. But there was the whole group of kids, standing around me in a circle. I waited for the teasing. For the yelling. For all the memories to be brought back up that happened in Munchkinland.

But instead, Terrance stuck out a dirtied tan hand of his, "Want some help?"

"M-my…. foot…" I said, as I stumbled to standing.

"Look!" one of the girls cried. "No wonder she fell! There's frost all over this patch of grass."

"I didn't even notice that when we gave you that spot. I'll go get Miss Aly."
"Let's help her to the bench!" a few of the kids chorused, and together, they helped me sit down underneath the tree. I watched Terrance sprint to the gardens, hollering like a lunatic, "Miss Aly! Miss Aly! Essie's hurt!"

"So you're really from Munchkinland?" One of the kids asked, staring curiously at me. "You don't look like a Munchkin."
"I'm not," I giggled. "I'm a human. But I was raised by Munchkins."

"Why?" they chorused.

"I think my real mom was from the Enchanted Forest."

A lot of their jaws dropped and they chorused in oo's and ah's. "Tell us about it!"
"I was just a baby. I don't know," I shrugged. My ankle was steadily throbbing now and a couple of kids began asking if I was alright.
Suddenly I heard quick footsteps and Alexandra's voice, "Essie?! Essie are you alright?"

All the kids backed away and Alexandra stood over me, her face full of worry and fear
"It's just my ankle," I said and looked up at her.

"You had me worried. I'll call the nursing unit," she sighed. "Why don't you children go back to playing nets. She'll be fine."
The kids said their goodbyes and I watched as Alexandra rang for the unit, but one child remained. Terrance. His big silvery eyes were still concerned. "You sure you're alright? This is my fault."
"How?"
"I told you to stand there and I kicked that ball way too hard."

"It's not your fault. Terr…" I stammered awkwardly, momentarily forgetting his name before I blurted, "Terry."
He laughed whole heartedly at this, forgetting his previous concern, "That's a new one. I kind of like it. Anyways, you sure you're alright?"

I nodded, "Go on, you're holding up the game."
"I'll come visit you sometime, Miss Essie. Hope your ankle feels better!" He ran off, still chuckling at my blunder.

I looked back up to Alexandra to find her with tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Without any warning, she wrapped me in a hug and said, "Here I am worried about you and you just made your first friends. I'm so proud of you, Essie."

I hugged back as best as I could given the awkward sitting position. But I would never forget that first embrace between Alexandra and I. It was probably one of the first moments I ever really knew what love was.