A Neglected Perspective || Sisters Grimm

1 || Old Friends

It had been almost three years since her older sister sprouted wings, and Emma Grimm had never felt more neglected by her parents. They weren't doing it on purpose, but Emma didn't know what to do without her parents around anymore.

Her father, Robin Goodfellow, had taken to training his eldest daughter in the ways of Faerie and her job as the crown princess of the Faerie kingdom. Her mother, Sabrina Grimm, had taken to training her eldest daughter to be a fairytale detective and how to protect herself from different types of Everafters. Even Emma's aunt, Daphne Grimm, visited Allison to teach her how to use magical items.

To say the least, Emma didn't feel loved. When she asked why she wasn't getting any training of any sort, she was always given the same answer.

The training that Allison is undergoing is for a dangerous lifestyle. Maybe when you're older, you can learn how to do all these things.

Aunt Daphne did look at her sympathetically, remembering when she was younger and was ridiculed for not being old enough to participate in the family business. Daphne later discussed this with Sabrina, who said she'd rather wait until Emma was done with middle school before starting any training.

Emma still couldn't help but feel as if she's being held from this giant secret that everyone is let in on, excluding herself. It wasn't until one day that Emma had to finally break the rules her parents set for her.

Her principal entered the room with a strange, yet seemingly familiar, woman following him. She was dressed in a white blouse that was covered with a black cardigan, and a black skirt with red polka dots on it. Adorned on her legs were a tinted black pantyhose, her feet covered by shiny, red wedges.

Emma was mesmerized. This woman looked like something straight out of a fairytale. Her hand itched for a pen or pencil. Over the past couple years, the young girl had taken to writing and wanted to write everything she saw. Right now, was one of those moments.

"Alright, you little squirts," the principal boomed, his voice shattering the ears of every child in the small classroom. "This is going to be your new teacher, as Ms. Tike ran out of our lives screaming about demon children."

Emma's peers giggled at the memory. They'd all managed to drive their old teacher insane. Emma, however, had tried to stay out of the unnecessary cruelty as much as she could.

The principal rolled his eyes at them. "Now, children, your new teacher isn't as much of a wuss as your old one," he continued. "She's much more sophisticated and even more experienced. If you manage to drive this one away, you're going to have to deal with me as your teacher for the rest of the year."

"That won't be necessary," the new teacher reassured the principal. Her voice was smooth and regal, a hint of an accent embedded in the tones. "I'm tougher than I look. Some measly children won't frighten me."

Emma was getting chills from this woman. She didn't see anything obviously wrong, but the woman scanned the room from time to time as if she was looking for something distasteful. She unsettled Emma, but Emma couldn't figure out why just yet.

The principal grinned sheepishly at the woman. If Emma squinted, she could've sworn her military-esque principal was blushing. "Well, you seem to have it all under control," the principal stated, not even bothering to look away from the woman, "I'll just be back in my office. Don't hesitate to stop by anytime you like."

The woman nodded and pretty much shooed the doting man out of the classroom. She did try to do it sweetly, but that man was not one to budge. The children watched in amazement at this strange woman, who so easily wooed their principal.

Emma didn't pay attention. She'd already grabbed her notebook and pen amid the strange occasion. She couldn't care less about the affairs within the school. They didn't pertain to her, and she could be doing better things.

The new teacher was just about to begin class when she noticed one of her new pupils with their head down. She was slightly angered that a child was already distracted on her first day on the job. The woman just knew that this child would be her biggest nuisance.

"Young man, what do you think you're doing?" she asked in her posh voice.

The whole class snickered, causing Emma to look up at the noise. She looked around, trying to figure out what they were so amused about, but for the life of her, she could not. Emma then looked in front of her to notice the new teacher looking at her pointedly.

"I must've been mistaken," the woman said. "I figured with that haircut and those clothes that you were a boy."

The class giggled at her remarks, yet again. Emma blushed when she realized that the woman was talking to her. It was the first time that a teacher had actually called her out, and she had been called a boy!

The woman, ignoring the feedback she was already getting on her first day, walked towards the dry erase board positioned at the front of the class. In swift movements, the woman wrote "Mrs. Hart" on the board in perfect cursive. The class sat in awe of her skill.

Emma, if she had not been embarrassed by this woman moments ago, would have envied her penmanship. However, she was still embarrassed, and knew that she would grow to loathe Mrs. Hart. Maybe Emma could model an antagonist after her, and her spontaneous cruelty.

"Now, children," Mrs. Hart began, "this is a fine example of what not to do."

The students giggled again, seemingly enjoying Emma's misery. They weren't usually like this, which struck Emma as odd. Mrs. Hart was effecting the children in so many negative ways.

Mrs. Hart grinned maliciously. Emma had a feeling that she wouldn't like this school year.