Three - First Fight
It was a freezing cold winter. Karen was grateful for the new coat Uncle Drew had given her at Christmas - it was bright pink with a furry collar that made her feel like a princess.
Karen and Charlie now lived in a nicer neighborhood - better than the one they lived in with Nana. It was one of the many things Karen liked about moving, even if she did have to trade Nana for it (apparently this was a bad way to put it, because when she said this out loud at dinner, Uncle Drew threatened her with the belt).
Another thing was that Miranda worked from home, so there was no need to hire a babysitter for two-year-old Charlie like Nana did. Miss Suzie had given Karen the creeps. She made Aunt Miranda seem like Santa in comparison.
Third, she could play with Cara and Marta every single day. The twins were a year older than her so Karen looked up to them. With their long curls and pretty eyes, they were doted on by the whole family. Aunt Miranda was going to have another baby, too. Karen hoped it would be a little boy - someone she could play in the mud with because her aunt said Cara and Marta were "young ladies" and could only play inside.
Best of all was that because it was safer outside and the house was only a few blocks away from the school, Karen could walk home. She felt very grown-up and cool when most of her classmates would be getting picked up by their parents and she simply headed home like a big kid.
Today, Karen was not quite there, passing the drugstore where she bought a jump rope last week (which sadly cost all her savings) when she felt something small hit her arm hard enough to leave a bruise. She yelped.
In the alley across the street stood two older boys. She thought she might have seen them around, possibly. She was only a first-grader. They were third grade, at least. It was hard to tell - all big kids looked the same.
They threw a second rock at her, hitting her chest. When she cried out in pain, they started laughing.
"Miles, do you hear that? I think someone's over there!" said the one boy, the taller one.
"I'm not sure, better check again," said the other, tossing a rock at Karen.
She tried to run but they crossed the street, chasing her into another alleyway. Slowly, they began to back her into a wall.
"Leave me alone," she cried.
"We're not doing anything wrong," said Miles, the smaller one, with an exaggerated shrug. "It's not illegal to be outside, is it Jimmy?"
"I don't think it is. So don't be rude." Jimmy kicked Karen in the shin. She crumpled to the ground. "This is too easy. She's weak. Let's finish this up."
Two sets of arms were reaching for her, itching to land punches. Karen made her choice.
She grabbed Jimmy's forearm with all her strength and sank her teeth into it.
"Little bitch!" he screamed.
Miles tried to pull her off but Karen simply started attacking him. Only one punch landed but it was a good solid one, right to his eye. When she swung her arm back she managed to slap Jimmy, too.
Both boys were stronger though and managed to get in more slaps and kicks. She soon found herself pinned to the ground. Jimmy spat in her face. "We want money. Now."
Karen blinked back tears. Partially because she was in pain but mostly because her new coat was getting dirty. So was her matching backpack, which Miles was dumping onto the ground. "I don't see money," he said, disappointed.
She wished he had asked before he got her pencils and papers scattered everywhere.
She froze. Her pencils.
"Well?" Jimmy angrily demanded.
"Please. I'm only six, I don't have anything." Her right hand felt around the pavement. She hoped this worked.
Jimmy gritted his teeth. "Don't try to lie. We're hungry. We ain't leaving with nothing."
Karen decided to give him one last chance. "My uncle can give you money if you just let me go."
Jimmy was losing his patience. He raised his hand to hit her.
Karen stabbed him in the cheek with her sparkly purple colored pencil.
The scream was deafening. A shop owner came running out. "Cut that out! Cut that out! You're scaring away customers." He slapped Jimmy upside the head, who had still been pinning Karen despite his injury.
Both boys ran away. Karen stood on shaky legs.
"You better go on home now, girl. Don't roughhouse with boys." The shop owner ran back inside his store.
When Karen finally got home, Aunt Miranda nearly fell over. "Got your face cut up like a little ragamuffin. And there's blood all over you! What the hell have you been doing?" She launched into prayer, rebuking Karen's evil activities. "Good Lord, help me with this evil child!"
The beautiful coat was thrown out. Karen thought it was a waste. The pink color was kind of pretty spotted with blood.
