Fern transformed back to her human self and rode home. When she got home her heart was pounding and she was surprised to see her father sitting at the kitchen counter reading the Millsgrove news. Usually, he was either at work or in his office. Fern wanted to at least talk to him but it was against his rules to speak until spoken to. There were many rules he set down like, she wasn't allowed to let her hair down, no hanging out with friends, no makeup, no other sports except for swim team, use Mam'm and Sir, no sugar, no dyes, no jeans, and no grades lower than a B-. Those were just a few and it was a miracle she could remember them all. All these rules made Fern feel very far apart from her father even when he was in the same room with him. It was like talking on a telephone. You couldn't see his expression, and you couldn't penetrate it. It reminded Fern of talking to a wall. Like usual, Fern hung up her black backpack on the hook next to the door and fixed herself a snack, this time she found a green apple waiting for her. Automatically she grabbed the apple and started to slice it. She grabbed a jar of peanut butter from the fridge and spooned some onto her plate. Once she had them ready she ate it at the table. Once or twice she glanced at her father but looked down again. It was like they were total strangers. When she was finished she washed her plate and marched upstairs where she flopped onto her perfectly made bed. Her room was quite blank. Her father didn't believe in having that much "stuff". All that her room consisted of was, White walls with no posters on them, a bedside table, a lamp, her bed, hooks, where she hung her swim gear bag, closet, and a dresser. Fern sighed as she remembered the peace she felt in the woods. It felt like it could never end and go on and on. Then the bear, with its nashing yellow teeth, beady black eyes, and its thick black snout. She wondered it was someone's Spirit form or, the actual animal. She buried her face in her pillow as she thought about this. When Fern's eyes flicked to the window she realized she had been in her room for over three hours and it was getting dark. She also realized she was tired. Who was that girl? was the last question she asked herself before she fell asleep.
