AN: I'm not sure if you realise, and I don't remember if I've mentioned it before, but this book is set in Jamaica.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjhIwJ3wW8
***
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGD4pD70gU
It's Monday, the day that I am sentenced to return to the hell hole that is school.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Uclcrm5Hz
Okay, maybe I'm being a bit over dramatic. Just a tad.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIkmml2sIv
Today, I have the displeasure of being stuck in front of Mrs Griffin, a miserable old hag that is abusive as hell towards the students. She's dressed in a frilly blouse along with a jeans skirt, which could pass as normal. However, she's also wearing a large sombrero with a purple flower on the side. We are indoors. She's in charge of sixth form, and is supposed to organize things like outreach events, and college/university applications. We meet on Monday and Wednesday mornings, to discuss important matters, but instead, she's here bitching to us about her husband's younger, more attractive side chick. I can't truly hate her, because she obviously isn't well. A normal, sane, well adjusted person wouldn't do something like that. The room is hot, sixth formers sitting in rows on the ground, looking at her, some in interest, some in amusement, and others, like myself, in boredom.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg5rCDiTia
Sometimes, she talks about her children, other times, she talks about her religious beliefs (she's a devout Christian), but she hardly ever talks about things that actually concern us. I'm honestly waiting for the day when someone gets tired of her bullshit and calls her out.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBxThXq1w1
"Sorry to interrupt you, miss, but I really don't care about your married life," a girl in the front says.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxkjLEfxJv
Well, I guess that day is today.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdcvyzebR6
She has long, kinky hair, and her arm which she is using to lean on - the part of her body that is visible to me from where I am, in the middle - is dark skinned. She looks petite.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2fwqNL9b8
"Bomboclaat," I hear a boy beside me say, before chuckling.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLp81Mq3RC
Mrs Griffith has a look of complete surprise on her old, leathery face, before it becomes a look of outrage. She's generally ugly, but she's hideous when she's angry.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB1teQm0gC
"Young lady," she heaves, her chest rising and falling with each breath, "how dare you?"
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtKrg4j9el
"How dare I tell you that I'm not interested in your personal business? How dare I ask that you talk about our issues?"
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBQu3fkgas
"You have detention tomorrow afternoon!" she shouts, her eyes bulging, her medium brown complexion taking on a purplish shade from her anger.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAHQO4XXHR
The girl simply laughs.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyHIuNeFLJ
"And I'm sure Ms Smith will side with you when I tell her yuh been nyaming out we ears ova yuh husband matey," the girl says. A chorus of "Oooh" s, mixed with some profanities, ring out throughout the room.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWQJ3htDyq
Ms Smith is the principal, and I kinda wonder to myself why no one has complained about Mrs Griffith. She's a no nonsense woman, and I don't see her letting Mrs Griffith get away with this shit.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy232Fk8E9h
Mrs Griffith's expression changes from anger to fear in a split second, before swallowing. When she finally speaks again, she sounds both fearful and hostile.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVkDnn787Y
"Okay, then what do you want to talk about?"
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoQaswbRzf
"For one, I want to sign up for university, and I'd like some assistance in deciding which ones. Additionally, one of the boy's bathrooms isn't working."
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSIEV1p9Hj
"Yes, miss, di t'ree tailit dem cyaa flush," one boy chimes in.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RnKNbalIi
"Me waa apply fa university tu, miss," another boy says.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW87JQ9nFeY
More students voice their opinions, before Mrs Griffith cuts them off.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KESaYmGPP
"Alright! Raise your hands, and I'll get to all of you." She looks unhappy that she is finally required to do her actual job. Before she can finish answering questions, however, the bell rings. I can actually see the relief in her eyes, now that she doesn't have to talk to us about our issues anymore.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJAaIY4X8c
"Come to my office at lunch time if you need anything." Some of the students grumble, because we know that she's probably going to lock her office door and pretend that she isn't there, as she stuffs her oversized gut with two full plates of food. I have observed her taking two plates into her office, along with a Diet Coke (she told us she drinks it because she's watching her figure) under her arm, and later, walking back to the staff room,with two empty plates, sometimes with bones or scraps depending on what she ate. Either she eats way more than she needs to, or she has some poor soul imprisoned in her office. Honestly, I probably wouldn't be all that surprised if she did.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0DAtPg92x
As we exit the room, I realise that the girl who spoke up and interrupted that crazy woman is actually in my Chemistry class. We make eye contact, and when we do, sue walks over to me.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyrsNCzBsa
"Hey, Emma. Willie told me that you agreed to work with us on our chemistry project." I'm about to ask her who that is, until I remember that the guy I spoke to about the project is named William. No clue what this girl's name is, though.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqRZJTkvnI
"Yeah, he said two other people," I respond.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXShogZKMJ
"Me - I'm Rebecca - and Ethan. He's a bit awkward, but you get used to it over time."
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTHxl7PQyu
"Okay."
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZ8d61nwXf
"Well, I guess I'll see you around, Emma," she says, smiling before turning and walking away.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxWcGqPrNS
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWXqSkXKgS
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabx3soP4uD
***
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkBOdVj959
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP1T3tRtlh
Usually, on a Monday, I'd be used to coming home from school and seeing my brother alone. It has become a routine, and I know that it will change in a few weeks, due to him changing jobs. That's what I'm thinking about as I'm going home, on the bus. Thankfully, this time, the body odour of the people on the bus isn't as pungent as it was on Friday. It's still bad, due to the heat, and some of these people having endured hours of relatively high temperatures in their workplaces, if there was no air conditioning. There are air conditioning vents on the bus, and I assume that they are in, but the bus is so full, I can only feel heat. I fully intend to shower as soon as I get home, but as I walk into the house, I am greeted by the sight of Damien sitting on the couch, with a woman beside him. They still have smiles on their faces, from whatever they were talking about or doing, when they look up to see me standing there.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx1g4Pjx8Y
"Uh he-hello," I say to them awkwardly, with an equally awkward wave.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dzELtOCbt
"Hey, Emma," he says cheerfully. I haven't seen him this happy in a while. "This is Opal. She works at the deli with me."
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QMzTpfEAm
I already like her. I like anyone that can put a genuine smile on my brother's face. It reminds me of how he used to be. Before.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZFcEOoU6j
"Oh, okay," I reply. Now, I'm smiling, too.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9TKxFsWev
"We're dating, so you might see her around more."
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCI5XK4eve
"Cool. I have to shower, I feel kinda gross," I tell him, before going upstairs to the bathroom.
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7WrK7Rcgw
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL73lRVbEc
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBQ2lAJc6n
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gonDf5wO6
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWOiuMtAVi
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMxrM4vJyj
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uiXw37aOj
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFZN090rHH
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zEPxGXgTD
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4BRPvWCd8
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1F8Wnum5j
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4nrBIg1MD
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd2nZHxy5Q
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrb1Va1eTP
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMfYUbNSUC
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyC5ZMDtAF
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFYqRaA0bY
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAabsFns0qB
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs18KDBBnd
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMWuyQJZBj
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIotzOT5Va
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45fm2grw1g
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe7p0HccqS
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8hJlN7QPy
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5saeqzTNa
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFetmg7CIp9
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAINpYsXFKd
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfc2Oek4R6
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyiS23uPc3
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7Ptjw6Ri5
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicPlQiRlDk
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVLo3mgLDc
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvap4CK3Mo
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYwZfCuhU1
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuBxHTmFXG
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC8rv4HRjq
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VwcF0sksd
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBthyIae2jh
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN5Jwr9een
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPuuOHCxqz
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ950cpmB0Oj
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9yg7ajQj0
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsO7rXxHe4
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBHyNvOyfP
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8uvhRKB5r
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPejWZthdd
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWSq5tog4y
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rUb7Q3aHe
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32jGEXeV0E
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8UvqamA2U
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cmY3s3Pzr
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK68MUmUPef
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDpBpUliqD
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlYeAOxNiq
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCq50qp4io
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzmGt0vuLc
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKn8sshtsu
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4j0xrsGcv3
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qEKWLXJOD
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf7lsU97pB
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIk2SYs237
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzFQtt9o2M
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAw57nQWhC
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Mbnb8ha3T
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1XbfKw6wQ
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI0fBRg2kX
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVeVHSuss0
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMGLbyumb2
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTWF6hgk7d
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6jBLKTgzS
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVpnPGfpVb
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18osbKYhu8
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBHk6CXh3J
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5FYbBYWZA
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmY1J5khRv
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJU6oGseEG
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPH2q30WPu
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59NkxjrAAR
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUbt73SrV0
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9P3AC9NC5
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01dEOTMNVq
806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqVMWU6dRm
I have to admit, it's nice to see Damien having some amount of happiness, even if I'm not the one to bring it to him. When the warm water hits my skin, I feel relief, almost instantly feel cleaner, feel happier. However, the happiness is also a reflection of the joy I saw in my brother moments ago, joy that reminds me of the happy Damien I used to know.
ns216.73.216.210da2
