Member-only story
Tantrum
Pushing her too far was their first mistake. Discovering what she could do was their last.
Lunch time at Grover High could get wild sometimes — too many students, too few teachers. In fact, for all practical purposes, the students were left to their own devices. The teachers who should be on duty, huddled in little coffee klatches here and there along the walls, deep in work gossip and belly-aching about the students, the principal, and public education in general. It was no different on this particular day.
In the center of the room, Madeleine sat, minding her own business, as was her habit. She’d learned long ago that it didn’t pay to engage with others. Her table included several other students who lived outside the in crowds that defined social life in any high school.
The table next to Madeleine’s was one occupied by this year’s batch of popular girls and a couple of male athletes. Prominent among them was Sasha, an insecure human being, who lifted herself up by stepping on others. Today, her attention fell on Madeleine.
“Redheads have no soul, you know,” Sasha said loudly to Beatrice, loudly enough for Madeleine to hear her. “That’s what my uncle says.
“I heard that they’re related to the devil. My gramma told me that.” Beatrice said, looking directly at…
