Just a Girl

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

            The place was no bigger than her old house. Every room in the place was just ‘decent size’. Not huge like Liz’s closet and room. It was normal people sized. Unroyal people sized. Not that anyone of average ranking could afford anything bigger, but still.

            “I chose a place like this,” Ms. Orangleo started, “I wanted not to be looked at as the snobby rich teacher who gets to teach the princess. To me, she is just another girl who happened to be born a princess. It wasn’t her choice…” Her voice trailed off. “So anyways, that’s why this place is so small. Come over here. I have some tea ready for us.”

            Winnie was surprised at how nice her teacher was. Of course she didn’t expect or want her to be mean but, Winnie didn’t realize how close in age they actually were. Winnie was sixteen and Ms. Orangleo was twenty, but she felt good sitting on an average chair, that, surprisingly, the king let into his castle. She was sitting in an average ‘apartment’ if you wanted to call it that, with an average teacher. Ms. Orangleo reminded her of her mother, but of course, Ms. Orangleo was much younger. Ms. Orangleo comforted her in a way that she thought was only possible for a mother to do.

            “What time will Liz be back home?” Winnie wondered, talking out loud.

            “She will be home rather late tonight or not even home at all tonight. The king doesn’t like to leave his castle without a king, but he shall not return to the castle late at night. Stories have it that robbers come out at night. A king unarmed cannot be out that late. You won’t see Liz until noon tomorrow.”

            “I remember hearing those stories or what did you call them in class?”

            “Myths,” Ms. Orangleo said, “You’re book we started reading this morning was the first myth, but not the last one you will see in my class.”

            “Wasn’t it about the two very rich, very noble knights going on a quest to help bring the king’s things to his new big and better castle?”

            “Yes indeed. Then they stopped to rest and their horses got spooked and ran off. The knights weren’t able to go anywhere without their horses. So the God of Thieves, Hermes, took their things and left them sleeping on the street. They were unharmed but they went searching for days to find their spooked horses, but never accomplished finding them. Eventually they wound up in a small village, but with the noble knights’ help, they kept Hermes out, and the village grew, nothing was ever stolen again.”

            “Who is Hermes anyways?”

            “Hermes is the God of Thieves in Greek Mythology.”

            “ Oh, I see.” Winnie said as she looked out the window. She saw that the sun was setting and it was almost past her curfew time. Ms. Orangleo must have read her expression as she looked outside.

            “Don’t worry. The king only has ten butlers but only two are here. If you are with me then you won’t get into trouble. Trust me. That is, unless, you want to go back to the room you share with Liz. You might be a little lonely.”

            “Do you want to stay here tonight?” Ms. Orangleo asked.

            “Yes ma’am.”

            “You know that you don’t need to call me that Winnie. You can call me Mary.”

             With that, they went off in Mary’s room to bed. Mary gave her a night gown to wear.. Winnie smiled as they took blankets on the floor and slept there. It was more natural for both of them.