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Pia went quiet, listening.
“But my big brother was also really awesome,” Yasmine went on. “And he was a good student, so all the teachers liked me already when I started school because they knew I was his little sister. And his clothes had lots of pockets. The other girls didn’t have pockets, so they couldn’t collect cool rocks and things. It was still a little embarrassing to be different, but there were good parts, too.”
“N-nobody else wears a circlet,” Pia whispered. “It makes people remember that I’m a Thyphian. And Thyphians are creepy.”
Yasmine had to fight back her rage at the thought.
Breathe. Find your center. Bring order to your thoughts.
Someone had told this little girl that her race was creepy. The idea of it made Yasmine want to burn something to the ground.
“There is nothing creepy about you or your family, Pia,” Yasmine said as calmly as she could. “Do you know what a stereotype is?”
“No,” Pia said, rolling onto her back so she could look Yasmine in the face. The little girl really loved learning big words.
“A stereotype is when we make big assumptions about someone based on something they can’t control,” Yasmine told her. “Saying that Thyphians are creepy is just a stereotype. It’s not based on anything real.”
“But we can read thoughts,” Pia said.
“I think that sounds more like a superpower,” Yasmine decided. “And it makes you more empathetic.”
“Empathetic,” Pia echoed in delight.
“That means you have an ability to understand and share the thoughts of another being,” Yasmine said. “Empathy is one of the greatest gifts a being can have. Many learn it slowly over time, by being observant and kind, and still their ability is never perfect. A lot of people don’t seem to have any at all. But you were born with empathy, Olympia Kreed.”
Pia sat up, looking thoughtful. “If it’s good, then why do I have to wear a circlet?”
That was a damn good question. Yasmine felt she might be getting into parent-talk territory.
But Pia was feeling so open right in the moment, how could she not talk honestly with her?
“Your dad can talk to you about all the reasons why your family chose to wear the circlets,” Yasmine said carefully. “I think you should tell him that you’re interested in knowing about the decision. He might like to talk to you about it. But I can guess why some families on Ulfgard wear circlets. Do you want to hear my guess?”
Pia nodded solemnly.
“If it were me,” Yasmine said. “I would wear the circlet, not because there is anything wrong with me or my abilities, but because I wouldn’t want other people to feel worried or embarrassed when they spent time with me, if they didn’t have a similar gift.”
“You would wear it to be polite,” Pia said.
“Exactly,” Yasmine told her.
“That’s what Daddy says,” Pia agreed. “But I still don’t want everyone to see it.”
“We’ll look for your hat when you come home from school today,” Yasmine promised. “For now, why don’t you grab your muffin?”
“I don’t want to be the only one with a circlet,” Pia moaned.
“What if I wear something on my head, too?” Yasmine offered. “Then you won’t be the only one.”
“Like what?” Pia asked, sounding intrigued.
“I don’t know,” Yasmine said. “I’ll find something while you grab your breakfast.”
Pia nodded and trotted off, presumably in search of the biggest muffin. Yasmine headed back to the closet to look and ended up pulling down the headpiece from the shelf. It was the only thing Pia had that might even come close to fitting her.
It was actually sort of beautiful now that she looked at it. The rhinestones sparkled in the light, and the weight of the thing was satisfying in her hand.
She bent to look in the mirror on Pia’s dresser as she put it on. It had a built-in comb and clip that clung nicely in her thick locks. With the fake jewels and fabulous feather, it was actually kind of a fun, jaunty look, even if it didn’t exactly go with her plain blue dress.
