Diary of a Broken Doll

Drew Blue

As I get ready for school, I put on the auburn sundress and yellow sandals Camille and I agreed to wear. Then I pull my hair up into a ponytail in the center of my head and use Mama's flat iron to smooth it out and curl the hair falling over my shoulders under. I dab on some of the perfume from her bathroom and slide on some lip gloss.

"Cute," I smile into the mirror.

I get my books and head out the door to walk the half mile school. I see Camille and Marla sitting on the steps outside talking as I walk up.

"Hey girls!" I sing.

"Robert already been over here and told Cami she was fine." Marla tells me as we walk to breakfast.

"What? Go girl!" I say.

"He asked me if I'll be his boo." She smiled big.

"So what you said?"

"I told him I gotta see if he know how to act first. Plus you know I gotta see what my mama say."

"Oh ok, he do look good girl. Don't let him see me and change his mind about you." I tease.

She makes a face like she doesn't see me as competition. She right not to. I wouldn't stab her in the back like that.

The bell rings and we all go inside our class. Me and Camille sit together in the middle.

"I'm leaving Wednesday morning." I say looking in my book bag for a pencil.

"Wednesday!"

"Shh, yeah. I got enough money and I want to go ahead before I try to spend it. And you know my mama's the worst on Tuesday and Wednesday. That's mostly when she home."

"You got your ticket yet?"

"Nope."

"Courtney you can come live with us. Ok? I'll ask my mama. I'll tell her everything that's been happening."

"You know my mama gone trip. Then yo mama gone call the police and ain't no telling where I might end up. I told you I'm coming back for you."

"I know but I was hoping you would change your mind."

"It's better for me Cam. If things don't go like they posed to, I'll come back."

"Ok." She reluctantly agrees.

Camille and me ducked off and talked in the bathroom after the last bell.

"I'm gonna miss you Courtney," Camille sobbed.

"Don't cry," I say giving her a napkin. "I promise to call you when I can. And I'll make sure I write you and stuff. I'll come back as soon as I can."

We talk about thirty minutes and hug goodbye.

"I promise I'll call," I say as I walk down the street headed toward the bus stop.

Once I got off at the bus station, I go into the small bathroom and into a stall and hang my backpack there. I go to the mirror and put on some of the lipstick that I got from Ms. Benita. I yank my hair down from the ponytail and let it fall down around my face. I fluff it out with my hand.

I slink out of the bathroom and into the store. I get a drink from the machine in the corner and walk up to the counter.

While I'm waiting, a boy in a colorful short set and two thick gold chains comes up to me smiling. He just stands there for a second. Just smiling at me.

"Hey," I smile, rolling my eyes impatiently

"Hey." He smirks. "So where you running off to?"