Mira Patil: The Thief of the Gods

Can I Have a Cookie?

I wake up with a start to find my math worksheet covered in drool.

"Ew!" Anisha Deshpande squeals in disgust. "Mira is sleeping again and this time she drooled a lot."

All eyes turn to look at me.

"For being a daughter of the Goddess Saraswati, you sure are bad at being smart," I whisper, loud

enough for the people around us to hear. People around us start snickering.

Anisha sticks out her tongue and continues to say, "at least I'm not in remediation classes."

More snickers from around us.

"At least I'm not fugly," I say a bit too loud.

Now everyone is looking at us and we have earned the attention of our teacher, Dr. Rajesh Suresh.

"Uh oh, here comes the thunder," the person next to me whispers.

Dr. Suresh walks down the aisle between the columns of desks and stops next to mine.

"Mira Patil," he says in his intimidating tone. I shiver.

"You are causing disturbances in my class," Dr. Suresh says nonchalantly, "Is the principal's office looking favorable to you?"

I shake my head vigorously, "No Mister- I mean- Doctor Suresh."

"Then apologize to Ms. Deshpande." I blanch, but the look on his face tells me Dr. Suresh is very serious.

"I'm-" I start. I turn to look at Anisha's snooty face.

"Yes, do go on Mira," Anisha says while looking at her well-manicured nails.

I clear my throat and start again. "I'm sorry about-about."

Anisha leans in closer to hear me better. I can't take it any longer.

"I'm sorry that you're such a brat and you smell like roadkill dipped in flowers." Anisha gasps and starts to cry.

Dr. Suresh, on the other hand, looks down on me, points to the classroom door, and says, "Mira Patil! The principal's office."

(>_<)

I sit quietly in front of the front desk lady, staring at the big bowl of Oreos on her desk. I reach for one, but the lady slaps my hands away. I scowl and try again, but, before I can even get my hand near the bowl, the door to the principal's office swings open. The front desk lady gives me a fanged smile and says, "No cookies for naughty girls. Remove your horrendous presence out of my sight." I stick my tongue out at her and walk into the office.

Principal Amit Sharma is a big, round man with mouse-like eyes and a balding head. He's been the principal of my school long before my parents ever attended and you can tell all those years around children have taken a toll on him.

"Mira Patil," he says, sighing. "This is the third time this week. Your grades and attendance are down. I will have to call your parents."

I reach into a bowl of peppermints that are on his desk and unwrap one.

"The classes here aren't helpful," I say before popping the mint into my mouth.

"So you say," Principal Sharma says. "Mira you have to get better."

Oh boy, here comes the I'm-disappointed-in-you line. "I think it's not working because you don't have enough motivation." I look up from my handful of peppermints. Principal Sharma slides a paper to me. It says:

D.E.P Demigod Exploration Program

Come and stay a month at Camp Half-Blood to learn more about your lineage on the god side! All ages are welcome to explore the activities our camp has to offer! (We are not responsible for any possible deaths :p )

"The Night Bazaar is under some strict circumstances at the moment, so we won't be getting any students from the camp. The council has allowed us to let one student try the program out. You leave in a week." Principal Sharma flatly says.

I look at Principal Sharma and then at the paper. "There's a hidden agenda behind this, right?" I ask. He nods.

"Is this related to some secret project?" I ask. Principal Sharma looks at me with surprise and then nods. I shrug and unwrap another peppermint.

(>_<)

After Principal Sharma gives me the rest of the details, I leave the office feeling ecstatic. A chance to skip school! Who in their right mind wouldn't take up the opportunity? I turn to stick my tongue out at the front desk lady, but in her place is a blue horned Rakshasi with a bajillion piercings. Unfazed, I slide my gaze to her Oreo bowl.

"Did you get in trouble?" the rakshasi asks without looking up from whatever she is reading.

"Nope!" I say and grab two Oreo cookies from the bowl.

As I skip down the hallways of New English High School, I think about what grand scheme the Gods are cooking up in their heavenly abode. I know demigods are pawns in the universe, but using a fifteen year old to do your bidding isn't the best way of proving you're the good guy. I am so lost in the thought that I almost trip over Sahana Datta, my number one bestie in the whole universe.

"God, Mira, where were you?" Sahana asks, "Coach Rajiv is looking for you." I groan as I remember that we have combat training today. Sahana pats my shoulder sympathetically.

"Why do you get so upset over combat training?" she asks as we walk towards the gym. "Beating people up and maiming mannequins is in your genes."

I hand her an Oreo and say, "Coach Rajiv expects me to be so awesome and all that because my dad is- you know." Sahana nods and I notice she is wearing the leather combat suit that I gave her for her birthday. I smile and hand her a peppermint.

"Guess what?" I say. Sahana looks at me with a quizzical look. "I'm going to that Greek Camp we saw last semester!" Sahana swallows and asks, "you mean that place we went to for a field trip because of their historical war with giants?"

I nod. We both start squealing and jumping. A teacher pokes her head out of her classroom and shushes us.

"Sorry Mrs. Bhavani," Sahana whispers. We celebrate silently, instead.