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random_nanorimo_stuff2012-10-25 07:37 pm
random_xtras) wrote in random_nanorimo_stuff2012-10-25 07:37 pm
Sylvia Chapter 1
"No, no. This isn't right either, Kaneesha." Margaret Gladstone, teacher of grade eight history and mathematics at Upper Aqueduct middle school shook her head compassionately. "But don't worry, dear. We'll get you a little extra help."
Kaneesha Jones stopped glaring at the peer who had failed on her homework and looked inquiringly toward the teacher. "What kind of help, Mz Gladstone?"
"A peer tutor." Margaret smiled warmly at the stylishly dressed girl. Then all warmth faded from both face and voice as she turned toward the back of the classroom. "Sylvia Paxton! Here. Now!"
Few other people in the class had probably cared to note that the pale girl in the dark back corner was present till the teacher summoned her and she moved. Though people with rich warm skin tones and various shades of dark hair were the norm, she was a throwback to the old days before mankind had moved to the Hosts' world. Her skin was pale, with only faint hints of rose on her cheeks, and her hair was an equally pale golden yellow. The eyes that looked toward the teacher as she walked to the front of the class were also pale, a blue that rarely showed in humanity anymore. True, those eyes seemed nearly to glow at some angles, but no one ever bothered looking at her long enough to learn that. Sylvia Paxton was nothing and no one, just an ugly little thing who was obviously too poor to contribute constructively to society. Her plain shoulder length haircut, serviceable drab unisuit, and clear foot gloves only furthered her lack of claim to anything to interest anyone who was worth noticing things.
Margaret's expression was hard as her black eyes watched the girl's arrival at her desk. "Stop dragging your feet and stand up properly. Kaneesha needs help with her history and math. You're going to be her peer tutor. You can take her books and go to the study hall right now. The two of you can work together for an hour after the bell rings."
She had already smiled at Kaneesha and turned back to her own work when the unthinkable happened.
"I'm sorry, Miss Gladstone," said a soft voice gently. "But I won't be able to tutor Kaneesha."
The teacher froze, convinced that her stim drink was mixed too strongly and making her hear things. But then an angry slap of a computer pad onto the corner of her desk disabused her of the notion.
"What do you mean, you 'won't be able to tutor Kaneesha'?" growled that worthy young lady, her large, dark eyes snapping fire. "You too lily white to tutor a brown girl?"
Sylvia's mouth fell open with surprise, but then closed as she gave her head a quick shake. "No. Of course not. But I have to go straight home from school to take care of my grandfather."
"Like I care about some old broken down white guy," snarled Kaneesha. "Stick him in a home with the other old people. If you don't do what you're told I won't get into Academy Prime."
Margaret's lips thinned with amazed disbelief as she saw Sylvia shake her head again despite the touching appeal and faultless logic of Kaneesha's last statement. She was understandably outraged on Kaneesha's behalf.
"Am I to understand that you are denying needed assistance to the daughter of Aqueduct Middle School's most generous sponsor? A young woman who is full of promise and who has a bright future ahead of her? You? Who are only here at this quality institution because of that sponsor's generosity!!!"
Sylvia's cheeks flushed a deeper rose, but her gaze remained steady. "I'm sorry. My grandfather needs me."
Margaret stared at the hateful, illogical little beast, her shock and anger at such a display of ingratitude rendering her temporarily speechless.
"It's because she thinks she's better than me," said Kaneesha, her expression darkening with disgust. "It's because she's white! She's a Nazi!"
Pale blue eyes flashed toward her and widened as her peers started an angry murmur in the class. "I am not."
"Sylvia." Margaret's voice was choked with indignation and horror. "Take nothing but your personal possessions and go to Mr. Xiao's room."
Sylvia gasped softly, then turned with hanging head to walk down a gauntlet of curious or frightened looks, whispers, threats to report her to the authorities, and cringes away from her to take the small pendant drive, the computer pad, and the old style book that were her own.
"Tree killer!" was someone's parting shot as she escaped into the hall and turned her face toward the room where the unwanted students were sent.
Margaret gave a terse nod, then put a hand to her chest as she fully realized just what a monster had been lurking in the back of her class, endangering innocent members of society all this time.
"But what about me?" Kaneesha asked sadly. "I still need help."
"Don't worry. I'll help you myself." Margaret turned her attention from her own unhappiness to that of the even more distressed thirteen year old. "Everything will be alright, dear."
Kaneesha Jones stopped glaring at the peer who had failed on her homework and looked inquiringly toward the teacher. "What kind of help, Mz Gladstone?"
"A peer tutor." Margaret smiled warmly at the stylishly dressed girl. Then all warmth faded from both face and voice as she turned toward the back of the classroom. "Sylvia Paxton! Here. Now!"
Few other people in the class had probably cared to note that the pale girl in the dark back corner was present till the teacher summoned her and she moved. Though people with rich warm skin tones and various shades of dark hair were the norm, she was a throwback to the old days before mankind had moved to the Hosts' world. Her skin was pale, with only faint hints of rose on her cheeks, and her hair was an equally pale golden yellow. The eyes that looked toward the teacher as she walked to the front of the class were also pale, a blue that rarely showed in humanity anymore. True, those eyes seemed nearly to glow at some angles, but no one ever bothered looking at her long enough to learn that. Sylvia Paxton was nothing and no one, just an ugly little thing who was obviously too poor to contribute constructively to society. Her plain shoulder length haircut, serviceable drab unisuit, and clear foot gloves only furthered her lack of claim to anything to interest anyone who was worth noticing things.
Margaret's expression was hard as her black eyes watched the girl's arrival at her desk. "Stop dragging your feet and stand up properly. Kaneesha needs help with her history and math. You're going to be her peer tutor. You can take her books and go to the study hall right now. The two of you can work together for an hour after the bell rings."
She had already smiled at Kaneesha and turned back to her own work when the unthinkable happened.
"I'm sorry, Miss Gladstone," said a soft voice gently. "But I won't be able to tutor Kaneesha."
The teacher froze, convinced that her stim drink was mixed too strongly and making her hear things. But then an angry slap of a computer pad onto the corner of her desk disabused her of the notion.
"What do you mean, you 'won't be able to tutor Kaneesha'?" growled that worthy young lady, her large, dark eyes snapping fire. "You too lily white to tutor a brown girl?"
Sylvia's mouth fell open with surprise, but then closed as she gave her head a quick shake. "No. Of course not. But I have to go straight home from school to take care of my grandfather."
"Like I care about some old broken down white guy," snarled Kaneesha. "Stick him in a home with the other old people. If you don't do what you're told I won't get into Academy Prime."
Margaret's lips thinned with amazed disbelief as she saw Sylvia shake her head again despite the touching appeal and faultless logic of Kaneesha's last statement. She was understandably outraged on Kaneesha's behalf.
"Am I to understand that you are denying needed assistance to the daughter of Aqueduct Middle School's most generous sponsor? A young woman who is full of promise and who has a bright future ahead of her? You? Who are only here at this quality institution because of that sponsor's generosity!!!"
Sylvia's cheeks flushed a deeper rose, but her gaze remained steady. "I'm sorry. My grandfather needs me."
Margaret stared at the hateful, illogical little beast, her shock and anger at such a display of ingratitude rendering her temporarily speechless.
"It's because she thinks she's better than me," said Kaneesha, her expression darkening with disgust. "It's because she's white! She's a Nazi!"
Pale blue eyes flashed toward her and widened as her peers started an angry murmur in the class. "I am not."
"Sylvia." Margaret's voice was choked with indignation and horror. "Take nothing but your personal possessions and go to Mr. Xiao's room."
Sylvia gasped softly, then turned with hanging head to walk down a gauntlet of curious or frightened looks, whispers, threats to report her to the authorities, and cringes away from her to take the small pendant drive, the computer pad, and the old style book that were her own.
"Tree killer!" was someone's parting shot as she escaped into the hall and turned her face toward the room where the unwanted students were sent.
Margaret gave a terse nod, then put a hand to her chest as she fully realized just what a monster had been lurking in the back of her class, endangering innocent members of society all this time.
"But what about me?" Kaneesha asked sadly. "I still need help."
"Don't worry. I'll help you myself." Margaret turned her attention from her own unhappiness to that of the even more distressed thirteen year old. "Everything will be alright, dear."