Chapter 6: Ugly

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Natasha came home with a bruise just under her eye, on the 4th Monday of her second year at the local primary school. She was the 'ugliest' girl in her class, and all the boy's liked to hurt her. Verbally and physically. She was late out again that day, retrieving all her school books from each bin around the school, and climbing a tree in just her socks, to get her new shoes, hanging by the laces, from the top branch.

She didn't cry once though. That's the miraculous part of it. Or perhaps it's the sad part, as she'd just got used to it, used to being home at 4 instead of 3, used to staying up late (knowing that if she sleeps, she'll only wake up sooner), used to bruises and blood and broken bones, used to hiding, used to holding back tears.

Tasha learnt very quickly she was what society deemed ugly. She learnt it awfully quickly.

Neil didn't know what had happened to his baby girl. She was having so many accidents. Yesterday she tripped over and had got two black eyes, and today she fell out of a tree, and has bruises all over her arms? It didn't seem right. He called up work asking for a few days off. He was no detective by he would get to the bottom of this.

He followed her to school that day. Xander always took the bus, but for some reason Tasha always preferred to walk. Tasha was already upset though today.. Tilly had got angry and yelled something about wishing she was called Natalie. Neil wasn't worried. Tilly had a habit of always getting over things and being ok. She was always ok.

Tasha was almost near school now, so Neil was convinced she was literally just really clumsy. But then he saw them. Two rather stocky boys came out and pushed her down. Neil was paralysed in shock. They started kicking her in the chest, yelling things like 'ugly horse', and 'burn in hell'. She was six. Neil's shock grew into rage quicker than you can say 'cheese'.

"HEY!" He yelled.

He ran to her and scooped her up swiftly, pushing the larger boy down to the green grass.

Tasha looked up at her father, and her first tears fell.

"Stay the hell away from my baby!" Neil yelled.

The boys ran back into school, tripping and stumbling, trying to get away from their victim's dad.
Natasha Redtown was absent at school that day.

Neil didn't think she should ever go to school again.

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