"But why? Why do you want me to go through counseling?" Agatha inquired of Miss Glensferd a few days later when they were in her office.

Miss Glensferd took a deep breath. "Because of what your father did. Also, it is because you seem to be keeping quiet a lot lately. My dear, if you keep suppressing your emotions, you will lash out at people. Also, you will almost always be angry. You will go insane if that happens," she noted.

Agatha sat back in her seat and crossed her arms, pouting.

"Look, Agatha, this attitude will not get you anywhere. Now, you have an appointment with Nurse Stacey tomorrow at 1:00pm. She will be expecting you," stated Miss Glensferd.

You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink, Agatha said to herself vehemently.

Miss Glensferd sighed wearily. "You may go," she murmured, waving her hand.

Agatha stood up and left the office. She met Ruby in the activity room.

"She scheduled an appointment for you? Miss Glensferd really must be worried," the latter remarked.

"I know, but I do not want to attend it. If Nurse Stacey was not expecting me, I would not go," Agatha grumbled.

Ruby eyed her critically. "You know you would be in trouble if you didn't show up. Miss Glensferd seems like the kind of person who would force someone to do what they were told, but not in a bad way," she warned.

Agatha did not reply to this. She was so enraged. She did not want counseling, and she did not think she needed it either. However, everyone who knew about the situation thought the opposite. It made Agatha feel betrayed, and she wanted to throw something at someone-something heavy.

"Just give it a chance, Agatha," pleaded Ruby. "Nurse Stacey might be able to make it all better."

"How do you know? I do not need any help. I can deal with my problems all by myself," Agatha argued.

Ruby gazed at her in shock. "Agatha, this is not like you at all. Why are you so upset?"

"Because everyone thinks I am crazy just because I am quiet most of the time. Maybe I am quiet because I do not want to talk. Who says that I had to?"

Ruby did not have an idea of what she could say. This bitter, angry Agatha was even worse than the silent one.

Agatha must have saw the look in her eyes, for she calmed down.

"I am sorry," she muttered. "I will give it a chance, but if it does not help me, I will not do it anymore. Okay?"

Ruby stared at her and sighed. "All right," she whispered.

(The next day)

At one o'clock sharp, Agatha knocked on the door to Nurse Stacey's office.

"Come in," a soft voice directed.

Agatha stepped into the room and looked around. The office was brightly lit and spacious. It had a small oak desk with an upright chair behind it. It also had a loveseat couch along one wall and an armchair in front of it.

"Good afternoon," said Nurse Stacey, who was sitting behind the desk.

"Good afternoon," Agatha responded stiffly.

Nurse Stacey smiled. She was a very beautiful woman. She had curly brown hair with warm brown eyes, a fair-sized nose, and red lips. She was tall and looked to be of average weight.

"How are you today, Agatha," she queried now.

Agatha shrugged and perched on a chair in front of the desk. "Fine."

Nurse Stacey sat back slowly. "Miss Glensferd told me about what your father did to you. Can you tell me what happened in your own words? Take your time. No one else is listening but me," she assured, picking up a pad and a pen. She also pushed a box of tissues forward.

Looking down at her hands, Agatha did not think that she could tell her. Her father's attack had left her a broken, mute girl, with her secrets bottled up tight.

"May I have a glass of water first, please?" she inquired.

"Sure," replied Nurse Stacey. She left the room for a moment and came back with a filled cup.

"Now, do you think you can tell me about what happened?" she asked when Agatha had finished.

Again, Agatha froze, but a quick glance at Nurse Stacey's eyes told her that it was okay. She took a deep breath and told her story.

Nurse Stacey listened to her closely, writing on her pad and nodding pensively. When Agatha started to sob, she walked around the desk and rubbed her back comfortingly until she settled down.

"...and after he forced me, I packed up my things and ran away with my friend Ruby to come here. She had heard about this place, and she planned to come here if she ever wanted to escape her parents," concluded Agatha.

"I understand. Now tell me, Agatha, what do you feel when you think about what your father has done?" Nurse Stacey murmured.

Scowling fiercely, Agatha's mouth curled. "I feel enraged. Also, I feel hurt and ruined. I can still feel the pain from when it happened. I cannot believe he did that to me."

Nurse Stacey nodded. "Tell me more about your parents. What were they like? Were they ever kind to you?"

"No. They were rarely kind to me. The only times they were was when they bought me new clothes and let me visit their friends. They always made me do all housework too, ever since I was six."

"Were you punished often?"

"Yes."

"What were your punishments?"

"They would yell at me or spank me. They would slap me too. Sometimes, when my father hit me, he would make my lip bleed. At other times, they would give me extra chores and make me work without meals for an entire day. When I was younger, they would send me to my room."

"Why did they treat you so badly?"

"They think that I am ugly, and that I had done something wrong to be that way. They don't like ugly people."

Nurse Stacey pursed her lips. Pity stirred in her heart for Agatha. All of her life, she had experienced nothing but abuse, drudgery, and neglect. "I know that you must have felt sad and angry nearly all the time," she noted.

"Yes," Agatha said. "I hated it there. I am glad that I had ran away."

"Me too. You were very brave to do so as well. Many girls would not have had the courage," Nurse Stacey stated, smiling at Agatha a little.

Agatha nodded.

Nurse Stacey sat back down behind her desk. "Well, my dear. It seems as if you are repressing a lot of anger. So, whenever you are upset, take a few breaths and think of something happy. If crying helps you, do it privately, but if you want, you can come to me. Punching and yelling into your pillow can help too. Your next appointment will be the same time next Saturday. You may go."

Agatha stood up and left the room.

When Nurse Stacey spoke to Miss Glensferd later that day, she told her everything that Agatha had said.

"The poor girl! It's no wonder she behaves the way she does. She needs more kindness in her life, as well as fattening up. Now that I think about it, she is rather thin. I shall see to it that the maid make more food so that Agatha can have second helpings of everything for a while. She should spend more time out of doors as well. The fresh air will put some spring into her step and build her strength. It will also clear her head. These gray walls and clothes are rather depressing," Miss Glensferd added.

"I believe you," Nurse Stacey fervently agreed. "But since we could only afford gray, blue, and white materials of everything, we cannot do much about it."

(...)

The next couple of weeks were very enjoyable for Agatha. For reasons unknown to herself, but known to Agatha and Nurse Stacey, the maids gave her extra food and drinks. Also, she was allowed to go outside more often than the other children. She was able to go out after school at homework time, after supper, and almost all day on the weekends except mealtimes and church.

As a result, Agatha grew more plumper, and her eyes were no longer dull. The spring in her step would have pleased a stricter doctor than Nurse Stacey. Agatha's head was clearer and she was no longer filled with so much rage.

"You look better," Ruby observed one Sunday evening when Agatha came in the door. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes shone like stars.

Agatha beamed. "I am," she said simply. "Boy, am I hungry."

Ruby chuckled. "That's because you have such a huge appetite from running about in the fields. You're getting fatter too. The fresh air makes you stronger and healthier. Come on, there's something that I want to tell you at supper."

Looking around, Agatha saw children heading to the dining room. She and Ruby followed them.

After the maids served them their food, Agatha turned to Ruby. "So what is so important?"

Ruby leaned close to her. "I heard Miss Glensferd talking to Nurse Stacey. She was telling her about this woman who lives in a cottage in the woods. Miss Glensferd said that the lady wanted to adopt two sixteen-year-old girls to help her do the housework. In return, she would homeschool them and leave them money because she has no children. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were chosen?"

"I suppose so, if she's not like our parents," Agatha remarked in a dubious voice.

"I know what you mean. But I don't think we'll have to worry about that very much. They said that she was a considerate and respectable woman," assured Ruby.

Mulling this over, Agatha thought that she may be right.

"Did they say when she will be coming?" Agatha asked.

"Next Sunday, after church."

(Next week)

Sure enough, after church, the woman did come. Miss Glensferd told the sixteen-year-old girls to stay in their church dresses while the lady inspected them.

The woman came at 2:30. Miss Glensferd greeted her with enthusiasm.

"Why, hello Miss Fairwater. It is good to see you. I'm glad that you made it here safely."

"Thank you, Miss Glensferd. It is good too see you as well. Shall we get to business? I want to get back home in time for supper. The journey is almost three hours," declared Miss Fairwater in a gracious voice.

"Of course. The girls are in the parlor. Come with me."

The girls were lined up against the vast wall as Miss Glensferd and Miss Fairwater entered the room, peering at them.

Miss Fairwater was a short, stocky woman. She had graying hair that was curled into tiny ringlets, black eyes, a small nose, and a prim mouth, She could not have been called pretty. Many decided that she was handsome or aristocratic.

The girls stood quietly as Miss Fairwater looked them over, examining their arms and legs. She nodded slightly at a few of them while frowning at bit at others. When she came to Agatha, her face lit up in delight.

"This girl is very strong and plump. She will be a good helper for me. And merciful goodness, she is so tall! She will not have any problems with reaching objects in very high places. Yes, this is the first girl I will pick," she announced.

Miss Fairwater continued. To Agatha's great relief, she was pleased with Ruby too.

"She is just like the other girl, except shorter. I will take her as well," Miss Fairwater proclaimed.

Beaming, Miss Glensferd stepped forward. "All right, then. Come to my office so that we can sort everything out."

Agatha, Ruby, and Miss Fairwater followed her. Miss Glensferd spoke to a maid on the way.

When they were in the office, Agatha and Ruby had to sit and wait while Miss Glensferd and Miss Fairwater filled out and signed important documents.

They had just finished when someone knocked on the door.

"You may enter," called Miss Glensferd.

Nurse Stacey opened the door and ambled into the room. "You wanted to see me, Headmistress?" she queried.

"Yes," Miss Glensferd replied. "I need to speak to you and Miss Fairwater in private. Agatha, Ruby, I need you to leave the room please."

"We should see what they are saying," Ruby hissed when the door closed behind them.

Both girls placed their ears on the door.

"Those girls seem to be well cared for, as if they had been raised by someone else before they came here," Miss Fairwater exclaimed.

"Funnily enough, that is the case," chortled Miss Glensferd.

"What is it that you wanted to see me for, Headmistress?" Nurse Stacey inquired.

"Oh yes, I would like you to meet Miss Fairwater. Miss Fairwater, this is Nurse Stacey."

"How do you do?" greeted Miss Fairwater.

"Very well, thank you. How are you?" asked Nurse Stacey.

"Very good, thank you."

Miss Glensferd cleared her throat. "Now, Nurse Stacey, this is the woman that will be adopting Agatha Trunchbull and Ruby Mellows. I wanted you to give Miss Fairwater information on Agatha and her counseling sessions. I will tell her about Ruby in asides." Miss Glensferd stated.

There was a brief pause.

"Well," Nurse Stacey began. "Agatha has had a lot of pain in her life. From what she has been telling me, her mother and father abused her since she was a very little girl. Then, a few weeks ago, her father...so to speak...defiled her."

"Merciful goodness!" gasped Miss Fairwater in dismay.

"Ruby Mellows had a similar experience with her parents. No one defiled her, of course. I have told Nurse Stacey to come here, though, because I want to know if she can continue her counseling at your house," Miss Glensferd said.

"Of course, Miss Glensferd. The poor dear."

"Nurse Stacey can come every Saturday at one o'clock, if it is not too much trouble."

"It will be no trouble at all, Miss Glensferd."

"Excellent. Now before you go, I need to give you some advice on Agatha. Her parents have often starved her, so make sure you give her plenty of food. Also, she needs a lot of fresh air and exercise, so make sure to let her out of doors often unless the weather is inclement."

"I will, Miss Glensferd. There will be no need to worry. Well, I have to get going."

"Very well. It was a pleasure, Miss Fairwater."

"And you, Miss Glensferd. Nurse Stacy, I will see you Saturday at one o'clock then?"

"Certainly, Miss Fairwater," Nurse Stacey responded.

Footsteps approached. Agatha and Ruby backed away hurriedly before the door opened.

Miss Glensferd smiled at them. "Miss Fairwater is ready to go. Change into one of your old clothes and pack your things. The orphanage dresses have to stay here. Leave them out on your beds."

Agatha and Ruby quickly did as they were told. Ruby took one last glance around the room.

"I'm glad that we're leaving this gray place," she sighed in bliss.

"Me too," chuckled Agatha.

Miss Glensferd was waiting by the front entrance with Miss Fairwater and Nurse Stacey, holding two brown paper bags.

"Here, girls. I have put some fruit and carrots in these bags for you to snack on for your trip. It is about three hours, and you may get hungry. Agatha, Nurse Stacey will see you every Saturdy at one o'clock for your counseling," Miss Glensferd added.

Agatha and Ruby nodded.

"All right, then. Good-bye, girls. I hope that you have a safe journey."

"Good-bye, Miss Glensferd," Agatha and Ruby said at the same time.

"Wait!" a voice shouted.

Everyone turned to see Sophia Robins rushing down the hall.

"Agatha...Ruby...I want to give you something," she panted.

Sophia held out her hand, which had two bracelets in it. One was blue, and the other was pink. Agatha and Ruby were pleased and surprised.

"Thank you, Sophia!" grinned Ruby, taking the pink bracelet.

"They are lovely," Agatha remarked, taking the blue one.

In return, Agatha gave Sophia a pair of her third best earrings, and Ruby gave her one of her necklaces. "Thank you," Sophia murmured.

Miss Glensferd beamed. "That was very generous."

The girls turned to Sophia again. "Well, we have to go. Good-bye," they declared. "I hope everything turns out okay for you," claimed Ruby.

"You too," Sophia returned.

All three girls embraced, then broke apart. Agatha and Ruby said one last good-bye to Miss Glensferd and Nurse Stacey and followed Miss Fairwater out of the door.

After getting in a large carriage, Miss Fairwater drove away from the orphanage. The girls waved to Miss Glensferd, Nurse Stacey, and Sophia until they rounded the bend.

"So," Miss Fairwater started once Agatha and Ruby turned around. "Miss Glensferd has told me some things about you two."

Agatha and Ruby exchanged meaningful looks.

Miss Fairwater continued. "She told me that you two were abused by your parents, especially you Agatha."

The girls sighed. "Yes. We were," Agatha whispered.

Shaking her head, Miss Fairwater muttered, "This is a shame. No one should ever treat their children that way. How did you two get to St. Octavia's?"

"We ran away from home together. We lived in the same village," Ruby replied.

"I see. How long have you known each other?"

"Since first grade."

"Ah. It was very brave of you to leave your homes. It is a good thing that you two could be there for each other in your troubling times."

Miss Fairwater turned to smile at them, and the girls grinned back.

Everyone sat in silence as the landscapes went by them slowly.

"So, what was it like at the orphanage?" inquired Miss Fairwater a long while later.

Ruby looked up. "It was not bad. Everyone was nice and they have good teachers for school."

Miss Fairwater nodded. "Wonderful. How did the food taste?"

"Great. They gave us enough of it," Agatha averred.

"Good. Most orphanage do not always have enough food for the children," Miss Fairwater said.

Agatha glanced at her. "What is your home like?"

Miss Fairwater was quiet for a moment. "It is big enough. There are two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. There is a large parlor downstairs which leads to a kitchen, where we will eat. The walls are white, and so is the house. The woods around it are thick, but there are no wild animals.

"In fact, now that you have mentioned the house, I will go over your duties.

"Since I am getting old, I cannot tend to my house like I used to. So, I want you to help me with the cooking and cleaning. Also, I used to be a teacher for all grades, so I can give you lessons during the weekdays. By the time you are eighteen, you will be able to go to college. I will pay for your tuition and boarding and anything else you may need. Finally, since I have no children, I will leave you money and all of my possessions. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Miss Fairwater," the girls responded.

Miss Fairwater nodded.

The next two hours crawled by sluggishly. No one did or said very much. Occasionally, Agatha and Ruby would eat whatever they had in their bags.

Presently, Miss Fairwater announced, "Ah! Here we are."

Agatha and Ruby started and looked around. They had come to the edge of a dense forest. The sunlight barely penetrated the trees.

It was fifteen minutes before they got to the middle of the woods, where there was a clearing. At the center of it was a white, two-story cottage. It had a red chimney, a blue gable, blue shutters, and a red door.

"Welcome to Fairwater Cottage," proclaimed Miss Fairwater.