Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich

Author:Sean Dietrich
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harper Muse
Published: 2023-11-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Minnie’s first week of school was nearly over and it had been difficult. Very difficult. Worse than she had expected. Nub had been called into the principal’s office three times. At this point, it was a rarity when he wasn’t called into the office.

Minnie usually sat outside the offices during these conferences and listened to her teachers explain to Mr. Nub why Minnie was getting harassed. They had all sorts of reasons to explain the problems, but Minnie knew that some kids just got picked on more than others. High school was a dog pack. Dogs went after the weak.

Minnie could hear Mr. Nub and Miss Rhonda, her homeroom teacher, speaking through the thin walls. She heard Mr. Nub say, “How can kids be so cruel?” She heard Miss Rhonda answer, “I don’t think the students are trying to be cruel, Mr. Taylor. I think they’re just experimenting with their boundaries.”

On the second day of school someone put a snake in Minnie’s locker. There was another incident when someone stole Minnie’s clothes during PE class and she had to borrow clothes. She had to finish the day wearing skimpy shorts and a T-shirt that was too small. That got a lot of laughs.

During a music class yesterday, Phillip Deener had pinched her backside and called her a terrible name. She couldn’t believe that someone who had claimed to love her was now filled with so much bitterness and hatred for her. Minnie threw a wooden marimba at the boy. The marimba splintered on the floor, and the school made Nub pay for it. Mr. Nub was thrilled about that.

She was thinking about this when Phillip Deener himself came walking past the offices. He was with his friends; they all wore team jerseys.

She avoided eye contact.

As one of the young men passed by, he called her a very bad name.

The other boys smirked at her. These were toadies who did whatever Phillip did. If Phillip ran headfirst into a stone wall, his pals would draw straws to see who got to sprint into the wall next. Not an original thought in their stupid heads.

One of the boys told a dirty joke as they passed by. The other boys laughed even though they probably didn’t get it.

And it was all she could take.

Minnie stood up, drew in a deep breath, and positioned herself in the center of the hallway so they couldn’t pass. She was staring over their heads like an adult in the kiddie pool. Minnie could feel her whole body trembling with adrenaline.

They just stared at her.

“What?” said one kid.

“Tell your little joke again. I want to hear it.”

The boys all looked at each other. More snickers.

“Why are you so obsessed with me?” said Phillip. “You’re not my type, Herman Munster.” Then he called her a bad name.

“I’m carrying your child.”

“You’re carrying someone’s bastard,” said Phillip. “But it ain’t mine.”

Minnie did not think. She just reacted. She reached outward with both hands and pinned Phillip’s arms to his sides.

“Get off me!”

With both arms clamped to his sides, Phillip was defenseless against her.

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