Monday, August 22, 2011

Handful of Sand Chapter 27 Page 1

Yet again Sandy was rushing through the last of her weekend homework on a Monday. It was already the morning break and the deadline for the submission of her homework was growing closer.

Well, it was totally not her fault. She had been confined against her will and had spent a considerable part of her weekend locked up in that basement. Then after that, the police had questions for her.

When she had reached home, Momma Lois had a long lecture for her. Her guardian had been very worried when Sandy had not returned on Saturday and had poured all her frustration into that lecture.

All that time, all Sandy had thought about was when she would receive whatever money that was coming her way. That had been until she had realized on Sunday evening that she had yet to start on her homework.

Of course not before a good hour in the bathroom. It had been pure joy to finally be able to have a warm shower and to make good use of a proper toilet. And also to finally be able to brush her teeth. When she had emerged from the bathroom all fresh and clean, it was dinner time.

It was night when she had finally started on homework. And then she had gone to bed early, before she had finished. She had not been able to work while she was tired anyway. Plus, she had not been able to use Momma Lois's CD since her roommate had needed her sleep too. Thus, Sandy had happily gone to sleep.

And that led to her current predicament.

(Incidentally, Ariel had finished her homework on time. She had already completed part of it on the night before her weekend ordeal with Sandy.)

There was the creak of the back door opening, followed by the familiar plea, "Hide me!"

Sandy turned in her seat. It was indeed Saki, the pigtailed Asian girl. Was Annie after her again?

Selina stepped away from her conversation with Esper. She took Saki to her desk and had her sit there. Then the tall girl stood beside the desk, blocking the view from the door. Anyone peeking in would see someone seated at the desk but would not immediately recognize the Asian girl.

Filled with curiosity, Sandy got up and went over to Selina's desk. Esper joined them too.

"Is she after you again?" Sandy asked. Was Annie up to her old habit again?

"Yes," Saki confirmed.

By then, Ariel had decided to join them too.

"Sandy, stand here, please." Selina had the brown-haired girl stand where she had stood. "Keep Saki hidden." Then she went out the back door.

The remaining girls waited silently at the desk.

A short while later, Selina returned. "Are you sure Annie's after you?" she asked the small girl.

"Yes," Saki replied.

"She's just talking to her friend in class," Selina told her.

"I heard her mention my name," Saki said, "I'm not going to risk letting her find me."

Selina glanced at the back door. "Okay, but I don't think she's seriously after you this time."

Saki remained in 9-B, chatting with the girls, until it was almost time for the bell. Then she returned to class. There had been no sign of Annie the whole time.

As Sandy walked back to her desk, she saw her unfinished homework. Well, the teacher would understand that she had been kidnapped over the weekend, would she not?

Unfortunately, it was the terrible Ms Redgrave's homework! Terrible enough that Sandy could not admit to being held against her will, for fear that Ms Redgrave would not believe her.

Ms Redgrave would accept no excuse. Not hospitalization, not even death (for if the student were indeed dead, she would not be able to make the excuse!). And certainly, not kidnapping.

Hellish scolding awaited Sandy at a later date, once her unfinished homework was discovered.

***

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