An Old Friend
Elphaba
To calm herself down during times she felt the immense loathing she held for her roommate, and to occupy the little time that she didn’t spend in Madame Morrible’s seminar, Doctor Dillamond’s lecture and office hours, or with her nose in a book, Elphaba took up gardening. She found solace in the rich earth and vibrant colors of the flowers, vegetables, and other plants that she tended to in the small garden behind Crage Hall.
She entwined her fingers with the roots of the Pertha grape plant she had dug up to relocate across the garden with the other grape trees, her hands covered in the dark soil of the earth. Galinda, Nessarose’s love from their father, and the cruel treatment of Animals all rushed through her mind as Elphaba worked in the soil with fierce determination.
‘It’s Ga-linda. With a ‘Ga.’’ Galinda’s annoyingly high-pitched voice echoed through her mind, reminding Elphaba of how much she hated her as a person.
Then, she remembered the night prior and the long talk that they shared.
Miss Galinda didn’t seem too bad then. She was Gillikinese, sure, and a product of privilege, but Elphaba had realized that she maybe wasn’t as small-minded as the Munchkin people that she herself grew up around and was so familiar with. Galinda might not even have been as shallow as she portrays herself. There was more to her than met the eye.
No, Elphaba thought. Galinda Upland is Galinda Upland . She is not a good person. She would not be fooled by one talk that likely spurred out of boredom or nosiness.
Elphaba worked with the soil as though it were second nature, her hands digging deeper and deeper into the ground, putting her literal ‘green thumb' to good use. Perhaps, if she kept her fingers plowing the dirt long enough, she would dig her way to the Nome King.
She was snapped out of both her thoughts and her rhythmic labor by the sound of a loud thump from behind her. Startled, Elphaba’s crooked spine shot up like a frightened cat, and she turned her head around to find a ginger-haired lad laying on a bed of lettuces. He looked as if he had fallen from the sky as he lay sprawled out on the vegetable patch, his limbs limp and stretched out in various directions.
He sat up, trying to regain his composure, brushing bits of soil and leaves off of his wool vest and rubbing the back of his head. Elphaba assumed that he would likely have a bump there for a few days, but there was no doubt that her bed of crops just barely saved the intruder’s life. He hadn’t yet noticed her as he was still in a state of shock from his abrupt landing. How did he get here, anyway? Was he a little creep trying to peek into the girl’s dormitory and lost his footing on whatever branch he was balanced on?
As he stood back up, he squashed the vegetables that broke his fall. Irritated, Elphaba crossed her arms and said, “Oh, brilliant. Now there’s peeping toms sneaking into my garden and stepping all over my lettuce.”
The young man spun around, his eyes wide with shock and embarrassment as he faced Elphaba’s green and freckled face. “I’m sorry, Miss Elphaba,” said the intruder apologetically. “I didn’t mean to land so harshly on your crops.” He sounded sincere and maybe even scared. He knew her name, whoever he was. Elphaba paid it no mind, everyone knew of the disgusticifying viridescent terror that resided in Crage Hall.
He spoke like he knew Elphaba or rather, was personally acquainted with her. She, to her memory, had never seen or spoken to him before. Though, she thought, all Munchkins were so similar to one another in looks and were rather easy to lose track of.
“And who might you be?” she hissed and approached him, one finger a few inches away from his face as she towered over him. He was tall for a Munchkin, that was for sure, but he was still shorter than her by a few inches.
“Boq,” said the intruder who smiled. He stuck his hand out for Elphaba to shake as he introduced himself. “Boq Woodsman of Munchkinland.”
She took note of his nationality almost immediately, his smaller size and bright orange hair reminiscent of the Munchkin children she grew up around during her years in Rush Margins and on Colwen Grounds in Nest Hardings where her great-grandfather lived and welcomed her family.
For a quick moment, she recalled the malicious rhyme that the local children would chant when they saw her.
‘Elphaba Thropp. Green on top. Someone go and tell her that everyone could smell her!’
Vicious little things, they were to Elphaba. They reminded her of Galinda’s crew of lackeys and how wicked they could be with the things that they whispered under her breath, not that Elphaba cared much. It was because of those ruthless Munchkinland children that Elphaba’s green skin had become as tough as it was.
Elphaba looked down at Boq’s surprisingly large hand that was extended out towards her. She was surprised to see that he was unafraid to touch her with all the rumors going around campus about how her ‘condition’ was transferable through physical contact.
She stared at his hand and took it for a quick moment, closing her fingers around his. If she had ever shook anyone’s hand before, it felt like a lifetime ago as she herself could not remember.
“Master Boq,” she said, her voice trailing off with an unfamiliar softness creeping into her tone. “What brings you over my garden wall? Were you spying on me?”
As Boq pulled his hand out of her grip, Elphaba kept an eye on it to see if he would wipe his palm off to clean them of her ‘dirtiness.’ He didn’t; she would remember that.
He merely laughed lightly and awkwardly said, “Oh no, Miss Elphaba. I wasn’t watching you . I was just—”
“Watching somebody else, then,” said Elphaba who turned around and walked towards one of her flower beds.
“No, Miss Elphaba,” Boq insisted.
“What business does a boy like you have peering into Crage Hall?” Elphaba wondered as she watered her lilies. They were all as yellow as the sun, from a pale buttercup to a darker gold. “I’ve never seen you in the dorms before, so I don’t think that you’re courting any of the special ladies who live here.”
“Miss Elphaba,” said Boq with some insistence, “you have no right to make such horrendible accusations with no proof.”
Elphaba stood back up and walked towards him again. “Maybe you were just climbing trees and walls for fun, then?” she asked sarcastically. “Or maybe, you were being a peeping tom perhaps? Maybe, if I were to tell the Head, she’d talk to the dean immediately. We can’t have snoopers at Shiz. We must protect our women.”
She spoke very nonchalantly and it was unlikely that she would actually report the incident to Madame Morrible, but Boq was unfamiliar with her dry humor. He was a good kid, Elphaba was able to detect as she scanned him—she was good at that.
He fiddled with his hands nervously. “Alright then, Miss Elphaba. If you must know, I was looking for somebody,” he answered.
“Who?” Elphaba asked.
“That wouldn’t do you any good, Miss Elphaba,” said Boq. “That is personal information.”
“Ahhh,” Elphaba tilted her head. “So, you were spying on someone. Madame Morrible will not like hearing about this. Nor will your family back in Munchkinland, I presume.”
“I was not!” Boq barked back. He sighed and said, “I was looking for Miss Galinda. She needs no introduction, I’m sure that you’re familiar with her.”
She was more than familiar. Far more than familiar.
“Ahhh, yes,” said Elphaba as if she had to give the name some thought. “The radiant glamour-puss of the Upper Uplands.” She would turn her back to Boq again and approach the Pertha grape tree, running her hand along one of the tiny fruits. She tugged on it lightly, checking to see if it was ready to be picked yet.
“Yes. That Miss Galinda,” Boq answered with a light hum. At the mention of the roommate that she so deeply loathed, Elphaba noticed as Boq became visibly more animated, a spark of affection igniting in his eyes. Elphaba could’ve sworn that she saw a twinkle in one of his dark orbs.
It was intriguing to Elphaba. So many Shiz students admired her roomie, but she never understood why other than her good looks. Galinda, in the eyes of Elphaba, was just a hollow shell that nobody really knew.
“Ahhh. You like Miss Galinda?” Elphaba laughed quietly, curious to know more.
“I am fond of her, yes,” Boq nodded, though Elphaba did not face him. “I wish to speak with her in private. I’d like to get to know her, should she give me the chance.”
“What good does that ever do?” Elphaba asked. She picked one of the light pink grapes she had carefully inspected and ate it, tasting its sourness. Elphaba soon learned that it wasn’t ready yet.
“I am very fond of Miss Galinda,” said Boq. “I would like to court her should she accept my advances.”
Elphaba snickered under breath. Galinda and this Boq character?
“Why would she ever do that?”
“I am going to state my case and make my feelings known to her, once she gives me some time,” he explains. “Miss Galinda is the most lovely girl I have met. I fell in love with her the moment I first saw her,” Boq expressed, his cheeks flushing pink of youthful exuberance. He spoke so highly of Galinda, which annoyed Elphaba, but it also entertained her.
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. “So, you planned what? Sneak into Crage Hall and walk right into our room to confess your love for Galinda? Or did you plan to read a love poem while she stood and listened from the balcony like a storybook princess? She would love that.”
Boq evidently was intrigued by Elphaba’s second suggestion and she saw the hopeful glint return to his eyes. It wasn’t a bad idea.
“I simply wanted to arrange a meeting with Miss Galinda—” he stopped upon realizing something. Elphaba gave him a strange look for him to continue on, but he was stuck in thought momentarily.
“Did you say our room?” asks Boq, wide-eyed as ever. He looked up at Elphaba like a domesticated puppy dog.
“Yes,” said Elphaba absentmindedly with a shrug.
She didn’t care if others knew about her and Galinda’s living situation. The Gillikinese girl clearly did, though, and Elphaba knew this from the minor requests Galinda would throw her way. ‘Could you not stand on the balcony?’ ‘Oh could you not close the window?’ ‘Can you try and leave early? I need some peace and quiet to sleep in.’
They were all so small, but they made it known that Galinda clearly did not want outsiders knowing that they were roommates. Sure, Galinda’s snarky friends knew, as did the staff and a few of the other girls in Crage Hall, but beyond that, Elphaba sensed a concerted effort on Galinda’s part to keep their living arrangement under wraps. It would be too embarrassing for Galinda to admit that her private suite had been transformed into a room for two that she shared with the terror of Shiz.
“ You are Miss Galinda’s roomie?” Boq asked in a state of utter shock.
“You are surprised?” Elphaba replied. “You are surprised that the blonde bombshell is forced to live with the green lizard? You are surprised that someone as good as her has to live with someone like me , are you?”
“No! You are a kind person, Miss Elphaba,” said Boq. “I just didn’t know, that's all.”
Kind . Nobody ever called her that or at least, she could never remember if they did. Years of tending to Nessarose’s every need never turned her into a ‘kind’ or ‘good’ person in the eyes of others. Yet, here he was, this Munchkin boy who she had only just met was treating her like she was more than just a disgusticifying viridescent girl.
She knew that he was most likely being nice because he feared the possibility of her reporting his intrusion to Madame Morrible, but still, he felt genuine. Even if it was only for his own benefit.
“ Why would you know?” Elphaba posed a question that left a silence hanging in the air between them.
“Well,” Boq began, taking the conversation in an entire different direction as he ignored Elphaba’s question, “this is great. This is just amazing, Miss Elphaba.”
Elphaba curled her dark eyebrow and said, “How so? You don’t seriously think I’m letting you into our room do you?”
“No! Not at all!” Boq shouted. He rubbed his chin in thought as he tried to devise a plan of sorts or at least an idea. “Perhaps, you can put in a good word for me? With Miss Galinda.”
Elphaba shook her head. “We don’t talk much. We keep to our respective sides of the suite. We don't so much as look at each other. We don’t help each other with picking out our best autumn skirts to match with our sweater as you probably think, Master Boq. We don’t have late night conversations. We don’t have any during the day, either.”
The last statement was only half-true. Elphaba would make the claim, ignoring the interaction from not even a full day ago. She remembered how Galinda wanted to talk to her, even if she was her sassy and dimwitted self.
“So,” said Elphaba. “I don’t think that she’d listen to me about my recommendations in romance.” She picked another grape and inspected the round fruit, ultimately deciding against it. Elphaba would turn to face Boq who was still determined, the look on his face suggested that he was eager and full of hope.
“You don’t have to talk to her,” said Boq. “Just pass a message along for a friend.”
“A friend?” Elphaba asks. “I only just met you. You are a stranger. We are not friends,” she added quite matter-a-factly. She kind of felt bad. He had shown her genuine warmth, but she didn’t know him. She wasn’t entirely opposed to becoming friends, but she didn’t make an offer.
He was obviously more interested in getting to know Miss Galinda and becoming her paramour. Who wouldn’t be? He’d forget all about Elphaba by next week.
“A stranger is someone you don’t know yet ,” said Boq.
“Exactly.”
Boq nodded and said, “I figured you wouldn’t remember.” The Munchkin boy shrugged as he looked up at Elphaba who was a giantess next to him, as were many other Shiz students. At least four or five inches stood between the pair of Munchkin-land born Ozians.
“Remember what?”
“Well, Miss Elphaba,” said Boq as he tried remembering the story he had been told, “we used to play together, as children. It was a long time ago. I don’t remember either, so I don’t blame you. We were toddlers, I suppose. My older brothers still remember you though. They used to call you the ‘green girl of Rush Margins.’---Your father is quite infamous!---When I saw you with your sister during move-in, I supposed it was you. Do you remember Bfee?” he asked. “He was my father. Gawnett was our caretaker. Do you remember her? She was friends with your Nanny, if you don’t believe me.”
She shook her head, indicating she didn’t remember either of the other two names. “I have no reason not to believe you,” said Elphaba.
She hardly remembered her time in Rush Margins, having moved to Quadling when she was only a few years old. She spent most of her childhood in the Ovvels before moving around the southern province with her father, sister, and Nanny like a traveling theater troupe. They may as well have been a circus on the move given they were missionaries. Eventually, the family settled in Nest Hardings back in Munchkinland to live on Colwen Grounds with the Governor.
“Like you, I do not remember, though,” she admitted. “Well, I don’t remember the specifics, that is. I don’t remember you .”
“Your grandpapa is the Eminent Thropp, right?”
“Yes,” said Elphaba, “he is my great -grandfather.”
“He granted me with my scholarship to Shiz, actually,” said Boq. “He seems to be a great man. That is what my family says at least. Very generous, as are you, Miss Elphaba.”
Elphaba didn’t respond, so Boq spoke once more. “It is nice to see you again, Miss Elphaba. Even if we don’t exactly remember meeting all those years ago.”
“And it was nice meeting you, Master Boq,” Elphaba replied with a slight smile. “But if you would be so kind as to leave my garden now, you continue to trample over my arugula and I don’t exactly like my greens with boot marks on them.”
Boq nodded and leaned over to grab his hat from off the ground. It must have fallen off of his big head of red hair when he fell over the wall, the peeper that he was.
“You needn’t worry about me,” said Elphaba in a lower tone. “I won’t be reporting your intrusion to the Head.”
Boq bowed his head. “Thank you, Miss Elphaba. Truly. This was a one time incident. I will not fall into your garden again. You won’t have to worry about my shenanigans anymore.”
“Good.”
The Munchkin walked over to the brick wall, intending to climb over it to the other side, back onto the main campus. “Wait,” he said and turned to face Elphaba, “if I leave will you do me a favor?”
“I already said that I won’t report you to Madame Morrible,” said Elphaba.
“Oh, yes, but—” he paused momentarily. Boq awkwardly scratched the back of his head as he tried to think of a way to word his request. “Would you pass along a message for an old friend, though? Now that you know our story.”
Elphaba thought about it for a moment. She felt bad for the poor kid. This was his second time asking. For whatever reason, he really wanted a chance to connect to Galinda. He seemed almost desperate. He was desperate.
Boq was kind. Elphaba figured that she’d do him a better favor by not giving Galinda his message for her, for better or for worse. On one hand, Galinda could break the boy’s heart into a thousand pieces and destroy his hopes at love. On the other hand, in the off chance that she did accept his offer, Elphaba feared that Galinda would turn Boq into another one of her brainless lackeys.
She saw the look in Boq’s eyes once more and let out a resigned sigh. “Fine. I suppose I can. I will only do this once. I will not become your messenger.”
“Oh! Thank you Miss Elphaba!” Boq smiled widely, clenching his fists with excitement. “Truly! I will be forever in your debt.”
“What is the message?” Elphaba asks, arms crossed.
Boq thought to himself. “Well, I want her to know that I am available should she ever need someone to talk to. Or, if she’d ever like to go for a walk around the river for a nice chat,” he answered proudly, but Elphaba looked at him unamused.
She knew little of courting and romance, but she knew that Boq’s message surely would not entice someone like Galinda . She was high maintenance and had to be earned. She was beautiful beyond comparison, Elphaba thought. She began thinking about her roommate’s fair skin and the way that her blonde hair curled in soft waves, accentuating her delicate Gillikinese features.
No. This wasn’t the time for this. Galinda Upland is not a good person. She would not be fooled by her beauty no matter how radiant she made herself appear.
She let out a little chuckle that was very rare. “Okay, so: ‘Boq the Munchkin wants to let you know that he is available, should you need a listener?’”
“Well—” Boq began to reconsider upon hearing Elphaba’s restatement, but she continued on.
“Master Boq,” she said in an earnest tone, “you must do better than that. This is Miss Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands. She has plenty of listeners. You need to make a better impression should you want to stand out.”
He nodded in agreement and said, “I suppose you’re right, Miss Elphaba. What do you reckon would be more compelling, then? She is your roomie after all, you know her better than anyone else.”
“You must tell her that I love her, then,” Boq proclaimed and held his hand to his chest that he puffed out in a dramatic gesture, as if he was declaring his deepest feelings. And that, Elphaba thought, he likely was.
Elphaba laughed a little more at Boq’s proclamation. “I like you, Master Boq. You are quite funny,” she smiled sideways, a dimple forming in her cheek.
Maybe, Galinda would like this fellow. He seemingly had a thirst for the dramatics, as did she. They could get along well enough.
But, he was from Munchkinland, evidently from a less well-off family. She knew that Galinda would not be fond of that. It was a match made in the place where the goblins go and Elphaba knew that things would not go as Boq envisioned.
She hoped they didn’t.
She almost considered not helping him with his pursuit of Galinda at all because of how sweet he seemed, but she thought that maybe he would get over the Gillikinese girl the faster that he got to know her.
“Are you sure that you wish to get entwined in the world of Miss Galinda?” Elphaba questioned. “Are you absolutely certain that you want to put yourself into her large swimming pool of suitors? It will be a challenge.”
“That is what makes it worth it,” said Boq. “I want to win over her heart, no matter who may try to stand in our way. Miss Galinda is the most perfect girl I have ever met, Miss Elphaba. I have to at least try and earn her love. Love does not come easy, you know.”
“Nobody is perfect,” said Elphaba. She firmly believed the statement, but maybe—just maybe—Galinda challenged it. No, Galinda Upland is not a good person. Galinda Upland is an awful human being and roomie.
“I suppose you are right,” she added, about the quest of earning love.
“Will you help me, Miss Elphaba? Please.”
Elphaba wondered what she had gotten herself into merely by trying to confront this lovestruck Munchkin for stepping on her assortment of vegetables.
“I will work on the sidelines to try and help you,” said Elphaba, “but I won’t help you directly. I won’t sway things in your favor. I won’t feed Miss Galinda with lies about what a great chap you are,—and I don’t doubt that you aren’t a good chap, to be frank. You will have to win her heart over on your own.”
“That is what I intend to do, Elphaba,” he responded almost immediately, not referring to her by her honorific.
He thinks that he stands a chance, thought Elphaba.
“You must be prepared for—” Elphaba began, but Boq cut her off.
“I am prepared for anything,” he answered. “I just want your help in ensuring that Miss Galinda will meet with me, willingly.”
Elphaba thought to herself. She could make an attempt to talk to Galinda again. Maybe they were constructing some sort of roommate-ship after their little late night talk. All Elphaba had to do was convince Galinda to give poor Boq a chance to talk. Elphaba knew that it would be difficult, but it would be worth it in the end. She could get Boq to give up his desire for Galinda should things between them go wrong. She could also get a good show out of the whole thing, she thought. Elphaba imagined how much Boq could annoy Galinda because of his innocent naivete and uneasy inelegance.
Loathing .
Elphaba loathed her roommate so badly and a twinge of curiosity about what could come out of this pairing piqued her interest. She thought about Boq’s goodhearted nature rubbing off on the prissy aristocrat, but that was unlikely. What was certain though, was that the awkwardness between the Munchkin and Gillikinese would surely upset and discomfort the attention-seeking Galinda.
She was doing this for both herself and Boq when she finally agreed.
“Very well, then, Master Boq,” said Elphaba. “I will see what I can do to set you and Miss Galinda up. Though, it will surely be under whatever terms she sees fit. Be wary, Master Boq, she is a… complicated individual.”
“I understand!” Boq nodded enthusiastically and said, “I just need a chance. That is all I ask.”
Surely, Elphaba considered, the exchanges between the two would be entertaining to witness and Elphaba imagined the looks on Galinda’s (pretty) face as she grew more and more flustered. This brought a wide, almost devilish grin to her green face.
“I must warn you, Miss Galinda will likely not agree to this arrangement without a chaperone. She is a respectable young lady after all,” said Elphaba as she thought up a plan.
Boq nodded. “I don’t mind. Her Ama will come with us then?”
“Oh no!” said Elphaba. “Ama Clutch would never agree. Rather, I will accompany her, should she request a chaperone.”
“Oh…” said Boq. “But—”
“That is the catch,” Elphaba replied hastily.
“I accept then!” said Boq. “Under any terms, I will meet with her.”
Elphaba smiled. “Good. Miss Galinda will appreciate an understanding fellow.”
“When shall we meet, then?”
“Take it easy, Master Boq,” answered Elphaba. “I need to convince her first. Then, we can set up a time and place. This will take some time, Boq. Let me work my magic and I can make things work out in our favor.”
“Magic?” Boq queried. “You’re not gonna cast a love spell on her, are you? Bewitch her.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, but noticed that Boq wasn’t budging. “It is a figure of speech.”
“Oh, thank Oz!” Boq sighed in relief. “I heard whisperings that you are the most powerful sorceress here at Shiz after Madame Morrible.” Before Elphaba could respond, Boq raised his hand. “Nevermind that, even if you are a witch , I don’t want your magic. I want to win Miss Galinda’s heart over the right way.”
Nobody had ever called her that before. Or rather, nobody had ever referred to her as such before. Witch .
Even if there was a love spell that she knew of and could actually work to her desire, Elphaba wouldn’t cast it. She wouldn't use it for something like this. She wouldn’t use it at all. It wasn’t right. That wasn’t what magic was for. She wasn’t a wicked witch who used her powers to manipulate others.
“Very well,” Elphaba smiled, a little fakely, wanting to keep Boq’s spirits high. She really did, truthfully, like him. She was fond of him after this very short, very chaotic interaction.
“Thank you, Miss Elphaba,” said Boq. He would bow his head again in a respectful manner. He then took her hand without any permission or warning sign and shook it once more.
Boq smiled and turned around, walking towards the wall. He grabbed a leader and leaned it against the bricks, positioning it so that he could use it to climb over. Once he climbed to the top of the barrier, he paused for a moment and looked at Elphaba who stood stoically as she watched him like a watchkeeper.
“I owe you a whole lot for agreeing to this.”
“You do,” said Elphaba.
Boq blinked, anticipating a clearer answer. “What would you like me to do for you Miss Elphaba? What favor would you like done on my behalf?”
Elphaba shook her head and said, “No. I don’t need anything from you, right now . When I do need something from you, though, Master Boq. I know where to find you.”
Boq nodded, not realizing the weight of her words and the situation that he was now stuck in. All in the name of love.
“Well,” said Boq as he did a salute-like wave thing. “I’ll likely be in the library for the next few days; you can find me there and update me on Miss Galinda’s decision.” Then, he disappeared over the wall, leaving Elphaba in the garden just as quickly as he had joined her.
Elphaba just shook her head and got back to her gardening that Boq had so rudely interrupted, tending to an apricot tree.
She wasn’t sure if she wanted this date to go well or not. There was so much that could happen, but she never considered it actually going as Boq imagined it would. She imagined a world with Galinda and Boq together as some sort of couple. Elphaba was repulsed by the thought, unsure why.
Was she jealous?
No, she couldn’t be. Sure, she liked Boq, but she didn’t like him like that . She had no reason to, they only just reunited after a supposed friendship during their terrible twos.
As she kneeled down beneath the apricot tree to get a better look at its roots, Elphaba told herself that she was not jealous of Galinda.
She loathed her, yes, but the attention of Boq of Munchkinland was not something that stirred her heart. Yet, for whatever reason, she felt the need to supervise this date, whenever it may happen.
She was not jealous of Galinda, she repeated.
Elphaba never thought to question if she was envious of Boq , though. Or wary that things may go right for any reason other than her ‘concern’ for Boq’s wellbeing. She never considered that, maybe, she just didn’t want them together without basis or any reason.
Instead, she got back to her plants, and her thoughts disappearing as they were supposed to when she was in the garden.