Sara paced around the common room over and over. Where is she? Is she ok? Should I look for her? Should I call for help? I shouldn't have left her alone. Sara tried to sit down, but her legs just wouldn't let her. That's it, I'm going! She grabbed her jacket and headed to the door. As she reached fit the handle, the door opened.

"May-fee! " Sara felt a wave of relief. "Where have you been? I was worried sick!" May-fee stepped inside in the light. Her eyes were red and puffy. "Hey, are you ok? What's wrong? "

May-fee closed and locked the door, then sat down on one of the sofas. "I was at Nicci's "

Sara sat beside her. "Nicci? From first hour? " May-fee nodded. "That's surprising. She hardly talks to anyone. You made friends with her? "

May-fee nodded. "More or less. We had some tea, and I walked her partway home, then she told me to leave and ran to her house. I heard yelling. I got closer to listen. "

"Ok, what then? "

"Well . . . " and she started to cry again. "Her dad was doing horrible things! " She shook. "He beat her! With a belt! And he was going to . . . going . . . he was . . . ."

"Shh shh shh," Sara soothed and hugged her.. "It's ok, you don't have to say it. " May-fee buried her face in Sara's shoulder. "It's cute that you care so much about a human. Did you kill the guy? "

May-fee pulled her face back and looked at Sara. " K...kill?"

"Yeah. A human like that should be put down just like they'd put down a rabid dog. "

"I wanted to. I really did. Instead, I rang the doorbell. " She sniffed. "I wasn't sure what to do, so I rang it, and told him I was there to study. "

"That was pretty clever. Did it work? "

"It saved her for the moment. I tried to convince her to leave, but she defended him! "

"Oh, sweetie, humans can be so dumb. That's why it's best not to get too attached. "

"She said she was powerless. That that was just life. We ended up crying together. What could I do? I left, but it's all going to happen again. "

"If you don't want to kill him, there isn't much you can do. She has to want help to be helped. " May-fee yawned in spite of herself. "Now no more crying. Let's get some rest. Maybe sleep will give you some ideas. " May-fee nodded. Sara helped May-fee up, escorted her to her room, and tucked her in.

* * *

After Sara closed the door and returned to her own room, May-fee, laying on her back, lifted Anna up above and near her face. She said, "Anna, we've had quite the day, haven't we?"

The doll replied, "Are you my mama?" This startled May-fee, who let out an "eep!" and dropped Anna who bounced off the bed.

"That wasn't very nice, mama.""The doll spoke! May-fee reached down with her wing tip talon, and poked the doll "That tickles! "

Wow. I need to show Sara! She got out of bed, threw on her robe, picked up Anna and went into the hall.

* * *

Sara was sitting on her bed in her sleeping clothes, getting ready to lay down when there was a knock or her door. "Sara, are you stil awake? "'It was May-fee's voice. "I need to tak to you."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Yes, just a minute." Sara panicked. May-fee-is at my door, in the middle of the night? Oh my god! What for? What could it be? Is something going to happen? Does she want something to happen? Do *I* want something to happen? It's too sudden.

"Sara?"

"Sorry, one sec! " Should l leave the robe on? What if she's naked? Should I be? Oh my god! Screw it! What happens happens!" Sara opened the door with arms extended. But it wasn't May-fee that she embraced. It was her doll.

"Listen! Anna came to life! She can talk! Say something, Anna."

"Mama!"

"See? Now, say something else. "

"Mama!"

Sara's eyebrow started to twitch.

"No, say 'Sara'."

"Mama!"

The doll? She just came to show me her doll?

"I swear, she said more in my room. Please, Anna, say something else. "

"Mama!"

A vein throbbed on Sara's forehead. "Enough! Get! Out!" The ball of Sara's foot connected solidly with May-fee's sternum, knocking her back into the hall. She somersaulted and wound up against the opposite wall, upside down. Anna lay nearby.

May-fee looked at Anna and asked, "Was it something we said?"

Sara slammed her door.

* * *

The next morning, Sara and May-fee were walking to school together. They were both silent most of the way. Sara broke the silence. "What are you thinking about? "

"I hope Nicci is OK. "

"Nicci again, huh? You've only known her one day. What's up with that? "

"I don't know. I guess I just find her interesting. "

"She shuts everybody out at school. I'm surprised you got her to have tea with you. "

"I think she's actually really lonely. It wasn't that hard."

"Are you two friends, then? "

"I'm not really sure. Maybe? "

"Do you want to be friends with her? She's just a human, after all. She could never understand the real you. "

"Maybe. I think it would be OK. "

"I see."

They walked in silence again for a short while.

"Hey, We have a softball game against another school this afternoon, at the community park. I'm the opening pitcher. Would you like to come cheer me on?" Sara asked.

"Sure, I'll come. Sounds fun. "

Sara smiled. "It's a promise, then. "

* * *

A short time later, the two of them at their lockers, which were near each other. When Sara opened hers, she found three envelopes. "Oh, the dance. I forgot that was coming up."

"What dance? " May-fee asked.

"It's the Autumn Invitational Dance this Friday. The boys have to write up invitations to invite their dates. Looks like I have three fans. " She tossed the envelopes on the floor of her locker.

May-fee opened her locker, and a pile of envelopes fell out. "Eek! What a mess. "

"What the hell? You've been here One Day, and you're this popular? "

May-fee squatted down to pick up the envelopes when a boy said, "Let me help you. " The boy did pick them up, but also made sure a certain one was on top. He handed the stack to May-fee. "There you go. " He smiled.

"Um... thank you, " She responded.

"No problem. See you around " The boy gave her a smile, then walked off.

"I guess I can't blame them, " Sara said. "My bestie is pretty attractive"

"Oh, stop. What am I going to do with all these? "

"Read them. Throw them away. Pick one, though that couldn't be easy when you barely know anyone. "

May-fee put the stack in her bag. "I'll worry about it later, I guess. "

The two headed to the classroom for first hour. As soon as May-fee crossed the threshold of the door, a few boys spoke up all at once.

"Did you see my invitation? "

"Forget him. You got mine? "

"I'd really hope you'll give me a chance"

"Second day, and you're so popular already, " Sara chided. May-fee seemed overwhelmed, so Sara said, "Give her some space, boys. She hasn't even had a chance to read your invitations."

May-fee gave Sara a grateful look and went to her desk. Nicci's desk was empty, and May-fee seemed fixated on it. It made Sara feel jealous. Why is this bothering me so much?

Mr Pliney walked in. "Quiet down, class. Let's get started. "

"Did something happen to Nicci?" May-fee interjected.

"All I'm allowed to say is she's OK and will be absent a few days. I do believe she'll be fine, though. As for announcements, I'm sure I don't need to remind you but it's my job. The Autumn Invitational Dance is this Friday at 7 pm. That gives you boys three days to make and deliver your invitations. A week from Friday will be the talent show. If you're interested in performing, there is a sign up sheet in the cafeteria.

"That out of the way, let's learn some World History, yes? "

Sara was watching May-fee, and it didn't seem she heard anything after what Mr Pliney said about Nicci. I can't decide if I'm mad at her, or want to comfort her.

"Today, were going to talk about . . . ."

"Mama!"