Page 3 of Distortion
I’m not stupid. If I don’t answer, I’ll get another shock.
‘In England,’ I whisper.
‘Yes, that’s right.Clever girl. You’re in England. This is The Heath, a home for youngsters with problems like yours. Do you knowwhyyou’re here?’
Because of what happened after school.
‘Because I’m ... difficult.’
He chuckles. ‘I wouldn’t quite put it like that but your father has told me the details of some of your recentbehaviorsand we think we’ll be a good fit for you.’
He smiles and sits back at the desk while my mind reels and my arms jerk as I crush my hands together. Did John tell them what happened? Do they know what I did? Is that why I have the ...stingeron?
The doctor keeps talking, discussing me aloud as he looks at a file that I suppose John gave him from the doctors at home because it’s thick. There’s more in there than they could possibly have found out about me in the hour I’ve been here.
He says something about my good grades in school and how I’m clearly brighter than I seem, that I must be able to understand verbal commands and how that’ll make my treatment a much simpler process so long as I cooperate. Being here is what’s best for me, he explains, and one day, I’ll thank my mother and father for bringing me here to learn to be like the other children.
But John isn’t my father. I’ve already told him. Why is he still saying it?
After that, I tune him out.
I want my mom.
‘... to the second floor. Get her showered and changed. Then, show her around her new home and tell her the rules.Her comprehension looks to be fine according to the documents her father has given me, but give her a few days to settle in. After that, begin following the correction protocols if she misbehaves.’
He’s not my damned father!
I glance up at the wall behind the desk. The doctor looks at me, still sitting how I was told, and writes something on the paper in front of him.
‘Very good, Marguerite. You’re already learning, I see. You will be allowed a pudding at dinner tonight.’ He gives me a small smile. ‘That’s dessert to you. You’ll also be permitted to sit with the others in the common room afterward for one hour. Once you’re settled in at The Heath, we’ll begin our work. We have several classes you can try, including art. Would you like that?’
No, I wouldn’t. But I remember Jack told me about questions like this after I had a problem with one of the teachers in school last week. He said that the question is pretend because the adult has already decided the answer, so you have to tell them what they want to hear because they don’t really care.
They want a ‘yes’, so I jerk a nod.
Looks like Jack was right because Stoke doesn’t ask me anything else.
‘Good. Good. I know you’re going to be very happy here with us, Marguerite.’
Stoke motions at the orderly, and I’m unceremoniously pulled to my feet with a firm hand on my bicep. When I pull away, I vaguely notice the orderly’s finger on the button on one of the several clear tags hanging from his belt. It has my school picture on it. But he doesn’t press it.
‘Now, Marguerite. You don’t know your way around yet, so Douglas will show you to your room and find you some clothes in your size. You must do as you’re told. Youwouldn’t want Douglas here to take your pudding privileges, would you? I think it’s treacle tart and custard tonight. Won’t that be nice?’ he asks with a condescending lilt that I don’t like.
I’m thirteen. I’m not a baby.
Douglas takes me by the arm again and yanks me out of the office. In the wide corridor, he pulls me along toward some steps and urges me up them. He makes an annoyed noise at me when I stumble.
‘Do as I tell you, and we’ll get along fine,’ he grates out. ‘But if you take the piss, my girl, you’ll know about it!’
He fingers the button with my face on it again, and I hang my head, meekly following him up the stairs and wondering when my mom is coming back for me.
The trip was only for two weeks. She’ll come for me when it’s time to go back to Connecticut ... won’t she?
1
DAISY
Istand ramrod straight. The black pumps are cutting into the sides of my feet, but I ignore the feeling, and I don’t shift.
