Pangaia: Agendas (Year One: Fall)

Chapter Eight - Cheyenne

 Mrs. Orinda and Mr. Thantos had many hours to talk as they drove, and it was time for Cheyenne to get some answers. Their constant bickering could only provide so much entertainment, and the last thing she wanted to do was think about the horrible and painful farewell from home between her and her mother.

True to her words from the night before, Cheyenne hadn't said anything. There were many tears. I could have at least said goodbye. Thank you. Something.

No. She lied. We'll talk again when I decide to.

She had a real family to learn about now.

"So you said this school was for other freakish people like me," Cheyenne said as she sat up in the backseat of the black SUV they traveled in. She pulled her headphones out of her ears, and carefully put her phone back into its proper place.

Mr. Thantos was driving and he seemed un-amused by her choice of wording, but it was hard to tell if this was because nothing amused him or because he was insulted by her terminology. She did however get a wince out of Mrs. Orinda.

"I guess freakish is one word for it, but I'd rather not say that," Mrs. Orinda said.

Mr. Thantos rolled his eyes. "She prefers to use cliché and cheesy terms such as 'gifted' and 'special'. They are words which mean well but only alienate and dilute the minds of the young students she teaches. I prefer 'different', or yes, even 'freakish'. It is important the students understand that not only are they unique from the rest of the world, but they are rare. We are all abnormalities. Students who believe they are special are surprised when they are hated and looked down upon for having their various 'gifts'. They do not understand the importance of keeping their lives a secret from those who do not understand what they are. The normal human population cannot wrap their mind around the idea that the myths they have heard and studied are in fact real." He started to talk only to Mrs. Orinda now. "You are only setting up your students, children, for years of future heartache. It is safer for them, as well as the humans they interact with, to tell them the truth."

"I hope you remember they are all only children," she said. "How am I supposed to explain to a five-year-old that if anyone outside the school knew what they were, they'd be in danger and hated? In some cases, even in their own families. Five-year-olds don't grasp those kinds of concepts well."

"A five-year-old is much smarter than you think," he countered. "Your society belittles youth far too much. Granted, they seem to also believe they are more unintelligent than they are capable. I remember a time when some as young as thirteen would be wed and in charge of entire estates, and they certainly seemed to do things just fine."

"I think that's disgusting."

"Perhaps it is," he said. "The point is, you should not underestimate anyone based on any cultural ideas or stereotypes. I certainly was wrong about my initial perceptions of you."

Mrs. Orinda gazed over at him. "And what were those?"

"It would not be edifying to you for me to say."

"Since when did you care?"

He glanced back at Cheyenne through the rear-view mirror. "If you remember by the time we get back home, I will tell you then. However, we are getting more and more sidetracked from the task of answering Miss Loveless' questions." There was a moment of silence in the car. The only noise being the sound of the wheels moving quickly over the sporadically uneven pavement and the unidentifiable tunes pouring out of the stereo speakers. "That was your cue to ask another question, Miss Loveless. I do not like to read minds. It makes me uncomfortable. I try to avoid it as much as possible."