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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUrGKPvY3R
***
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFHUdVQjIP
It's Monday, the day that I am sentenced to return to the hell hole that is school.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHEusjNjuX
Okay, maybe I'm being a bit over dramatic. Just a tad.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouL2pdW15N
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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5xgbSQb66
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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5v3yJ474z
"Sorry to interrupt you, miss, but I really don't care about your married life," a girl in the front says.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3e01aQoe6
Well, I guess that day is today.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFz880CHM7
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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxnB70NtF6
"Bomboclaat," I hear a boy beside me say, before chuckling.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WLZrvjd3m
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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsXxj1B1hM
"Young lady," she heaves, her chest rising and falling with each breath, "how dare you?"
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf5FbnptYK
"How dare I tell you that I'm not interested in your personal business? How dare I ask that you talk about our issues?"
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zdQk2xVsX
"You have detention tomorrow afternoon!" she shouts, her eyes bulging, her medium brown complexion taking on a purplish shade from her anger.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbakd7raCa
The girl simply laughs.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNeBXli21Z
"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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM799sp1sj
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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiwthCDFVw
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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKIUx2DqUG
"Okay, then what do you want to talk about?"
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhX9pOYPH1
"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."
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3ZPll7FIt
"Yes, miss, di t'ree tailit dem cyaa flush," one boy chimes in.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN3RiMh4Fe
"Me waa apply fa university tu, miss," another boy says.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8tUy1W2rQ
More students voice their opinions, before Mrs Griffith cuts them off.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxENBvgToj8
"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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGLr8bp3Bi
"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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t2Pz9MBb5
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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S8WNpZwWB
"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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3tTkjTX8j
"Yeah, he said two other people," I respond.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkspWvoZgV
"Me - I'm Rebecca - and Ethan. He's a bit awkward, but you get used to it over time."
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRZFvA37jQ
"Okay."
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFejsBDxcI
"Well, I guess I'll see you around, Emma," she says, smiling before turning and walking away.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNp7GG3qPW
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ0m8Qj2KX
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0zwzOkB53
***
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePKl0XZVVs
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh3bSND6LD
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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpzBfIOms5
"Uh he-hello," I say to them awkwardly, with an equally awkward wave.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmucG2Rhnm
"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."
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzUedUqBVO
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.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGPsBijAfA
"Oh, okay," I reply. Now, I'm smiling, too.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eQCWxeJd4
"We're dating, so you might see her around more."
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEC2ctkUAy
"Cool. I have to shower, I feel kinda gross," I tell him, before going upstairs to the bathroom.
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFf2PceZEK
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9qSyXgO1R
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zITx5yRH3
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX4XpdTM2q
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54qXgHXnhp
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp9eOu4JAb
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5orcHG8B7v
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wrNpBOA9r
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKOPTNscF3
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeMBf0f4vj
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgG67S6gci
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU4lbqEDtU
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbI2rshaDl
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1o3sAzQ4T
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVjCJKO2DH
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX7acXU1hJ
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOW9HCrG90
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCpN1cF3TX
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJXmY95zpq
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoP07TsNq2
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97dfYh32Rq
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA8CeKNUdm
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOpVFSsoJu
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9j5O3uMNo
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzCKBniZiF
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeRS4yWNYD
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QBbzdzKfN
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlegSwwWaV8
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpFknDycEQ
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqdl4eo94L
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdDkiR3fsX
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI5dyTgYJn
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd48AiddLyE
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKRgGWlLNE
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YBmcwonGJ
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnbKFvJAIc
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHenivYOxmZ
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHNzesUHvo
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZQ67AsKm1
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu8lebRewb
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zA13c7A7S
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGlsZlmpAI
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLHDplZaMh
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL6P4b1uEq
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k0nCm2sgL
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGt27ro1A5
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09sEJrypj9
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvWVS0NwLK
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUch7YMGor
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMeKMiT8De
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMigsiw3rkq
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAItEnmQz67
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiIP21pkoy
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh7T7M9vPo
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUvTZcwCwC
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx0gNYE4uG
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9JZD51ed2
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ifc4wm9JO
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZmNTOk412
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJglKsAEz7m
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCAWh2HX2S
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6SNQ5S3Mx
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW98Jr0AOva
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0sjO4p5Eh
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRpTBaBuPD
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPygH9UcnPw
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgZrAGQl8P
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc82ADX3Aa
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErmIOiL10V
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o4pTRbVFg
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhbttJU41Z
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgdxRdzDIn
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHis04bdUO5
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdLy6ZyPIP
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoaHFoPhfk
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6kU6RTS2C
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaS8LvCUhJ
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4MxdtPJaR
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYvLqgLddS
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NoJ3FZNNo
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfUNNjyaTg
826Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnnOUMPhWA
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.
ns216.73.216.85da2
