Glinda quickly exits the room before her heart breaks again from a grief-stricken Elphie. Glinda quickly leaves the room before her heart breaks again at the hands of a grief-stricken Elphie. With her cousins, she never had so much trouble leaving them alone. But with Elphie it's different. Glinda takes a deep breath as she stands in the hallway. She checks if she has all the stuff. She wonders if she shouldn't go back to her room to keep an eye on Elphie. But she also knows that she can only solve the problem through the book. With a sigh she walks out of the building. She wants to go to Nessa first, but when she gets there, she turns around. 'First to the city for clothes.' Glinda thinks, wanting to skip the hardest part. Glinda looks at the clock and sees that it is already 9 o'clock. She quickly goes to the shops, while it is still quiet.

Glinda buys some beautiful dresses and pyjamas because she can't choose. She knows it's way too much, but she's determined to give little Elphie everything her heart desires. This Elphie won't feel slighted during her stay on Shiz. Glinda also buys a few toys and children's books. Although she hopes it will be unnecessary.

Glinda sees that time has flown by. She pays for everything and hopes her parents don't check their statements that she bought way too much at a children's store, otherwise she would have a lot to explain to her parents.

She figures out how best to approach Nessa. She herself is still very angry with Nessa and has known her long enough to know that Nessa is still angry with her as well. Glinda slows down a bit to come up with a better plan. Because she doesn't want to tell the truth.

''Glin?"

Glinda startles and sees Boq approaching with red eyes.

"Boq, are you all, right?"

Boq gives a small smile. ''Don't know. After last night I don't know. I lay awake all night."

Glinda nods sympathetically. "It has a nasty finish yesterday."

"Did Nessa make it home safely?"

Glinda bites her lip. She hadn't thought about that for a second. "I don't know." Glinda quickly explains what happened between Elphie and Nessa.

Boq rubs his face. "This is all my fault. If I had paid more attention or made it to Elphaba sooner. This whole mess could have been prevented."

"No, Nessa is a grown woman. This is her own fault. You did the right thing.''

''But''

''No, no buts." says Glinda sternly.

Boq lowers his head. He only now sees the bags that Glinda is carrying.

''Do you want to tell us something,'' says Boq in surprise, pointing to the bags.

Glinda looks confused at first and then she starts to tell. It feels better than expected to tell someone her problem. Now it feels like she's not the only one carrying the burden of solving the problem and taking responsibility for a three-year-old.

"Wow wow wow. You mean Elphaba turned into a three-year-old toddler?"

Glinda nods. "I want to solve it before Madame Morrible comes back. But for that I need a book which is in Madame Morrible's room."

"Wow, little Elphie. I haven't seen that one in a long time.'' says Boq dreamily.

''The intention is that you never see her again,'' says Glinda dryly.

"Yes, you're right." says Boq quickly. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Do you understand children? I do have younger nieces and nephews, but this is very different."

"I have some experience, but Fiyero has more experience."

Glinda thought for a moment. Maybe she shouldn't solve this problem alone. The boys can help her. It's also partly Nessa's fault so she gets to help with the problem too. ''I think you are right. I didn't know what I was thinking when I thought I could fix everything myself.'' says Glinda with tears in her eyes.

Boq nods quickly. "Have you eaten anything yet?"

''Food? Oh yes food. That kid must be hungry. Boq, now you see that I can't handle it alone.'' Glinda starts to cry. The stress and worries are too much for her.

Boq tries to comfort Glinda as best he can. "You've done what you think is best. We'll solve it together."

"I'm glad to hear that. I felt so alone, and I miss Elphie."

Boq nods understandably. "I understand what you're going through." He looks longingly at the window that belongs to Nessa's room.

"Sorry Boq, you have your own problems."

"No, you have to understand that Nessa was very different in Muchkinland. It seems that the school is bringing out its bad qualities. She craves attention much more; she is catty and blames everyone for everything. In Muchkinland she wasn't the type to take responsibility for her actions either, but now it's worse. I hope the old Nessa comes back. Because she also has a soft side.'' Boq swallows. "We will first solve the problem with Elphie, that is now more urgent."

Glinda nods. "I hope everything will be ok soon and we can laugh about it."

Boq nods again and wipes a few tears from Glinda's eyes. "I'll go get Fiyero and get some food. You make sure you get the book. Hopefully we will find the answer there."

Glinda checks the clock on Shiz's tower. "Yes, we have to hurry because I said I would only be gone for an hour, it's almost 11 o'clock now. Can a three-year-old read a clock?''

Bob smiles. "No, unless the child is Elphie. She can do and knows everything?"

"Ooh Oz, we're in so much trouble."

Boq says goodbye and quickly runs to the boys' building. Glinda turns with a sigh. Telling the truth is the only way to get into Nessa's room.

She quickly walks upstairs. The building Nessa sleeps in is the only building with an elevator, which is why Frex put Nessa in it. Glinda knocks hard on the door. She hears Nessa driving around with the wheelchair, but the door won't open. Glinda sighs. "Nessa, I hear you moving, open the door, it's easier to talk."

''How so? Is it easier to scold and hurt me with an open door? Or do you want to tell me that you already stole my boyfriend?"

Glinda struggles to control her anger Deep down, she wants to point out to Nessa that Boq is her ex-boyfriend, but she knows it's not the time. "Nessa, I don't have time for this childish behaviour. Elphaba is running out of time, so open the door. Then I'll be the fastest way."

"Why is Elphaba short of time? She doesn't have time for me, so why should I make time for her?"

Glinda hears something in Nessa's voice that makes her think Nessa is in a better state to listen to her. "Listen Nessa, yesterday something happened to Elphie that made her a child again. One of Madame Morrible's books has a counter spell. Then you can make amends as sisters."

It's quiet on the other side. Glinda hears everything and patiently waits for Nessa to open the door a crack.

''What are you talking about? Why did she put a spell on herself? She always does everything wrong."

Glinda sighs. ''Elphie didn't do anything. I did it. I wanted to give her happy moments again. It just went a little wrong."

"I don't believe it, then why were you talking to Boq? To make a plan to thwart me?"

Glinda rolls her eyes. ''Our lives don't revolve around you. I came across Boq by chance. He wants to help right away. He actually wanted to come to you to make it right, but he thinks Elphie's problem is even more important than his own."

"See, anything Elphaba does is ruining my life. She does this on purpose. Now I'll never have a chance to make it up to Boq again."

"If you come with me, Boq will see that you care about your sister. The faster the problem is solved, the faster he can talk to you.'' Glinda decides to take a different approach in the hope that Nessa will cooperate.

"Why are you so nice? You want to take Boq from me."

Glinda starts laughing. "Ooh sorry," says Glinda when she sees Nessa's serious look. "No, I have no feelings for Boq. Never had.''

"I just saw you walking down. He gave you a hug. I do not believe you.''

Glinda starts to get angry. She's never that patient with Nessa. ''Listen. You can come along, and I'll have proof for you. But I can also go back to tell Boq that you don't want to help your sister, how would he react? ''

Nessa thinks. She knows how Boq thinks, otherwise she wouldn't have managed to manipulate him for so long. "I'm going with you, but I don't believe you."

Glinda sighs in relief. "Let me in and I'll get the right book."

Nessa opens the door. ''I am watching you.''

Glinda rolls her eyes. But says nothing.

"Why did you buy children's stuff?"

"I explained that. Those are for Elphie."

''Why so much?''

''Because she deserves everything she wants. She hasn't had much in her life."

"I don't understand what you mean." says Nessa stubbornly. "Father gave her food, clothes and shelter."

Glinda is happy that she found the book quickly, so she no longer has to listen to the nonsense that Nessa tells. ''Let's go. The boys are waiting."

"Boq too?" Nessa asks hopefully.

"Yes, Boq too."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In the meantime.

Elphie doesn't notice that Glinda has left. She is so busy with her drawing for her mother. She colours a sun, tree, house, hearts, and lots of flowers with glitter. When the drawing is ready, she carefully puts it under her bed. She continues with the following crafts. She cuts into pieces of paper, makes drawings and sticks it on another piece of paper until she is done with it. After five crafts, she starts to get tired. She looks around the room. She finds herself getting hungry and she needs to go to the bathroom. She walks to the bathroom and climbs onto the toilet. Only her dress is way too long. She pees all over her dress. Fearing that Glinda will get angry, she takes off the dress and put it in the bathtub. She turns on the water. When the dress is completely wet, she turns off the tap and takes the dress out of the bath. She has seen her mother cleaning her clothes like this when Elphie had an accident. Elphie tries not to wet the ground, but it is impossible. Before she knows it there is a large puddle of water on the floor.

She is looking for something to clean up the water. She sees a towel on the sink. But the sink is too high for her. She jumps to get the towel. Elphie hadn't noticed that Glinda's makeup bag was on the towel. She pulls everything off the sink. Everything crashes to the floor with a bang. Elphie is startled by the sound.

After checking that nothing was broking, Elphie looks curiously at the items on the floor. She forgets about the puddle of water and wraps the towel around herself, because she's starting to get chilly. The items are the same things that her mother sometimes uses when she goes out for a night. She remembers Glinda saying she could use anything. She feels excited. Because mom never lets her use it. If she practices well with Glinda's stuff now, she can show her mom that she's a big girl later at home. Maybe she can also use things that are meant for grown-ups.

Elphie feels very smart and sits down on the towel with her bare buttocks. She picks up several brushes and tries to remember what her mother used them for. She takes a small mirror and puts it against the wall. She picks up the lipstick, knowing for sure where it belongs. She purses her lips like her mother does. She takes the pencils and puts them with the other pencils, thinking that Glinda was mistaken. She picks up several brushes with different colours. She smears the makeup on her cheeks and above her eyes. She knows that her Mommy sometimes closes her eyes, but she can't do that yet. So, she rubs it on her face with her eyes closed. Elphie has no idea what to look at but thinks it's very beautiful. She is proud of herself. She smears the brown stuff a little on her arm, but she thinks it's too sticky.

Elphie slowly starts to get bored and takes a piece of paper to smear different colours on it. She also takes the glitter and smears it a little on her arm where the foundation is also. The glitter stays put and Elphie thinks it looks nice. She also smears some on her other arm and sprinkles the glitter on it. Yes, she is sure that her mother will be proud of her.

Elphie looks at the clock and has no idea what time it is. She just hopes Glinda returns soon with some food. She really wants to go home. She rubs her eyes in fatigue. The makeup stings her eyes. She screams out in pain. Her eye starts to water.

XXXX

Glinda has already gone to her room with the food, while the boys lift Nessa upstairs. Everyone thought it would be a good idea to warn Elphie that more people would come. Glinda also wants Elphie to be dressed. She knows how much Elphie is attached to her privacy.

She hears someone screaming from across the room. She hastily opens the door and throws the things aside. She doesn't see Elphie anywhere. She hears someone sobbing in the bathroom. She hurries over and is shocked when she sees Elphie among the make-up stuff. All her expensive things have been used. Colours are mixed up. The brushes are split because they were pushed too hard.

Glinda looks angrily at Elphie who is tearfully sitting on the floor naked. Glinda grabs Elphie's arm and turns on the shower.

Elphie sobs. "I don't want to, I want mommy." She tries to break away from Glinda.

Glinda says nothing and feels if the water is warm enough. She crouches in front of Elphie and puts a screaming Elphie in the shower. "Close your eyes, it stings less."

Glinda only now realizes what she is doing. She understands that Elphie is crying. But she was so angry that all her makeup had been used. Glinda takes a breath and loosens Elphie's grip. Elphie steps out of the shower and lays her head against Glinda.

"Sorry, sorry, I didn't know. Don't be angry. I want mommy."

Glinda tries to comfort Elphie. She regrets her behaviour. "Shh, calm down. I'm not angry anymore. I was only shocked. I thought you hurt yourself."

''My eyes sting. I want mommy."

''You must be a good girl. I'll put you in the shower. Then you will be clean again. I promise.''

Elphie shakes her head. But let Glinda push herself under the shower. She sobs all the time, until Glinda dries her with a towel.

She slowly opens her eyes.

"Does it still hurt?" Glinda asks softly.

Elphie shakes her head.

"What happened?" Glinda asks in the same tone.

Elphie shakes her head again. Afraid Glinda would get angry.

Glinda says nothing. She dries Elphie well. "I bought you some new clothes, do you want to wear them?"

Elphie avoids Glinda's gaze.

Glinda sighs. She takes the bags and goes back to the bathroom where Elphie is shaking. Glinda again kneels in front of Elphie as she shows the clothes. Glinda can see from the facial expressions that Elphie doesn't like some dresses, but some do.

Elphie cooperates well, despite knowing that she can change herself. But she doesn't want to get in trouble again.

Glinda takes the brush and grabs Elphie's hand back to the room where she settles down on the bed. Slowly Glinda starts to comb the hair. "Elphie honey, I'm not mad. I was only shocked. You were crying. I thought you were hurt."

Elphie shrugs.

''Some things are very expensive. Do you want to stay away from those things next time?"

Elphie nods softly. But otherwise, she looks straight ahead and says nothing.

Glinda sighs. She tries to keep in mind that Elphie is still a scared child. "A number of people are coming to eat with us. Those are friends of mine and you. They're going to help us with the magic problem."

Silently, Glinda continues. She has long finished combing her hair, but she enjoys the process. She has the impression that Elphie likes it too, which surprises her, because the adult Elphie always wants to comb her own hair.

"Mommy always says never to touch that stuff. I wanted to know what it was.'' suddenly sounds in a soft voice.

Glinda smiles. She remembers well that she used to take her mother's make-up stuff to make up her dolls. "It's all right. I'm glad you're not in pain. I can always buy those things."

''Are not you angry?''

''No darling. I was never angry, just shocked."

''I'm sorry.''

''You do not have to say sorry.''

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused."

"Honey, you haven't caused any trouble."

"Yes, I used magic that's why I'm here, I touched your stuff. According to dad, I shouldn't be here.'' Elphie says with a strange kind of self-confidence.

They hear someone knocking on the door.

Glinda grabs Elphie tightly and makes them look into each other's eyes. "Nothing is your fault. You are a sweet child who is good inside. You've been experimenting a bit. I've done that before. No one is hurt. You are supposed to be here. This magic problem is not your fault. But my fault and Nessa's. You are a sweet big girl. Never forget that.''

Elphie hugs Glinda tightly. "Mommy sometimes says that too."

''You now know that mom is always right.'' Glinda says with a smile. Deep down she hates Frex more than anything in the world. How can he make such a child feel that way about herself?

"Come on, let's open the door. Our friends have more food with them. They are curious to see you. It will be fun.''

Elphie stops and looks anxiously at the door.

Glinda smiles. She picks up Elphie, who is surprisingly light for a three-year-old, and heads for the door.

XXXXXX