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Post Milk Lovin

"And what do these poems represent?.. Anyone?" Sarah asks from the front of the class. I raise my hand knowing how simple this question is. "Anyone accept Riley."

"Okay wow.." my eyes go a little wide as I joke.

"No I'm seriously. If you're the only one doing the homework I'm not letting the rest of you slide through the class discussions and make her do all the work. Riley is not going to be the only one participating in class anymore."

"Please excuse us if we don't want to "participate" with you." A girl, Monica, behind me mumbles.

"Excuse me?" Sarah looks up from her book.

"Miss Paulson. The lamb is innocence and the tiger is experience." Molly speaks up.

"So Riley is the lamb and Paulson is her tiger." A boy at the back of the class teases.

A kid next to him mocks a tiger roar then whispers, "Or does she just purr like a kitten?"

"No Adam. Your IQ is the lamb and your record is the tiger." I spitefully state loud and clear. "And Donovan-"

"Yo no ones is allowed to discuss that, bitch!" He erupts.

"Oh go back to prison, dick head!"

"That's enough!" Sarah slams her book on Molly's desk. "Monica, Adam, and Donovan! Come up here and sign your detention slips."

"What the fuck!?" Donovan complains.

"We didn't even do anything." Monica barks. Sarah isn't listening. Just continues to fill out their detention slips.

"Let's go. Get up." She says as she finishes. "Sign them, take your copy and the office copy, and get out."

The three of them pack up their things and walk to the front to get their detention slips. They sign them and leave for the principal's office with out another word.

"Okay everyone finish up the question on that page then read the next poem. You can start those questions and have them done by class tomorrow. Riley can I see you in the hall."

She isn't asking so I put my pencil down and follow as told. When we get to the hall she doesn't say anything. Her arms are folded across her chest and she doesn't look pleased.

"I'm sorry." I whisper almost in tears.

Her face goes soft and she opens her arms to me. I fall into her arms. "Ry don't play into that shit. Just let me take care of it because I don't want to end up having to write you up too."

"I'm really angry." I say numbly.

"I know. I know sweetie." She runs her hand up and down my back.

"Can I go to the nurse and lay down?" My words are muffled in her shoulder.

"No baby, don't let it get you down that bad. Just go to class, you can sleep during your aide period, then at the end of the day we'll go home, okay?"

I nod and pull myself from her just before the bell rings. The rest of the day I do my best to not let the whole thing bother me but it does. I don't even talk to Sarah when I get to my aide hour. I just go behind her desk with her, then crawl under it, and go to sleep. At the end of the school day we leave and when we get to my house I go to the kitchen. I pour myself a bowl of lucky charms then head straight to my room.