The Strangely Beautiful Tale Of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber Page A

do.”
    The small student body of the academy bustled noisily through the halls. Percy, however, prepared in quiet.
    Her linen gown of her favourite light blue colour was simple yet elegant. She tucked her silver phoenix pendant lovingly between the layer of her chemise and dress, and felt the familiar comfort of its chain around her neck and its solid form below her breast, a hidden fortitude. In a manner of ritual necessity, Percy shrouded herself further. She draped a blue scarf about her head, circling her neck with the soft fabric and folding its edges into the neckline of her bodice. She buttoned satin gloves that hid her deathly pale hands. But donning her tinted glasses as her final barrier, she was seized by a fit of nerves—despite a hint of rouge upon her cheeks and lips, there remained no cure for her unmistakable pallor.
    Glancing once more at her first class assignment, she gathered her books and opened the door into the busy hall, hoping to remain as inconspicuous as possible. But the instant she appeared, it began. And while the reverend mother had warned her, Percy couldn’t have known the ongoing shock of being stared at so intently and by so many. Whispers and curious peering created a cacophony of sound and sensation, and Percy felt riddled by pinpricks. The journey down the hall and through the foyer was a gauntlet filled with snickers and gasped comments, students poking one another and pointing.
    After overhearing one young lady ask her friend when they’d begun to admit carnival attractions to Athens, Percy had quite enough, and threw her slight weight against the front door, grateful to slip into the outside breeze. The welcome sight of Marianna, smiling at her and waiting on the steps, lessened the weight of her circus novelty.
    The girls walked toward Promethe Hall, where they had a literature class together. “I see now, Percy,” the German girl offered quietly. “How people look at you.”
    “I must admit, Marianna, I was not prepared for the extent of it.”
    “You are, how do I say…? Attractive, Percy. You ‘attract’ many looks.”
    Percy smiled wearily. “I suppose you could say that.”
    “In time you will no longer be a surprise,” her friend stated with confidence.
    “I hope. Have you met other girls in our hall? I’ve remained solitary.”
    “A few ladies came by and introduced themselves. They were polite.”
    Entering a book-filled room lined with tables, the two girls took to the corner. A few students nodded at Marianna as they passed, and one civil young man deigned to smile at Percy as well.
    Marianna poked Percy’s arm. “That one looks nice.”
    “Hmm?”
    “The boy who just passed us and smiled. He is…handsome.” Marianna peered for a bit at the student in question.
    “You may look, Marianna, but I beg you to recall the headmistress’s speech. She gave it to you as well, did she not? We are to have not the least bit of contact with men, however handsome.”
    Her friend just shrugged and, as roll call was read by the instructor who entered—a round woman named Mrs. Henrick, who spoke in a shrill tone—paid particular attention to the name of the young man she had noticed: Edward Page.
    Mrs. Henrick went about the room and asked students to name their favourite author. Marianna answered “Goethe,” and Percy answered “Shakespeare.” Percy felt the teacher’s eyes upon her, as well as those of the other children, and was grateful for her glasses. Though they were a meager shield, they were nonetheless some protection.
    Mrs. Henrick pried further. “Favourite play?”
    “Hamlet,” Percy replied, and immediately felt a pang for her dear ghostly friend Gregory, to whom she had played Horatio a hundred times, holding his dying—already dead—body.
    Mrs. Henrick prated on, and Percy became confident the class would pose no trouble. She also pledged to help if Marianna got behind in her reading.
    After class, the girls were forced to go their separate