• Cautiously sitting on the edge of a large, plush, white armchair i quietly scan the small warm room. In front of me Angelina,and Patsy sit comfortably on a long white couch,to busy playing Parcheesi to notice my gaze.Angelina laughs in victory and teases patsy about her uncanny ability to remain the loser for twelve games straight. To the right of me is a small dark wood side table and upon the table is a cold glass of water,sweating in the heat of the room. In the back corner of the room is a large mahogany desk that shines in the low light and behind that desk sits head master Silous, who has her nose buried in a thick textbook. I soundlessly shuffle my feet back and forth a bit to feel the soft carpet beneath my toes. I look up again at Angelina to see her staring right back at me with the saddest expression in her eyes even though her mouth is smiling. I shyly smile back and avert my eyes to my hands. I pretend to be content while studying my non existent cuticles. I trace every curve,indent, and groove on my left hand, then repeat the process again on my right hand. Something warm grabs my freezing right hand from my left one and pats it. I look up in time to see Angelina puling her hand away from me while turning back to Patsy.
    For what seems like forever I watch Angelina and Patsy talk about the daily gossip, whom had kissed whom or whoever. they examine each others perfectly glossy nail polish and compliment each others meticulous hairstyles. Its Patsy who notices my long uncomfortable glare first "oh, Jane, i didn't notice you. maybe you should make yourself more....noticeable?" her long blond hair bounces as she tries to hold back a giggle," I simply adore how you styled your hair today". She thinks I cant tell it was a sarcastic comment but I can see the smile in her eyes, I don't dare reply. I frantically look to Angelina for help. Her eyes hold sympathy yet she smiles and whispers to Patsy "don't you think her bangs are just ridiculous?" just loud enough for me to over hear. The two of them begin to laugh as loud as they possibly can,falling all over each other and gripping at their sides. Hoping head master silous would be disturbed by all of this nonsense i watch her for movement, yet she doesn't seem to notice the girls outburst.
    Frustrated that i had not defended myself i quickly rise from the chair and silently stride out of the room, trying to leave the terrible two behind. Finding the swings empty i sit in the middle one and kick my feet around in the dirt. A small breeze catches my attention. The cool air is a relief on my hot prickly skin. I take in a deep breath of the fresh outdoor air, and study a near by oak tree.It is almost fall, as the leaves are starting to turn, I watch the red, golden, and brown leaves rustle slowly as a small squirrel scampers hurriedly down the west side of the tree. A small noise brings me back to life. I turn to catch a glimpse of Angelina quietly sitting in the swing to the left of me. comforted by her presence i smile and wave slowly yet her face dose not smile back and her eyes look worried. After a few seconds i finally realize why as I fearfully turn to the right of me, and sitting confidently on the old blue swing identical to mine is Patsy.
    Her harsh gaze turns my insides to jelly and my hands begin to shake. "Maybe you should learn you cant hide from your problems Jane. they will always find you, no mater how hard long or well you hide." she smiles and carelessly flicks half of her shiny blond hair behind her shoulder. My heart screamed to do something, to stand up and defend myself, yet my brain simply said to do nothing at all, because if i do nothing hopefully they will get bored and go away. This is never the case. Patsy continues to insult me. I'm not listening but i see her mouth moving.Her eyes hold my gaze, not allowing me to look away from my own humiliation.
    A loud bell sounds in my ears as a group of rowdy children spill out into the fenced in yard. several small children look interested in the swings but none dare approach them whilst a miserable soul like me is occupying them. I ignore Patsy's ridiculing prattle as i watch a small girl with knee length hair and a pink dress approaches me with curiosity in her eyes. Knowing she would laugh if she saw me being humiliated without trying to help myself i stand up from the cold swing and pivot so that i am facing both Angelina and Patsy. My brain signals to sit down and not open my mouth yet my heart forces my mouth open as it all pours out "Patsy this is the last time i will allow you to insult my vary being.It is not your place to decide how worthwhile of a human i am and quite frankly i think you are ignorant and evil spirited." I let out a small gasp and quickly shut my mouth realizing what i just said would just cause Patsy to continue being mean.Angelina smiles, rises from her swing and begins to clap. Patsy lowers her gaze and bows her head as if in shame.
    The small girl tugs on my skirt and waits for me to turn around. " who are you talking to?" she quietly asks, as if she is afraid of the answer. I smile my most charming smile and reply " my friends, Patsy and Angelina." The small girl's big blue eyes grow in shock and she steps back shaking her head. Frowning i ask "whats the matter, they wont hurt you." the girl continues to slink away from me as she quietly replies "but how? there is no one here but you and me" . I helplessly watch as her slow walk turns into an all out sprint to get away from me. I couldn't say anything, it was the reason my mother had forced me to come here to this dreary place. At first I refused the idea completely, but she smiled and placed her hand on my shoulder, " S.t peters helps all kinds of girls Jane, everyone at S.t peters has a mental disorder, No one will make fun of you and those mean friends of yours will go away with time, isn't this what you want?" I stare at the welcome sigh swinging slowly in the breeze and i re read it for what seems like the hundredth time "S.t peters correctional school for the mentally incapable, girls of all ages welcome, come get the help you need!" The wind picks up and the sign swings faster, making it impossible to read, as Angelina and Patsy place their hands on my shoulders and lead me inside.