027 - Brownies, part 3

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Mary made her way to Ms. Featherstone's office. She had calmed down some since last Friday, when an unknown assailant had cut off her braid. After the emotional roller coaster of the last few days, losing her hair, learning it had been a conduit for magical forces, that there were otherworldly beings trying to invade her dimension, and especially having these little magic beings crawling around in her hair, she had had to come to terms with a lot. The sensation of her regrowing hair outweighed the weirdness of everything else. It had been a comfort for her for most of her life, particularly during the last few years. No matter what had changed in her life, her long red hair had been a constant. Her daily brushing sessions were like a kind of meditation, a way to clear her mind, a sacred ritual. The fact that she had been indirectly protecting the world with it, thanks to Ms. Featherstone, was secondary to the emotions already associated with it.

Well, if these little brownies did their job, and her hair regained its full length, she was determined to keep it this time. No one was going to take it from her again. She was going to learn everything Ms. Featherstone had to teach her if it killed her. She would not be a victim a second time.

Her brow furrowed, she continued around a corner, seeing the principal's office door ahead. Her fingers automatically went to the mound of hair above her, pulled and twisted into this new home the brownies had created in order to infuse it with magic and make it grow back to its former glory. The fact that she had not been able to take it down and brush it out was a source of frustration, but it was better than letting it grow back on its own. She'd be an old lady by the time that happened. Growing and keeping hair as long and lustrous as Mary's gave a girl a certain patience. She could wait a few more weeks.

As she lightly caressed the soft, shiny locks bound atop her crown, she chuckled at how worried she would be showing up at school today. Would she get more crazy looks than usual from her classmates? Would anyone remember her hair being cut, and wonder at its already rapid regrowth? But no, her first period peers had long been used to Mary's creative hairstyles, and didn't seem very fazed. Second period has been about the same before she'd slipped out to see the principal a few seconds ago. She'd let Ms. Featherstone clear it up with her teacher.

Ms. Featherstone had her door open before Mary even had a chance to knock. Her eyes went right to Mary's hair, and she smiled a little, and pulled Mary into her office.

Joanna Featherstone was happy to see Mary. It was nice not to have to hide all these secrets about her hair from her anymore. She felt a powerful connection with this girl, and was excited for the chance to be open and teach her. Her impressively long black mane was gathered in her compact clip, magically shortening it from a good dozen feet long to just around her knees. It was definitely a handy item. Her hair was swept to one side, almost resembling a ponytail. Mary was just impressed with how beautiful it was.

"Mary, dear, please sit down," she gestured to a soft chair in her office. "How are you feeling?"

"Um, I still haven't decided yet," Mary awkwardly replied. "But better than I was."

"Good," Ms. Featherstone smiled. "I hope our little friends haven't been too much of an inconvenience." She regarded the pile of hair atop Mary's head with interest. "May I have a look?"

Mary sat down. "Uh, sure, I guess." Ms. Featherstone gingerly coaxed a small lock of hair from Mary's updo, and held it out to examine it.

After several moments, Mary heard a smile in the principal's voice. "Mary, this is wonderful. It's already almost doubled in length in three days. This might not be as long a wait as I feared."

Mary was encouraged. "Really?"

"Which is for the best, we need you at full strength again as soon as possible...and if you let brownies take up residence for too long, they might not want to give up their home. I'll be keeping an eye on this situation as much as I can."

Well, that's not very comforting, Mary thought. She was about to ask about this, but a quick knock at the door interrupted her. Before Ms. Featherstone could react, it opened, and a blond wave came into view, followed by Megan's face.

"Megan!" Mary greeted her. Ms. Featherstone seemed a tad perturbed, but allowed the girl to enter. 

Megan began to say something, but her breath caught when she caught a glimpse of Mary. "Hey, Red!" She smiled. "Wow, your hair! It's really growing!" She had been worried about Mary for several days. She didn't know what she would do if her hair had been the victim of those scissors. But these brownies seemed to be helping...

"Megan, how good to see you, despite your not waiting for me to answer your knock," Ms. Featherstone smirked. "How are you this morning?"

Megan seemed to remember something. "Ms. Featherstone! I think I saw something you might need to know about." She quickly explained her encounter with Julie in the restroom a few moments before.

The principal's face grew serious. "Oh dear. This could definitely be something. I need to find this girl and get her to tell me what's going on..."

"Well," Megan began, "I actually suggested we talk with you, and she sort of freaked out. I don't want to scare her away in case this is something really bad. But we're going to hang out after school today, you mind if I take a crack at her first?"

"I believe that may be best. Please do keep me informed." 

They talked for a while longer, but Mary kept losing focus on the conversation with every vibration of movement from the brownies tucked away in her hair. She needed these things, but she couldn't get rid of them fast enough...