Chapter Eight: Voices Carry
Manny stood before the full-length mirror in the bathroom. She had only managed to rush into the room before her newfound fear of her mother made her paranoia reach new proportions. Her waist was a giant bruise, her face obviously beaten. Her arms and legs had minor scrapes on them from the belt buckle lashing into her flesh. She looked as rough outside as she felt inside. New tears threatened to form.
"Javier, I don't know what to do about our daughter," Manny heard her mother's muffled voice.
"What happened?"
"The school called me today and told me Manuela had attacked a boy. They said she even attacked the principal and was cursing!"
Silence then, and Manny felt her pulse in her throat.
"Something needs to be done about this," her father's voice said, darkly.
"I have taken care of it as best I could. But you did not see what she was wearing. Mi niña, dressed like a whore."
Their voices grew softer and softer, all describing various ways to further punish Manny. Her eyes welled up, and she couldn't control the tears streaming down her face, stinging the cut her mother had given her.
Manny crept back into her room, praying neither her mother nor father would hear her. Every sound, every breath seemed to exemplify her fear and grow louder and louder the closer she came. Finally, she reached her door and hurried in.
But the last words she heard from her father caused Manny more panic than she thought she could muster after having hysterics for so long.
Perhaps we should send her to live with Viviana for a few months.
Viviana was Manny's grandmother, a very traditional Catholic woman who was more strict than her parents combined, with a history of abuse to her children. Aunt Zarita and Uncle Vito had told Manny horror stories about the woman when she was younger. Zarita was Amada's sister, Vito her husband. Vivana had six children in all, and Zarita was the only one who got out well-adjusted. She had rebelled against her mother and run off with Vito, who came from a family of what Vivana considered pagans. Manny had met the woman twice, and both times wished she hadn't.
She tried to think of ways she could change their minds, but she just didn't know what to do anymore. She had defied her mother, who was also a very strict woman, to her face. She had insulted both her parents, and now they were going to send her away.
Manny could run away, but that would only solidify their decision. But if they chose to anyway, Manny didn't see a choice in the matter.
If they decide to ship me off, I will run away, Manny thought. The thought alone comforted her, even with the acknowledgement that if she left, she could never come back. She couldn't see Emma anymore, couldn't see JT or Toby or Craig or anyone else at Degrassi. But eventually, she could write to them from wherever she ended up. Eventually, she could reunite with Emma and they could pretend none of this chaos between them ever happened.
Manny's fear was so great, she forgot to be angry with Emma anymore. All she wanted was to be held. But Emma probably wouldn't want to touch her even if she was near. After all, Manny thought, look how she reacted.
Manny began to cry again.
"Manny, we're going out," Amada called from downstairs.
"Do not call anyone or go anywhere," Javier added. The door slammed, and Manny began to sob loudly as if her heart had broken.