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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpwu3uBJLi
***
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGJpT53GgO
It's Monday, the day that I am sentenced to return to the hell hole that is school.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayPnYjJSVQ
Okay, maybe I'm being a bit over dramatic. Just a tad.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpi1lmkHEY
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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqy0tHDETC
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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbPjKBhQ4c
"Sorry to interrupt you, miss, but I really don't care about your married life," a girl in the front says.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYsDXRW433
Well, I guess that day is today.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8voP099cC
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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK30lGAF37
"Bomboclaat," I hear a boy beside me say, before chuckling.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMUk1zl2p0
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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztlRpr6do6
"Young lady," she heaves, her chest rising and falling with each breath, "how dare you?"
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5D0FKsnp1
"How dare I tell you that I'm not interested in your personal business? How dare I ask that you talk about our issues?"
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP59o752150
"You have detention tomorrow afternoon!" she shouts, her eyes bulging, her medium brown complexion taking on a purplish shade from her anger.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYWyy1UWPM
The girl simply laughs.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj3Yblc51T
"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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSwZgQ9Daz
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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFfC3SMcJT
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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7ddrzdPMU
"Okay, then what do you want to talk about?"
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyV508V0cw
"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."
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEKvFCY6pS
"Yes, miss, di t'ree tailit dem cyaa flush," one boy chimes in.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHgowTcU32
"Me waa apply fa university tu, miss," another boy says.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFmdgY5cKg
More students voice their opinions, before Mrs Griffith cuts them off.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeY15yOdYb
"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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Unt8hqCIh
"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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4gIBEeByd
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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGBJBAu4Ea
"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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnHDsftOIs
"Yeah, he said two other people," I respond.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s1TANjhfU
"Me - I'm Rebecca - and Ethan. He's a bit awkward, but you get used to it over time."
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hb6Y0lBa8
"Okay."
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgJgZ0ItzA
"Well, I guess I'll see you around, Emma," she says, smiling before turning and walking away.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1GDzhgTRz
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2lKbHwp2T
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCfy6otfAQ
***
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSP4Bpl1dZ
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha3XYdrE2M
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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mVyNcGcis
"Uh he-hello," I say to them awkwardly, with an equally awkward wave.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBdP4izflB
"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."
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUqmbaoaCm
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.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4pAtlK5Sb
"Oh, okay," I reply. Now, I'm smiling, too.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8tqpkRYF4
"We're dating, so you might see her around more."
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQSEdDw3sx
"Cool. I have to shower, I feel kinda gross," I tell him, before going upstairs to the bathroom.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n7S5rve5W
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFu3pKFenQH
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNMqkbq6Iq
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZErV383ie
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Ro7Y1fzu
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CPldMqAci
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ4Ga78mlM
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKRBdmv9Og
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLYF8i11yu
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGK2jedneS
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEhiFPfG4y
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlwhKYOdtL
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNinMKr9CxW
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7H2HqKAvF
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE8Zc4210r
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xnjkatppD
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wgdHJ0viy
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN7lVE7uUT
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLGy89buhJ
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgFiPJv3zm
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRqaqLBEHj
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q9HgSEKTy
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnsnaDE40C
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IW4jlr3Gb
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgMrH5TOEo
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZbwqB7PLn
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskrL7GwECq
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1nKuw0yw8
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP0qfNPvNS
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQyNwQ3blD
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32vor2dxMA
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZrNyrM9Fl
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbvQQotWor
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSfrrPPx0E
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECuHDRkLES
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldvpwXJfIl
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZN2GJic06
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4Z9PnyRzj
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjaBpv7dgh
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYYN1nlMI8
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhpWD9zRn8
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJGbFpxu6a
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8VPaHtAzp
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vvTfzvfk0
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULTHu7aAh5
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J0Nut31Hl
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8g8JANtGx
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyGgS3FXUJ
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMXiwdmjeu
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi2ALRofjn
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fc5DRO5wt
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xEFXtdYAN
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJTT4UJj3L
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYg9PBIjhf
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2rdf35McL
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoKUyHrdnE
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLP9VI73ZHZ
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzziYk6GsK6
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2MwJ1yOPy
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1whWiLVbd
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtKwJ3KguM
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVQVO8AfYA
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX63tlvY8xF
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyUluySUdk
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8o4x20J7k
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2WoVREbpx
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmX06qhFXR
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3eFmTxcDZ
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgmzV94vzo
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dw4gLYRVe
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMl4Ea1IsL
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuKKFFP6xs
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYV79KhNHM
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1kzHDhZLP
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySzfNxFrkx
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYob0Bh2cfr
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcst1UHmsmd
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDtSvk9WFt
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx7qBn2Paj
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMqXC0G7Pw
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1yey8pnTK
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuto5oz0by
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.
ns 15.158.61.51da2
