Read Online Tiy and the Prince of Egypt by Debbie Dee - Free Book Online
Authors: Debbie Dee
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longer be permitted. His eyes narrowed at the disruptive children as they bounced around the room.
Tiy moved to stand at his side, waiting to be acknowledged and told where to go. He clapped his hands up high near his head and the children quieted, sitting on the floor with crossed legs. The instructor appeared pleased with the sudden order and warmth emanated from his countenance. His eyes sparkled, and when he spoke, his voice was like baked bread—soft and soothing, yet firm and substantial.
“I am Menkheper,” he said to her before he turned to the class. “We have a new student today. She is Tiy, daughter of Yuya, Superintendent of Cattle, and Tuya, Singer of Hathor. She has come all the way from Akhmim. Please welcome her.”
A chorus of voices rang out . “Welcome, Tiy.”
Tiy searched their faces. None of them were Amenhotep. Unable to deny the deep disappointment she felt, she pressed her lips together to hide her frown. She hated that she let herself have so much hope for his friendship.
A small boy in the front of the class raised his hand.
“Yes Anpu?” Menkheper said.
“Is she Prince Amenhotep’s Desert Guardian?”
Tiy blushed and shifted from one foot to the other. There was that phrase again. The instructor glanced at her and gave her an apologetic smile.
“Yes,” he said, “she is the very one . However, let us wait until she gets to know all of us a little better before we ask her to share her experience.”
Several sho ulders slumped in disappointment, and Tiy breathed a sigh of relief. How was she supposed to explain that she was just a regular girl and not some guardian?
“You may have a seat in the back,” Menkheper said.
Tiy nodded and took a seat on the floor. Reed pens and black ink were passed out, along with white, polished limestone pallets. The older students appeared bored as they practiced the hieroglyphs Menkheper dictated. Several tutors assisted the younger children while the older students were left to their own devices. Tiy scribbled furiously trying to keep up, her script coming out sloppy and incorrect more often than not. She was the best pupil in her class at home, but she realized quickly that she would have to work very hard to catch up to the other students her age.
Just when Tiy feared her hand would cramp and fall off, Menkheper called for a short break. She dropped her reed pen and shook her hand to relieve the stiffness. A girl a few years older than her turned around and smiled, her whole face lighting up. Tiy dropped her hands onto her lap.
“I am Petepihu,” the girl said. “You can call me Petep. I’m Amenhotep’s sister. I believe you know him.” She winked an eye. There was no hunger for fantastical tales in Petep’s smile, only genuine interest and warmth. Tiy breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps the schoolroom would help her make friends, after all.
“Hi Petep,” Tiy said. “I’m so happy to be here.”
“And we are glad to have you . Thank you for saving my brother. My father has already lost a son, and losing another would have caused him too much pain.”
“I did what anyone would have done.” Tiy said. She paused and looked at her clasped hands. “Where is Prince Amenhotep?”
Petep opened her mouth to answer, but another girl flipped her head around like a viper, her braided wig swinging wildly around her face.
“You think that just because you saved him you have some kind of claim on him?” the girl said.
“ Kepi,” Petep warned.
Kepi ignored Petep and continued her attack. “You think that just because you did something any one of us would have done that you should have special rights and privileges? You don’t belong here, country girl. You don’t even look like you belong here.”
The magic of the room disappeared .
Several heads turned in their direction, wanting to watch the drama unfold. Tiy’s hands turned to ice, her tongue numb. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words caught in her
Tiy moved to stand at his side, waiting to be acknowledged and told where to go. He clapped his hands up high near his head and the children quieted, sitting on the floor with crossed legs. The instructor appeared pleased with the sudden order and warmth emanated from his countenance. His eyes sparkled, and when he spoke, his voice was like baked bread—soft and soothing, yet firm and substantial.
“I am Menkheper,” he said to her before he turned to the class. “We have a new student today. She is Tiy, daughter of Yuya, Superintendent of Cattle, and Tuya, Singer of Hathor. She has come all the way from Akhmim. Please welcome her.”
A chorus of voices rang out . “Welcome, Tiy.”
Tiy searched their faces. None of them were Amenhotep. Unable to deny the deep disappointment she felt, she pressed her lips together to hide her frown. She hated that she let herself have so much hope for his friendship.
A small boy in the front of the class raised his hand.
“Yes Anpu?” Menkheper said.
“Is she Prince Amenhotep’s Desert Guardian?”
Tiy blushed and shifted from one foot to the other. There was that phrase again. The instructor glanced at her and gave her an apologetic smile.
“Yes,” he said, “she is the very one . However, let us wait until she gets to know all of us a little better before we ask her to share her experience.”
Several sho ulders slumped in disappointment, and Tiy breathed a sigh of relief. How was she supposed to explain that she was just a regular girl and not some guardian?
“You may have a seat in the back,” Menkheper said.
Tiy nodded and took a seat on the floor. Reed pens and black ink were passed out, along with white, polished limestone pallets. The older students appeared bored as they practiced the hieroglyphs Menkheper dictated. Several tutors assisted the younger children while the older students were left to their own devices. Tiy scribbled furiously trying to keep up, her script coming out sloppy and incorrect more often than not. She was the best pupil in her class at home, but she realized quickly that she would have to work very hard to catch up to the other students her age.
Just when Tiy feared her hand would cramp and fall off, Menkheper called for a short break. She dropped her reed pen and shook her hand to relieve the stiffness. A girl a few years older than her turned around and smiled, her whole face lighting up. Tiy dropped her hands onto her lap.
“I am Petepihu,” the girl said. “You can call me Petep. I’m Amenhotep’s sister. I believe you know him.” She winked an eye. There was no hunger for fantastical tales in Petep’s smile, only genuine interest and warmth. Tiy breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps the schoolroom would help her make friends, after all.
“Hi Petep,” Tiy said. “I’m so happy to be here.”
“And we are glad to have you . Thank you for saving my brother. My father has already lost a son, and losing another would have caused him too much pain.”
“I did what anyone would have done.” Tiy said. She paused and looked at her clasped hands. “Where is Prince Amenhotep?”
Petep opened her mouth to answer, but another girl flipped her head around like a viper, her braided wig swinging wildly around her face.
“You think that just because you saved him you have some kind of claim on him?” the girl said.
“ Kepi,” Petep warned.
Kepi ignored Petep and continued her attack. “You think that just because you did something any one of us would have done that you should have special rights and privileges? You don’t belong here, country girl. You don’t even look like you belong here.”
The magic of the room disappeared .
Several heads turned in their direction, wanting to watch the drama unfold. Tiy’s hands turned to ice, her tongue numb. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words caught in her
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