Mrs Gordon dialled the number she found on the internet. She really hoped she could make at least one thing go well for Billy... her new daughter was precious to her. She was not coping with her change well, and just to have one friend would mean the world to her. It would be expensive but.. that was not a problem. For her daughter, she would move heaven and earth.
"Hello, how may we help you?" the voice responded.
"Hello. My name is Mrs Gordon. I have a- daughter, and I am hoping to enrol her."
"What is her age?"
"She's nine- or Ten. But- she used to be older," She explained tensing a little.
"Ah... I see. Well, let's see the record of her previous education."
Mrs Gordon continued to talk, until they got all the details they needed of Billy. It was a little annoying she couldn't arrange this in person. However the sunlight made travelling to the school right now impossible. Another kick of her baby reminded her of why her husband was insistent on it... His heart was in the right place, but she didn't think there was any real danger... still... one should be careful.
"Billy Gordon. I have his- her permanent record now... She looks to have been a decent student until last month. She refused to take part in lessons?"
The mother cringed. "She has been finding it very difficult with her transformation."
"Well... someone with a record like this would normally not be accepted. Unless they have shown at least one year with no trouble in a school..."
Gordon tensed a bit. She had to make this happen! "She- made a friend in your school. I really think she would do better with you... please?"
There was a sigh on the phone "I tell you what... it wouldn't be a good idea to accept a new school straight away anyway. If you pay a deposit, we'll give her one month with us. We'll use it as an interim period where she can get used to a new place... We will also assess her behaviour. But any infractions in this period, and she will not be allowed to stay here... please understand we do have a reputation to maintain."
Mrs Gordon nodded. "I understand. Please believe me, Billy is not a bad girl. She's just stressed sometimes..."
There was a pause, but it was quite obvious the person on the other line has heard all this before. "Well.. have her come by. I will arrange a lesson plan for her. I hope she will enjoy herself here."
"I hope so too," she said though she was smiling. She did it... the rest though, was up to her daughter.
Tiffany looked at the sea of faces inside the class.
There was mainly shock... shock that she had changed. What would the old Tiffany had done? But she was gone.. and in her place, was someone smaller.. weaker. She knew though she must not show signs of weakness.
That was until the teacher walked in and she flinched.
The strangely human looking teacher started writing on the board their assignments. "Continuing on our last lesson about Britain, your assignment will be about the industrial revolution. As the first country to achieve industrial production during the 19th century Britain had a major impact on the world..."
Tiffany drowned it all out. Seeing this woman made her feel sick. She glanced behind, hearing the whispers and looks directed at her. She knew what they were saying... she just knew. Now was not the best time though to assert any authority back.
"... Tiffany? Would you answer the question?"
Tiffany looked up. She didn't say a word.
"Well?" The teacher pressed approaching her.
The whole class was staring at Tiffany now. Why was the teacher now making this personal? Did she intend to humiliate her? "... I don't know," she replied.
The human teacher looked to Brittany. "How about you Brittany?"
Brittany was still staring in shock at the incredible impact of her country. How in the world could their small island, have become home to the power of steam? Rome was the heart of civilisation, the Greeks the seat of knowledge... such an incredible history filled her with a strange sense of pride. "Queen Victoria," she replied to answer the question.
"Correct." the teacher said pleased.
Brittany had to smile at that. Even given all the changes of the world, it seemed her island still retained a royal family. She continued to learn with excitement... what ever happened to the druids? What about their stone ring? Was anything of their world still there? She had to find out!
Tiffany scoffed. This lesson was pointless... they were not even in Britain, and this was ancient history. Who cared?
"Look's like Tiffany became a horny girl," someone said whispering behind her.
"I think there's something on her back.. something .. glowy?" Another girl whispered.
"Yeah... maybe she's hiding a tail?"
The two giggled.
Tiffany clenched her fists...
Tim smiled seeing Max. "Hey there,"
"Hi..." Max was still quite shy about Tim, given he could see... well... everything. Still at least he was polite enough not to draw attention to it. How strange it must be to see with such eyes... given the curious shapes a student found themselves in, Tim could discern quite a lot of unintentional knowledge. She wondered how he dealt with it, given the drow was not a bad person.
Max sat down carefully on the chair, and brought her bench towards her. Having the desk in front of her felt calming. Though she cringed a bit when it brushed past her lowest breasts. Nobody really noticed though.
"You okay?" Asked Tim.
Max nodded. "Yes. I'm just a bit out of it today," She said with a sigh. "I'm just trying to get used to it."
"As we all are," Said the drow calmly. "I think you're doing really well."
The catgirl shook her head. "I'm taking lessons on how to sleep from my cat. I don't know if that is coping," She laughed a little shaking her head.
"It wouldn't be the first time people used nature by example..." Tim said grinning.
Max smiled back. "Yeah.. I guess," she nodded.
Steven couldn't believe they had already processed her test. True a lot of it was multiple choice... but...
She had entered the councillors room and gasped. A gorgon! She nearly just ran at that point.
"It's okay dear," Said the councillor. "I'm here to help you."
Steven bit her lip turning back to her. "I- um I'm sorry," she said returning.
The gorgon smiled and gestured for her to sit down. It looked like she was used to that reaction.
"So... what does the test say about me?" Asked Steven.
"You are an interesting case," The gorgon smiled. "You have one physical need to take into consideration. You need sunlight... I will make sure you are given seats next to a window. Diet is fairly normal for humans. However, from past experiences so far, we have found plant transformees need a decent supply of water. Your lack of roots indicates you may require a nitrate supplement now and then.."
"A what?"
"Consider it a plant vitamin," she explained. "It will ensure you grow healthy."
"I had no idea the test would give so much about me," The flower girl said thinking.
"You would be surprised. It was well designed," She said with a nod.
"Now then... I am concerned though, that you have hidden your transformation for a month. You really should have told us," she said looking to her thoughtfully.
"I- I know. I'm sorry... I just couldn't... I didn't think..."
"It's okay," The councillor said calmingly. "But my door is always open to you. If you ever feel anything you want to talk about..."
"Well... um... if I take these vitamins... am I going to become... more like a plant?" She asked worried. "It's just... every day a little more of me seems to change. I just worry I'm going to go too far..."
"It's rare for a transformation to be as slow as yours has been," She acknowledged. "The truth is, I don't know. But take a normal human as an example. Should you deny him or her food, to stop one from growing? Because you are risking ill health, if we do not consider any unique diet needs."
"I... guess," The flower girl said with a sigh.
The gorgon placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Whatever your transformation brings you, there will be people to help you. Based on past experiences so far though, I do not believe you will change that radically from this point on. Except of course, growth into adulthood... and that is something I want you to reach healthily."
"Anything else... I need to know?" asked Steven a little frightened. The prospect of adult hood like this... she was not looking forward to it. She glanced at her coverings she kept high and tightly. That she might 'someday' grow into their natural position made her shiver. Still... it might not happen.
"Everything else is quite normal. You seem to have all your previous abilities intact. Just take today slowly, and see me at the end of the day if you have any problems."
The flower girl nodded and got up.
The gorgon ticked Steven off the list... approaching the next name.
... Hiro.
Unfortunately, it didn't look like he was going to turn up.
