This post is just answering to some of your comments.
To Bookworm-- as you probably already have figured out, they will be on a mission to stop Asher Alexander on breaking the watertowers. (Alexander thinks that exploding water towers will help water grass.)
To Elizabeth-- well, the 'parts' aren't chapters, really. So I just post whatever I've written so far. Yeah, all of you should know that. Just making sure you know that I'm not choosing chapters yet. And if you guys have any suggestions, then just comment and tell me where. :) Thanks!
Also to Elizabeth-- yes... Antonio's cologne. I will go fix that. (It's supposed to be Anthony's cologne.)
More for Elizabeth-- They aren't really going through training. It's just so that Alexander can tell them his plan and make sure they'll know how to carry it out.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 9)
“Petra.”
Collier kneeled at the couch, shaking his sister’s shoulder.
“Petra.”
Petra rolled over and opened her eyes.
“I’m leaving now,” Collier whispered.
“Okay,” Petra said in a full voice. Then she rolled back around and fell right asleep.
When she woke up two hours later, the sun was shining in her eyes. She rolled over to check on Collier. His sleeping bag was empty.
Rubbing her eyes, Petra remembered him waking her up earlier. She swung her legs off the couch and stumbled a bookshelf that served as her drawer. She took a navy blue t-shirt and khaki shorts off the top of her clothes pile. She grabbed her toothbrush and comb, and then made her way out the door and into the bathroom down the hall. A tall lady greeted her; she only nodded and looked down.
Well, that was embarrassing, Petra thought. I wish we had a bathroom in that room. Then no one would see me right after I wake up.
She closed the bathroom door behind her.
As she ran the comb through her short hair, she thought about Collier. What was he doing? Was he okay?
She brushed her teeth with mint toothpaste. It was the same kind she had back at the boarding school.
She splashed water on her face and wiped it dry with a towel.
After changing her clothes, she opened the door and walked back down to her room. She looked at the clock. It was 9:14. She still had about fifteen more minutes before Mr. Murphy came.
To pass the time, she started reading about wildlife. By the prices on the back of the books, she had figured that the books had just been bought for decorating purposes. But they were books, and that was all she really needed.
Someone knocked on the door.
She looked up.
A tall man was standing in the open doorway.
“May I come in?” he asked.
Petra quickly closed the book and stood up.
“Yes,” she answered.
The man walked in.
“I’m Mr. Murphy. And you are—“
“I’m Petra.”
“Ah. So Collier is with Alexander.”
“Yes. I mean, I guess.”
“So. We will being our studies.”
Collier kneeled at the couch, shaking his sister’s shoulder.
“Petra.”
Petra rolled over and opened her eyes.
“I’m leaving now,” Collier whispered.
“Okay,” Petra said in a full voice. Then she rolled back around and fell right asleep.
When she woke up two hours later, the sun was shining in her eyes. She rolled over to check on Collier. His sleeping bag was empty.
Rubbing her eyes, Petra remembered him waking her up earlier. She swung her legs off the couch and stumbled a bookshelf that served as her drawer. She took a navy blue t-shirt and khaki shorts off the top of her clothes pile. She grabbed her toothbrush and comb, and then made her way out the door and into the bathroom down the hall. A tall lady greeted her; she only nodded and looked down.
Well, that was embarrassing, Petra thought. I wish we had a bathroom in that room. Then no one would see me right after I wake up.
She closed the bathroom door behind her.
As she ran the comb through her short hair, she thought about Collier. What was he doing? Was he okay?
She brushed her teeth with mint toothpaste. It was the same kind she had back at the boarding school.
She splashed water on her face and wiped it dry with a towel.
After changing her clothes, she opened the door and walked back down to her room. She looked at the clock. It was 9:14. She still had about fifteen more minutes before Mr. Murphy came.
To pass the time, she started reading about wildlife. By the prices on the back of the books, she had figured that the books had just been bought for decorating purposes. But they were books, and that was all she really needed.
Someone knocked on the door.
She looked up.
A tall man was standing in the open doorway.
“May I come in?” he asked.
Petra quickly closed the book and stood up.
“Yes,” she answered.
The man walked in.
“I’m Mr. Murphy. And you are—“
“I’m Petra.”
“Ah. So Collier is with Alexander.”
“Yes. I mean, I guess.”
“So. We will being our studies.”
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 8)
And then they realized that they were plummeting down. Petra screamed and clung onto Collier.
Down they went, underground.
Finally, the elevator beeped, and the screen overhead read ’15.’ Petra looked at Collier with large eyes.
Collier rushed her out.
“Come on, Petra, we don’t have all day!”
They stepped out into a nicely furnished hallway that stretched before them. The carpet was teal and the walls were a bright shade of white.
“Let’s go,” Collier urged.
They tiptoed down the hall to the only door at the end, which read “Vice-President Stein.’
Petra peeked in and saw a normal office.
“What’s in there?” Collier asked.
“Nothing,” Petra answered.
“There can’t be nothing.”
Collier pushed Petra aside and peeked in.
“There’s a desk, a chair, a—“
“Well, I know that, I was just saying that there was nothing strange.”
Collier came back down.
“Well, now we know where his office is. Wait. What’s that sound?”
The twins froze as they heard a distinct sound—the elevator coming down.
“Where do we hide?” Petra hurriedly asked.
“I don’t know, there’s nowhere—“
Just then, the doors opened and Professor stepped out.
“Oh, of course! My little secret agents.”
Petra stepped forward.
“I can explain, Professor. Collier and I were just—“
“Oh, no, I’m not mad.”
“You’re not?”
“No. I am not. I’m glad, in fact. I’m very proud that you two were curious enough to try to find my office, and smart enough to do so. Curiosity and smartness are exceptional qualities of secret agents. But now it is time for dinner. We’ll go back up and I’ll take you two out to eat. It’ll be a pre-celebration.”
The children showed puzzled looks.
“Well, because you two are going to be on your mission to stop Asher Alexander from exploding all the water towers. Tonight will be the last night before you start that. So what do you say about going out for dinner?”
The twins nodded.
“Okay, then. Do you have any requests?”
“No, anywhere’s fine,” Collier responded.
Sitting in a booth in a fancy Italian restaurant, Petra sipped her iced tea.
“Professor, when will my tutoring begin tomorrow?”
Professor swallowed a piece of bread he was eating and answered, “9:30 in the morning. Mr. Murphy will bring all the books you need. You’ll have the conference room 5H as your classroom. It’ll end whenever you get everything done.”
Then a waitress walked up to the table. Petra noticed that her nametag read ‘Vanessa.’
“Are you ready to take your orders?” she asked.
“Yes,” Professor answered. Pointing in the menu, he ordered chicken fettuccine.
The waitress looked at Collier.
“I’d like the Italian sausage pizza, please.”
The waitress nodded, wrote down Collier’s orders, and looked at Petra.
“And you, little Mister?” she asked.
Collier choked on his water and began to snicker. Professor shot him a glare. The waitress looked back and forth between them, and tucked her hair behind her ear self-consciously.
“I’d like the three-cheese lasagna,” Petra said quietly.
“Okay, your order will be out in about fifteen minutes,” the waitress said, taking up their menus.
“Petra?” Collier asked.
Petra didn’t know what to think of this. It was funny, but hurtful. After all, the waitress didn’t mean to.
Then she broke out in a grin. A wave of relief washed over the table.
“She thought you were a boy,” Collier laughed.
“Well, I do look like one, don’t I?”
Professor turned to Petra.
“By the way, how should I tell you two apart?”
Collier and Petra studied each other’s features.
“Well, I’m not sure you can,” Collier responded.
“Hey, I have an idea!” Petra exclaimed. “I’ll wear certain colors, and Collier will wear others.”
Collier nodded.
“I’ll wear red, orange, yellow, brown, and black. You can wear white, green, blue—“
“Yeah, I get it. Do you think that’s a good idea?” Petra turned to Professor.
“It’s a great idea.”
Collier pushed his Kid’s Meal menu to Petra.
“Look. I finished the word search.”
“Well, I finished the maze.”
“Hey! Let me look like that!”
“No! You do it yourself!”
Professor smiled. These kids were perfect—they were mature and they were also still kids.
Down they went, underground.
Finally, the elevator beeped, and the screen overhead read ’15.’ Petra looked at Collier with large eyes.
Collier rushed her out.
“Come on, Petra, we don’t have all day!”
They stepped out into a nicely furnished hallway that stretched before them. The carpet was teal and the walls were a bright shade of white.
“Let’s go,” Collier urged.
They tiptoed down the hall to the only door at the end, which read “Vice-President Stein.’
Petra peeked in and saw a normal office.
“What’s in there?” Collier asked.
“Nothing,” Petra answered.
“There can’t be nothing.”
Collier pushed Petra aside and peeked in.
“There’s a desk, a chair, a—“
“Well, I know that, I was just saying that there was nothing strange.”
Collier came back down.
“Well, now we know where his office is. Wait. What’s that sound?”
The twins froze as they heard a distinct sound—the elevator coming down.
“Where do we hide?” Petra hurriedly asked.
“I don’t know, there’s nowhere—“
Just then, the doors opened and Professor stepped out.
“Oh, of course! My little secret agents.”
Petra stepped forward.
“I can explain, Professor. Collier and I were just—“
“Oh, no, I’m not mad.”
“You’re not?”
“No. I am not. I’m glad, in fact. I’m very proud that you two were curious enough to try to find my office, and smart enough to do so. Curiosity and smartness are exceptional qualities of secret agents. But now it is time for dinner. We’ll go back up and I’ll take you two out to eat. It’ll be a pre-celebration.”
The children showed puzzled looks.
“Well, because you two are going to be on your mission to stop Asher Alexander from exploding all the water towers. Tonight will be the last night before you start that. So what do you say about going out for dinner?”
The twins nodded.
“Okay, then. Do you have any requests?”
“No, anywhere’s fine,” Collier responded.
Sitting in a booth in a fancy Italian restaurant, Petra sipped her iced tea.
“Professor, when will my tutoring begin tomorrow?”
Professor swallowed a piece of bread he was eating and answered, “9:30 in the morning. Mr. Murphy will bring all the books you need. You’ll have the conference room 5H as your classroom. It’ll end whenever you get everything done.”
Then a waitress walked up to the table. Petra noticed that her nametag read ‘Vanessa.’
“Are you ready to take your orders?” she asked.
“Yes,” Professor answered. Pointing in the menu, he ordered chicken fettuccine.
The waitress looked at Collier.
“I’d like the Italian sausage pizza, please.”
The waitress nodded, wrote down Collier’s orders, and looked at Petra.
“And you, little Mister?” she asked.
Collier choked on his water and began to snicker. Professor shot him a glare. The waitress looked back and forth between them, and tucked her hair behind her ear self-consciously.
“I’d like the three-cheese lasagna,” Petra said quietly.
“Okay, your order will be out in about fifteen minutes,” the waitress said, taking up their menus.
“Petra?” Collier asked.
Petra didn’t know what to think of this. It was funny, but hurtful. After all, the waitress didn’t mean to.
Then she broke out in a grin. A wave of relief washed over the table.
“She thought you were a boy,” Collier laughed.
“Well, I do look like one, don’t I?”
Professor turned to Petra.
“By the way, how should I tell you two apart?”
Collier and Petra studied each other’s features.
“Well, I’m not sure you can,” Collier responded.
“Hey, I have an idea!” Petra exclaimed. “I’ll wear certain colors, and Collier will wear others.”
Collier nodded.
“I’ll wear red, orange, yellow, brown, and black. You can wear white, green, blue—“
“Yeah, I get it. Do you think that’s a good idea?” Petra turned to Professor.
“It’s a great idea.”
Collier pushed his Kid’s Meal menu to Petra.
“Look. I finished the word search.”
“Well, I finished the maze.”
“Hey! Let me look like that!”
“No! You do it yourself!”
Professor smiled. These kids were perfect—they were mature and they were also still kids.
Saving Professor (Part 7)
The rest of the day was spent with the two twins wandering around the building. All of the workers were some sort of secret agents, and they all had been told about Petra and Collier.
After exploring numerous floors (and even ones that had “Do not enter” boldly posted on them) they found themselves in the elevator. It was an especially amusing one, because it was glass. They could see out the window and over the city as they went up and down.
“Hey, remember how that lady told you to go to the fifteenth floor?” Collier asked.
“Yeah. That was weird, wasn’t it? There is no fifteenth floor.”
“No, I bet there is. We just have to find it.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, we just have to think about it.”
The elevator clicked and the doors opened. The twins walked out onto the sixth floor.
“There’s no way that she would have made that mistake,” Collier continued.
“Maybe we just understood her wrong?”
“How big are the chances that both you and I heard her say the same thing and it turns out we weren’t even right at all? Besides, remember when that man told Professor not to bring us to his office?”
“Right. Yeah, I remember.”
“And he never did, right? So his office is on the fourteenth floor, but he doesn’t want everyone to know that.”
“And neither does that man.”
“I know, right? So we just need to find that floor.”
“Don’t you think Professor’s going to show it to us sometime?”
“Maybe. But it’s more fun finding it by ourselves. What do you say?”
“Yeah. Let’s go for it!”
The kids dashed back into the elevator and examined the buttons.
“The numbers only go to fourteen. The other buttons are ‘Fire Alarm,’ these are probably for keeping the doors open and closed, and this is the basement.”
“Wait, Collier?”
“Huh?”
“You thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Yeah, I think so. Push the button.”
Petra punched the button that was labeled “Basement.” The elevator started going down. It went down, down, down… and eventually they couldn’t see anything out of the window, because they were underground.
Then the doors opened and revealed—
A parking lot.
Their hearts sank.
“I don’t think this is it,” Petra noted.
“No, really?” Collier asked sarcastically. “Let’s go back.”
“Yeah.”
The doors closed and they punched in ’14.’ On the way up, Collier pointed out, “We haven’t tried all the buttons yet. Let’s do that.”
The elevator beeped and the doors opened.
Collier pressed the open button. The doors stayed the same. Then he pressed the close buttons. The doors closed, and the elevator stayed where it was.
“Now what?” he asked.
“I guess we should’ve gone out.”
“Yeah, probably so.”
Petra leaned over to press the open button, but, instead, she accidentally pushed the close button again.
“Petra, what are you doing?”
“I don’t know, I—“
And then they realized that they were plummeting down. Petra screamed and clung onto Collier.
After exploring numerous floors (and even ones that had “Do not enter” boldly posted on them) they found themselves in the elevator. It was an especially amusing one, because it was glass. They could see out the window and over the city as they went up and down.
“Hey, remember how that lady told you to go to the fifteenth floor?” Collier asked.
“Yeah. That was weird, wasn’t it? There is no fifteenth floor.”
“No, I bet there is. We just have to find it.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, we just have to think about it.”
The elevator clicked and the doors opened. The twins walked out onto the sixth floor.
“There’s no way that she would have made that mistake,” Collier continued.
“Maybe we just understood her wrong?”
“How big are the chances that both you and I heard her say the same thing and it turns out we weren’t even right at all? Besides, remember when that man told Professor not to bring us to his office?”
“Right. Yeah, I remember.”
“And he never did, right? So his office is on the fourteenth floor, but he doesn’t want everyone to know that.”
“And neither does that man.”
“I know, right? So we just need to find that floor.”
“Don’t you think Professor’s going to show it to us sometime?”
“Maybe. But it’s more fun finding it by ourselves. What do you say?”
“Yeah. Let’s go for it!”
The kids dashed back into the elevator and examined the buttons.
“The numbers only go to fourteen. The other buttons are ‘Fire Alarm,’ these are probably for keeping the doors open and closed, and this is the basement.”
“Wait, Collier?”
“Huh?”
“You thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Yeah, I think so. Push the button.”
Petra punched the button that was labeled “Basement.” The elevator started going down. It went down, down, down… and eventually they couldn’t see anything out of the window, because they were underground.
Then the doors opened and revealed—
A parking lot.
Their hearts sank.
“I don’t think this is it,” Petra noted.
“No, really?” Collier asked sarcastically. “Let’s go back.”
“Yeah.”
The doors closed and they punched in ’14.’ On the way up, Collier pointed out, “We haven’t tried all the buttons yet. Let’s do that.”
The elevator beeped and the doors opened.
Collier pressed the open button. The doors stayed the same. Then he pressed the close buttons. The doors closed, and the elevator stayed where it was.
“Now what?” he asked.
“I guess we should’ve gone out.”
“Yeah, probably so.”
Petra leaned over to press the open button, but, instead, she accidentally pushed the close button again.
“Petra, what are you doing?”
“I don’t know, I—“
And then they realized that they were plummeting down. Petra screamed and clung onto Collier.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 6)
Petra woke up early in the morning. For a moment she panicked, forgetting where she was.
She was in a room at the glass building. She slept on a couch, and Collier slept on the floor. Today they would begin their help.
Collier stirred in his sleep.
Petra got up and walked to a bookcase in the far corner. She looked through the books. Nothing really interested her, so she chose a random comic book on the bottom shelf. She slouched back onto the couch and started to read.
She was almost halfway through when she noticed Collier sitting up and looking at her.
“Good morning,” she greeted him.
“Mmmph,” he responded.
“What are you doing?”
“Uuuuuhn.”
“Okay. That’s great.” Petra returned to her reading as Collier slumped back onto the floor and covered his head with his pillow.
Just then, Professor walked into the room.
“Collier, is Petra up yet?” he asked. “I need to show both of you something.”
Petra looked down at Collier, expecting him to wake up. Then she looked back at Professor, then realized that he was talking to her.
“Professor? I’m Petra.”
Professor’s eyes widened, and he scratched his chin.
“Oh. I’m sorry, Petra. So Collier is still asleep?” He eyed the lump under the blanket. Petra nodded.
“Collier, time to get up.”
Collier sent out a murmuring sound.
“Collier.”
He sat up.
“Huh?”
“Professor has to tell us something.”
Professor looked at Petra, then at Collier. Then he knelt down beside them.
“Okay, here’s the deal. Remember that Asher Alexander guy I told you about yesterday?”
The twins nodded.
“Well, I sent in a request for you going, and he accepted. So you two are going to go on that mission, for sure.”
Petra and Collier exchanged nervous glances.
“You start tomorrow at 8:00 am sharp. It takes thirty minutes to get to his place, so we’ll have to leave at 7:30. You’ll choose for yourself when you’re going to wake up. Now who goes first?”
Petra looked at Collier. He sighed.
“I’ll go, Professor,” he volunteered.
“Okay. So I’ll be in at 7:15 to make sure you’re up. All right?”
“Sure. But when will I get back?”
“At 4:00 in the afternoon. Or, at least, that’s what he said.”
“Okay. I’ll do it.” Collier’s eyes slid over to his sister. “What will Petra be doing?”
“I already have that figured out. I’ve hired a friend of mine to tutor you. His name is Mr. Murphy and he already knows your situation. He’ll just have to figure out which one of you two he’s teaching at the moment. But Petra will start with him tomorrow, then Collier will start with him when Petra’s gone.” Professor checked his watch. “Sorry, I have to go. I don’t want to be late for work.” Then, without another word, he hurried out of the room.
“I almost forgot that school’s still going on,” Petra said.
“Yeah, imagine where we would be if we didn’t both get in the truck yesterday.”
They both thought about it for a moment. None of them could imagine it.
“Hey, Collier, thanks.”
“For what?”
“For going first.”
“Oh. Well, I wanted to anyway.”
“Right. Uh-huh.” Petra lightly punched his shoulder.
“Okay, okay, I did it for you!” Then Collier grew serious. “But that’s because you’ve already gone through a lot in the past day, and I don’t want you to have to deal with more.”
“Aww, thanks, Collier.” Petra squeezed him in a big bear hug. “You’re the best twin brother ever!”
She was in a room at the glass building. She slept on a couch, and Collier slept on the floor. Today they would begin their help.
Collier stirred in his sleep.
Petra got up and walked to a bookcase in the far corner. She looked through the books. Nothing really interested her, so she chose a random comic book on the bottom shelf. She slouched back onto the couch and started to read.
She was almost halfway through when she noticed Collier sitting up and looking at her.
“Good morning,” she greeted him.
“Mmmph,” he responded.
“What are you doing?”
“Uuuuuhn.”
“Okay. That’s great.” Petra returned to her reading as Collier slumped back onto the floor and covered his head with his pillow.
Just then, Professor walked into the room.
“Collier, is Petra up yet?” he asked. “I need to show both of you something.”
Petra looked down at Collier, expecting him to wake up. Then she looked back at Professor, then realized that he was talking to her.
“Professor? I’m Petra.”
Professor’s eyes widened, and he scratched his chin.
“Oh. I’m sorry, Petra. So Collier is still asleep?” He eyed the lump under the blanket. Petra nodded.
“Collier, time to get up.”
Collier sent out a murmuring sound.
“Collier.”
He sat up.
“Huh?”
“Professor has to tell us something.”
Professor looked at Petra, then at Collier. Then he knelt down beside them.
“Okay, here’s the deal. Remember that Asher Alexander guy I told you about yesterday?”
The twins nodded.
“Well, I sent in a request for you going, and he accepted. So you two are going to go on that mission, for sure.”
Petra and Collier exchanged nervous glances.
“You start tomorrow at 8:00 am sharp. It takes thirty minutes to get to his place, so we’ll have to leave at 7:30. You’ll choose for yourself when you’re going to wake up. Now who goes first?”
Petra looked at Collier. He sighed.
“I’ll go, Professor,” he volunteered.
“Okay. So I’ll be in at 7:15 to make sure you’re up. All right?”
“Sure. But when will I get back?”
“At 4:00 in the afternoon. Or, at least, that’s what he said.”
“Okay. I’ll do it.” Collier’s eyes slid over to his sister. “What will Petra be doing?”
“I already have that figured out. I’ve hired a friend of mine to tutor you. His name is Mr. Murphy and he already knows your situation. He’ll just have to figure out which one of you two he’s teaching at the moment. But Petra will start with him tomorrow, then Collier will start with him when Petra’s gone.” Professor checked his watch. “Sorry, I have to go. I don’t want to be late for work.” Then, without another word, he hurried out of the room.
“I almost forgot that school’s still going on,” Petra said.
“Yeah, imagine where we would be if we didn’t both get in the truck yesterday.”
They both thought about it for a moment. None of them could imagine it.
“Hey, Collier, thanks.”
“For what?”
“For going first.”
“Oh. Well, I wanted to anyway.”
“Right. Uh-huh.” Petra lightly punched his shoulder.
“Okay, okay, I did it for you!” Then Collier grew serious. “But that’s because you’ve already gone through a lot in the past day, and I don’t want you to have to deal with more.”
“Aww, thanks, Collier.” Petra squeezed him in a big bear hug. “You’re the best twin brother ever!”
Monday, August 29, 2011
Just a Quick Note
Just saying, I changed Professor Kreisler's name to Professor Stein. You won't really need that, though, because I usually refer to him as 'Professor.' And please, please, please tell me which parts were confusing and which parts you liked, etc. It'll really help me. Thanks!
Saving Professor (Part 5)
Back at the window building, Petra sat on a stool with a cloth tied around her neck. She was looking nervously into a mirror.
This is the last time my hair’s going to be like this, she thought. Unless we get this work done fast, I’ll have short hair. And it’ll look really funny when it’s between short and long. But I’ll do it. I’ve always wondered what I’d look like with short hair, anyway.
“Ready, Petra?”
Professor entered the door with a short lady. She had a pair of styling scissors in her hand.
“This is Mrs. Krought. She’ll be cutting your hair today,” Professor introduced.
Petra nodded at the lady, who nodded back.
“Now how do you want it, Sweetie?” she asked.
“Like my brother’s,” Petra answered, pointing to Collier.
“That short?”
“Well, I kind of have to.”
“Okay. Now sit still and don’t move.”
Petra chewed on her lower lip as she felt the scissors cut off her hair. It was cut to her shoulders, then to her chin, and then to her ears. Collier looked on with wide eyes.
Finally, the lady took out an electric shaver.
“No, don’t do that,” Petra commanded without thinking.
The lady placed a strange-looking piece on the end of it, saying, “No, honey, this won’t make you bald. It’ll just make you like your brother.” She nodded and smiled at Collier.
“Well, okay,” Petra answered nervously. She believed the lady, but was still slightly surprised and very relieved when her hair wasn’t completely shaved off.
The lady did extra trimming up hear the top, then stood back.
“Very good!” she exclaimed. “What do you think?” she asked Collier.
“Umm… yeah. Yeah, she looks like me,” Collier answered, not able to rip his gaze from his sister. “But can you give me the same haircut so we look identical?”
“If you wish,” she lady said. “Get up on the stool.”
Petra untied the cloth and nervously put her hand up to her shoulders. There was no hair behind her neck like she was used to.
Do I want to feel my hair? I don’t want to, but I’ll have to sometime, she thought.
Collier got up onto the stool. His haircut was easier, because he was used to it. He was done in five minutes.
“You like it?” he asked, walking to Petra.
“I don’t know.”
“Have you seen it yet?”
“No.”
“Have you touched it yet?”
“No.”
“Touch it. It’s not bad.”
“I don’t want to! It’s like I’m scared, but I’m not.”
“Here. I’ll touch it with you.”
Collier took Petra’s hand and led it up to her head. He ran it across the front and down the sides.
“See? It’s not bad.”
Petra was still unable to speak. Tears swam at the edges of her vision, but she tried with all her might to stop them.
Why do I always have to be so emotional? Why did I even agree with this in the first place?
Finally, she couldn’t help it anymore. She leaned over and cried on Collier’s shoulder. He led her to a chair and sat her down.
“Petra. Petra, it’s okay,” he calmly whispered, but it was no use. It was awkward talking to someone who was crying. So he just sat here and let her cry. He couldn’t do anything that wouldn’t feel awkward, anyway.
Just then, Professor walked in without saying a word. He took a glance at Petra and his lips formed a tight line. Something that looked like sympathy filled up in his eyes, and he looked at Collier.
Collier met his gaze and copied Professor’s expression. Professor looked on for a few more seconds, then left the room.
“Petra. Petra.” Collier shook Petra’s shoulders. She responded with a mumble.
“Petra, it’s okay.”
Petra pulled away and sat up.
“No, it’s not!”
“Petra, yes, it is. We’re doing this for good, remember?”
“Why does good always have to hurt?”
Petra began to run from the room, her face still stained with tears.
“Come back,” Collier called. He walked over to the sink and put a paper towel under cool, running water. Then he went to Petra, who was slumped against the doorframe. He led her to the chair again.
“Here,” he said, handing her the wet paper towel. “Wipe your face with it. It’ll feel good, trust me.”
Petra took the towel and wiped it on her face. Then she blew her nose on it and tossed it in the trash.
“That’s better,” Collier said. “You okay now?”
Petra sniffled.
“A little bit,” she answered.
“Good,” Professor said, striding into the room. He kneeled down beside Petra. “You’re a brave girl.”
This is the last time my hair’s going to be like this, she thought. Unless we get this work done fast, I’ll have short hair. And it’ll look really funny when it’s between short and long. But I’ll do it. I’ve always wondered what I’d look like with short hair, anyway.
“Ready, Petra?”
Professor entered the door with a short lady. She had a pair of styling scissors in her hand.
“This is Mrs. Krought. She’ll be cutting your hair today,” Professor introduced.
Petra nodded at the lady, who nodded back.
“Now how do you want it, Sweetie?” she asked.
“Like my brother’s,” Petra answered, pointing to Collier.
“That short?”
“Well, I kind of have to.”
“Okay. Now sit still and don’t move.”
Petra chewed on her lower lip as she felt the scissors cut off her hair. It was cut to her shoulders, then to her chin, and then to her ears. Collier looked on with wide eyes.
Finally, the lady took out an electric shaver.
“No, don’t do that,” Petra commanded without thinking.
The lady placed a strange-looking piece on the end of it, saying, “No, honey, this won’t make you bald. It’ll just make you like your brother.” She nodded and smiled at Collier.
“Well, okay,” Petra answered nervously. She believed the lady, but was still slightly surprised and very relieved when her hair wasn’t completely shaved off.
The lady did extra trimming up hear the top, then stood back.
“Very good!” she exclaimed. “What do you think?” she asked Collier.
“Umm… yeah. Yeah, she looks like me,” Collier answered, not able to rip his gaze from his sister. “But can you give me the same haircut so we look identical?”
“If you wish,” she lady said. “Get up on the stool.”
Petra untied the cloth and nervously put her hand up to her shoulders. There was no hair behind her neck like she was used to.
Do I want to feel my hair? I don’t want to, but I’ll have to sometime, she thought.
Collier got up onto the stool. His haircut was easier, because he was used to it. He was done in five minutes.
“You like it?” he asked, walking to Petra.
“I don’t know.”
“Have you seen it yet?”
“No.”
“Have you touched it yet?”
“No.”
“Touch it. It’s not bad.”
“I don’t want to! It’s like I’m scared, but I’m not.”
“Here. I’ll touch it with you.”
Collier took Petra’s hand and led it up to her head. He ran it across the front and down the sides.
“See? It’s not bad.”
Petra was still unable to speak. Tears swam at the edges of her vision, but she tried with all her might to stop them.
Why do I always have to be so emotional? Why did I even agree with this in the first place?
Finally, she couldn’t help it anymore. She leaned over and cried on Collier’s shoulder. He led her to a chair and sat her down.
“Petra. Petra, it’s okay,” he calmly whispered, but it was no use. It was awkward talking to someone who was crying. So he just sat here and let her cry. He couldn’t do anything that wouldn’t feel awkward, anyway.
Just then, Professor walked in without saying a word. He took a glance at Petra and his lips formed a tight line. Something that looked like sympathy filled up in his eyes, and he looked at Collier.
Collier met his gaze and copied Professor’s expression. Professor looked on for a few more seconds, then left the room.
“Petra. Petra.” Collier shook Petra’s shoulders. She responded with a mumble.
“Petra, it’s okay.”
Petra pulled away and sat up.
“No, it’s not!”
“Petra, yes, it is. We’re doing this for good, remember?”
“Why does good always have to hurt?”
Petra began to run from the room, her face still stained with tears.
“Come back,” Collier called. He walked over to the sink and put a paper towel under cool, running water. Then he went to Petra, who was slumped against the doorframe. He led her to the chair again.
“Here,” he said, handing her the wet paper towel. “Wipe your face with it. It’ll feel good, trust me.”
Petra took the towel and wiped it on her face. Then she blew her nose on it and tossed it in the trash.
“That’s better,” Collier said. “You okay now?”
Petra sniffled.
“A little bit,” she answered.
“Good,” Professor said, striding into the room. He kneeled down beside Petra. “You’re a brave girl.”
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