How It All Goes Down
Child's Play
- After the previous chapter's social studies lesson, we get back to the drama.
- It's summer now, and Nanny is worried about wild animals lurking. Munchkinland is in a really bad drought, so desperately hungry and thirsty animals are wandering near people.
- Melena makes fun of Nanny for her animal anxiety.
- Elphaba sits quietly since she has yet to speak.
- Nanny and Melena have an argument over Elphaba. Nanny thinks she should socialize with other children, but Melena doesn't want to expose her to them (or them to her).
- Nanny insists:
"[…] if you don't give her the weapons and armor with which she can defend herself against scorn, she'll make your life miserable as hers will be miserable." (1.7.37) - Nanny wins the argument, and she, Melena, and Elphaba go over to a neighbor's house.
- The neighbor is Gawnette and she has a lot of kids.
- Nanny hilariously explains that Elphaba is green and needs to make some friends. Gawnette says whatever.
- Gawnette is a gossip and she grills Melena about "the Quadling" living at her house.
- Nanny yells out occasionally to stop Elphaba and the other kids from throwing rocks, shoving, and biting.