School started a few weeks ago but I'm still trying to settle in.
Making friends wasn't as easy as the work. I'm a good student of course but I'm starting to notice it's getting harder to see the text on the chalkboard.
I sat access from Ashley who faced opposite the board. I considered asking her to read the text for me but she scared me. She and her friends drove me off my jungle gym the other day. I ran away after they "accidentally" hit me with a kickball. Even if she didn't mean it at this point I didn't have the time to be hurt.
I taped Danny on the shoulder to get is attention.
"What's our assignment?" I asked pointing to the board
"Yea can't read? You're not the brightest but I didn't know you where a retard." He laughed.
I flushed at his comment. I don't even know why I asked.
"Shut-up!" I yelled red faced.
The entire class turned in my direction. At that moment I found the ground very interesting and studied it as everyone stared.
"Ruby? I do you have something to share with the class?" Ms. Robinson said leaning over her desk.
"N-No ma'm" I said trying to sink into my chair.
"No, please tell us what's wrong." She said pushing her work aside.
"You're being a bit condescending ma'm" I blurted out with thinking.
Ms. Robinson raised a brow and the class began to giggle.
"See me during lunch."
______________________
Ms. Robinson sat me in the middle of the classroom. She paced back and forth in deep thought.
"where did you learn such laguage?"she spoke finally.
"You mean laguageistics or the way I back talked?" i asked.
"The way you use your words."
"I'm sorry but as rude as it may be you were where quite condensing earlier. I do apologize for my rudeness honestly but I feel like my feelings mattered. and if I'm correct you patronize me more often the I'd like."
"you did it again how do you use your words in such a way."
"They are just words nothing special. Dosen't everyone use them."
"Ruby there are different levels of word use. Yours is more advanced then most. it's a shock if any of your peers could understand you. You talk so proper."
I perked up at this. Me advanced? Impossible! But it's wonderful to hear, I mean who turns down a complement.
"Um...thank you. Am I still in trouble?" I asked shifting in my seat.
"Oh yes you are, you should know better then to talk back to your teacher." At that I became a bit disappointed.
"but seeing as your my best student I'll give you a pass just this once but in exchange we will have to talk to your parents about your future in literature."
I smiled like never before. literature she said, the one word no one was ever spoken to me.
______________________
Before recess I went to the library to get a book.
When it was time to go I tucked it under my arm and walk to my new favorite spot.
The teachers sat at the top of a hill that lead to the valley like area of playground. It was perfect for them to see the children playing.
I sat on the slope of the hill near the teachers. It was nice and quite even with the chatter of the teachers talking about whatever.
I opened my favorite book "The Tale of Despereaux". The story of the littlest mouse in the castle. He was so small but everything else about him was big. He was born with his eyes open staring into the light. He saw things others didn't just like me. When his brother told him mice eat books, as soon as his brother left Despereaux read the books in the library even though mice weren't supposed to read.
Despereaux's name meant despire because he was small, sickly, and was born with open eyes. His mother thought he would die soon after birth. I knew he wouldn't after all if I didn't believe in him who would.
I also liked Roscuro the rat. His name ment light. It was ironic because rats hated light. But Roscuro liked it and wanted to leave the dungeon. But in the end when did leave he got his heart broken.
(This is from memory)
Roscuro's heart was shattered. He knew he was a rat that didn't mean he wasn't hurt by Pea's word. Hearts are a strange thing, they break but they can also mend. However when Roscuro's heart healed it looked strange. It was stiched together in a crooked fashion. It was jagged and lopsided, black and blue. His heat was healed but he wasn't the same. He took the golden spoon and took it as his prize but also a warning. A warning of what happens to those who defy nature. And he ran back to the dungeons.
Those words stuck with me as did the rest of the book. Everyone lived unhappy lives. But it's amazing what a bit of soup and forgiveness can do for people.
I dusted my fingers along the frayed edges of the book imaging Despereaux's brother teaching him to chew pages. My love for the story was embarrassing.
I could her my teacher stifle a laugh. I looked up to see her staring with the other teachers. I tried to hide in my book.
"I told you her eyes light up every time she sees a book. It's like she saw divine intervention how much she loves them. It's adorable"
I stared at the page stiffly until I noticed it. It was a picture of baby despereaux with wide eyes staring into the light as his parents and siblings gathered around wandering what was wrong with him.
There is a chance I love this book more then I originally thought possible.
TO BE CONTINUED
I'll start working on the main plot soon but I have to get exposition over with. We don't need plot holes here do we. This is just the set up anyways.
