SONGS AND TRAILS (Book 1)

CHAPTER 26

"Can you read me a story?" Queenie asked Bella as she tucked her to bed after cleaning her up and giving her dinner.

Surprisingly, Finn was still there helping Arabella with the kid. They had spent the evening upstairs in a room because people were repulsed by Queen's presence, her classmates.

"These clothes are so soft." Queenie rubbed her hands on the silk of her pajamas.

"They used to be mine." Bella told her. "Do you like them?"

"They're comfortable. I love them." she giggled and that warmed Bella's heart.

Bella sat beside her. "You can have more of my clothes if you want."

"Oh! Thank you." Queenie smiled adorably and Bella patted her head. "My story."

"Of course." Bella scooted near her holding onto her. "I could never ruin a night routine."

"Are you going to read it for me like mommy?"

Bella exchanged glances with Finn. "No sweetie, I'll narrate one for you."

"A new story." Queenie removed her blindfold and set it aside, her eyes still closed. "Go on! I'm ready."

"Have you ever heard of the tale of the white and the golden serpents?" Bella started.

Queenie gasped, "Mommy told me about it but she's never narrated it for me."

"Really?" Bella looked at her. "Why?"

"I don't know. She says it reminds her of her home."

Bella looked at her and so did Finn.

"Will you tell me about it?" Queenie asked.

"Of course she will." Finn responded and there was a knock at the already-opened door.

They both turned to see Caldor at the door frame. "Ms. Heydar, can we talk?"

"What are you doing here?" Bella asked.

"Mima told me you'd be here."

"That's not what I asked." Bella told him.

"Bell!" Finn whispered to stop her. "Maybe you should..." he tilted his head to Caldor.

"He's trying to tell you to go talk to him." Queenie verbalized it.

"Thanks, kiddo." Finn said.

Arabella looked at Caldor and got off the bed to go out into the corridors to talk to him after closing the door. They were at a distance from the door.

"Yes?" Bella frowned.

"Ms. Heydar, can we talk without arguing?"

"Okay." she crossed her arms.

"Maybe we started on the wrong foot..."

"No. You started on the wrong foot."

"I'm not trying to bring up the past here but what I'm to do is fix things before you regret it..."

"I regret it? Are you being serious?"

"You're leaving the institution over something so small." Caldor told her.

"So small? Clearly, you've never been disrespected, disregarded, and disagreed on in your life."

"I have seen you get back up when they push you down, I've seen you wash up when they stain you and mostly regain yourself when they scorn you." Caldor said. "You can't tell me now is the time you quit."

"Well, I should've quit a long time ago. I should've walked out when you chased me out of your class or when they pushed me down or when they stained or scorned me." she told him. "I should've kept my peace."