"Shine, what are you doing?"
Shine didn't open her eyes or move from her position on the floor.
"I'm tired."
"Well you're in the way. I need to put your tea on the table."
"I don't want to move."
"Well you won't get any tea, then."
Shine grudgingly moved her legs out of Rhoda's way. Rhoda was her nurse, since her mother, Chrystal, hadn't wanted her. Chrystal hated girls, and had gotten rid of her first daughter, replacing her with Ivan. After she had Shine, she threw her away like a bottle cap, for Rhoda to salvage. They lived in the lower ground floor of the palace, in a small area Rhoda had done up to function as a house. All the furniture was taken from various places where no one would miss them. Their food was provided by the palace kitchen, since although Chrystal had decided to pretend they didn't exist, the kitchen workers hadn't. When Shine was seven she had been ordered to train with the palace dancers and through that she had met Ivan. Well, not so much met as seen, as he frequently was brought to watch with Chrystal. From that time on Ivan was Shine's hero (they were both about ten at the time), she would dance better so he could see and notice her. Even when he didn't act very heroic Shine always made up excuses for him. But Ivan didn't like Shine; he'd been brought up to look down upon her, although the reason for this had never been revealed to Shine. Despite this, Shine would not hate him. Rhoda knew all about it but said nothing to encourage or discourage Shine. She didn't have a high opinion of Ivan, but she kept that to herself. Rhoda was not from the Frozen Plains, but from Tree Land in the warmer regions.
She had told and retold stories of her former life before she was forced into slavery to pay off a family debt. Rhoda loved Shine as if she was her own daughter and had tried to bring her up well, but life in the dancing school had spoiled her- for life perhaps, Rhoda worried.
"Rhoda?" From the floor,
"Yes, twinkle?"
"Who is my real mother?" This was an often repeated question which popped up anytime Shine was upset.
"I think you know the answer to that, sparkle." Said Rhoda, calmly, without turning around.
"If Chrystal was my real mother, she'd act like it. It's not fair!" Muttered Shine, fiddling with the security bracelet on her wrist.
"I'll tell you what's not fair, me making your tea and you not eating it, that's not fair." Rhoda warned.
"Oh fine!"
"You watch your tone young lady."
Shine got up and trudged to the table, her brows lowered. Rhoda sat down opposite.
"What's the matter, Shine? You've been lying on the floor all evening."
Shine's face crumpled. "I have no friends." She managed, before bursting into tears.
"Do you know why?"
"Because, (sniff) nobody likes me."
Rhoda passed her a hankie. "That's not true, I like you, and Walter likes you." Walter was a palace kitchen worker. Shine blew her nose on the hankie.
"Nobody else does." She looked down at her plate. "Rhoda,"
"Yes?"
"Sonia's back."
"Aha?"
"I hate her!"
"Why?"
"She's mean!" Shine was almost shouting.
"Those are not nice words, Shine."
"I don't care! I hate her!"
"Calm down, Shine. Eat something and you'll feel better."
Again, Shine burst into tears.
