Pushed to be Perfect

Chapter 3

My alarm rang for 7am that following morning. I knocked on Dexter's room, who apparently already was up(I got monkeyed). It turned out I had fallen asleep just eyeing the uniform, so it was already sprawled across my bed. I took it, and put it on. It looked old, but it belonged to my mother. I never had anything left from my mother, and neither did Dexter, so I decided not to tell him about who the uniform belonged to. I took my mother's pin and gently caressed it before putting it inside my drawer for the day. I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and grabbed my backpack from the chair. I made my way down for breakfast, as softly as I could so I didn't wake up my uncle. 

When I got down, Dexter had put breakfast on the table and had sat down to eat, reading some news off his phone. I grabbed a chair and he motioned to stay silent as I ate. The eggs were probably expired as usual and the bread stale. Nevertheless, this was the best breakfast we could get in the household, so Dexter and I put up with it(not like we had an option). He looked up at me, and then at my uniform.  

"Anita, Bretwood High is a prestigious school. All the people from rich families go there. And you're going to go wearing this..?" He asked, curtly.

"Do you have an option on something for me to wear? This is all that our uncle gave me. And let's not act like he's a good man who will buy stuff for us if he can find a cheaper replacement. Why? We're not his kids, Dexter. We're mom's kids."

Dexter sighed, but suddenly went stiff. 

"What is it? You look like you've seen mom," I joked. 

However his gaze wasn't focused on me, it was focused behind me. I turned around to see my uncle's figure emerging in front of me. I immediately got to my knees.

"Anita Syed, you want to know why? Because you and your mother are the same. Both brainless, prioritizing other people first. No sense of surroundings, and no obedience." I bent my head down, closed my eyes, and didn't say a word.

His belt came thrashing down on me. I made sure not to utter anything. Once he got bored, he went back upstairs and slammed the door shut. I tried to stand up, but the bruise had been aggravated one too many times. 

Dexter helped me get up and check on the bruise. He applied some lotion on it, and we set walking first down to Bretwood High. The walk to the bus station where he was going to drop me off was a mile away and the bruise was not helping the walk. I swear I would've looked like a grandma with the way I was clutching my back. Dexter had to carry me when I almost gave out.

We usually stay home after beatings and can get rest and take care of the wounds in our rooms. But with this new schedule, I wonder how things will turn out.

Dexter dropped me off at the bus station heading towards Bretwood High and he set off for his first day of college.