Chapter Text
Today was going to be the day. Miss Izara had promised. Galinda’s tiny legs didn’t quite reach the floor, which made it all the more enjoyable to swing them in anticipation. Shenshen and Pfannee didn’t mimic her enthusiasm for this exercise. They didn’t know why it was important to learn about all of Oz. They were perfectly comfortable in their little Gillikin bubble.
But even at the tender age of 12, Galinda had rejoicified at the opportunity to hide behind words. To talk to someone who didn’t know who she was. To have a semblance of anonymity that might help her bare her heart.
For there was much more to Galinda Arduenna Upland than what she chose to show the world. She had already learned how to curate what people saw of her. Her momsie had made sure she knew the importance of that.
None of that would matter right now. Miss Izara had decided it was a good idea for each of the kids in her class to have a pen-pal from another country of Oz. She had reached out to schools in Quadling Country, the Vinkus, and Munchkinland. And today they’d receive their first letter. Galinda would finally know who she had been matched up with. Even though she wouldn’t actually know. That was the beauty of the exercise. She’d be able to say whatever she wanted and the person on the other side wouldn’t know it was Galinda writing it. Or at least, she wouldn’t know what face to paste on her name.
It took forever and a minute before Miss Izara started handing out letters. Galinda held the simple off-white envelope in her hands as if it was her most priced possession. She didn’t even dare to open it until she was in the safety of her room back home.
The paper felt rough against her perfect skin. Slowly, she unfolded the parchment.
Dear whoever receives my letter,
When I was asked if I wanted to exchange letters with a complete stranger from Gillikin Country, I was quite excited. You see, whoever you are, I don’t have all that many friends. So, this seemed like a great opportunity.
Perhaps I should briefly introduce myself. My name is Elphaba, I’m 12 years old, and I live in Munchkinland. Before my sister was born, my family and I traveled through Quadling Country for a while, but I don’t remember all that much about it.
I have never been to Gillikin Country though. What is it like? Do you like living there?
Personally, I’m not really a fan of Munchkinland. I have this image in my head that there is this place out there, somewhere in Oz, maybe even in Gillikin, where I’ll feel at home. But I haven’t lived anywhere else, so it’s not like I know.
Anyway, what I mean to say is, I would love to learn more about it.
Kind regards,
Elphaba
Galinda’s hands were itching to scribble out a reply. Something long and eloquent that would show she was much smarter than people gave her credit for. She just wasn’t sure what to write. There were too many thoughts fighting for attention. Too many possible starts to this new journey.
It had to be good. No, not good, perfect. She had to impress Elphaba. First impressions were everything after all. That was the Upland motto.
Although, her whole joy with this endeavor was that she could write whatever she wanted. That Elphaba, this munchkin girl, didn’t actually know her. She didn’t have to be Galinda Arduenna Upland in these letters. She could just be Galinda. Whoever that was.
She twirled the pen around in her hand. If she wasn’t the image her momsie had told her to be, then who was she? Who was Galinda?
Her pen scratched a few words onto the paper, before she regretted it and ripped it to shreds. On her second try, she got a whole paragraph in before she threw the slip of paper in the trash.
Again and again, she tried, and again and again it wasn’t good enough. The only thing she was succeeding in was collecting a trashcan full of paper. When she eventually had a draft of her first letter finished, she was yawning behind her hand.
Miss Izara smiled when Galinda handed in the pink envelope. She had scrawled Elphaba’s name in her prettiest handwriting on the front. For all intents and purposes, it looked pristine and perfect. But whoever tore the envelope open and read its contents would see the flaws Galinda so carefully hid from view.
“How did you find the exercise, Galinda?” Miss Izara asked gently. As if she predicted that her student had had a rough time with it.
“I loved it. Thank you for this opportunity, Miss Izara. I think it was a marvelous idea.” Her hands slid down the shoulder strap of her bag. She was already anticipating Elphaba’s reply.
“I see you put in an effort into the form of your letter. Did you put equal effort into its content?” Somewhere behind those words there was an insult waiting to be discovered. Galinda simply smiled and nodded her head.
The pink envelope joined the white ones of her classmates. Later that night, after Galinda had gone off to bed, Miss Izara added Elphaba’s address under the beautifully written name. The next morning the pink envelope ended in a big cotton bag on the back of a horsedrawn carriage.
The carriage made its way from Frottica to the Emerald City where it was placed in another, much smaller bag that was put on another much smaller horsedrawn carriage. It was that carriage that entered Munchkinland and stopped in front of Colwen Grounds where the pink envelope reached its final destination.
Elphaba yawned as she made her way down the stairs. Her bare feet were cold, but her father had taken her slippers last week because she had angered him. She wasn’t entirely sure what she had done. Most likely it had something to do with Nessa.
She loved her little sister, more than anything. But sometimes she resented the girl for the love and affection she received. It was the worst thing in the world because it made her feel wicked and vile. As if her green skin didn’t already achieve that.
How could she expect anyone to love her when she looked so atrocious?
Her father didn’t lower his newspaper when she entered the dining room. In no way did he acknowledge her existence. Elphaba sighed and grabbed a piece of toast.
“Fabala.” Dulcibear pattered into the room. “A letter arrived for you this morning.”
“For me?” Elphaba frowned. It wasn’t a common occurrence for her to get a piece of mail. She didn’t think it had ever happened before. Unless she counted the one time the kids in town had pushed a note in the mailbox that told her she ought to leave Oz altogether. And she refused to count that.
“Yes, dear. It has your name on it. Right here,” Dulcibear answered, grabbing the envelope out of the front of her apron, “Elphaba Thropp,” she read and held the letter out for Elphaba to take.
Her green fingers stood at a stark contrast against the soft pink envelope.
“What’s that, Fabala?” Nessa wheeled her way in. Her eyes glued to the envelope. Elphaba clenched it and held it against her chest.
Someone had sent her a letter. Someone had written to her.
“It’s a letter. For me.”
“For you? Who would write to you?” Nessa didn’t look away from the pink within the green.
“I don’t know.” Elphaba’s voice sounded weak and uncertain. Maybe she was stupid to think that there could be something good hiding within the envelope. Maybe it was yet again an empty wish that could never come to fruition. Just maybe the munchkins had learned how to be creative and cruel with their threats.
“Well, open it.” Nessa smiled encouragingly, nodding her head.
Dear Elphaba,
How marvelous to meet you. Truly thrillifying. Even though I was not left a choice, I was positively enthusiastic to write to you. I believe one can never have too many friends.
But I can already hear you thinking, not really of course, that would be quite extraordinary. Anyway, what I was going to say was, you are probably wondering who I am.
My name is Galinda Arduenna Upland, from the upper Uplands in Frottica, Gillikin Country. I can assure you that I have never left Gillikin in my life. But it is my dream to visit the Emerald City. It must be beautiful and grand, filled with the best stores and the biggest castles. I believe it’s the closest to paradise one can get.
To answer your questions, Gillikin is nice. It’s home. I’m not sure how to describe it to you. It’s a nice place, you see. It’s warm and beautiful. Which is probably why it’s so weird that I want to leave.
I want to explore Oz, to see all it has to offer. I want to live in the Emerald City and carve my own path. There is a five-step plan I’ve thought out.
Step 1: Make sure I do well in school.
Step 2: Attend Shiz University.
Step 3: Get into Madame Morrible’s Sorcery Seminar. She doesn’t teach it every semester, so I will have to make sure I’m really special.
Step 4: Build a network of highly influential people.
Step 5: Become the greatest, most powerful, most popular sorceress Oz has ever seen.
My momsie says I shouldn’t get caught up in these fantasies. That it’ll be heartbreaking if it doesn’t go exactly as I’ve planned it. But I think it just means I have to make sure everything goes exactly as planned.
I’m sorry to hear that you don’t feel at home in Munchkinland. Or well, to read it. Maybe when I’m the greatest sorceress in all of Oz, I can make you a home in the Emerald City. We could live close to each other and be best friends.
Am I getting ahead of things?
Either way, I’m looking forward to reading your reply. I’m sure we’ll get along perfectly.
Sincerely,
Galinda Arduenna Upland
Elphaba had forgotten about the project she had signed up for. She had forgotten that she wrote a note and sent it all the way to Gillikin Country. It had been a while after all. But now it all flooded back.
For some reason she had never expected to receive a letter back. It had all sounded too good to be true. Get a random penpal from a school in Gillikin and exchange letters with them for a few months in the comfort of blissful anonymity. This person would never have to know that Elphaba was, always had been, and probably always would be green.
Unless she got to meet the wizard. Because he would be able to grant her heart’s desire.
But apparently there really was someone on the other side of all this. One Galinda Arduenna Upland who seemed to have a talent for rambling.
“So, whose is it?” Nessa asked.
“It’s just something for a school project.” Elphaba slid the letter into her bag and nibbled on her toast.