MAEENA COOPER: SUMMER HOLIDAY, 1972
She realized, slightly belatedly, that she wasn't entirely willing to return to school this year. At the ripe age of 12, Maeena did not want to return to her "friends" or the school that she had attended the year prior.
This was a belated thought, however, because it had occurred to her only when she entered the Salem quarter of town in order to buy her school supplies. Her brother, Samroze (who was freshly bald after a fight with their father), had taken her school shopping as he was due to be a seventh year (which he was very proud of) and could officially drive.
As she realized, however, her eyes met her brother's body. He was looking intensely at her school supply list and the books on the shelf, she didn't understand what he seemed so confused about; but she spoke anyways. "Sam," She began, waiting for him to turn to her before continuing, "I don't want to go to The Academy."
"Oh shut up." Samroze snorted, shaking his head before allowing his gaze to fall back to the bookshelf. "Mark doesn't care."
Maeena blinked at the harshness of the words before watching her brother pick up the necessary book and toss it into the cart she was pushing. "But I don't want to-"
"Aren't you excited to see Billie?" Samroze interrupted, wandering farther down the aisle without checking to ensure that Maeena was following him (she was). "So be excited to go to school."
Maeena marked that as a sensitive subject after that and elected to not talk about it. However with that came the resolution to simply not speak to Samroze at all.
* * *
On the day of departure, Maeena wanted to kill everyone. Which she realized was a quite violent thought to have, especially at her age, but it was entirely true. Her father had been asleep at the necessary time to leave so Samroze called them a cab and they went to the platform without the drunken man.
As they ran past the barrier, Samroze kept a hand on her shoulder. He was lecturing her about her choice to not sit with him on the train, as well as her choice in "friends" (for God's sake, she didn't even really consider them her friends!), and the fact that she wouldn't speak to him.
This lecture seemed to be perfectly timed however, when Samroze was still rambling as a voice yelled out; "Oi, lady!" Carolina! Maeena's head shot up and her eyes brightened from their dim light, she pulled away from Samroze immediately and began rushing towards the train.
Perhaps she'd consider allowing the girls to be her friends.
Maeena didn't take very long to make it into the compartment, grinning widely and pushing the door open. As she opened it, her smile dropped with her jaw as a voice boomed; "Cooper!" Draya? The girl had leapt to her feet, smiling with unbridled excitement. There was a long, silent, awkward moment as both girls stood there, clearly unsure of what to do, until Draya stiffly patted Maeena's shoulder. Maeena slowly brought her hand up to grip Draya's arm in return, her brow furrowing.
Why did she do that? We barely spoke. Why was she so excited? I should've sat with Samroze.
"Hiya girls," She forced herself to think other, less harmful thoughts. She allowed her smile to force its way back onto her lips and said, "How's it been?"
"We should be asking you!" Carolina's voice reappeared, gleeful as she punched Maeena in the arm, "And Dazai! At least Maeena sent us an owl or two!" There seemed to be an emphasis on Dazai's name as Carolina spoke, which gave Maeena the impression that Dazai had not returned any of the other girls' letters.
