The next day after school, Aroha made sure she got out of
the classroom the minute the bell went. After that she tried
not to think about what Miss said, but found herself doing so
every time after Jim came to her room.
She often had stomach cramps and her heart would race. She felt clumsy and was always dropping things. It was worst when she had her period. The blood reminded her of the first time, and she still felt like she might die and wondered if it might not be better if she did. She tried to explain to him at these times and hoped he would leave her alone, but usually it didn’t work.
At times she noticed him making eyes at her little sister, Mere, who was now eight. She wondered if it was happening to her but told herself she was imagining it. Recently though, he was being really nice to Mere and the thought wouldn’t go away.
The thought of telling started coming back into her mind, but how could she tell after all this time? Would people say she was stupid? Would anyone believe her now? If she didn’t tell, would he start doing it to Mere as well? Maybe he had already started.
She often had stomach cramps and her heart would race. She felt clumsy and was always dropping things. It was worst when she had her period. The blood reminded her of the first time, and she still felt like she might die and wondered if it might not be better if she did. She tried to explain to him at these times and hoped he would leave her alone, but usually it didn’t work.
At times she noticed him making eyes at her little sister, Mere, who was now eight. She wondered if it was happening to her but told herself she was imagining it. Recently though, he was being really nice to Mere and the thought wouldn’t go away.
The thought of telling started coming back into her mind, but how could she tell after all this time? Would people say she was stupid? Would anyone believe her now? If she didn’t tell, would he start doing it to Mere as well? Maybe he had already started.
