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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhopONyZB7
***
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tSDTReEyu
It's Monday, the day that I am sentenced to return to the hell hole that is school.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xlPOA4krp
Okay, maybe I'm being a bit over dramatic. Just a tad.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuAoPVIn8X
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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfcCqnoxGA
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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMgLurKsC7
"Sorry to interrupt you, miss, but I really don't care about your married life," a girl in the front says.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BF2C0FLNm
Well, I guess that day is today.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG7hhUzC7o
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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOau2OJacNE
"Bomboclaat," I hear a boy beside me say, before chuckling.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSSU8aTBVv
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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMvUOJhsN9
"Young lady," she heaves, her chest rising and falling with each breath, "how dare you?"
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qM5T9Qc80
"How dare I tell you that I'm not interested in your personal business? How dare I ask that you talk about our issues?"
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo1xzIrcgR
"You have detention tomorrow afternoon!" she shouts, her eyes bulging, her medium brown complexion taking on a purplish shade from her anger.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eJeQjfYo9
The girl simply laughs.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyDvGlIYJL
"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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8tjsqk8vH
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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9f995hryP
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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkzplbWC3r
"Okay, then what do you want to talk about?"
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv4s2kHRRl
"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."
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvAX4SYwqj
"Yes, miss, di t'ree tailit dem cyaa flush," one boy chimes in.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJacbiTfzCa
"Me waa apply fa university tu, miss," another boy says.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf1sB2Ga1c
More students voice their opinions, before Mrs Griffith cuts them off.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvNhCDITbQ
"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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc5uzb40dL
"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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUMXwS9J0P
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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGnUlubPjT
"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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC3HWS96bw
"Yeah, he said two other people," I respond.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UCP1Tmaxc
"Me - I'm Rebecca - and Ethan. He's a bit awkward, but you get used to it over time."
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkfMvJAw46
"Okay."
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNgBWMDPRI
"Well, I guess I'll see you around, Emma," she says, smiling before turning and walking away.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVJPJIKDs4
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xklIkFOvi
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKx7dnQgJa
***
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwEX5uA1Tn
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHhreI14w0
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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlIMRAuEyL
"Uh he-hello," I say to them awkwardly, with an equally awkward wave.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wHw6BvUDx
"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."
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7j0wGsDnU
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.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRhTGW9Y5J
"Oh, okay," I reply. Now, I'm smiling, too.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr88lNjNYg
"We're dating, so you might see her around more."
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B68mgF9K2
"Cool. I have to shower, I feel kinda gross," I tell him, before going upstairs to the bathroom.
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZvRkFMf6T
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHxvsgr5dB
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMfviAGsZz
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe3yDZJY3l
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6amNL3choJ
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk95ikGpz04
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EfwX5959j
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37TMXUn8b4
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH8XrANkOg
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIc7KBiaVv
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpdImTImS9
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA7V8ah8ty
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0z93sVsA1
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qE5hzQuGY
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw66yLVkbMV
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11V2SpG7Ee
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlcNDhrOKl
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z6ryCd6WB
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl7v80iYOr
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBH5ZXOFo6
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbkqwmvUSv
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8hneDHnhD
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKEplhewI5
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZctWft2R3l
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD3cPFlgAm
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kFdZyinmn
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpsrrhQttx
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrV8wyMSrl
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc65ovVYS5D
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkZAPzqJyI
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUffhdrd0Ja
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHK8UsWr2w
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7sW0xQqkj
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD4O8rB79T
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LGrwyziC8
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uV3PWGi3x
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRZCH7T687
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ45nMAo1g
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmziRHHTCW
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNwASPo27y
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzmYrxSZJb
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVeMM3PKie
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqumIK4fj0
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8aebuHmi8
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡft4ryGFaHg
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZQLLtYfNF
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecumyhaaAR
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf4nSKmnTa
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIY7OwOMJy
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf1VPvhD1z
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LWyIiNEiA
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKsLEYoA68
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoOfgGN5IQ
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHxNDcXpdw
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclQUVAK5dH
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPiHf0vvn1
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCS9q8DQsq
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuOsoveffw
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNftRandNv0
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4eo150eLK
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfySXB0M65
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHo7b4VGeo
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfG8Z2jZhCD
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5Z4GGajnY
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbGnfzDfDp
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq1fM65aXB
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQWaqLLje0
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fp4bNApaR
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYJDdVa8cd
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ16Hg00kXZ
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV3HSsKpdK
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeQjZe9yTq
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXsUCnkv3V
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxle7YWEUA
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtzFjgUiFA
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzYnSAKZFO
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22AlAltt5h
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SK44dRMlV
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8e8cfPGK6
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz2MMcYLb9
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRpYC814HK
793Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjGPsXSib1
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.
ns216.73.216.176da2
