Euphoria

Adjusting

What seems like a few minutes of sleep is interrupted by a loud blaring sound of a whistle. Angelle turns over to look at the clock on the wall that reads 9:12am. She didn't even realize that she had slept so long, seeing her sister motioning for her to follow, Angelle gets up and follows her sister outside of their room door to see other kids their age lined up in front of their own room doors. Angelle rubs the sleep out of her eyes seeing Ms. Flo coming down the hallway with a leather brown belt in her hands, with each step the floor creaks, she stops at Angelle and Gianna. Angelle eyes the belt wondering what it was for as Ms. Flo turns and struts back down the hallway. The hallway is eerily silent, Ms. Flo stops at the beginning of the hallway.

"Someone on this hall has broken a rule of the Sunset code," Ms. Flo spoke with a malevolent tone that made some kids shiver with fear. "Taking candy from one of the little kids. Now, usually there are no punishments for this as long as the kid shares it with you. However, in this case, the child says differently."

Angelle could sense a horrible fear from the kids, she couldn't tell which child it was coming from. But, she felt something and it was very unusual to her; this feeling. They all look as if they were about to wet themselves, Angelle gently fiddles with the medallion around her neck. Ms. Flo swings the belt back and forth careful as not to hit an innocent child but to intimidate the children. "Larsen Monteague, step forward."

A medium brown complexioned girl with short black twisted hair steps forward with attitude, but Angelle could now feel her fear; very clearly. Now that she has been singled out. "Yes, ma'am?" Larsen asks with a southern drawl.

Gianna tenses up and grabs Angelle's arm as Gianna stares in fear. Angelle just stares in alert but on guard.

Ms. Flo purses her lips together then says, "We have had this conversation with each other plenty of times before in the past about this same issue."

Larsen comes back, "Yes, we have. I have told you that my. . . MY sister isn't supposed to have any type of candy. She is already hyperactive enough. She even takes medication for it."

"What we give her is our business, not yours. Assume the position."

Larsen shouts, "I am her sister and it IS my business what you guys give her." She faces the wall, places her hands on the wall, and bends over. Angelle saw the tears swelling up in Larsen's eyes before she turned to face the wall.

Suddenly, Angelle starts tearing up herself as she is feeling all sorts of emotions. Ms. Flo holds the belt and just as she was about to strike Larsen, Angelle yells out before Gianna could stop her. "STOP!"

Ms. Flo drops her hand to her surprise. She comes speeding down the hallway, making the floor shake a little, stopping at Angelle. Scared, Gianna pulls Angelle's arm as Ms. Flo stops inches from Angelle's face. Angelle steps more in Ms. Flo's face, never backing down for what she believes in and who she helps, no matter what it costs. Angelle could feel everyone's eyes on her and her sister's grip tighten around her forearm as she faces off with the large owner.

"You dare speak out?" Ms. Flo growls.