The Mockingbird

The mockingbird hated children. The unruly, ever happy beings that couldn't be controlled by anyone. Honestly, she felt bad for their parents. But, of course, she understood some of the parents couldn't afford to help their children, and when the community homes were full, these children became street urchins. Those were the children she could tolerate. She actually enjoyed watching them play despite their rough life, and figure out new ways to steal food to survive. She admired their strength and perseverance. But, there were also the rich kids whose parents always spoiled them and showered them with expensive gifts. Despite all of this hatred of children, the mockingbird found there was one child that was, despite it all, undoubtedly incredible. Her name was Celaena.

Celaena had grown up a street rat, but had been adopted into a rich family. She was used to fighting to survive, and had found the change quite confusing. She did, however look after her new siblings, help out around the house, and had become quite loved around the neighborhood, unlike her neighbor's brats. But, when the other kids invited her around town to desecrate and vandalize the statues, she never agreed. For this, she became the laughing stock of her whole school. Or maybe it was because she was a nerd and had straight A's, working harder than anyone else. The mockingbird believed it was the latter. Celaena was constantly the subject of bullying, but it didn't break her spirit. She simply ignored it. She was especially good at rhetoric and creative writing. That was how she got her feelings out.

But, of course, there is the case of Hunter Sharir. His last name literally mean evil. Never trust anyone like that, that's what the mockingbird says. He beat her up once, leaving her with a bloody lip and bruised cheekbones. There were small fissures in her skin, bleeding a little. She managed to prevent the black eye. She limped home from school that day, and sat in the garden while waiting for her parents and siblings to arrive home. Then, she whistled a song so beautiful, the mockingbird mimicked it. She looked at the bird in amazement. A bond was made.

Celaena healed quickly, and when she went back to school the next day, the mockingbird followed her. "Oi! Nerd! You've got a bird following you!" She didn't mind. What she did mind was when someone muttered some profane words at her. She didn't hesitate to tackle them into a locker. Their eyes locked. Hunter Sharir. He grinned at her, a sly fox grin.

Celaena figured if the teachers wouldn't chastise him for his bullying, then she would. She punched him hard in the face, and left him to complain in the hallway. The other students, seeing what the 'nerd' could do now held her with deference and respect. They kept their distance. When Celaena got home, she played with the mockingbird outside, seemingly having forgotten what happened at school earlier that day. These games seemed to rejuvenate the mockingbird. She felt like a child again, playing. But Hunter saw Celaena whistling to the bird in the park. He caught the mockingbird in a net, and kept it in a birdcage to show-off at school. This made Celaena invoke the schoolyard right of tattle-telling. Two can play at this game, she thought. The school forced Hunter to release the bird.

However, he claimed she had caught the bird and given it to him. He claimed since the mockingbird knew of the songs the girl whistled, the girl had the bird as a pet for longer, and was there for culpable. Celaena had gone home for the day by that time, and so the teachers arrived at her house, and told her parents they were harboring a bird-kidnapper. It sounded ludicrous, and the mockingbird landed on Celaena's shoulder as she explained to the principle that the mockingbird just followed her around a little. Since the principle was a layman at his job, he believed everything he heard, and hadn't yet gotten used to the fact that certain students always lied. The mockingbird died of the shock that the principle would accuse such an innocent girl of all of this rubbish. Because of her death, the principle could no longer prove it was Celaena's fault.

She never forgave Hunter for stealing her mockingbird away from her, but the bird's presence was ubiquitous. Celaena heard all of those whistles in the trees. The other mockingbirds. From then onwards, she had a last name. A family name. A way to fit in.

Celaena Mockingbird.