Full Moon Howls

CHAPTER THREE

"Good morning Willie!" Lupe shouted.

Wilhelmina looked around to see where he was. Loveta went out of the room and looked down in that balcony, half asleep and half awake.

"Willie, do you know that loser?" Loveta groaned sleepily.

Wilhelmina didn't answer. She looked down and saw Lupe with a very big smile on his face and his hand high up the air, waving frantically.

Wilhelmina had just had her bath and her stomach growled in hunger. She looked nervously at Loveta beside her but Loveta was still yawning. Hopefully, she didn't hear.

"It's time for your ladder!" Lupe shouted.

Wilhelmina withdrew to her room, blushing slightly. She hastily changed her clothes before descending the dormitory stairs.

Lupe meet her I the landing and put both hands in her face, squeezing it.

"Are you wide awake?" he peered at her eyes.

"Did you eat?"

Wilhelmina couldn't answer because her cheeks squeezed her mouth. And not could she look away because of his trong built hands.

"Are you ready?" Lupe asked.

"I didn't eat yet." she tried to say.

"What was that?"

Wilhelmina removed his hands away from her pitiful cheeks and repeated what she said in barely a whisper.

"Great!" Lupe said.

Wilhelmina wasn't sure wether he heard her right or not. But she allowed him to pull her around the grounds.

Though Lupe was very energetic, he looked very tired. There were shadows forming under his eyes and he looked a bit off color.

They stopped in front of the school canteen. Wilhelmina turned to him but he pushed her inside and made her seat on a chair.

A few sleepy people sat on different tables, eating their breakfast.

"Now, go point your order to Miss Charlotte but greet her a good morning first. Can you do that?" asked Lupe.

"I think. Wh–why do I have to?"

"For your exposure ladder." Lupe explained. "You have to expose yourself little by little."

Wilhelmina gulped. But she bravely stood up and gripped her money. It seemed like a very long walk as she shuffled across tables of sleepy students. She knew they wouldn't care if she made a fool of herself but she still feel like they're gonna tease her.

"G–good morning Miss Charlotte." Wilhelmina greeted in the best way she could.

Though her voice cracked, the woman looked at her and smiled. Miss Charlotte is the canteen counter. Her husband is the chef. Miss Charlotte married in her near fifties but people were used on calling her Miss.

"Good morning to you too." Miss Charlotte said in a sweet voice. "What breakfast are you taking now? We have vegetable themed here."

Wilhelmina didn't even look at it. She was looking at the students.

"I'll take the –" there seem to be a lump in her throat. "C–carrot sticks." she payed for it and walked back to Lupe with a big smile. "I did it!"

She wiped off the sweat on her neck.

"Yes you did it! One step above the ladder! How do you feel?"

They left the canteen like a successful pair of soldiers in a losing battle.

"She didn't laugh at me!"

"Can you control your stammering next time?"

"I'll try!" she said, eating the carrot sticks.

"Do you want to know the next level?" asked Lupe.

Wilhelmina considered this for a moment.

"Yes."

She ate the carrot sticks as she listened. "Now, have you ever been to the University Shop?" Lupe asked.

"No."

"We're going there. Messrs Wright and Phillips runs the shop. Like Miss Charlotte, greet both of them. Try asking also how the shop is going."

"I–I don't think I can make a conversation."

"Think about it."

Wilhelmina did think about it.

"I really don't think so." Wilhelmina said.

Lupe patted her back encouragingly. "If you think you're ready, tell me. But apply your first step. Greet a few people. They don't have to be strangers. You can greet your roommate. Or say hello to a teacher. Get it?"

"I think I might need reminding."

This must be the first Saturday she ever spoke for long to someone. Mostly, they roamed around the school, greeting a few teachers, the principal, and the janitor.

The pair caught a few conversations of the sophomore teachers Wilhelmina was supposed to be greeting too.

" … hairs on branches." the Biology teacher said.

"So you heard it too?" the History teacher asked.

"Yes. I thought it was on my dream." a Nursing teacher laughed.

Lupe pulled Wilhelmina away, she moved on hesitantly, wanting to hear more. Lupe tugged her hand and she jogged beside him.

"What do you think did they hear? Whose hairs were on the branches?" Wilhelmina asked Lupe.

"I don't know. As long as it doesn't get near the school, it's nothing to worry of. The forest is full of dears, hares, and a few packs of wolves." Lupe explained hoarsely.

Lupe followed her silently to the dormitory building and bade Wilhelmina good night, he looked really sick.

Wilhelmina was about to ask if he's feeling fine but he left, not waiting her to tell him goodnight.

She watched him leave, staggering, flinching, until he was barely a silhouette. She left the balcony and entered the dormitory room. To her surprise, Loveta was already inside, sewing a dress of sequin and chiffon.

"Hello." Wilhelmina greeted.

Loveta looked at her, not taking her hands off the dress.

"Happy are you? Did that doctor heal you or something?" Loveta asked. She looked back to her dress, not waiting for an answer, her face with utmost concentration.

Wilhelmina blushed but didn't answer. "G–good night." Wilhelmina said.

Loveta grunted.