Strange imaginations by Bridget Kathleen (philippa perry book .TXT) 📕

_______________________________________________________________________

Zalor walked me all the way home. We stopped two houses away though before we parted. "Thank you very much for walking me home." I bowed.
Zalor scratched the back of his head. "You're welcome. By the way, you don't have to bow to me all the time."
     "But I..."
He shook his head. "Anya, stop worrying. I realize it's how you've been brought up. But just remember that when you are around me, you don't have to be so formal. Just be yourself. Ok?" I nodded and he smiled. "Ill see you tomorrow at school." he waved me good-bye and I watched him go until he turned the corner.
     "Good-bye..." I whispered to myself. That was just it though, what Zalor told me. I didn't know how to be myself. I've always watched everything I do, so worried about doing the wrong thing and getting in to trouble and letting others down. Zalor was already teaching me so much and I could already see myself changing.

It wasn't normally like this: running down my neighboring streets on my way to school. I had been up late last night thinking about the day before and Zalor Kain. I was tying the last blue ribbon in my hair and holding a piece of butter toast in my mouth as I ran. I felt like a dork as my heavy book bag jumped up and down on my back. I stopped suddenly at a cross-walk as a car nearly ran me over. The loud honk made me scream and I lost my toast. I moaned because I had only taken two bites out of it and because my ears were ringing now. "Hey, watch it!" the man yelled from inside his car. I gave him an apologetic smile and went on my way, careful to not get almost hit again. If you're wondering, I woke up late, like I said before, I was up late last night for obvious reasons. I slept through my alarm clock and awoke to my mom shaking me and wiping my face with a cold wet rag. Thankfully I made it to my homeroom just in time. In fact, because of all my running, I made it there with a few minutes to spare. I saw Zalor sitting at the desk right behind mine and I noticed a few eyes were looking at me, but I paid no attention to them and I took to my desk and rested my book bag on the back chair and pulled out my book to read. I could feel Zalor looking at me and the rest of the class, but I kept to my book, feeling very uneasy. "You read really slow." I heard Zalor speak behind me.
I blinked once, then twice. "Huh...?"
     "You haven't turned a single page for three minutes." he commented.
I turned the page out of embarrassment. I wasn't reading, I was just staring at the letters with a blank mind, worrying about what everyone was thinking. I did befriend a monkey yesterday and even stood up for him. Could it be that people are now looking down on me for doing so? "I guess I am a slow reader." I said to Zalor.
     "Hmm," I heard him reposition himself. "You don't seem like the type to be slow."
     "People can surprise you." I said. I knew he was grinning, only slightly, though.

The bell rang and the teacher walked in seconds later. He quickly took attendance and sat at his desk with his face in some papers, paying no attention to us kids. "Pst! Hey...Anya?" I heard Zalor whisper my name.
I set my book down, putting my book mark in to hold my place. "Yes?"
     "My mom made me more sweets...would you like to join me after school again?"
I suddenly remembered my photography club. My mind had been so busy and thinking about other things I almost forgot. "I'm sorry." I told him. "I have photography club after school today. Maybe tomorrow?"
     "Oh. Yeah, that works." he seemed a bit disappointed. "Guess I'll just make myself sick by eating it all to myself." I smiled a little at this.

Word was quickly getting around about me being nice to Zalor. Why was it so bad to be nice to a monkey? Yes, they were known as the fools and jokers, but why exactly? In history books they never fully explained WHY. I'm not sure people really remember the reason why anymore only that everyone has ostracized them for so long that it has become like second nature to ignore them when it comes to the pure bred. Maybe there was something wrong with me? When lunch came around Grace still sat with me. She had less food on her tray today. "Not hungry?" I asked. It was burger day and I had already taken a big bite out of mine and shoved a few frys in my mouth as well.
Grace shrugged. "I need to stay in shape for the track season. I can't be eating food that will put me under."
I sighed, knowing that wasn't the only reason. She was always afraid of gaining weight seeing how most of her family was following that pattern and she was scared to fall into it. I didn't blame her though. As for me, I could eat just about anything and lose it all within an hour and be hungry again.
Zalor came up and sat with us at the lunch table. Grace was more than shocked by this and she scooted her tray closer to me. "Excuse me?" she said.
Zalor looked at her and said, "What?"
     "There are other places to sit." she told him.
Zalor thought about this and nodded and then said, "I know, but I chose to sit here. Problem?"
I quickly chimed in. "No. Not a problem." I eyed Grace and then went back to eating. All she did was sigh and slowly eat her fruit. Soon Norman took a seat next to Zalor, his tray slammed on the table loudly, spooking Grace a bit.
     "Must you do that?" she said, irritated.
Norman paid no attention to her though and looked dead straight at Zalor. I watched it all. "Hi, Zalor Kain. What brings you to our school?" he ate a fry.
     "Better education." Zalor said, keeping things civil.
     "I'm sure there are plenty of other school out there with decent education to obtain."
     "This one is the best, though."
     "I still don't understand."
Zalor finished eating the bite he took out of his burger and then spoke. "I studied very hard to get into this school. I could have gotten into any other school that is beneath this one, but I chose to go here. Doesn't everyone want a fair chance at a good education?" he had a valid point and spoke the truth, clearly.
Norman wasn't sure what to say. The feathers on his back were puffing up and he ate more of his food. "Two days, Zalor. You've been here for two days. It's only going to get harder, trust me."
     "Oh, I don't doubt that." Norman took up his tray and sat else where. I was relieved that no fight broke out. It seemed, though, that Grace had lost her appetite completely and went to dump her tray. I expected her to come back but she never did and I was sitting there alone with Zalor. "How long is your photography club?"
     "An hour and a half." I answered.
     "I can wait for you...if you want that is."
I chugged down my chocolate milk. "Hmm. Yeah, I don't mind."
     "I can save the sweets for the walk home then." He picked up his empty tray and left. I looked down at my half eaten food and sighed. For the first time in a long time I wasn't able to finish my lunch and I pushed it aside, a bit disappointed in well...everything.

________________________________________________________________________

After photography class and heading out to the front of the school to walk home I saw Zalor waiting there for me; his little brown bento box resting in his hands. When he saw me he smiled and waved, greeting me. "Did you seriously wait out here for this long?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Nah. I did some walking around the school. Ya know, it's a lot bigger than I imagined."
I giggled a little. "How did you imagine this school?"
Zalor opened the bento box and let me have first pick. I picked up a cream puff and started munching on it. "I imagined it being about this size. Different color and shape though. More pointed and dark looking, but no. It's more flat than anything, and very bright."
"Your imagination of the school sounds a bit scary." I told him, wiping some cream off the side of my lips with my thumb and licked it away. "So, is what you told Norman really true?"
He nodded. "Of course. I have no reason to lie. My mom has brought me up better than that."
I smiled a little. "You talk about your mom quite a bit. I'd like to meet her and your dad...if that's ok."
Zalor seemed surprised to hear this. "Why, Miss Anya, you should at least take me out for dinner first before trying to get yourself in my house." he started laughing and grabbed a rice cake. I blushed again and grabbed some jelly beans, popping them all into my mouth at once. "But uh..." he started. "My dad isn't in the picture. It's always been just my mom and me. She has taught me everything I know."
I felt real sheepish after that. "Oh...uhm. I'm very sorry. Please, forgive me?"
Zalor waved a hand in front of his face as if to swat a fly away. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure my mom would love to meet you." Suddenly a very loud sound like a car screeching as it turned a corner came up from behind us. We both turned to look and sure enough Norman had half his body out the window and a drink in one hand. I knew what was coming and I was still too slow to react. A strawberry milk shake with banana bits in it splattered all over me. My ears twitched as I heard Norman yell, "Geotos monkey lover! Go to the outer cities where you belong!" he laughed and drove off with his friends, the car screeching the whole way down the street. I stood there, bewildered and pissed and shamed. If my ears were long enough they would probably be drooping right about now, but instead, banana bits slid down them and on to the side walk. I tried to wipe the milk shake off my face but the more I tried the more it got in my eyes and soon I just shut them and bowed my head.
     "Those bastards." I heard Zalor say. "Let me help." He took a napkin from his bento box and cleaned the milk shake off my face the best that he could. I was able