She stepped into the hall, and tried to close the door as quietly as she could. It closed with a BANG. She sighed. The headmaster stiffened, then flipped around with a look of pure venom on his face. "LATE FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS WEEK!" He hollered, picking her up by the collar of her dress. Mr.Trousers was a scrawny man with little patience. He enjoyed scaring the children. He also forced them to avoid smiling, toys, the works. It made him feel like he was finally in control of something. At home, his wife ran the show. In the OUC (orphanage upkeep committee), no one listened to a word he said. Here he had power over all. Except for her. She continued to disobey rules. Groundings and beatings couldn't change that. Why, just that week she had put a pail of water over his door crack, getting himself a wet surprise just before his meeting. How did he know it was her? By finding her name written in big letters on the bucket, next to a smiley face. The 'no food for two days' didn't make her remorse, she just said "whatever". If he didn't hurry she might start a little rebellion. He's got to stand up to her. He pressed his ugly face into hers and yelled "WHAT OTHER DUTIES DO YOU HAVE BESIDES COMING HERE? NONE! NO EXCUSES! Now, make sure it doesn't happen again." He flung her to the floor. She stood up and walked over to her sewing machine, tossed a smile at the headmaster and a cheery wave, and began cutting fabric, earning herself a scowl. She laughed inwardly. This was a normal occurrence, it was no big deal to be tossed around anymore. He's trying to gain control? Oh, please, she was hopelessly incorrigible. On purpose. She smiled slightly to herself, then began pressing the pedals under the machine, trying to get the old thing to turn on. She hated sewing. But, she was good at it. Finishing a few pairs of mittens, she tossed them in the basket. The hall was filled with girls doing the same exact thing. She glanced up, and her jaw went slack. Her white ferret, Gypsy, better known as 'gyp', was sitting on one of the rafters. It was in a crouching position. "Don't you dare..." She muttered in awe. It jumped onto the floor and took off, running out. If she was caught with a pet.... She took off after it. The headmaster jumped in her way, a look of venom on his face, and she jumped from foot to foot, turned over slightly. "Bath-roooom..." She squeaked. He jumped out of the way, and she continued running, straitening out once out of sight. She caught a glimpse of white ahead. Going full tilt, she ran at it. It took her downstairs, and she followed it to the room with the coal burner. A boy about her age was there, polishing the pipes, covered in sweat stains and ash. She had never seen the boys work. Or, really, any of the boys. Why? Who knows?
