The Nature of the Beast

Chapter 18

Nothing passed by Milica; she was sharp as her lion's teeth. She knew Enid pined for someone, or something. Milica didn't push, it wasn't her way. She just decided Enid needed to focus her attention elsewhere.

Summer was almost over, Enid was a young girl, lost to the world and she needed focus. She needed to stop hiding in the fortress and start going out into the world, making her way.

#

"I'm sending you to school. A girl your age needs schooling to become more. It is important."

"What? I don't need school. I know how to read. I've done all the calculations you have shown me on how much to feed the animals based on their size and weight. School isn't going to teach me anything." Panic welled up inside of her. "I'm not going," she said with force, spurred on by panic.

M sat on the sofa and patted it, urging Enid to come sit. She did so reluctantly.

"But you need me here. If I'm at school, who will help you?"

M nodded and shushed her to be silent. She reached over with her wrinkled old hand, its roughness mirroring Enid's own. She squeezed her and said, "work is not a wolf, it doesn't run into the woods. You can help me before school and after. In the evenings you can work on school work, instead of watching the river."

"I'm scared, I don't know anyone. They'll think I'm strange. I won't fit in," Enid said squeezing M's hand, pleading.

M only shook her head, no. "You must. One day I won't be here. One day you will be on your own and I need to know I have done everything to make sure you can take care of yourself."

"Then teach me your surgeries, teach me what you do. I can take over for you. You take care of yourself just fine without fancy schooling."

"Don't be stupid. This is my life, not yours. You must find your own path," she insisted.

That was that. M would speak of it no more and Enid was going to school. 

She didn't argue anymore but suffered from constant stomachaches and occasional fits of shaking and tightness in her throat and chest. M watched her with a close eye and tried to reassure her she was fine. She wasn't having a heart attack.

"Fear never killed anyone," she said.

Enid was hoping she was wrong, death seemed preferable to school in a strange country.

"You are a strong and brave girl. School is just one more adventure you are going to have."

Enid wished that were true.

#

On the morning of her first day of school, she and M went about their daily routine feeding and watering the animals and cleaning out a few cages. Enid dallied and puttered, drawing the morning ritual out as long as she could.

M snapped at her to hurry and get washed up and ready. She washed her hands and M brushed her hair and braided it. Then M went over to her large wooden desk and took out a package for Enid.

It was wrapped in brown paper with a little string tied around it and knotted in a bow. Tears came to Enid's eyes, her fear of the coming day forgotten. She rushed to open it. Her gift contained two shiny pencils and a large book, full of empty pages.

"For you to start school off right," M said, pulling on her cigarette.

Enid rushed to hug M, hiding her tears in her hair. This must have cost M dearly; money didn't come often from surgeries. When it did it was used for necessities and the animals. Enid blushed. She was ashamed of herself for acting like a petulant child these past few days. She could do this, M was right. She could be strong and confident. She would do this for M, and it would be fine.