Мария Денисовна Хруль - She is Louise стр 2.

When she got bored of sitting on the lonely rock, she simply climbed down to the ground and took off her wicker sandals (they were her favorite summer shoe, but in winter she and Galya preferred fur boots) to relax her heels. The spikes of wheat tickled them pleasantly. In the fall, local farmers would come here and mow all this wealth, and the soil would remain completely bare. It was a pity, for the cold weather would come, and there would be no shelter. "I've got a blanket, and the earth will do something about it," she thought, and then she lay down on her back and spread her arms as if she wanted to make a snow angel. This is how her summer days passed, each of which was exactly like the previous one. Secretly, the girl hoped that before the wings would appear behind her back, someone would come to her and take her with him to another world. But for now she just fell asleep, listening to the quiet chorus of field butterflies that sang about blue dewdrops and a bright red heart. Whose was it, though?

 Ha ha, look at him! That toothy Bobby forgot to wash his back again! " Roxy, one of the many students at City High School, laughed. Her friends giggled quietly, obviously in support, though they didn't want to let on that they had anything to do with it.

 Roxy, stop it! Why are you making fun of people? " stood up for the boy Niels, who had just come to the lockers to leave his backpack and change into sneakers.

 What's it to you? " she asked defiantly.

 I don't like it when someone gets hurt for no reason. What did he do to you? " the boy asked sternly.

 None of your business. Maybe I just don't like his existence.

Roxy turned to her friends, and the three of them walked off in a dignified manner toward the office, where math class was about to begin.

 Are you okay? " Niels turned to Bob, who was looking through the locker door at his back, which had a white "Kick Me" sign on it.

 I'm fine. But I'm sick of it. Okay, I'll go," Bobby said, and reluctantly went to class. The boy's belly was peeking out from under his black T-shirt, and the chalk on his back hadn't completely rubbed off. Looking rather ridiculous, he tried to ignore the caustic taunts. "It'll all go away when we're adults"

"She's a girl, of course, and a teenager too," Niels reasoned, sitting in the second desk with his hand lazily resting on his head as Ms. Lipp explained how to draw a trigonometric circle.  But you can't behave so vile! If she were a boy, I'd challenge her to a duel"

Meanwhile, Evie, Roxy's neighbor, did not take her eyes off the young man Niels for a moment.

Chapter Two

The butterflies kept singing, but Louise soon got bored of lying there. She was warming herself a little in the sunlight, and a little summer rain would be nice. Although a gray thunderstorm would be nice too. The girl stretched lazily, lifted her head and found a butterfly sitting on her gray dress, a very pretty butterfly. Louise was not very good at butterfly breeds, although Galya insisted on a good study of the theory of the other world. What was it? On the "mahaon" does not look like, and on the "cabbage girl" too. Maybe it would be possible to talk to her? Louise decided to give it a try:

 Hi. What's your name?

The butterfly only timidly wiggled its antennae. What if it just mistook the little girl for some kind of flower? Too bad Louise couldn't give her guests some pollen.

 You don't want to talk? That's fine. Then why are you sitting on me? " Louise tried to continue the dialog. However, it did not go well, but the butterfly answered:

 If you want to live among us, then learn the language. Our language. There are thirteen grammatical errors in your breath.

 They don't teach that in my school. What's your name? " asked the astonished girl. The lady butterfly had spoken to her was it not a miracle? So Louise really wasn't quite human. And not quite ordinary.

 Linda-Jane-Madam-Wood-Mistress-Sarah-Wizard Field. Well, goodbye," she said, and then she flapped her wings and flew off into the sky. Louise remained on the ground.

"I had a chat with her. She is such a sweet mistress! I wonder if butterflies have kings and queens? In the City, as far as I can remember, some sort of Ministr rules. Or Minister."

 Galya, explain to me why mom left me here with you? Why don't I live in the City, because I don't have wings yet? " Louise stopped by the house for lunch and decided to do a little questioning.

 You'll find out a little later, baby," she replied affectionately, but Louise insisted:

 Why not now? I don't want to wait six years! It's like half my life from the one I've already lived.

 Your mother thinks it would be dangerous for you to be with people.

 And Dad? Isn't he a regular person?

 He is.

 So what

 You'd have to ask them yourself.

 How can I do that?

 Don't be mad.

 I'm not mad! Not at all.

 Okay, if you are.

 How can I talk to my parents?

 Can't you write an e-mail? " Galya grinned.

 Who? Write what?

 Okay, forget it. You'd better stay out of the modern rhythm.

 But I'll be taken to the City when I grow up? " the excited girl went on. What if she could learn something very important now?

 That's what I said, but plans have changed.

 Whose plans? Mom's and Dad's? " Louise exclaimed, nearly knocking over a bowl of nettle soup.

 Almost.

 You hang out with them, and I'm not allowed to! " Louise even clenched her fists in indignation.

 Is that what you want? " Galina asked.

 What?

 To talk to them.

 We're having a stupid dialog. I talked to a butterfly today.

 That's weird.

 What about my parents?

 Do you want to?

 Yes, I do. I do!

 Then write a letter to your mom. I'll tell you where to send it.

 Where does mom live? Does Daddy live with her?

 Have your lunch and get started. There are sheets of parchment in the drawers," Galya continued to explain nonchalantly.

 Okay," the girl replied, but she could not calm down at once: the spoon was running in her hands, and the soup threatened to spill all over the table.

"Why didn't Galya say anything before? Why didn't tell the child that he could write to his parents? His own! Hmm, something's not right here. And I should know what awaits me after my eighteenth birthday. It's unlikely that the crown of some magical princess will fall on me on the same day".

The school day of the hot summer was coming to the end, but Niels was in no hurry to go home, even though he didn't like to miss his Latin lessons (he had to have time to eat and get his textbook). His red hair was even hotter, and it was as if the boy had suddenly become a walking sun himself. At the entrance to the school, Roxy and her friends lingered too. The girls were discussing their current idol, Edol, the boy from the eleventh grade. They were saying that he had single-handedly slain some terrible forest monster, though they all knew that no one had ever seen one. And no one ever will.

Niels would be a warrior, but Edol knew nothing of the border, nor of the Forests and Fields beyond it. Fairies and elves certainly didn't live there (but you never know!), but ancient priestesses or witch doctors might.

The inhabitants of the City were afraid of who could be found outside of it, and those who lived in the border village didn't really want to be pessimistic, but it was ridiculous to deny the fact that there was no one in the neighborhood.

 Where are you going, Niel? " Roxy asked cheekily. She often pretended to be the real ruler of the world, if not of the world, then of the school.

 Never mind. I'll see you tomorrow," he said, and moved away from the gate, taking his time.

 Why are you being so rude? " the girls, Evie and Thea, started.

 Nothing.

 Goodbye, then! " snapped at Evie, then whispered: "I'll find someone else".

 Evie, don't take offense. He's nothing. He doesn't look like anyone. We're so much cooler," Roxy told her friend as she flipped through the news feed. The first line of the day read: "A heat wave is coming. Be careful." Why now, she wondered, with important exams looming? Roxy turned off her smartphone and turned to Evie and Thea: