Not all Questions Have Answers
© Debbie Sutherlin

The birds were singing, the sun was warm and it seemed incongruous for anything to be wrong on a day like today. None the less, here stood a dark-haired young girl and a brown-haired boy facing each other, faces red and angry. "What is your problem, Aldor?!" Kalandra glared at the popular young man, her amethyst eyes flashing. Her small fists clenched in the desire to pound his face but knowing also that ladies did not fight. Her mother would be very angry with her if she got into a fist fight. Kal stared at the much taller, bigger boy and waited for his response.

"I HATE YOU! Period. Stay out of my life! I wish you would drop off the face of the earth!" Aldor sputtered at her angrily.

"I don't like you Aldor, but according to the guidelines set out for the chairperson, you fit the description. So I nominated you, it hasn't anything to do with my liking or disliking you! You were just right for the job! What is wrong with that?"

"You only nominated me because you like me! I'll get you. I promise." Aldor's red face burned with hatred for Kalandra. Twisting his normally average looks into a hate-filled mask of demonic proportions. Although Kalandra was now angry because of the nasty, embarrassing tirade she was the brunt of, mostly she was confused. The entire class stood around the two combatants hoping to see blood. Aldor despised Kalandra from the time they were small, although Kal still did not understand why.

"Break it up! Kalandra go wash your face off in the water trough and Aldor, you go sit inside until you calm down." The Schoolmaster said sternly. "I don't understand that boy." He exclaimed as the big, lanky boy moved off to enter the school room.

"Why Camden? Why does he hate me so very much?"

"I honestly don't know Kalandra, but you would be wise to simply stay as far away from him as possible. I fear his hatred is deep and long term."

"What have I EVER done to him? WHAT?" Kal asked with complete confusion. Her pain from his hateful words was evident, even though she thought she had masked them.

"Sometimes Kallie, people just don't get along. Those people must stay away from one another for their
own well being."

A couple of years later, in Kalandra's twelfth year, she developed a crush on a new boy named Dan, in the village. His sandy blonde hair had a tendency to drop down into his deep blue eyes. He had a ready smile and quick wit. Dan seemed to enjoy Kallie's company when they were introduced. He smiled at her and sat talking and joking with her for hours. He was fun to be around and Kallie enjoyed his company for those few hours. However, the first day of school proved one of the most miserable of Kallie's life.

Kallie was running late and had put on her best dress for the first day. She and Mystra had planned the first day with precision! In addition, Dan was going to be there! When she arrived, she ran into the schoolroom breathless and JUST as the schoolmaster rang the bell. She rapidly jumped into one of the seats that was free, which was up front. She smiled at Dan as she passed and he smiled at her. The morning lessons drug on, but finally were over and the break for lunch was announced. As she hurried outside to find her best friend, Mystra, she saw Dan glancing her way. She smiled at him and waved only to receive a nasty scowl in
return. Cocking her head, she stared at where Dan now stood with his back to her. Disbelief
and pain on her gentle features. "Come on Kallie! Don't pay them any mind!"

"But Mystra, why? Why is Dan doing this? I thought we were friends?"

"Aldor has been talking to him."

"What? Why would that have anything, to do with ANYTHING?" Kallie asked, completely confused.

"Aldor is at it again." Mystra tried to drag the very hurt Kallie away from the area.

"No, this isn't right! I did nothing wrong! Not to Aldor or to Dan! Why is he doing this? I don't understand."

"Neither do I, but it promises to give Aldor the kicks he wants, if you react. Leave it alone, Kal!" Indeed Aldor stood facing Dan and watching Kal with a smirk on his face. He leaned over and said something and each of the boys in the group began to laugh and some even pointed at her. Kal turned red-faced with anger and frustration. She knew Mystra was right, but she wanted to go beat the nasty smirk off of Aldor's face, even if she was half his size! Kalandra wept the rest of the day, her heart tormented with uncertainty and betrayal. From that day forward Dan too joined forces with Aldor to belittle Kalandra at every opportunity. Her training at ignoring her brothers jives and teasing were good practice though. Although it wounded deeply, Kal ceased to let them know just how much they hurt her. She carried it home and wept in private with great agony at the unbelievable deception and unfairness of it all. Kal would never know the 'why'. She would only know the aching in her heart... until time removed the sting.

Crazy Nell, the village of Woodburro's healer, nodded and left her perch behind the bushes of the schooling area. She shook her head sadly and picked up her old wooden staff. "Poor little Kallie girl, getting her first taste of the natural hate the Dark has for the Light. Light bless those tears...they won't be the last our poor Kallie girl sheds..." Nell sighed sadly. The now older Nipper walked sedately by her side, looking from left to right to protect his beloved mistress. She walked on dabbing at her eyes now and then with a small white
kerchief....Nipper whined sadly as they continued to walk.