The Rise of The Animal Defense Force

Dr. Dillamond's History Class

Dr. Dillamond was standing at the front of the room, while everyone was chattering nervously amongst themselves. "Settle down class, settle down now!" He instructed. The room fell quiet as everyone turned their attention to him. "'I have read your most recent essays, and I am amazed to report some progress.' Elphaba couldn't help detect that he was pleasantly surprised by this result. 'Although some of us still tend to favour form over content, Miss G-linda." Galinda quickly corrected him. "It's Galinda." She said. "Yes of course,Miss Gck-Gck-GGG-linda.' Elphaba began to get annoyed. "There's more important matters to attend to then the mere pronunciation of someone's name." She thought to herself.
Galinda continued talking to him. "I really don't see what the problem is, every other professor seems to be able to pronounce my name." Galinda's tone was both patronising and accusatory. Elphaba wasn't having any of it so she decided to speak up for herself. "Maybe perfecting the pronunciation of your precious name is not the sole focus of Doctor Dillamond's life.' She said bitingly. "And maybe he's not like every other professor. Maybe some of us are different!' The last sentence came out a bit louder and angrier than she had intended, but still she meant what she said, even if she was projecting some of her own issues into her remarks.
Galinda shot her a dirty look. "Well it seems like the artichoke is steamed!" The class then began to mumble, but then Dr. Dillamond settled them down and continued to teach. "Doubtless you've noticed I am the sole Animal on the faculty, the 'Token Goat' as it were, but it wasn't always this way. My dear students, how I wish you could've known this place as it once was.' The tone of nostalgia was strongly evident in his voice. "When one could walk these halls and hear an Antelope explicating a sonnet, a Snow Leopard solving an equation, a Wildebeest waxing philosophic! Can you see, dear students, what is becoming lost?' Doctor Dillamond was striding back and forth before the front row of students as he spoke. "How our dear Oz is becoming less and less...' He seemed at a loss for what would describe Oz accurately until his gaze fell on Elphaba's viridian-tinged skin. '...Well, colourful. Now, who can tell me what set this into motion?" Elphaba shot her hand up and answered.
"From what I heard it began with the Great Drought."
"Precisely!" Dr. Dillamond replied. "Food grew scarce, people grew hungrier and angrier. And the question became "whom can we blame?" Can anyone tell me what is meant by the term "scapegoat"? Again Elphaba's hand went up in the air. 'Someone beside Miss Elphaba." This time Galinda put her hand up as well.
"Yes, Miss Gck-linda.' he struggled out."
Galinda rolled her eyes. "It's Galinda, with a "Ga"!' The irritation in her voice was obvious. "And I don't understand why you can't just teach us history instead of always harping on the past.

Doctor Dillamond walked up to the chalkboard as he spoke.

'Well, perhaps these questions that I've prepared-'

As the professor turned the board over it became obvious to all in attendance by the exclamation of shock and surprise that something was wrong. And indeed something was, someone had written "Animals should be seen and not heard" in big garish letters across the board where the Doctor had so carefully written his questions in preparation for the class. Doctor Dillamond took a few moments to recover himself, but when he did his voice was troubled, yet stern.

"Who is responsible for this?' he demanded, but he was rewarded with silence in return. 'I'm waiting for an answer. Very well, that will be all for today.' No one moved despite the fact he had just ended the class early.

"You heard me! Class dismissed!' he yelled, losing restraint on his emotions. The entire class scrambled to gather their school things and hurried out of the hall. Elphaba was moved in sympathy for the professor, and decided then to see if he was alright Nessa noticed Elphaba's reticence to leave and made as if to wait for her. Elphaba told Nessa to go ahead, and she left.

'Animals should be seen and not heard.' Elphaba read aloud. Doctor Dillamond had his back to her, and appeared to be lost in thought. He turned around as she spoke.