Lilly

LILLY

What you got in that cigar box? None of your bizwax thats what. Well
miss smarty pants sit by yourself in the lunchroom see if I care. First
week of School and already an outcast, Lilly expected to be treated
this way. She never got to finish a whole year in the same School not
since her Father died three years ago.

Lilly had no friends, kids thought she was stuck up, nothing could be
farther from the truth. She was afraid to make friends, it hurt too bad
when people left you. She could never bring anyone home with her she
was too ashamed of the way they lived.

Which Uncle would be there today, I hope it's not the drunk loud one
that swings me up in the air and calls me Miss America thought Lily. He
was always sneaking up behind her to see what she was doing. Mama I'm
afraid of him Lilly said. Honey Sammy wouldn't hurt you for nothin, he
has kids of his own.

What you got in that there cigar box? cigars? Sammy said. No said Lilly
grabbing the box and running outside. She had found a special place to
hide when they first moved here. An old rusty barrel with no lid lay on
the ground behind the house. When it got rough inside the house, she
ran out the back door and stayed in the barrel until she thought it was
safe to come out .

The police were at her house a lot to break up fights, and sometime
they took her Mom away. When this happened Lilly could stay in the
house by herself and sleep without having to run outside in the middle
of the night. When she left to go to School she went out the back door
so the nosey neighbors didn't see her and call the authorities.

Her Mom would be back usually the next morning, and tell Lilly how
different it was going to be this time, just you and me kid I'll find a
job and we'll be a family again, I promise baby, you'll see. Lilly had
heard that one too many times to count, in her eight years on this
earth.

She was in a hurry to get to School today, and the man next door was
watering the grass, she waited until he went inside, then ran as fast
as she could. The bell had already rung when Lilly ran down the hall
and into her classroom. Good morning Lilly, nice of you to join us
today.

Lilly smiled at the teacher, she liked this one she was soft spoken,
and kind. The kids in the class were not. She probably forgot her cigar
box and had to go back and get it, someone in the back row said. The
whole class was laughing at her now.

Recess was awful they made you go outside, Lilly grabbed her box, a
book borrowed from the library, and went outside to read. The class
bully James found her soon enough, kicking her shoe to get her
attention. Lilly looked up with fear in her eyes. James liked to see
the fear.

Gimme that box he said, No I won't Lilly said and stood up to run away.
Leave me alone I didn't do anything to you. Well I'm gonna do something
to you if you don't gimme that box. Just then the bell rang and Lilly
ran to the door, she was the first one inside. Breathing hard she sat
down in her seat.

James strolled past her and said in a low voice, I'm getting that box
after school, your givin it up you'll see. Lilly didn't know what to
do, maybe he's kidding. She was afraid to tell the teacher. If I do he
will get me she thought. When the bell rang Lilly ran as fast as she
could go, looking behind her she didn't see James anywhere.

The front door to the house was locked, it was never locked before.
There was a large sign on the door saying locked by order of police.
She ran around the back it was also locked and the windows were nailed
shut. Into the barrel she went, covering herself with a piece of a
blanket she had in case it rained.

Voices, kids all around the barrel, feet kicked at the sides, someone
gave it a shove and it turned over and over. Better come out Lilly we
know your in there. She said nothing and waited, a rock hit the barrel
making a pinging sound, then another, now they were throwing them
inside at her. She was screaming, stop, please stop but they didn't
stop. Blood ran from her nose. Then a brick smashed into her head, the
screaming stopped.

Gimmie the box James said, dragging her out by her feet. Grabbing the
box from her limp hands James and his clan ran into the tall weeds. Far
away from the house. Okay open it James let's see what she had in
there. Crap James said throwing the box down. What is it they said?
Some old dried up flower and a pitcure of her and some old guy in a
uniform Girls are so stupid he said laughing.