Narration Room: November 2010

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 6 Page 1

"An-nie?" Carrie called as she creaked her little sister's room door open, "You're decent, are you?"

Seated at her desk, Annie rolled her eyes upwards. Second Sis could not have been so traumatized by the morning's incident with her and Sabine. Her friend had already left and Annie was studying on her own. "Yes, Sis, I'm dressed."

"Oh, good." Second Sis slipped into the room with several shopping bags. "Check out the new scarf I got today. Matches my hair, yes?"

Annie glanced at the orange scarf with red trimming that Second Sis held out. Wrapped around her sister's neck, it would indeed add a little flame at the base of her sister's yellow hair. "That's nice, Sis. You went shopping today?"

"Yes." Second Sis took out a small oblong box. "I've also got that dumbbell you wanted."

Annie got out of her chair and accepted the box. "You didn't have to buy one, you could've given me one of your old ones."

Second Sis stuffed the orange scarf back into her shopping bag. "I think they're all too heavy for you."

"You think so? This one looks so small."

Second Sis pointed at the box in Annie's hands. "Try that and see."

Annie took the dumbbell out of the box with her right hand and pumped. One. Two. "Doesn't seem heavy."

Second Sis nodded as she watched. "Uh huh."

Three. Four. "See, it's so..." Annie suddenly found that her arm would not move. "Hey, it's suddenly so heavy." She put the dumbbell down and massaged her strained arm.

"Thought so. You're too weak for any of mine. Why'd you suddenly want one?"

"Because I'm weak."

"Or because you're tired of me pushing you around." Carrie patted her sister's head. Then she lifted a lock of black hair to examine. "Annie, when's the last time you've gone to the salon?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Your hair needs work." Carrie released Annie's hair. "Okay, we're going to get our hair done one day after school next week."

"Sis, I'm busy with studying," Annie protested.

"You're going, Annie," Second Sis decided, "I can't have my sister looking like a tumbleweed."

Annie looked at her rough hair in the mirror. She twirled a some of it around her finger. "Fine. We go get our hair done - and only that."

"Great!" Second Sis smiled. She glanced at the science textbook on the desk that Annie had been reading. "It's only the start of the semester. What's there to read?"

"Last semester's work," Annie replied.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 5 Page 5

The plump girl turned away again. "Er... because you were so shy after gym...so..."

"Me? Shy?"

"Well, you used to be..." Sabine floundered, "before the... then you..."

"Don't worry about that," Annie told her.

Annie changed into the dress, paying careful attention to the bodice. The dress fit perfectly and it was comfortable. She liked the soft touch of the fabric on her skin.

"You'll need accessories," Sabine pointed out.

They checked the boxes of accessories on the dressing table. There were more in the cupboards. One after another of the accessories was applied to Annie. They tried bracelets and gloves. They tried hairpins, clips and ribbons. They also tried different shoes and handbags. It was pretty fun looking for the perfect combination of accessories to complement the red dress. But as time went by, the girls started feeling drowsy and it was time to sleep.

They shared the bed, with Annie taking the side next to the wall.

It was close to dawn when Annie sleepily opened her eyes. Remembering her guest, she turned to see that she was alone on the bed.

Clued by the position of the duvet, which was drooping over the edge, she peeked and found Sabine asleep on the floor. Annie carefully got out of bed with one of her pillows. Just after she lifted Sabine's head and placed the pillow under, the brown-haired girl muttered something unintelligible. Probably German.

Annie pulled up the duvet. She stopped when she heard Sabine mutter, "No... Don't..."

A nightmare?

The girl turned in her sleep. "An-nie..." Sabine moaned.

A perverted nightmare? No, shy Sabine would not dream of that, would she?

Annie forcefully cleared her mind. She covered her friend with the duvet. Then she took out a coat from her closet to blanket herself with and returned to bed.

***

Morning came.

Annie was drying Sabine's damp hair in the steamy bathroom. The plump girl sighed contently. "I'm jealous that you've sisters you can do this with."

"Actually, we don't do it," Annie told her.

Sabine turned her head towards Annie. "What? Why not?"

At that moment, the bathroom door opened and Second Sis entered. She froze in the middle of a yawn when she saw the girls. She stabbed a finger at them. "You're both naked!"

Carrie jumped out of the bathroom and started to close the door. "At least lock the door next time!" she shouted before slamming the door shut.

"That is why I don't have showers with my sisters," Annie explained to Sabine.

***

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 5 Page 4

Soon after, the girls were clean and dressed in pajamas. Second Sis' pajamas were a little big for Sabine, so she had her sleeves and pant legs rolled up.

"I still don't feel like sleeping yet," Annie said.

"What do you want to do?" Sabine asked.

Annie looked around her room. Her gaze fell on her closet. "Want to play dress up?"

Sabine shrugged. "All right."

Annie took out a floral dress and held it in front of her as she stood before her mirror. "How's this?"

"Looks good for summer."

Annie passed the dress to her friend. "Here, you try."

Sabine posed before the mirror with the dress. "It's too short for me. My panties will seen."

They went through each dress in the closet. All the dresses were too small for Sabine. Annie even found one that she herself had outgrown.

"Annie, what's that?" Sabine asked as she pointed at the flat bag hanging at the end of the closet.

"I'm not sure." Annie opened the bag. "Ah, I forgot about this!" She took out the red bare-shouldered dress.

Sabine quietly admired the dress as she sat on the carpeted floor. "Wow, it's beautiful. Can I touch it?"

"Sure. Your hand is clean, is it?"

Sabine wiped her hand on her pajamas as she got up. Then she ran her fingers reverently over the smooth glossy fabric of the dress.

Annie held the dress up before her. She smoothed out the skirt, then posed for her friend to see. Sabine's eyes grew beady with admiration.

"Let's see how you look in this," Annie suggested as she tried to pass the dress.

"No," Sabine refused, "It's too small for me. My breasts will spill out."

"You mean your bra."

Sabine inspected the bodice of the dress. "I think you're not supposed to wear a bra with this. Not that you need one." She blushed when she realized what she had just said.

Annie ignored the unintended insult. "I'm going to try this on," she decided as she started on her pajama buttons.

"I'd love to see you in it," Sabine agreed as she turned around.

Annie stopped. "Sabine, you're not a prude, are you?"

"A what?" Sabine asked, confused.

"You don't have anything against nudity, do you?"

Sabine turned her head a little towards Annie. "Actually, no."

"Then why are you looking away?"

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 5 Page 3

Mother made roast beef for dinner.

Father complimented her cooking, of course. Big Sis ate courteously while Annie and Sabine remained mostly silent.

Most of the talking were done by Mother and Second Sis. Just the two of them provided all the mealtime entertainment along with enlightenment about current fashion trends, school and workplace gossips, and engineering heroics. Being the only engineer present, Mother was the only one who understood anything about that last subject. Everyone else simply nodded and glowed with false admiration.

The girls would have returned to studying immediately after dinner had Mother not suggested that they rest awhile. Mother had said that it was easier to digest what they had studied if they took a break now and then, to which Big Sis agreed.

Annie and Sabine sat beside each other on the sofa in the living room. Big Sis was also there, seated on one of the comfort chairs and reading a magazine. Father was doing the dishes with Carrie and Mother was upstairs.

The little girl glanced around the living room for something she could do with her friend. "Magazines?" Annie suggested, gesturing at the magazine rack.

"Not really my interest," Sabine replied.

"TV?"

"We may get engrossed and spend too much time."

"True. Books?"

"Same reason. Engrossing."

Annie thought for a moment. "Let's just sit here."

"All right."

Still seated on the same chair, Marie felt two pairs of teenage eyes on her, for she was the only subject of interest in the room. She swallowed, slowly replaced the magazine in the rack then fled upstairs.

Annie and Sabine continued staring at the vacated seat. "Study?" Annie finally suggested.

"All right."

Thus began the night study session. The session was productive and as a result, Annie grew more competent with high school Maths. Slightly over two hours later, they reached a point where Annie's mind just refused to accept any more information.

"I think we should stop for today," Sabine suggested.

"Yeah, you're right," Annie agreed tiredly.

Sabine looked down at her clothes. "Oh dear."

"You've nothing to wear," Annie noted, "I can lend you my pajamas."

"I think they'll be too small for me."

Annie got to her feet. "I'll borrow something from Second Sis. Do you want a shower?"

"Yes, please."

"I'll get you a towel and some toiletries too."

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 5 Page 2

Friday came.

Annie and her friend were in Mother's car, on the way home from school. Mother in the driver's seat asked, "Sabine, you're German, right?"

"Yes, Mrs Billings," Sabine replied from the back seat.

"Were you born here or in Germany?"

"Here, Mrs Billings. My parents moved here before I was born."

"Because you're here since you're born, you'd be more a local than a German, don't you think?"

Sabine thought for a moment. "Both my parents are Germans, so I'm one."

"Yes, but you've been exposed to the local culture since birth," Mother argued, "You've been through everything anyone born in this country goes through. I'm sure this makes you act more like one of us."

"Mother," Annie interrupted, "You're arguing that a person's race is based on her upbringing, that the environment that she is brought up in influences her person. This in turn influences her speech, habits and beliefs, things you're saying determines a person's race.

"On the other hand, Sabine is saying race is based simply on ancestry. That is, one's parents' race determines a girl's race."

"Excellent summary," Mother complimented, "So who do you think is right?"

"I don't know," Annie replied, "I'm waiting for class to tell me."

"In that case, as the wisest and as the only person who's completed school present, I shall decide," Mother declared, "And I say that I am definitely right."

Both girls groaned inwardly. Unfortunately, there was no one to protest the unfair judgment to.

A few quiet moments passed before Mother spoke again. "Sabine, would you like to stay for dinner?"

"Um... no.. I shouldn't impose on you."

"Why don't you stay, Sabine?" Annie spoke up, "We'll have more time to study."

"It's really fine," Mother added, "besides you'll be helping Annie a lot."

"I'll stay, then," Sabine decided.

When they reached home, Mother excused herself. "We have a guest and it's one of the rare times your Dad is home, so I want to make dinner special tonight," she had said.

As they climbed the stairs, Sabine glanced at the plastic flowers in the vase at the base of the stairs, the pictures on the walls and the wallpaper with soothing colors. "Your house is so beautiful," she said, "it must be nice living here."

She was also amazed with Annie's room. "Wow, your room is so big." Sabine spun a complete circle and saw everything in the room. She bent to stroke the stuffed toy cat on the bed.

Annie opened her bag and took out her Maths textbook. "Let's get started."

"All right," Sabine agreed, "Do you want to start with today's homework?"

"I think it's pointless if I don't understand it."

"I guess you're right," Sabine agreed, "Do you have your mid-school textbook? We should make sure you know the basics."

It was fortunate that Annie did know the basics. That meant that the mountain she had to climb was not as high as she had initially feared. After a few hours under Sabine's tutelage, Annie was beginning to feel more confident about Maths. However, it was soon time for dinner and they still had much to cover.

"Stay the night, please," Annie implored, "We can study some more after dinner and tomorrow morning."

Sabine flipped through the Maths textbook and sighed. "If you want me to."

"Please do."

"I'll have to call my parents. Can I borrow a phone?"

Annie retrieved her handphone from her handbag. She checked it before handing it over. "Use mine. I'll go tell Mother."

***

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 5 Page 1

"Hey, Annie," the tall redhead Connie greeted as she came over to Sabine's desk, where Annie was having a conversation with the bespectacled girl, "What do you say you, me and Sabine go out this weekend and catch a movie?"

"I can't," Annie replied, "I have a lot of studying to do."

Connie threw her hands up. "It's the beginning of the semester! What's there to study?" she asked.

Annie looked down at her Maths paper on the desk, which had a big red D at the corner. "Everything, it seems."

"Ah, whatever," Connie sighed with a dismissive wave of her hand. She wandered away in search of a more interesting conversation, likely one that did not involve schoolwork.

Sabine picked up Annie's Maths paper and scanned through it quickly. She shook her head. "You are a mess."

"Thanks," Annie said dryly, "Oh yeah, congratulations on getting an A for Maths."

"Thank you," Sabine accepted the compliment modestly.

"So can you help me?"

"You're a mess," Sabine repeated, "We already know you're weak with algebra. We'll have to cover everything. Umm... say, Annie, what's eight times seven?"

"Fifty-four."

Sabine glanced sharply at Annie.

"Oh, sorry, fifty-six," Annie corrected herself before Sabine passed out from holding her breath. Her friend would probably abandon her to the demons of Maths if Annie did not even know the multiplication table. In fact, Annie should probably give up if that was the case.

Sabine adjusted her spectacles. "This is going to take a lot of time."

"I expected that much." Annie sighed. "Maybe you should come to my house this Friday after school."

"No, I can't possibly impose on you."

"Please," Annie pleaded, "It won't be any trouble. You'll be helping me a lot."

Sabine thought for a moment. "All right," she agreed finally.

"Thank you, thank you very much." Annie squeezed Sabine's hand in gratitude.

***

Friday, November 26, 2010

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 4 Page 2

"But Annie, you've always passed without any trouble." Second Sis stroked the girl's black hair. "You'll pass this one too, I'm sure."

Annie remained quiet, unconvinced.

"Look, let's look at your past exams," Second Sis suggested, "Where do you keep them?"

Annie thought for a moment. Then she pointed at the drawer at the bottom of one of her cupboards.

Second Sis sat on the carpeted floor next to the cupboard. She opened the drawer and took out a few exam papers and academic transcripts. Flipping through them, she said, "See? You passed everything."

Annie went to sit beside her sister. She took a few of the papers and looked at the first. It was a middle-school exam paper that was graded C. The next was also a C. The third, D. A transcript she read had Cs and Ds with a single B for English. The more papers she saw, the more her hands trembled.

Yes, Second Sis was right that she had passed everything - there was not a single F. But she saw many Cs. There were quite a number of Ds too and the occasional B. Then she found her middle school report card.

This could not be true. She could not be this stupid.

Second Sis looked at her. "Annie?"

The report card in her little hands fell onto the floor. Annie ran out of the room and went straight for Big Sis' door. Leaning against the door frame, she knocked until Marie opened the door. Annie looked up at her eldest sister as her tears started to flow again.

Big Sis looked once at Carrie, who had followed behind. Then she pulled Annie into the room. She closed the door and guided Annie to her bed. Sitting beside the little girl, she asked, "What's wrong? Did Carrie bully you?"

Annie shook her head and sat in silence. A minute passed before she could admit, "I'm stupid. I couldn't do my exams." She blinked a few times. "Big Sis," she whispered, "I don't think I can do high school."

"Annie, you're worried about school?" Big Sis asked gently.

The little girl nodded. "I'm a failure. I'm probably going to be a dropout."

"You're not a failure." Big Sis brushed Annie's tears. "Annie, you haven't been studying. That's why you're having trouble with your exams. If you work hard, I'm sure you'll do better."

The little girl looked up at her sister. "I can... do well?"

Big Sis smiled encouragingly. "Of course."

Annie buried herself in the comfort of Big Sis' soft chest. Marie stiffened in surprise at the little girl's sudden move. A moment passed before the older sister awkwardly laid a comforting hand on her younger sibling.

***

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 4 Page 1

Death had come for Annie.

Well, not really. Death had other business elsewhere and could not be bothered with a little girl. In its place instead, there was something else to torment her: the dreaded End of Semester Examinations!

Annie had just struggled through a week of catch-up work, where she discovered weaknesses in numerous subjects. And now, the semester exams had sneaked up on her to deliver the finishing blow.

Exams, so soon after her return from the hospital. So unfair!

The first subject was English. Well, that was not too bad. Annie was pretty confident about her English. That was until it was announced at the very last minute that the English exam was delayed because of some technical error. To her horror, the dreaded Mathematics stepped up to be her first challenger, or rather, tormentor.

The very first question of the Maths exam, of all possible, had to be: basic algebra. With its big brother, quadratic equations, as question number two. A great one-two punch to start the exams with.

So, how was she to solve this equation again? Maybe she should try the next question... Maybe the next one after that. And the next. Got the answer for question fourteen. She should redo it, just to be sure. Ack, a different answer!? It was maths! How could she end up with two different answers!?

And why was time up before she could finish all of the questions?

Next up, finally, was English. Well, English was far from the nightmare that maths was. She hoped. The compositions to write were seemingly endless, though. There was still more to write on this last one, if only her hand would move. Move! Writing hand, move! Argh, her hand just refused to write anymore. Maybe she could use the other hand to lend it strength. It was awkward writing with both hands on a single pen but she managed a few words. They were even legible.

What!? Time was up?

Science was after the morning break. It would not be too bad if her mind had not gone blank on the first question. And the next. And the next. And the second one after that. And over half the remaining questions. And what language was this question in? Latin?

At night on the last day of three days of examinations, Annie was back home, in her room, with her head planted on her desk.

There was a knock on the door and Second Sis burst into the room. "Hey, Annie! Tomorrow, let's go... Annie?" When her younger sister did not reply, Carrie went over and picked Annie up for a look at her face.

Annie looked back with red eyes.

"Annie, have you been crying?"

The little girl nodded and rubbed her eyes.

Concern reflected on the middle sister's face. "What's wrong?"

"I'm stupid," Annie admitted.

"What do you mean?"

"The exams." Annie hung her head. "I can't answer the questions. I can't do them."

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 3 Page 4

An evening of toiling on her homework and even more struggling after dinner had drained Annie. She truly needed a break. But it was already late and if she took a break, there would be no more time for homework. However, she just could not write anymore, learn anymore, think anymore. The amount of work she had left to do was depressing.

Mother had gone to bed early, having to rise up early for her morning shift at the power plant. Father was on his business trip. And Second Sis, who had avoided her the entire day, was now in her room.

Was Second Sis still angry?

Annie decided that she wanted a drink of water before getting ready for bed. She packed up her homework and went downstairs.

In the living room, she saw Big Sis reading an entertainment magazine on the sofa. With her troubles on her mind, she decided to sit beside her sister. "Big Sis," Annie started, "I've got so much homework."

"You've been away for a while," Big Sis replied without looking away from her magazine, "It's to be expected."

A minute passed in silence before Annie voiced her true concern, "Big Sis, do you think Second Sis likes me?"

"Of course she does," Big Sis replied, "Why do you ask?"

"She was so angry this morning and we haven't spoken since."

"Oh, she's like that." Big Sis flipped a page. "She'll calm down tomorrow."

Annie turned to her sister. "But why is she so angry? It can't be just because of missing her morning shower."

Big Sis looked at her. "I think she's having trouble accepting you as you are now. You two are very close."

"Even closer than you and I?"

"Even closer than us." Big Sis continued reading her magazine.

Annie took a deep breath. "Big Sis, am I so different from before."

"You certainly act differently," Big Sis admitted quietly, "But you're still my little sister."

Annie sighed. "Do you like me as I am now?"

There was a pause before Big Sis whispered a reply. "Yes, Annie."

Annie leaned against her sister's shoulder, rubbing her cheek in the warm, soft fabric of Big Sis' sweater. So comfortable. "I can only talk to you about my problems."

Big Sis laid her magazine down and stared down at the coffee table. "Yes, you can," she said softly.

Annie dug her face once more into her sister's arm. Then she stood up. "I should go sleep," she decided. She got herself a cup of water and returned to her room.

It was five minutes after Annie had left before Marie picked up her magazine again. She replaced it in the magazine rack and went upstairs.

***

Gloriously Messed-up Chapter 3 Page 3

At lunch time, Annie was standing in the cafeteria with the lunch box from home, a box of juice from the vending machine and a head full of worry from the morning classes. She briefly wondered what that reporter-wannabe was going to write in the student paper but decided that it was not worth assigning worry-time to.

She had more important concerns, like the increasing amount of homework.

Annie spotted Second Sis buying lunch from a vendor. She imagined herself buying food for lunch and suddenly remembered that she herself usually bought lunch in school. Looking down at the unicorn of her pink lunch box, Annie decided not to sit with Carrie to avoid her sister's game of pointing out her incorrect habits.

Connie was nowhere to be seen. However, she did find her classmate Sabine sitting on her own. Annie remembered the plump girl quite clearly, so she had to be someone close.

"Sabine," Annie greeted as she sat opposite her classmate.

Sabine twitched in surprise. Then she adjusted her spectacles and put on a little smile. "Hi, Annie." The girl had her brown hair woven into a single long braid. In front of her was her lunch of baked potato and beans. "Um, how's your first day back?"

Annie sighed as she started on her sandwiches. "I'm tired. I've a lot of homework to catch up on. I've got a ton of reading for history. I've got last week's homework and essay for English. And maths... I don't understand quadratic equations!"

"At least you don't have anything for gym class," Sabine offered in support. Then she shrank back when Annie glared at her. After a moment of eating in silence, the braided girl offered, "Do you want to... copy my homework?"

"That's thoughtful of you." Annie smiled grimly. "But there's nothing to copy for history. And for English, well, we can't both hand in the same essay. The exercises are easy, so it may be faster for me to tough it out rather than to copy. There's just a lot of it. Don't worry about it, it's my problem."

Sabine appeared relieved at the last statement. Then concern appeared on her face again. "What about maths?"

"Maths is the problem," Annie admitted, "I... don't think I can copy your homework. It'll be pointless if I don't understand. I don't even know where to start."

The sudden intrusion of a memory from the past brought some hope to Annie. She looked straight at Sabine. "You're good in maths, aren't you?"

"Yes," Sabine admitted modestly.

"Can you teach me?"

"If you want," the other girl replied softly.

"Will you?" Annie was grateful. "Thank you very much. I've got half-an-hour after school before Mother picks me up. Are you free then? Is that enough time?"

"I'll try to explain the basics, at least show you where to start, then we'll see."

Thus, Annie found a friend in school she could turn to for help. That was one less worry for her.

However, the tutorial session with Sabine after school was not as productive as Annie had hoped. Through the maths exercises Sabine had her do, they discovered that Annie's foundation was weak. Annie was not even familiar with basic algebra, the prerequisite to quadratic equations in maths class.

When Mother came to pick her up, Annie left for home with an even heavier burden on her mind.

***