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.
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***
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It's Monday, the day that I am sentenced to return to the hell hole that is school.
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Okay, maybe I'm being a bit over dramatic. Just a tad.
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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.
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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.
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"Sorry to interrupt you, miss, but I really don't care about your married life," a girl in the front says.
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Well, I guess that day is today.
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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.
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"Bomboclaat," I hear a boy beside me say, before chuckling.
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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.
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"Young lady," she heaves, her chest rising and falling with each breath, "how dare you?"
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"How dare I tell you that I'm not interested in your personal business? How dare I ask that you talk about our issues?"
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"You have detention tomorrow afternoon!" she shouts, her eyes bulging, her medium brown complexion taking on a purplish shade from her anger.
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The girl simply laughs.
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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"Okay, then what do you want to talk about?"
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"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."
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"Yes, miss, di t'ree tailit dem cyaa flush," one boy chimes in.
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"Me waa apply fa university tu, miss," another boy says.
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More students voice their opinions, before Mrs Griffith cuts them off.
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"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.
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"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.
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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.
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"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.
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"Yeah, he said two other people," I respond.
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"Me - I'm Rebecca - and Ethan. He's a bit awkward, but you get used to it over time."
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"Okay."
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"Well, I guess I'll see you around, Emma," she says, smiling before turning and walking away.
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***
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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.
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"Uh he-hello," I say to them awkwardly, with an equally awkward wave.
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"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."
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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.
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"Oh, okay," I reply. Now, I'm smiling, too.
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"We're dating, so you might see her around more."
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"Cool. I have to shower, I feel kinda gross," I tell him, before going upstairs to the bathroom.
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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.
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