The Rod and the Mage

“Well, hello, young lady. I’m Dr. Spurton. I’d like to talk with you if you don’t mind,” the middle aged woman with short blonde hair and brown eyes greeted. Teajuana just kept her arms crossed, bored out of her mind.

::Why is Nattie doing this?:: she wondered.

“Ms. Shellock was concerned about you. Do you know why?” the doctor asked.

“Because she’s a nosy, self-righteous bitch?” the young girl asked in reply.

“Would you please not say things like that? Ms. Shellock is quite concerned.”

“I bet she is,” came the smart reply.

“Well, why don’t we just talk, hmm? What are you thinking right now?”

“I’m thinking you have no business asking about my life.”

“At least it’s an honest answer. Teajuana, I’m just here to help you.”

“Sure you are. Just like everyone else in my pathetic life.”

“Why do you think your life is pathetic?”

::Wouldn’t you like to know?:: she thought. Teajuana just shrugged and decided not to answer.

“You can tell me. Nothing will leave this room. I promise.” Dr. Spurton put her notebook down and clasped her hands together. “I assure you. This is completely confidential.”

Teajuana bore her blue eyes into the elder’s. “Is that so?” she accused. “Let me ask you this, doctor. How can all this be confidential if it’s only Nattie who seems so concerned? You’ll just tell her all the information she wants to know, and I’ll be back auareuare one.”

“And what is square one?”

Teajuana opted for crossing her legs and looking out the window, completely ignoring the question.

“Why is it you are so angry with the world?”

“What has the world done for me?”

“Teajuana, you must learn that the world doesn’t revolve around you.”

“Whatever.”

Dr. Spurton sighed in near defeat. This wasn’t going to be one of her easier clients. She went to her desk and pulled out a small folder which contained some inkblots. “Teajuana, would you mind doing me a small favor? It’s nothing big, I promise.”

The young woman looked over, narrowing her eyes at the folder. “What’s that?” she asked, knowing the double meaning could be heard.

“I just want you to tell me what you see in these inkblots. Or to just tell me what you think they are.” The woman pulled out the first inkblot, and Teajuana just stared at it, saying nothing to reveal her mind. “Well, do you see anything?”

Teajuana saw images alright but kept them to herself, masking her face and eyes that would betray her. “No, I don’t.”

“You sure you don’t see anything?” the woman asked again.

“I’m sure,” came the short and tight reply.

Dr. Spurton put the first one away and pulled out another. “What about this one?”

“Nothing.” The red head kept her mask on, feeling how easy it was to lie and hide her feelings. It wasn’t hard any longer, and that eased her pretense all the more.

Dr. Spurton kept pulling out the inkblots; Teajuana wanted to tear them apart as she kept seeing images of children being hurt as well as herself, but she kept her mask on and acted as if she saw nothing. The doctor sighed and put the inkblots away, much to the red head’s relief. ::Anymore of those, and I would have had to shove that pen of hers down her throat.:: Teajuana thought as the doctor sat next to her on the couch.

“Teajuana, isn’t there anything you would like to say to me? Anything that’s bothering you?” the doctor pleaded. She reached out to touch the young woman’s arm and was promptly hit hard with a fist in her chest.

“Don’t you dare touch me!” was the only reply given.

The elder fell off the couch and rubbed her chest. ::I know something is wrong. Why won’t she just open up and talk?:: “Teajuana, please just talk to me.”

“Even if I did you wouldn’t be able to handle any of it, none of the searing pain scarring my soul for the rest of my life!”

“Let’s find out. Tell me of this pain.”


Teajuana walked out of the room to a waiting Nattie. “Did you talk?” the elder asked.

“We talked, but she didn’t like what I had to say,” came the reply as the young teen crossed her arms and walked out of the office.

Nattie looked to the closed door to Dr. Spurton’s office and then followed Teajuana, who was dying all over again inside. Meanwhile, Dr. Spurton couldn’t seem to control the pain she had heard from that girl racing in her mind. The images were so vivid that they almost became a part of the doctor, Dr. Spurton being able to see everything first hand. Never before had that happened, and she opened the drawer that held her safety gun in case a patient became too hostile. Teajuana closed her eyes as, in her mind, she heard the gun being fired, and the doctor’s life was no more.

::I told her she wouldn’t be able to handle it.:: she thought.


It was early in the morning, and Teajuana hadn’t gotten any sleep. She was sitting outside on the porch, her blue eyes looking up into the night sky. Nattie had just walked into the kitchen and saw the young teen sitting. She went over and looked up at the sky, noticing that Teajuana hadn’t bothered changing her clothes.

“Teajuana?”

“. . .What do you want now?”

“I only want to help you.”

“You can help by leaving me alone. I don’t want help. . .ever.”

“I have a right to at least know why.”

“. . .No, you don’t.”

The elder sighed, coming to the only conclusion since that afternoon. “I really didn’t want to do this, but I’m sending you to a military academy. Teajuana, I care for all the children that pass by here, but I care for you as if you were my own daughter. I hope you’ll see that one day.”

The younger didn’t say anything as she continued to look up into the sky, almost never hearing the words the elder spoke. She just wanted out, away from everything that hurt her. They were to go to the academy the next day, the woman had said, and she was to pack her bags. The girl got up and, for once, did as she was told.


“Cadet Teajuana, read the next paragraph,” ordered the man at the front of the classroom.

::Great, another “uneducated” teacher.:: Teajuana just crossed her arms and looked defiantly at her teacher.

“Cadet, I’m warning you,” the teacher threatened.

“Go ahead and warn me, you overgrown excuse for a boy. I could care less what you do to me,” she spouted. ::Because you can’t do any worse than what I’ve lived with.::

“Cadet Teajuana, stand and read the next paragraph,” Sergeant Emery ordered.

“Make me.” The young teen glared ice daggers with her blue eyes as she slouched in her already uncomfortable chair.

Sergeant Emery pulled her up by her shiollaollar and thrust the book into her hand. “Now, READ!” came the bark.

“No, sir, Cadet Emery, sir!” she mocked. She knew all too well she was getting on his nerves, but she didn’t care. All he could force her to do was training, and she didn’t mind that one bit. In fact, she’d much rather exercise than read a stupid book.

“That’s Sergeant, Cadet!u wiu will read that paragraph now!”

She turned to look at him, a smirk on her features. “If you want the damn paragraph read, why don’t you read it yourself?” Her defiant blue eyes blazed with the challenge of him hitting her.

His hand raised high in the air as the class full of teenage boys watched with fascination. “Why you good for nothing-”

“Emery!” All eyes turned to the door where the of of the council stood. “You will put your hand down this instant.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Emery complied.

The council member approached Teajuana. “Cadet, explain why you have not done as your instructor has asked.”

“Sir, no, sir. I will not put myself in a position to receive punishment where punishment is not due. I will further more proceed to act as I see fit for this unintelligent teacher and nothing more,” she responded as she sneered at Emery.

“Why you!” Emery lunged for the red head but was held back by the council member.

“I would like to have a word with you outside, Cadet,” the council member said as he walked toward the door. Teajuana sneered at Emery and left the classroom, hearing the angry words of another student being called on to read. “Cadet, if you would follow me.”

Teajuana followed the man who looked to be about thirty or so with blue eyes like her own and short black hair. He had offered to bring her into the school when all the other girl, coed, and all boy schools would not. He was a good friend of Nattie Shellock’s and took a liking to the young girl behind him. He noticed Teajuana had the decency to follow instead of walking in front of him. Little did he know, she did that to watch him for any movements that would harm her.

“Let’s talk as friends,” he started.

“I don’t have friends, council member.”

“John. Please, call me John.”

“Why?”

“Normally, friends call one another by their first name, Teajuana.” He turned and sd ged ge at at her. She just glared at that smile, wanting it ripped off. “I saw your physical report.”

“What about it?”

“It said that you had a tendency to keep your shirt on even after they asked you to take it off so they could examine you. Why?” he asked, concerned.

The long red hair, which the school allowed her to keep, swayed as the young teen turned to look outside, offering no answer. Her long sleeved, black shirt hugged to her torso, and John winced slightly sg hog how thin the girl was. The black pants weren’t any better in showing a malnutritioned young lady. Her arms were crossed, andll rll red lines peeked through the edge of the sleeve.

“Teajuana, please just explain it to me. I need to put the reason into the report.”

“I just refused. I don’t see why they have to examine me with my shirt off. That’s getting far too personal for me,” Teajuana answered.

“They weren’t able to get accurate measurements or rngs,ngs,” he explained, then changed the subject, “May I ask why you refused to obey your instructor?”

“You asked, but I won’t answer. I will continue to disobey someone like him for my duration here at the academy,” she stated.

“Teajuana, all you had to do was read the paragraph. That was it,” John said.

“. . .” Teajuana’s jaw was firmly shut and wouldn’t open. She still hadn’t looked at him and wasn’t planning to anytime soon. John carefully approached her, remembering what Nattie had said about Teajuana not liking contact, and reached out to touch her, only to receive a backing away movement from her. “Don’t touch me,” she said firmly, hate and possibly fear seeping into the warning.

“I won’t touch you, but I want to help-”

“I told you and Nattie that I don’t want help! Why can’t you get it through your head?!” she nearly yelled, her hands clinching into fists.

John quickly put his hands up in an effort to calm her dowAlriAlright. I t dot do anything to you. I was merely trying to talk and comfort you in any way possible. Teajuana, please. Why didn’t you read the paragraph?”

“Why do you care?” she asked all too calmly considering her recent outburst.

“If I can. . .assist you in any way, then I’ll gladly do so.”

Ocean blue eyes narrowed as Teajuana tried to understand his words. “Assist? What’s that?”

John nearly gulped as her question cornered him. She was smart for someone who didn’t get decent grades in her previous schools. Hanging his head, he sighed, “Assist means to help.”

Like a cautious predator, Teajuana stepped a bit closer, eyeing him suspiciously. “I can’t read,” came her softly whispered reply.

“You. . .you can’t?” he asked, surprised he wasn’t getting hit.

“Are you deaf? I think you heard me.”

“You just surprised me. Would you like me to teach you?” John asked hopefully.

“I don’t need to read. I haven’t needed to before andon’ton’t see when I’ll use it.” Teajuana crossed her arms, looking at him through slit eyes.

“But it would make things so much easier for you.”

The young teen turned, sensing their conversation coming to an end, and started walking down the hall, “I know first hand that life isn’t easy. Reading isn’t going to help at all.”

Sighing, John allowed her to walk from the classroom and headed back to his office, thinking about what she had said. He passed one of the gym instructors and asked him to watch over Teajuana as John had other matters to attend to for the moment. The instructor nodded and followed the red haired teen back to her room.

Teajuana sat on her bed and leaned back, putting her hands behind her head and thing about what John had said. He had made some sense, but she shook her head to clear those thoughts. She believed only in herself and no one else. Suddenly, her wrists started to itch, and she pulled her sleeves back to scratch at the healing wounds.

“Stupid cuts,” she muttered as she continued to scratch harder. Soon, her nails were scratching hard enough to reopen the wounds, droplets of blood dripping out. “Much better.” She continued scratching as the wounds kept bleeding. Finally, Teajuana stopped since her wrists started hurting badly. She got up and went to her private bathroom to clean up. Upon exiting the bathroom, she noticed a small white envelop on her desk.

“What’s this?” Teajuana picked it up and found several green, paper-like pieces inside. Shrugging, she replaced the envelop and heard the bell for lunch. Teajuana ignored it and the hunger pains, telling herself she wasn’t hungry. The instructor outside found this odd that the young teen didn’t bother coming out for lunch and went to tell John this information.

About a half hour later, Teajuana decided to go to the gym for some training. She replaced her sleeves and went while everyone else was still eating in the mess hall. Once at the gym, she focused her thoughts on the exercises alone and started each one. For a few hours, that’s all she did, never seeming to tire. A few boys were just starting to enter the gym and were amazed at what she was doing. Teajuana appeared stronger than them, or at least more limber, for she was doing all sorts of gymnastic and martial arts moves.

“Excuse me, Cadet. I’m about to have class,” said another male gym instructor.

“Go ahead. I’m not done here.” She continued to move as the instructor just gaped at her for a moment. It would seem no one could control the red head.

“You will vacate the area, Cadet.”

“No, I won’t.”

John walked in to settle the dispute after having about an hour of trying to find the young girl. “Teajuana, please follow me.”

She narrowed her eyes for a moment, noticing that his request was unwavering and followed. “What do you want now?”

“I wondered if you would be willing to share your room with a new recruit. He’s about your age and height, and he’s polite.”

“What does polite have to do with anything?”

“Nothing I suppose. He won’t do anything to you, except for maybe talking. His father is the commander here, and I was assigned to find a room for him. Would you mind sharing?” he asked, watching her face for any sign she wasn’t thrilled.

Teajuana crossed her arms and looked away. “It’s not like I have much say in the matter anyhow.”

“But you do. I just want to make sure you won’t kill the boy.”

“I don’t kill. I don’t have that reputation,” she said, still keeping her blue eyes away from the others.

“Alright. I’ll let him know. He should be there by dinner.”

“Whatever.” Teajuana then did as before, walked back to her room so she didn’t have to talk to him again. About an hour or so later, a boy with brown hair and green eyes knocked on the door. “Enter,” came the short reply. The boy entered and was stunned to see the young girl just lying on the bed nearest the window, looking out.

“Hi, I’m Bobby, your new roommate,” he said, putting his stuff down and holding out his hand to shake hers.

Glaring at the hand, Teajuana frowned and proceeded to look out the window again. Bobby shrugged and picked up his bags to put his things in the vacant dresser. After putting his things away and waiting for her to at least say something to him, Bobby started over and was stopped by a firm glare.

“You are not allowed anywhere near me other than this room. Is that clear? I will not tolerate any movements toward me,” she warned.

“Um. . .ok,” he replied with uncertainty. ::No wonder she’s in military school.:: “Um. . .aren’t you going to study?”

“No.” A long silence ensued and was interrupted by the dinner bell. Bobby moved to the door, noticing Teajuana wasn’t following. Deciding to keep his mouth shut, Bobby went to the mess hall.

He came back an hour later, not finding his roommate anywhere. “Teajuana? I wonder where she could be.” Bobby went off to find the young woman, taking him an hour to find out she was on the roof, just sitting on the edge and looking up into the night sky. “Are ylriglright?”

“Leave.”

“I just wondered-”

“Just leave.”

What was Bobby to do? His roommate didn’t want him near, and he was afraid she’d end up hurting herself. He went to sit next to her, feeling a sense of warning from the young girl. Bobby tried to keep himself calm and thought that maybe Teajuana can sense fear.

“Nice night,” he said, trying to talk to her. She remained silent, still just staring into the sky. “What are you seeing?” She still didn’t answer him. “Oh, look! There’s the big and little dipper!” Teajuana looked, and Bobby thought maybe he made some connection with her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I would like to get some reviews. I know this doesn't start to seem like a Malik story, but I assure you. I will be later. This is just an overview of what happened to his girlfriend. Please, please, please review! Just state whether you like it or not and why. That's all I want. Well, have a nice day peeps!