Earning your stripes

"Ayanna, Hurry up! You need to take Zecora to healing class." My father Aren hollered as he banged on my bedroom door.

"Just a minute, darling, I just need to finish getting her ready." Mother shouted back. She pulled the gold rings around my neck until they were positioned perfectly. The bangles squeezed my throat and covered my legs. Every time I tried to move they clanged and jangled loudly. My earring shook and frequently waked me in the head. "You're almost ready, honey." She cooed. As she trimmed my flowing tail I squirmed in my chair. My long hair was my unique feature and now it was just like all the healing students.

"But Mum I don't want look like all the other girls in the tribe!" I moaned as she finished cutting my tail.

"It's one of the customs-"

"NO IT'S NOT FAIR! I DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THE TRIBES STUPID RULES!" I interrupted her. My mum seemed to ignore my anger and continued to rummage through the cupboards.

"Ok, don't move." She murmured as she pulled a small,sharp knife out of the drawer. I froze as she held it up to my head. I gasped as she hacked at my wild, beautiful mane. The locks fell onto my bedroom floor and I gazed in horror and sadness.

"You weren't even listening were you..." I sighed as small, salty droplets tumbled down my cheeks.

"I was, sweetie, I was!" Mother muttered as she wiped them away. "I'm sorry but the tribe customs state that a student healer's hair must be cut in a certain way." She finished slicing my mane into a mohawk and put the knife back in the draw.

"AYANNA, HURRY UP SHE'S LATE!" Dad bellowed as he slammed on the door as hard as he could. I slipped down from my chair. Mum grabbed my hoof with hers and lead me out of the room. We walked out into the village towards the healing school, Mother still clutching my hoof. Angrily, I pulled it away from her and she looked at me in shock as if it was a crime.

"I'm tired of being treated like a baby. I'm tired of being your puppet!" I shouted at her and father. I stormed off towards the centre of the village. "I'll find my own way there..."

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