The year is 1966. Roxanne Schaeffer has a strange condition: she has quills growing around her hairline, which make her look like she's part porcupine. The doctors claim that it's a bizarre medical condition, but it got so bad that Roxanne put anoth...
I remember that day as if it were yesterday, even though it was actually three months ago. My teacher was having an argument with the principal about what to do with me. But the worst part for me was they were arguing while I was still in the room. I was so afraid and I started to feel a tingly sensation in my right arm. When I looked, I was even more horrified by what I saw.
Hard, brown-and-white-speckled hairs had pushed their way through the skin of my forearm. Oh no, my medical condition! The doctors said these "hairs" would only appear at my hairline, but I was almost eight then. Plus, my condition is rare, so they don't know what it's gonna do. But I couldn't have anyone see them; I needed to hide.
Raising the arm that didn't have hairs on it, I tried to hide the other one behind my back. "Mr. Roshelle, may I go to the restroom? It's my medical condition ..." Mr. Roshelle let out a false laugh and came towards me. "I know all about your medical condition, Miss Schaeffer," he said in my ear, "And it does NOT require having to visit a restroom."
He reached behind my back and pulled out my arm, which was covered with hardened hairs from the back of my hand to my elbow. "EUREKA!" He shouted. "Proof that it was you! OWWW!" Mr. Roshelle released me; several of my hardened hairs were embedded in the plan of his hand.
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Just like Kaitlynn, I thought. When they loaded her onto the ambulance, she had several needle-like hairs sticking out of her. Was it my medical condition? It couldn't be! Then why were there holes in my clothes?
"You have quills in your hand!" The principal was shocked, as he hadn't met any other kids with my condition. "I realize that," groaned Mr Roshelle. "Just get them out!" The principal grabbed the first quill and began to pull. A cry of pain escaped from my poor teacher. "They hurt worse coming out than they do going in," I warned them. Finally, after an agonizing half hour, Mr Roshelle was sent to the nurse's office.
I was alone with the principal now. "Roxanne," he said to me, "you do realize we now have serious evidence against you."
I nodded.
"You do realize that if you did this on purpose, you could get expelled."
Again, I nodded.
"So, did you do this on purpose?"
And the truth flowed out like a river.
"Kaitlyn started it. She made fun of my condition like she always does. But she took it too far this time. It was only an accident; I didn't mean to."
I quietly waited for the principal to respond, only breaking the silence when I asked, "Am l expelled?" The principal cleared his throat and he said, "No Roxanne. You're not expelled."
"I'm not?"
"No, but you will be suspended for the rest of the week. And when Miss Myers gets out of the hospital, she will receive her part of the punishment."
I did a happy dance in my seat because I was glad to not be expelled. However, my happiness soon ran dry when I realized I was suspended.I had never been suspended before! Dad was probably going to be disappointed. He does hold me to high standards after all.
So I slumped out of the principals office until I saw Dimitri Groff waiting for me. Dimitri and I have been best friends ever since the two of us were very little. Even after my medical condition developed, he wasn't in the least bit afraid of me because he has a medical condition too.he can't keep still, which is probably why he's the star of the track team.
"Hey Roxy," he greeted me. As he said that, he ran his fingers through his sandy blond hair. Dimitri does that on purpose around me just because I think it's annoying. "So what's the verdict? Are you expelled?" I shook my head. "No, but I am suspended." He let out a gasp. "Your parents are going to be steamed! "
"I know and my grade is probably going to go down by at least one letter in every class. "
"That's why you're so lucky to have me as your friend. "He pulled a list out of his pocket of all the schoolwork I would miss it for the rest of the week. "How did you... "I started. But he cut me off almost immediately. "I might've gone to all of your classes and put this list together to make sure you don't miss anything. "
"Dimitri, you are brilliant! "
I embraced him as he said, "Don't mention it. I just thought you could use some help. "
As I let him go, I noticed something: the quills were retreating back into the skin of my arm. Apparently, Dimitri had noticed it, too. "Roxy, "he stated. "What was that about? "I tried to play it cool as if nothing had happened, but Dimitri saw right through my act. "It's your medical condition, isn't it? It's getting worse! "I nodded.
"This has been happening for at least a month," I stated, scared of my own words."But it only happens when I'm angry or scared. It worries me, Dimitri. What if it get so bad that I'll never be able to touch anyone ever again? "He grabbed my arm, which was now free of quills. "I don't think that will happen, Roxy, " he assured me.
It made me feel at ease to know that Dimitri cares about me so much. As he walked to his next class, he ran his fingers through my dark hair. "You should get a haircut, "he insisted. Yes, I have waist length hair, but i usually don't like to get it cut because of the quills in the front. I shutter that the memory of my mom trying to cut them for the first time. The sound was horrible and the scissors ended up breaking. Ever since, my mom has resolved to only cut the parts of my hair that are still soft.
When we got to the door, Dimitri turns to me and asked if I was OK. "I'll be fine, "I said. "You know how I am: tough as a cinderblock. "A small laugh escaped from both of us if I left for the rest of the week
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A/N: hello, my dreamers. I hope you all enjoy this little prologue. But the story is only beginning. Things are only going to get more interesting from here on out. The whole purpose of this prologue was to introduce you to Roxanne and to give you a taste of her peculiarity. Tell me what you think in the comment section below.
