Chapter 9

Jodi: I was running around the garden with John when mom called me in. It was early, I didn't want to go in yet. But John told me I had too, because of what dad's been like lately. So I went in and told mom it wasn't fair that John got to stay out and I didn't. Last year she would have laughed and let me go back out but this time was different. She shouted at me and sent me to my room. I had nothing in my room that I could play with. I heard a knock on my window and saw John. He had a drawing pad and a pencil for me. I heard dad come home and mom sounded happier so I went out into the lounge. Mom told me to get back into my room but I ignored her and climbed on the kitchen counter so I could look in the draw for an eraser. I heard dad stomping behind me. He grabbed me and practically threw me to the floor. I looked up at him, scared. I knew what was coming. I moved into the corner. I was just sat there with my knees in my arms. I saw dad take his belt off. I closed my eyes. He hit me with it once and it caught my leg. I whimpered in pain. He grabbed my upper arm and pulled me up. He spun me around so that my back was facing him. He pushed me into the corner again and told me not to move. I was too scared to move. He hit me with his belt again, three times on my back. I was shouting for him to stop and that's when John came in. John shouted at him and he laughed. He just pulled out another cigarette and lit it, totally ignoring John. He spun me around again, John was still shouting so mom slapped him across the face in an attempt to shut him up. It didn't work. I looked at dad. I told him that I only wanted an eraser and he pulled out his blade and said he was going to cut me first and then John. John punched dad on his arm. It wasn't a great punch; John was only eleven and still a scrawny little thing. But still, it got dad's attention. He pointed the blade at John and then looked at me again. He removed the cigarette from his mouth and looked at it for a moment. Then he took one more drag, and pressed the end of the cigarette into my shoulder. I screamed. The pain was unreal. John shouted. Even mom looked shocked. John told me to run so I did, but mom caught me. She held me there and forced me to watch John and dad. I was wriggling and kicking but she wouldn't let me go. She just slapped me like she did to John. Dad approached John with the knife. Then he closed the knife and grabbed him. He pulled him over to the sofa and bent him over the side. He made my mother grab his belt and she did. He lifted the belt so high and then it came down on John's back. 11 times, one for each year of his life. I was shouting like crazy but John didn't make a sound. I could see his fists clenching up. As soon as dad stopped, John spun around and spat at him. Dad grabbed him again and got his knife back out. He held it to John's throat. He let go, threw John into his room, grabbed me off my mother and threw me into my room too. I was in shock, in pain, angry and upset all at once. The cigarette burn stung like crazy and my back was throbbing.

I woke up. Ever since that night in Claire's about a week ago, my nightmares have been worse. Well that's if you can call them nightmares, they were memories. I guess telling Andy brought everything back up. I mean, I felt better after telling him but now it's like they're fresh in my mind again. I touched my shoulder. It was scarred from the cigarette burn. It wasn't the only one I have either. I have two on my back, amongst other scars from his belt. It angered me thinking about the pain he's put John and I though over the years.

It was only 7:30; too early to wake John yet. So I sat up in bed and thought about Andy. I hadn't seen him much since that week; we've been in school and he's had a lot of wrestling practice. I just hope I didn't scare him off by telling him stuff about my dad. He seemed supportive but I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want anything to do with me anymore. It's a lot of heavy stuff, he shouldn't have to deal with my problems.

Andy: This will be the first day I can actually see Jodi at lunch for about a week. I've had so much wrestling practice and studying to do I haven't really seen her much. I hope she doesn't think I'm leaving her. Anyway, I'm going to surprise her today. I passed my driving test on the weekend so now my dad's letting take our pick up truck to school. It's quite a big pick up; three people can fit in the front, three people in the back, and then there's a large bed to out any luggage on.

So I pulled up outside Jodi and John's place at around 8:10 I wanted to get there before they left. So I waited outside for them. They were so surprised when they saw me. Jodi sat next to me, and John sat next to her. Then we picked up Allison, Brian and Claire and they climbed in the back.

Allison: "Hey Andy, this would be awesome to take camping one day" I said.

"Oh yes! That would be so cool!" Jodi agreed with me.

"That is a good idea actually. I'll ask my dad about it" Andy said.

Jodi: Having that nightmare has really ruined my mood. I didn't feel like going to first period so I went to sit under the bleachers. I stayed there for most of the day. I was surprised that no one was here. People usually skip class all the time. I lit up a cigarette and it helped me calm down. Just as I was taking a drag, I heard someone whispering. Suddenly, two kids walked around the corner and sat under the bleachers with me. They must have only been in the seventh grade.

One of them looked at me. "Hey. It's uh Jodi right?" He asked me.

Hah. I guess John and I did have a bit of a reputation here. "What d'you want?" I replied.

"Have you got any um, any dope?" He whispered the last word.

I laughed. "You want dope huh? You're like what, 13/14? You don't want to messing with it."

"Yeah well you're only 15."

"Yeah, and look how I turned out. You really wanna be spending nearly every Saturday in detention? Getting blamed daily for things you didn't do just because you've got a reputation? You do what you want but I for sure ain't giving you dope."

"Fine. Can we have a cigarette instead?"

"You smoked before?" They both nodded but I didn't believe them. "Alright then" I said. I offered them the pack and they took one each. I threw the lighter at them. "Light up." I said, taking another drag of my own. It was relaxing. I watched them fumble around with the lighter and then eventually light them. They both took a drag too deep and started coughing instantly. I laughed.

Suddenly, Vernon came out. "Fuck" I said. The kids look at me and I put my cigarette out. They did they same and gave me the lighter back. It was too late. He had seen us. Vernon dragged the two boys into his office and made me wait outside. While I was waiting, I lit another cigarette. I didn't do it to purposely annoy Vernon, I did it because it was my last one and I knew he would confiscate it otherwise. He opened the door and sent the boys back to class just as I finishing my cigarette. He looked at me so I blew smoke right into his face before dropping it to the floor and using my foot to put it out. He made me pick it up and put it in the bin in his office. I sat down but he told me to stand up again so I did.

"Giving cigarettes to seventh graders?!" He shouted.

"They nagged me."

"I've been nagging you to behave since you got here and that hasn't made a difference." I laughed. "You think this is funny Bender?"

"Well have you ever seen two seventh graders light up for the first time sir? It's pretty hilarious if you ask me."

He shook his head. "I want you to apologise to those kids' parents."

"No."

"You made them smoke Jodi! You have got to apologise."

"What am I meant to say? I'm sorry your kid is going around begging older kids for dope and cigarettes?"

"You gave them dope?!"

"No! They begged me for dope and I told them that if they took it they would turn out like me!" I shouted. Vernon looked at me. I think I touched a nerve there. I paced the room before sweeping a pile off books off a filing cabinet.

"You need to control your anger. Go home Bender. Fresh start tomorrow. One more mistake and you're with me on Saturday." He got up and opened the door for me. I looked at him, confused. I walked away wondering how on Earth I had managed to escape detention.