the first thing she did was point a long, horsey finger at me and said, “You! What's your name?”
“Emily Williams,” said I, über-coolio despite a woobidy stomach and being called a slut.
She sniffed, kind of like she smelled cooked cabbage or something, and gave me the eye. “You're the Yank. Well, Williams, there are a few rules you will learn immediately. First, we do not sit until the teacher has given you permission to sit. We do not wear our school tie tied into a bow. We do not wear necklaces, rings, or other jewelry. We do not wear cosmetics.”
Everyone in the class laughed at me. Honestly, Dru, it was so humiliating I didn't know whether I wanted to cry or scream. In the end I decided that I would die before I let them see that I cared what they thought. So I pretended to yawn.
“Lester, you will please show Williams the girl's loo so she can wash off her face. You will remove all jewelry except your watch.” She peered closely at me, her beady little eyes getting even beadier. “And that includes all of those earrings that are studding your ear. Do your parents know you have them?”
I stood up when a rabbity girl tugged on my sleeve. Everyone looked at me like I was some sort of a freak! Me! I did the only thing I could do. I said, “Well, duh!”
She pulled herself up and snorted (just like a horse). “We do not address our superiors in any tone but that of respect.”
I decided the time had come to make a stand. You know me, I'm the most reasonable person on the face of the earth, but when some old poop starts to push me around and tell me to take my earrings out, that's it!
“We?” I said, striking a very cool pose of utter indifference even though I was seething inside. “What, you have a pocket full of worms? For your information, I don't take my earrings out for anyone. If I did, the holes would close, and it took me eight months to get all five holes pierced. And as for respect, I give it to people who've earned it.”
So, OK, in hindsight that might not have been the best thing to say, but Brother always said I should never let anyone trample my rights and to stand up for what was important to me, so really, I was just doing what he taught me.
Everyone in the classroom gasped. Miss Horseface gave a snort that rattled the windows, then she grabbed me in one horsey claw and dragged me out of the room and down the stairs to the office. Right in front of everyone! I wanted to die. Again.
I had to sit there for fifteen minutes while she talked to headmaster. Then Horseface opened the door and waved me in. The HM guy looked a bit like Russell Crowe, although much older and not nearly so cute. Still, he was cute enough that even though I was utterly miserable, I was glad I'd put on Kiss Me Mauve rather than Notice Me Mauve.
“Miss Williams, I'm Mr. Krigon.”
“I understand from Miss Naylor that there's a bit of confusion about what Gobottle School expects from you. Won't you sit down?” He smiled a really nice smile that made me feel a little better, and held the door open as he shooed Horse Woman out. “Thank you, Miss Naylor. I'll let you return to the students. I'll show Miss Williams to her lesson one room.”
Horsey snorted again, shot me a look that pretty much said she didn't expect anything but trouble from me, and stalked out of the room.
CRAP! Brother has to use the computer—it's some life or death emergency with an article or something. I'll finish up as soon as he's done.
More in a bit!
Hugs and kisses,
~Em
Subject: Take my father, please!
From: [email protected]
Date: 8 September 4:17 pm
Brother's crisis du jour is over, so I'm back. I wish you were home now so you could scream with me about the horrible time I had at school.
Let's see, I left off with me and Mr. Russell Crowe Krigon in his office, right? Well, he was actually very sweet, although I can't help but wonder about the miniskirts-in-hockey thing. And I haven't forgiven him yet for not letting me in the sixth form. He told me that the school has a dress code that goes beyond the uniform, and that I was allowed to wear only one