Chapter 22 Interlude part 2 Preview.
Carrie White POV.
Warning, chapter deals with/hints at abuse.
Flashback 9 years earlier.
A young girl, no older then 7 years old, is sitting on a couch.
Beside her is an older woman, her left hand is holding the girl close to her, while the other is holding what appears to be a Bible.
The woman is reading some verses to the girl, but the little girl is distracted.
Seeing she doesn't have her daughters attention, Margareth pulls at her daughters ear, gaining saids daughters attention.
''Ahhh''.
Her yell and red ear doesn't gain her much sympathy, instead Margareth looks at her with dissaproval.
''Carrietta, when I am reading from the Book of God you are supposed to listen''.
''To not to is disrespectfull of The Lord''.
Little Carrie looks down, holding her hurt ear.
''I am sorry momma, I didn't mean to disrespect The Lord''.
Margareth signs.
''Just make sure it doesn't happen again or there will be more severe consequences''.
Before Margareth can resume reading the Bible, Carrie stops her.
''Momma, can I ask something?''.
Margareth signs.
''Ask quickly''.
''Can we pray to God for an sibling for me?''
When her momma doesn't interupt her, Carrie gleefull continues.
''I know we can't have Daddy back, that he is in Heaven with the Lord''.
''But wouldn't it be nice to be with three people?''
''I would really like an sister or maybe a boy?''
''Maybe we could name him after Daddy?''.
Before Carrie can say something else, Margareths hand makes contact with her face.
The force is so great that Carrie falls.
She looks up, knowing she has made an mistake. Her momma's face is a mask of fury and an emotions she won't understand till she is older.
''What did you just say?''
She doesn't say anything, afraid she will only anger her mother more.
''WHAT DID YOU SAY!''.
''I am sorry Momma!''.
Her apology doesn't do anything, her mothers anger stays the same.
Her momma pulls her up at her hair. The strain hurts her skull but she doesn't dare make an sound.
Her momma makes her sit on the couch, telling her to wait.
She waits, dread filling her the longer momma stays away.
A part of her wants to run to her room and hide under her bed, but she knows from past experiences that momma will only be angrier if she does that.
After what feels like an entirety, her momma appears.
She is holding an familair belt.
Daddy Ralphs belt.
She knows what her punishment is long before her mother opens her mouth
''Lie on the couch and take off your dress''.
Modern day, Gym.
Carrie was lying down, her head in Jessica's lap.
The other girls fingers were gently combing through her hair, neither girl saying a thing for the longest time.
''You know, I always wanted an sibling''.
Jessica looked surprised. Carrie turned her head away, not being able to look her in the eyes for what she was about to say.
''When I was young, before I understood how horrible my mother was, I dreamed about a little sister or brother to play with''.
Bittersweet childhood memories flooded her mind.
''I wanted someone beside my mother to love, who maybe could understand me better then she did''.
''I once asked her for one... she didn't react well''.
That was an understatement. She hadn't been able to sit straight for days and to this day still had the scar on her back to prove that.
''And now I find out I almost had it''.
That didn't sound right.
''No, I was supposed to have a brother or sisiter'.
What would her brother or sister looked like? Would they have shared her hobbies?
''Margareth took him or her away from me''.
She would never know, because her brother or sister had died before they had the chance to live.
''I will never forgive her for that''.
In response, Jessica holded her tighter.
They stayed in the same position for some time, both not saying anything.
Till the quite was broken by a gentle knock on the door.
Both girls look up, not willingly to move from their spot.
''Who is there?''
''Its me, Mrs Desjardin with Mrs Martina''.
Jessica looks at her, waiting for her response.
A part of her wants to turn them away.
She isn't ready to face them, she doesn't know if she will ever be, but it would be unfair to punish them for her mothers sins.
Especially to Mrs Desjardin.
And there is something she needs to do, something she should have had done the moment she remembered the Raining Stones incident.
''Come in''.
The door opens and in front stand Mrs Desjardin and Mrs Martina.
Mrs Martina walks towards her, looking her over, before she sits down.
In the corner of her eye she sees Mrs Desjardin doing the same for Jessica.
Neither woman ask her anything, they just watch her and talk with Jessica.
Should she tell Mrs Martina?
She was one of the teachers that helped her earlier, but she didn't trust her as much as Mrs Desjardin.
But wasn't it selfish to only tell Mrs Desjardin what she wanted to say?
She knew what she was going to say would hurt the older woman, it would be nice for Rita to have someone to comfort her for a change.
She didn't want people to only feel sad or hurt around her.
But she couldn't tell Jessica. She didn't want the exclude her friend, but she didn't want to hurt the other girl by what she was going to reveal.
What should she do?
Minutes ticked by when Carrie made her decision.
''Mrs Martina, Mrs Desjardin can we talk?''
All three woman turn to her, all with that understanding and pitying look on their face, like she will break any moment.
She hated it. Hadn't she shown that she could be strong? Still she understood where their concern came from.
But she had shed all the tears she could, now it was time for to be strong. For herself, for her unborn sibling.
''I wasn't completely honest earlier, about Margareth''.
She turns to Jessica, giving her a smile.
''Jessica, I am so greatfull for what you did earlier, but I think it is better if you go back to the others ''.
Just like she thought, Jessica looks upset at her suggestion.
''What?''
Jessica shakes her head.
''No, I am not leaving you''.
Under other circumstences she would have been happy to have someone say that to her, not now.
''Jessica, what I am going to reveal...It is bad''.
Bad was an understatement.
''I don't want to upset you''.
''Jessica, please I am trying to protect you''.
Jessica signs. She sees to be conflicted between wanting to be there for her or to respect her wishes.
'''What could be so bad that I need to leave?''
''I want to press charges against Margareth''.
Jessica's eyes widen.
''Oh''.
''Are you sure honey?''.
The gentle voice belongs to Mrs Desjardin.
''Yes, I am''.
''You were right earlier Mrs Desjardin, about Margareth''.
''I am sorry it took so long for me to understand''.
The next thing she knows, she is being hugged by three pair of arms.
The words she had wanted to say, about how momma had tried to kill her not once, but twice, die on her tong.
There would be enough time after to tell.
Cafeteria, Mrs Desjardin POV.
The people in the cafeteria were still talking about the latest piece of information, when the doors opened. Mrs Martina and Mrs Desjardin came through the doors. The return of the two teachers drew a lot of attention.
Some of the other teachers and adults left their seat, walking towards the two woman.
''Rita, Hermosa, how did things go?''. Asks Mr Frogg.
Both woman look at the other before adressing the question.
''Jessica and Carrie will be here soon, but for your question..''.
Thankfully Hermosa talks for them, freeing Rita of that burden.
''Seeing the circumstances is Carrie is holding herself up remarkable, but she is quite shaken by what was revealed''.
''Please, don't ask her about Margareth or anything to do with her homelife'.
''I know you all have questions, but remember that this is a real persons life we are watching, not some tv show''.
''Carrie White's life is being shown to everyone, her and others privacy invaded..''.
''I think everyone in this room can relate to that'.
Hermosa's speech seems to work. While the others in the room still look curious, they also look properly chastitied.
Though it was only buying them time. Soon enough all the horrid details would be out for everyone to known.
I want to press charges against Margareth.
You were right earlier Mrs Desjardin.
Rita was so lost in her thoughts, that she didn't notice when Carrie and Jessica rejoined their group.
Thankfully, by the time the screen showed a new scene, she had her mind in order again.
The movie continued.
Next chapter we will be back to the mainstory. And we will have no breaks till the Black Prom! Finally the moment were we have been waiting for all these years. At first I wanted Carrie to admit to her mother trying to kill her more then once. But between Jessica being such a good friends that she won't leave and me thinking it would be more realistic if at this points some characters are mentally exchausted,this became the result. Mrs Desjardin is at the moment a bit overwhelmed by everything that has happend (who wouldn't be), but don't worry our favorite teacher will pull herself together again once the Prom happens.