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I make it through the first couple of weeks of school without any permanent scars. Mommy asks me constantly how I am liking school, and I always reply the same: "Can't say I do." Still, she continues to make me day after day.
Mrs. Dewberry is teaching us how to count to twenty and every day, we learn a new letter of the alphabet, Federation Standard English of course, and the sound each makes. In a few weeks, she tells us, we will be learning how to read from flash cards.
I get along with Susan okay, I suppose, but Tammy likes to pinch or poke me with her data pencil. I haven't told Mrs. Dewberry. If I do, I will somehow be the one to get into trouble. That's who I am, I guess; the one always getting into trouble.
One day after we finish our lessons, Mrs. Dewberry asks our group to sit on the rug again. "I'm going to tell you a story today, kids," she tells us. "I've decided to share a classic Earth fairy tale with you, and I've narrowed it down to two." She opens her hands to show us the two data chips she is holding. "One is titled 'Cinderella' and the other 'Beauty and the Beast.' Which would you like to hear?"
"The Beauty!" Tammy exclaims.
"Yeah, I want that one, too," Susan agrees.
Both boys just shrug. So our teacher turns to me for a final decision. Yeah, like I would really choose 'Cinderella and oppose Tammy and Susan."
The tale begins with a sixteen-year old girl living in poverty after misfortune has befallen her merchant father. The girl is forced to do all the cooking and cleaning while her father works at a textile mill and her two sisters play all day. At least she has her beauty, which makes her sisters very jealous.
I ponder the definition of beauty. Turning to look at my companions, I wonder how they see beauty. Is Susan beautiful with her copper-colored hair and freckles? Or is Tammy the beautiful one with her long blonde braids and smooth face? I know I am not the beautiful one. Who in the world would think that a set of thick ridges weighing on your forehead is beautiful?
One day, Beauty's father has to travel to an nearby capital to make a delivery. Beauty helps him prepare for the long trip, packing his clothes and plenty of food to eat.
"Couldn't he transport the stuff there?"Eddie asks innocently. They were poor and couldn't afford a transporter, I think.
"No," replies the teacher. "This story was written a long time ago before transporters were invented, even before they had vehicles with engines. They used carts pulled by animals."
"How'd they meet up with all the aliens in the Federation then?" Bradley asks.
An alien, yep, that's what I am. I squirm uncomfortably.
The teacher smiles at him. I don't have a clue how the Federation was started. Daddy could tell me how he reacted to Humans and how they reacted to him.
"We are wandering away from the story," Mrs. Dewberry says, "but to answer your question, we met aliens a long time after this story was written. By that time, we had spacecrafts. Now to continue the story." Mrs. Dewberry taps her padd.
Beauty's father offers to bring back gifts:although he still has little money. Her sisters ask for new dresses, shoes, and jewelry, but Beauty asks only for a rose. On his trip, however, the merchant is trapped in a snow storm and loses all his cargo. He takes respite in a large house where he finds a hot meal and a warm bed, with no sign of a host.
The next morning, he wanders into the garden and pickes a rose for Beauty. The owner, a powerful monstrous beast with long hair and claws, catches him and holds him captive.
Susan and Tammy gasp at the description. I listen intent on every detail. Why is the Beast so mean? Another question gnaws at me with an even greater intensity: Is that who I am--the daughter of a beast? Beauty's father has meant no harm. He only wanted to get out of the cold, wet rain. It scares me that others might think of my Daddy as a beast. He does have a temper.
Beauty's father begs for mercy and the Beast agrees to let him go only if he sends one of his daughters in his place. If neither volunteers, then the merchant must return. Wanting to see his daughters one last time, he agrees to the Beast's demand. Upon returning home, he presents the rose to Beauty and tells his daughters of the Beast. Since she loves her father so much and feels responsible for his dilemma, Beauty decides to go to the Beast. Knowing her father wouldnever permit her to make such a sacrafice, Beauty sneaks off in the middle of the night.
"Oh, she can't!" Susan exclaims. "What will he do to her?"
"Probably lock her up in a brig," Bradley offers. "And torcher her."
"I'd never agree to live with a beast," Tammy says, glancing at me. What is she thinking about me? I know what I think of her; she's just like one of the sisters.
Beauty sees little of the beast, but her meals are provided for her and when she wanders through the castle, she finds beautiful clothes, shoes, and jewelry--all the luxuries her sisters demanded. How ironic, for Beauty ignores such wealths and finds her own treasure in the vast library. Contentedly, she reads away her days in the castle. One day, she finds a magic mirror, tucked away in a desk drawer, that can show her anyplace on Earth. The Beast allows her to take it to her room, and she checks on her father every night before retiring.
Every evening, the Beast calls on Beauty and asks her two questions. "Do you find me ugly?" She does. "Will you marry me?" She could never marry anyone so ugly. Dismayed, the Beast leaves her for solitude.
"That's all the time we have for today," Mrs. Dewberry announces. "We will finish this story and discuss it tomorrow." She raises her hands, indicating that we should get up from the rug. "You're parents will be here any minute, so gather up your stuff and wait at your desks."
As I walk back to my desk, I look at all the other kids in the classroom and wonder if any of them are comparing me to the beast. An Andorian, a few years older than me, pops her head up and smiles at me. Her antennas bob slightly. I can sense that she understands how I feel. She is the only Andorian child aboard the Enterprise. Maybe she will be my friend, I decide and hope for the opportunity to approach her later.
I try to draw on my padd, but Tammy makes this difficult. "Doing some more do-do-doodling?" she whispers in my direction. She cannot hold back her snickers, and the teacher looks at her sternly.
"Please be quiet, Tammy. You are disrupting the other students." I grin as I continue to work on my picture. For once, Tammy is the one getting into trouble.
My Mommy arrives first and I run to her almost dropping my data padd and pencil. "Shannara don't run," Mommy scolds but gives me a hug anyway.
After we walk a ways down the corridor, I ask, "What time is Daddy going to be home?"
"He will be home shortly."
Good I think. I have some questions that only Daddy can answer.
We pick up Eric at daycare and return to our quarters on deck 8. At first, I try to finish my drawing out in the living area, but Eric will not quit pestering me, and so I go to my room. When Daddy arrives and steps into my room, I show him my drawing He pretends he knows what I have drawn, but I can tell he can't.
"It is very. . . .beautiful," he says slowly.
"It is!" I can't believe he said that. "But that's the Beast. He's suppose to be ugly. No one likes him. He's mean and scary and no one wants to stay with him." I don't realize the tears are coming until several have splattered on my data padd. "They don't love him."
Daddy gently removes the padd from my hands and sets it down on my small desk. "What has brought this on?" He cannot cry when he is sad, because full Klingons have no tear ducts. I wish I were brave enough not to cry, then Daddy would be proud of me.
"Mrs. Dewberry is reading us a story called Beauty and the beast. She says that the beast is really mean and ugly." I wipe my eyes, trying to calm down enough not to stutter or slur my words. " Daddy, do people think you are a beast?"
He fixes me with a startled look of realization. I almost wish I hadn't asked the question. I bite at my lower lip, determined to hear the answer.
"Those who do are not worthy of our consideration. I am a Klingon. It is not honorable to be ashamed of one's race. You are born who you are and no one has the right to mock you."
"But who am I? I'm not *all* Klingon."
"No, but even one with a mixed heritage has something to be proud of. Your values ,beliefs, and morals all must come from within you."
I 'm not sure I understand what Daddy is talking about, nor if I ever will.
"I don't know what they are."
"You will in time. Do you remember the story of how Kahless became an outlaw ?"
"Yes. Kahless betrayed the monarch Molor by refusing to carry out Molar's orders ."
"And do you remember what those orders were?"
I think about the villagers of M'riiah. They were poor, starving people who had suffered through a long drought. "Molar sent Kahless to collect taxes from the people of M'riiah. Only Kahless took pity on them and spared their lives, branding himself and his followers outlaws."
"Do you understand why Kahless chose to become an outlaw when he could have lived in luxury had he carried out his leader's orders?"
"Because Molor was evil and Kahless would rather starve to death than live with guilt."
"And in your human tale of the beast, do you see him as evil?"
"No. He never hurts Beauty. "Why does nobody like the beast, then?" I move closer to Daddy showing my love with a firm hug. I don't want him to ever doubt that.
"They are afraid of him because they do not understand him. Many people fear others who are different and do not understand."
"Then why did mommy fall in love with you?"
Daddy appeares in deep thought. "You will have to ask your mother that question."
"Do you think the beast deserves to be loved?"
"Yes, I believe the beast behaves as he does because of the way he has always been treated."
"Then if someone would just love him maybe he would be nice to everyone." I kiss Daddy on the cheek. "I love you daddy."
"I love you too," he says. He retrieves my data padd and again looks at my drawing. Pressing buttons on the padd, "We should save this." He hands the padd back to me. "Do not be ashamed of who you are, Shannara." He touches me on the nose, and I can't help but smile. Daddy can always cheer me up.
*****
"Alexander will be returning in a few weeks." Daddy announces over dinner.
My big brother has been away for a long time, since shortly after Eric was born. I talk with him sometimes over subspace transmissions, but it's not like actually having him here.
"Hooray!" I exclaim, drumming my hands on the table. Eric does not understand my excitement, but h thinks it's fun to join in on the pounding.
Mommy raises a hand, signaling us to stop, while she looks at Daddy. "That's wonderful," she says. "How long will he be staying?"
"Indefinitely," Daddy replies. "He has finished his studies on Q'ronos. We will have to request a quarters with an additional room."
"Or perhaps Alexander would prefer to have his own quarters. After all, he's been living for more than a year on his own."
"Yes, of course. I should have considered that." My father grinds his teeth together. "I will put in a request on his behalf immediately."
*****
That night, as Mommy tucks me into bed, I ask her why she loves my Daddy.
She smiles sweetly and pulls up my desk chair to sit beside me. "Your Daddy and I were good friends long before we fell in love. We changed-- we grew together, and we slowly fell in love. It's that kind of love that can be the strongest, healthiest, because it is built on friendship and a deep commitment."
"Mommy, did you think Daddy was a beast when you first met him?"
"No. I knew he was a Klingon. It is improper to judge someone based on their race."
"Then it's okay to love, Daddy?"
"Of course!"
Mommy kisses me on the forehead and after returning the chair, leaves the room.
It takes me a while to fall asleep as I think over the story some more. I know Mommy loves Daddy. I love Daddy. I guess, if I must be honest, I am really looking for reassurance that somebody loves me.
*****
The following day, Mrs. Dewberry continues the fairy tale.
Using her magic mirror, Beauty learns that her father is seriously ill and begs the Beast to let her go to him. The Beast agrees, but only if she will return to the castle in eight days.
I am fascinated by the magic mirror and wonder if I can convince Daddy to get me one. I could see anyplace, any planet. It would almost be as exciting as being there. More exciting than a boring starship!
Beauty cares for her father and nurses him back to health. During this time, to Beauty's amazement, she finds herself missing the Beast.
"Why does she miss the Beast?" I blurt out without thinking. "I thought she found him disgusting."
"Beauty is beginning to realize that a person's appearance does not define who they are underneath. She has seen more than any magic mirror could ever show her."
Jealous, her sisters trick her into believing her father cannot survive without her, and so Beauty stays past the eight days. She has a dream, though, that the Beast is dying, tormented by her broken promise. Despite her fears, Beauty returns to the Beast's palace.
"My Mommy tells me that dreams aren't real," Susan announces. "So why does Beauty believe the Beast is really in danger?"
"That's a good question," Mrs. Dewberry says. "Throughout history people have believed in prophecy. These are any signs of what is to come. They especially believed this was true of dreams."
"It's like sensing what others are feeling," I say.
"That's true, Shannara. You should understand Beauty's connection with the Beast better than the others. In a real sense, her relationship with the Beast has become quite empathic."
I smile broadly finally feeling some honor in my heritage. Only I am not ignorant to the fact that this pride is coming from my Betazoid part, rather than my Klingon half.
"Can you sense what I'm feeling now?" Tammy asks. I can hear the ice in her voice; sense her disgust. Why does she always have to ridicule me? I have done nothing to encourage her.
"You disgust me!"
"Shannara!" the teacher snaps. "Apologize to Tammy."
"No, that's--"
"Would you rather sit at your desk?"
I meant to say that I was voicing what Tammy is thinking about me, but the teacher will not let me explain. She thinks I am the one being rude. "I'm sorry," I say, head bowed. Tammy smiles smugly.
"Very well then," Mrs. Dewberry responds and continues the story. Slowly, I release my tension as I concentrate on the story and not on my enemy.
When Beauty arrives at the castle, she finds the beast crumpled in his garden, almost dead. She cries as she kneels to him and exclaims, "You must live, Beast, so we can get married!" Suddenly everything changes around them. The castle's walls sparkle anew and the flowers grow brighter. In the next moment, the Beast transforms into a handsome prince. "You have broken the enchantment and set me free by loving me despite my ugliness."
I am very confused by this. My Daddy did not transform when my Mommy fell in love with him. So why does the Beast when Beauty falls in love with him? Couldn't Beauty continue to love him as he was? Why do so many humans see themselves as the beautiful ones?
After Beauty's family arrives at the palace they witness Beauty and the Beast's wedding. The sisters are so jealous they turn to stone statues.
As I leave school that day, I feel as though I am made of stone, because I'm bewildered by the story's conclusion.
*****
"Mommy, do humans think they're the only beautiful ones?" I ask on our way to pick up Eric.
"No, not most humans. What gave you that idea?"
"Well, when Beauty fell in love with the Beast, he transformed into a handsome prince--a *human* prince. Aren't there any Klingon princes?"
"I think so, " Mommy says with a smile. "Your father certainly charms me."
"Then the Beast didn't have to change, and that story's stupid." Smugly, I raise my chin. Why should I listen to any human stories?
"Actually, Shannara, " Mommy stops walking to kneel to my eye level. "It's probably a very good thing you were told that story. You know why? Because it has made you think, about your Daddy, yourself, and about all the other people in the universe. It was written during a time when most Humans believed they were alone in the universe. But it still holds a great truism in this century. The story is suppose to show the reader that there is more than one kind of beauty. What comes within a person, who she or he is, is far more important than how they look."
"Then do I have more beauty than someone who likes to push or poke others?"
"Of course."
I smile, for now I understand the definition of beauty.
