The taunts followed Anna down the halls. Head down, she moved as fast as her trembling legs would allow and prayed that she'd make it to Miss Davies’ office without incident.
Something hit her back. Laughter. Anna's face warmed. Whatever hit her felt cold and wet. The moisture seeped through her t-shirt and the voice in her head—which sounded much like her mother’s—told her to turn around. Stand up for herself. But Anna didn't stop, although rage burned in her belly, its acrid smoke drifting up to sting her throat. Her mother promised if it didn't stop, they'd discuss home schooling. Anna had lasted a month since that promise and she couldn't do it anymore.
Her mother had called the principal when Anna finally confided in her about the daily torture the other kids handed out. The principal pretended to be shocked despite Anna’s repeated complaints over the past two years. "The rules here at Stoneham are clear. We are a zero tolerance school and these are good kids. Are you sure that Anna isn't a little too sensitive?"
Anna's mouth curved into a rare smile as she remembered the profanity-ridden tirade her mother had rained upon the principal. Her mother didn’t take shit from anyone. Anna wished she could be the same, but two wrongs did not make a right, even if the second wrong would make her feel better.
Someone pulled at Anna's hair and she stumbled, dropping her math book and pencil box. They clattered against the wall before hitting the ceramic tiled floor. The box cracked and spilled its contents at Anna's feet. She knelt to pick it up but didn't turn.
"What's the matter? You too good to talk to me now?" Carrie.
"No. I have to see Miss Davies. I'm late."
"You’re such a weirdo. That’s why no one talks to you. What do you write about in those stupid notebooks? Is it true you like girls?"
Anna turned to stare up at her ex best friend. They’d done everything together until seventh grade, when Carrie suddenly started calling Anna names and pulling vicious pranks. Carrie was on the chubby side, her hair was greasy and her face bulldoggish. Anna didn’t understand why the other kids liked Carrie and not her. Her mother said it was because they were afraid of Carrie's vile tongue. She said that no one enjoyed being a target so Carrie made sure to strike first.
Sighing, Anna resumed picking up the contents of her case, not sure where she could put all of it now that the box was broken. She would not dignify Carrie’s stupid question with an answer. Carrie and the others called Anna gay because she never bothered with boys. Anna tried to tell Carrie it wasn't that she didn't like boys, or that she preferred girls, she just wasn't interested in that stuff at all.
"Did you like sleeping over at my house? I bet you did. Fucking lesbo." Carrie's words elicited a few chuckles and Anna’s rage boiled over.
Her hand closed around her compass. Its point pierced the tender skin between her thumb and her index finger. She winced.
"Probably fucks her mother."
She stood and spun around. Carrie's grinning face, fat cheeks folding and wrinkling around her eyes, mocked Anna.
"What did you say?" Anna demanded.
"I said you probably fuck your mother. You're certainly always up her ass."
"Take it back."
"Fuck off."
Anna advanced, clutching the compass in her fist. Fury flamed inside her, casting a red haze over everything. She heard taunts from the other kids. Hit her. Mother-fucker. But she ignored them. "Take. It. Back."
“No. I bet you and your mama do each other every night. That’s why you’re so weird. You’ll never have any friends. You’re a mother-fucking loser.”
##
“One child is expelled, another in hospital after a brutal attack on Friday afternoon. Sources say the attacker, a thirteen year old girl at Stoneham High School, endured years of bullying by the victim before losing control and attacking the other girl with a compass. School Officials refused to comment, but several students claim that the attacker was a loner and ‘kind of weird’. More at six.”
Anna raised the remote, muting the news anchor’s voice and looked at her mother. “Sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, baby. I warned them. How much is one person supposed to take?”
Tuesday, 17 Jul 2012 03:42 PM
Mmmmm... candy for my weary eyes. Very well written, señora.
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