The Lost Daughter

I sat at the school office, waiting to talk to the principal. My backpack sat beside my chair. I crossed my legs underneath me, knowing that I would be sitting in the chair for a while. I slipped an ear bud into my right ear, my left open to the door beside me, waiting for my name. I turned on music as I waited. Other students walked past the office, noticing me. Whenever we had direct eye contact, the students would walk faster, whispering softer. It was always the same thing. ‘She must be crazy’. ‘No wonder she doesn’t have a real family’. ‘If you are not careful, she might come after you’. Fear. Worry for themselves. Name calling me everything they can. I don’t start everything though. I just end it. But that is how I get into trouble. I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment, relaxing in my chair, tapping a finger on the armrest to the beat of the music. “Lia Mailey, please come into my office.” The principal, Mr. Carson, stood in the doorway, watching me. “I don’t enjoy these moments, I hope you know. I’d rather see students for good things, not…” He sighs, then turns around and walks into his office. I slip my earbud back into my pocket, as I pick up my backpack and follow him into his office. The administrative aid, Mrs. Byrd, gives me a soft smile as I close the door behind me. “Take a seat, Lia.” Mr. Carson points to the chair as he sits at his desk and looks at the note. “I was told that you cut someone’s hair today? Care to explain.” He placed his elbows on his desk, his hands together and his chin perched on his fingers. “Firstly, I did not cut any one’s hair. They tried to cut mine. I was able to get the scissors away and then they screamed saying I was going to harm them. Those girls sat behind me. How was I going to cut their hair? Leap over the desks?” I cross my arms defiantly as I stare him down. “No one got hurt. I just warned them that they shouldn’t misbehave with scissors.” Mr. Carson closed his eyes for a moment, sighing. “I am going to have to suspend you for at least a day. It sounds like a she said, she said, yet the girls have people backing their statements that you started it all." “What?! I did no such things!” I burstfrom the chair, standing up. “You cannot do this! Those two idiots are constantly doing this to me. Don’t you think it is suspicious that Trina and Brina are always part of the issue?!” “Lia, sit. My hands are tied when it comes to those two, and you know that. I have tried to speak with their father, but with people backing their words, it is harder for me to do anything with no proof on your side.” Mr. Carson explained. “I will see what I can do about your classes with those two. Talk to the teachers and make sure you and them are not near each other.” “I’ve tried that. The b!tches keep following and hounding me like hungry mongrels.” I grumble angrily. “Language, Ms. Mailey.” I huffed a breath, grabbing my backpack. “Fine. Only one day? Or to be safe, should I take the week while you ‘supposedly’ talk with the teachers?” Mr. Carson waves his hand. “Rest of the week. Try to act like you repented at least a bit next week.” I walked out of the office, swinging the door wide. I put my ear buds back in, drowning out everything around me as I left the school. A group of kids sat at a table on the edge of the field. Of course, Trina and Brina were in the center, laughing. They try to call out to me, but I ignore them, walking faster. One of the guys around them runs up behind me, shoving me forwards. I fall to the ground with a loud oomph, skidding on the grass. “Listen up, freak. You need to know your place here. No one cares for a rough weirdo like you.” He taunts, laughing as he kicks my feet. I glare at him, rolling onto my back and kicking his legs out from underneath him. “Don’t worry. I don’t want to deal with you a--holes either. You stay away from me, and I won’t have to exact any revenge.” I stood up, dusting myself off. The guy stood up, glaring at me. He takes a swing. I duck, punching him in the gut, then turn and run. I hear yelling behind me and heavy footsteps. I move faster, running along the sidewalk and taking a quick turn into someone’s yard. I maneuver around items, making my way to back gates, closing things behind me and zig zagging through yards and alleys. After a while, I didn’t hear any sounds. I hid in a bush in someone’s yard, hunkered down low, listening. Some voices are around, sounding like friends of that i***t, but they don’t seem to see me. I keep hiding, waiting forcomplete silence for ten minutes before I look around, brushing myself off and heading home. “Lost those idiots” I grumble to myself, kicking a rock. I return home, quietly opening and closing the door, making my way to my bedroom. A hand reaches out, grabbing my hair and pulling me backwards. “What is this about you harming people at school again, Lia?” Dark brown eyes glare at me, his hand still holding my hair tightly. “I didn’t do anything. Like always. They started it. I never hurt them.” I yell at him. My stepfather, Darryl. “Don’t back talk me, you piece of sh!t.” He yanked my hair harder, as I fell to the ground. He kicks my stomach once, then leans down into my face, grabbing my hair again, making me listen. “You live under my roof. If you looked more like your mother, maybe I could enjoy you. Don’t get any ideas. No one will want you. Just like your father. Abandoning you.” He shoves my face into the carpet, then releases me, standing back up and flopping into his chair. “How long are you home for this time? There is work that can be done.” Darryl watches the TV, taking a drink of his beer. “Rest of the week. Mr. Carson is going to talk to my teacher’s about allowing me a seat and space away from those b!tches.” I growl as I stand up, wiping my face. “Bet they’re prettier than you.” He grins, then spits at my feet. “Go do whatever for the rest of the day. Tomorrow, you come to work with me. Make yourself useful.” I walked away, heading to my bedroom. I closed the door, locking it softly, hoping he didn’t hear it. I threw my backpack onto my bed, sliding down the door and sitting on the floor.