Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
“Did you go?” Webber asks the moment it connects.
“Yep.” I pop a piece of gum into my mouth and consider stopping for water.
“How was it?”
“I called her a cunt.”
He laughs quietly before finally asking on a serious note, “Did you see him?”
“Yep.”
There’s a pause. “And?”
“I’d still kill him and everyone in this fucking town if I knew it wouldn’t land me in jail.”
Webber chuckles, a deep and handsome sound. “That’s my girl.”
12 years old
“Jesus, Matthew… what happened to your eye?” I ask, racing across the kitchen to see to his swollen, weeping face.
“Nothing,” he replies, sounding defeated.
“Was it Kane?”
“No.”
“You’re lying.”
“Leave it,” he snaps, moving to the freezer and grabbing a bag of frozen peas.
“Dear Lord,” Mee-maw gasps, pressing her hand to her chest. “Matthew, what happened to you?”
Matthew doesn’t reply, he takes the pills I pass him for the pain and swallows them down with half a glass of water that Mee-maw pours and leaves the room with slumped shoulders.
“That boy…” Mee-maw starts, whipping her cleaning rag against the counter. “How on earth can I take him to church lookin’ like that?”
I don’t reply because I have nothing nice to say about her question.
“What is he getting himself into, I wonder?” She pats my cheek with a wrinkled hand. “Why can’t he be more like you? My good girl, getting straight As, spending her time with good and wholesome people. You know I found a packet of marijuana in his pants last laundry load.”
I nod, I did know because she hasn’t stopped bringing it up, nor has she stopped using God to shame my brother who is suffering right now.
“May I please be excused?” I ask, hands balling into fists by my sides.
“Of course.” Her saccharine sweet tone grates on me.
I walk away, knowing no amount of arguing with her or telling her that she’s wrong will actually change her mind.
Instead I stomp up to my room which is across from my brother’s and close the door quietly behind me. After diving onto my bed I scream into my pillow and punch it over and over again with my fist. I’m so angry. I’m just angry all the time.
Poppy-Rose thinks it’s because of hormones, but I think it’s just because my life is so unfair. So unfair.
I pull out my diary and scribble in it so hard I tear through a page.
‘Hate it here. Fucking cunt bitch bastards. Hate them. HATE HER! She’s mean and cranky and nasty. It’s not fair. IT’S NOT FAIR!’
Then I stick it under my mattress, put away my pen and walk across to my brother’s room. With a tap on the door I call his name, “Matthew?”
“Not now,” he replies sharply.
“Why?”
He doesn’t reply so I return to my own room and scowl at the dolls on the shelves by my window. I don’t even like dolls. Their porcelain faces and weird eyes freak me out. I used to turn them around but Mee-maw got angry and called me ungrateful, said they’re beautiful pieces that I need to learn to appreciate.
How do you appreciate something so ugly?
My hidey phone vibrates in my desk. I rush to it, panicking that Mee-maw might have heard it, I must have accidentally set it to vibrate instead of silent. It’s Poppy’s old phone and I connected it to my neighbor’s Wi-Fi after taking their password during a cookout they had last summer.
Raising it, I smile at the screen when I see Poppy’s name.
Poppy: Momma just bought me this cute makeup pallet, she said I’m old enough to start playing if I want!
Imogen: Your momma is so cool.
Poppy: Why don’t you come round? We can do each other’s faces to one of those tutorial videos online!
My heart swells with excitement but it’s already four. Mee-maw won’t let me go out now and she’ll wonder how Poppy got in touch with me to begin with.
Imogen: You know Mee-maw isn’t gonna let me go anywhere now.
Poppy: I’ll get Momma to ask her.
Imogen: REALLY?
I hear the house phone ring minutes later and stuff my cellphone back into its usual hiding spot. I wait anxiously, legs bouncing with anticipation.
Finally, after some laughter and chatter from Mee-maw, she calls my name.
“Yeah?” I call back, descending the stairs.
“Patrice is coming to collect you for dinner.”
I try not to look too enthusiastic about it. Mee-maw says ladies should handle themselves with dignity and squealing like a piggy is not dignified at all.
So instead I simply say, “Thank you, Mee-maw.”
She beams with pride and opens her arms to me. “You make me so very proud, little girl. I wish your mother had an ounce of the goodness in her that you do.” She kisses my head and gives me a gentle push towards the bathroom. “Wash your hands and face, make sure you’re presentable. I’ll give your shoes a shine.”