"You really did pass?"
"Well.....it's not official, but I think Mrs. Cora really likes me; so…."
"Theo, you can not use brownie points to pass."
"Hey. I am just showing her that at the end of the day, the same tricks she uses on us, we can use on her."
"That's not the point of the class, and you know it."
"I know. I know. The point of the class is to see how well I can greet others; not her."
"Besides, why are you buttering her up anyways? You have your own family. Don't tell me you're….."
"I'm not cheating on her, Ruby. Don't worry."
"Good. Cause thinking of the Kids; I couldn't allow you to continue.
I'd have to find you a new teacher or something."
"You never learn."
"What?"
"Rosa makes the rules, not you. Ruby, you're just an instigator now.....someone else is the voice."
"But what if I want to be the voice?"
"Then wish upon a star. Preferably a morning star."
"A morning...how did you…."
"Cora played it for us. Your song is everywhere. Aren't you...…Ruby?"
"That was supposed to be a personal song that my mom shared with me and that I shared only with the ones who walked in my restaurant."
"I...I'm sorry. I'm sure…."
"It's ok. If it's helping you all...giving you the words that someone couldn't say themselves, then I am happy. Truly."
"Ruby, if you want me to hunt down the person who recorded and posted your song, then nail them to the wall; I'll do it. You know I will."
"Theo, I thought you were reformed. Besides, I already know who did it."
"You do? Perfect. Let's go over there right now and…."
"You do that, you'll be the one getting your butt kicked, not her."
"Is…...is she one of you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing.
*Slurrrrrp*
..Nothing at all.
Thanks for checking in on me, Ruby; but I am doing fine. Honestly."
"Have you seen your family? How is everyone?"
"You know I couldn't tell you that."
"Why not? I'm a friend."
"But apparently they're not. When you struck a deal with Rosa to guarantee my freedom and the freedom of my friends; we could start a new life. Just..."
"Leave the old one behind.
.....I'm so sorry. Had I known the details then I would have…."
"Ruby, what did I say?"
"But I protect. Not sit sidelined."
"You're not sidelined, and you did protect. I'm not dead. Godfathers not dead. No one else is.....and that's all thanks to you. If you could protect everyone then…..I don't know.....I am sure there are even people that you...could never protect no matter how hard you tried."
"You're right about that....…Definetly right."
"Are you crying? What did I...did I trigger something? I'm so sorry. I….."
*Sniff*
"No. It's ok. Sometimes it is best to reminisce. Not your fault at all, but I am fine now.
Have a good one."
"Ruby...…if you're going where I think you're going then remember…..you're an instigator, not a spokesperson."
*Vroom*
"Rosa.....Rosa...….Are you awake? Rosa?"
"I…yuuu…aaaaaggghhhh!!!!!
Ruby, stand back. What are you doing in my castle? You can't just pop in whenever you want. Walk around doing whatever you please. You have to check in with my guards, or at the very least...knock."
"Oh. Uh…
*Knock, Knock, Knock*
Are you up, Rosa?"
"Now I am. By the way, you left your Petals everywhere, last."
"Sorry about that. Maybe I should have just bought a fake dress."
"No. No. It's ok. The cleanup crew and I were able to sit a while and just talk."
"Just talk?"
"Yeah. About life...about political matters.....about the School...…..about you...…about everything really."
"And?"
"We thought it was a good idea. Here."
"What's this?"
"Well, Elwin said we could all pick a classroom, so here's the designs for me and what I want to be taught in it. Oh, and since I am one of the main promotion avenues, I have been getting a lot of questions on when we might be opening. So..….Ahhhh, right there.
That will tell you when the first day of School is."
"Ummm."
"Is something wrong?"
"That's less than a month out."
"But you said you have had lots of people working together on this day in and out."
"Why….yes…but….."
"You want to smear my face in the mud?"
"Well...no, but."
"Ruby, can I be frank with you? What we're giving here is a gift to the giftless. A sliver of hope for the hopeless. A light to the darkness. Showing everyone that even when a light is shut off, there is still a spark. Can I count on you to be that spark?"