Gang Girl

by Nancy Miller

  “No, that’s the Master,” someone called out. “Let’s hear how she is going to save the world.”

  “I saw her on YouTube. She’s wild,” another shouted.

  “What is it thou wants, oh Master?” A boy fell to his knees and pretended to grovel.

  The mockery was not lost on Master. But she went with the script anyway. “I want to save the world from cruelty, homelessness, abuse, and neglect,” she said. But the power of the previous video was missing. And she forgot that her low, distinctive voice could be recognized. A couple of girls whispered and pointed.

  Someone in the crowd jumped on the stage and grabbed a mic. “Ladies and gentlemen, I present the Master. She was just telling everyone that she is going to save the world. Check it out. It’s on a video of her that is being replayed on the all-news station.”

  When they looked at the posted video on their phones, the crowd saw the clip Sasha had shot of Master. But there was nothing about homeless teen girls. All it showed was Master cracking her whip and crowing, “I am the Master. Watch for more!”

  On the stage, Master held her arms in the air and swung her whip.

  The crowd went wild. But instead of cheering, they were laughing and booing.

  “The saviour — like Jesus Christ or Buddha?”

  “Master? More like disaster!”

  “Love your outfit. Didn’t I see you at Milly’s strip club?”

  “No!” shouted Master. Her voice was getting more unsure by the minute. “I can lead you to do more. Follow me and we’ll help those whom the world rejects.”

  “Hey, wait,” shouted one girl. “She sounds like Martha. Martha, what are you doing up there?”

  Master could see that she was being ridiculed, not adored. She tried to get the crowd back, but the fury was gone. All that was left was defeat.

  Finally, security guards made their way through the mayhem and grabbed her. She collapsed in their hold and was dragged off the stage.

  The crowd kept booing and laughing. But soon they remembered what they were there for and started calling for the real show. After a few minutes, BB walked slowly onto the stage. She just stood there until the audience went silent.

  “You’re here to see a show — a great show,” she started.

  There was cheering and calls for “let’s do it!”

  “And you will see a great show,” BB went on. “But I’d like to take a moment to ask you not to mock Martha. We’ve all known her for a long time — some of us since grade seven. To us, the CREW, she is Master. Over the years, she has watched over strays like us, even though her own life has been completely unstable and wretched.”

  BB’s voice rose. “She’s been under a lot of stress lately. So her methods are maybe a little off the wall. But the message is real. Superior girls can save the world,” she shouted.

  Sasha held her breath. She listened to the silence that stretched to the back of the gym. Come on. Come on! she thought.

  Suddenly, the place erupted with cheers and applause. Programs were thrown in the air and the stomping began again. There were no boos, no laughing this time.

  Sasha let out her breath and cheered with the others. BB left the stage and the screen flipped back to the concert.

  Chapter 19

  Family First

  Master was arrested for disturbing the peace. While she was waiting to get out on bail, the CREW met one more time — this time in Sasha’s home. The gang’s loyalty to Master was quickly forgotten. They turned to Sasha as their leader. Fringe and Zorro started to present ideas to her for more scams and more crimes.

  But Sasha didn’t want it. She wanted to get out. She not only needed to stop herself from committing more crimes, but also to rid herself of the temptation. She’d always protested against doing the things Martha demanded. But she knew she was open to creative chances to use her computer skills. She knew sticking with the CREW would pull her in again.

  Fringe gave a report on their secret account. “We have more than fifty thousand dollars in our account. Should we split it?” she asked hopefully.

  Sasha watched the reactions. Zorro raised her eyebrows in interest. BB looked at Sasha for guidance. “What about you, Sage?” BB asked.

  “I don’t want any part of that money,” said Sasha. “And my name is Sasha, not Sage. If we’re smart, we’ll all go back to our real names. We need to get back to reality.”

  “About the money, though,” Sasha went on. “My portion goes to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.”

  “But . . .” Frances whined. Sasha cut her off with a shrug.

  “I suggest letting it all go and giving it to our causes — the Humane Societies and groups that provide support to homeless girls. Then we can all start fresh with no suspicious money tied to us. And no ties to Master — or Fringe, or Zorro, or BB. Or Sage. I can make sure any connections to the frauds disappear.”

  Anzuela smirked. “Do we give the pervs back their money?”

  “No!” shouted Frances. “Not that. They deserved that. Give their portion to the dogs.”

  Everyone laughed.

  ***

  Two weeks after the last CREW meeting, Jake and Sasha ran into each other outside of school. They had cooled it for so long they found it hard to know what to say. After the outing of Master on the school stage, Sasha felt she owed Jake an explanation. She knew it might turn him off forever. But she had to tell the truth. Sasha confessed to the cybercrimes. She also admitted that she was the one who took down the CREW.

  Standing on the street corner, Jake said, “That sounds good for you, Sasha. I’m happy for you. But I have to tell you, I need some time to sort out my feelings for you. And to figure out what I think about your extracurricular skills and the trouble they could get you into.”

  Attracted as Sasha still was to Jake, she understood. She told him she would give him whatever space he needed. “You know where to reach me,” she said.

  And her world slowly went back to normal.

  After a week Jake texted: Can we meet? Camp Café at 4 p.m.?

  Sasha immediately sent back: Yes!

  After an awkward greeting, Sasha asked Jake how he’d been doing. She knew the school had just won a citywide basketball tournament, and she was excited to focus on him, on ordinary life.

  But when she tried to talk about it, Jake interrupted. “Well, mostly I’ve been thinking about you.”

  Sasha’s voice caught in her throat. “Me?” she croaked.

  “Yeah,” he said, “maybe we could start fresh. I mean — not forgetting everything that has happened. But getting past it. What do you think?”

  Sasha took his hand and smiled. “Yes.” Maybe Jake could go back to seeing Sasha the way he first saw her — as a smart, beautiful girl who was looking for friends in a new country.

  But Sasha kept thinking about Master — or Martha. She wondered if she was okay. Master might have been bad, or even evil. But Martha had been a huge influence in Sasha’s first months in Canada. Sasha talked herself into the idea that seeing Martha would bring closure for her. She had to see her former adversary face-to-face one more time.

  Martha was living in a halfway house for people who had broken the law. As the cab brought Sasha to the front doors, she couldn’t help but compare the place to the seniors’ residence. Inside there was a hint of lemon, but no pee and vegetables. Sasha was grateful that Martha was somewhere like this. It was likely nicer than anywhere Martha had ever lived.

  To Sasha’s surprise, Martha greeted her with a hug. But she pulled back quickly. “Hey,” Martha said. “Come on, we can talk outside.”

  As always, Martha took the lead. Sasha followed her to a garden where people were strolling and sitting on benches. It was like a public park. Martha walked over to a bench out of the sun and sat down. She was wearing a thin grey hoodie and faded jeans. Gone
were the uniform and the Master costume.

  Sasha wondered how to start. What should she say? “Master . . .” Sasha began.

  “Oh, please.” Master waved her hand. “It’s Martha. That Master stuff is over.”

  “Okay, Martha. I didn’t know whether to come or not. I didn’t know if you’d want to see me after all we’ve been through. Like . . . I mean, I don’t even know what to say to you now that we’re here.”

  Martha just sat there looking at the trees and plants. Finally she said in her smoky voice, “You know, Sage, you and I aren’t so different. I know you felt the high as much as I did. Even though you always said you did it to get out of a tight spot.”

  Sasha reminded herself: Manipulation. Watch out. She would not be sucked in again.

  “I’m glad you’re out of that life,” said Sasha. “I am too. But I think we’re very different. We don’t have the same need for the thrill. I’m making new friends — real friends who see me for myself. I’m going to a new school in the fall too.” She stood up. “And I’m sorry, but I won’t be back.”

  Martha’s pretty face dropped. Then she stood up too. “Well, my probation says I can’t spend time with any members of the CREW, so I took a chance here. I appreciate your coming, though.”

  She gave a little finger wave and left the garden.

  On the way home Sasha thought about the visit. Was Martha right? Would Sasha’s need to push the limits allow her to straighten up? Her crimes did escalate once she got to Canada. Was her connection to the CREW important to her because she needed new friends? Or because as a gang they lived on the edge?

  Well, Sasha thought, a new year, a new school and new friends will bring what it will bring. In the end she decided she was ready for a change.

  Sasha’s dad was arriving that weekend. And he had a new position that would keep him in Canada. Sasha’s mother had announced proudly: “I will be the wife of the next Russian consul in Toronto.” As usual, it was all about her.

  Sasha realized she really wanted to see her father. When Sasha Skyped with him, he said, “You’ve done well, kotyonok moya. And for that I will give you a nice little city car to get back and forth from your new school.”

  Sasha felt a bit guilty about her year of crime. She protested, “But Papa, I don’t need that. I always take the bus. Besides, I haven’t done that well.”

  “Alexandra Asinov,” he said. When he used her full name, it was serious. “I know you are not an angel. Neither am I. But I’m coming to Canada to be different. Maybe all of us can start fresh together. It was a mistake to separate the family. We need each other for support. So it’s to make sure you can get home every day. And to let you go and come freely with my confidence that you will do the right thing. I want you to have the car.”

  Sasha could feel the tears starting to bubble in her eyes. “I love you, Papa. And I’ll make you proud.”

  Sasha and her mother visited Sasha’s new private girls’ school on Mount Pleasant Road. Sasha thought it was okay. The uniforms and rules were a little stiff. But the admissions staff had heard about her computer skills and offered her a job setting up a computer course for the senior girls. It was a little scary. Was Sasha the best person to be in charge of computers and other girls?

  On the other hand, she thought it might be what she needed. This could help her to completely rid herself of the CREW. If ordinary friends needed ordinary computer help, she could give it. And who said a gang had to be involved in crime?

  Acknowledgements

  First and foremost, I acknowledge the support of my husband, Bob, who is always there for me. I also thank Ontario Arts Council who provided the means for me to get my first traditionally published book out there.

  I also want to thank my editor, Kat Mototsune, for her guidance and assistance. She was always patient with me and I do appreciate it.

  NANCY MILLER has been writing stories for children and young adults for ten years. She has conducted in-school courses, focus groups and other research with teens on social issues such as sexuality, substance abuse and newcomer integration. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

  Copyright © 2018 by Nancy Miller

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers acknowledges funding support from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), an agency of the Government of Ontario. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada and with the support of the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

  We acknowledge the [financial] support of the Government of Canada.

  Nous reconnaissons l’appui [financier] du gouvernement du Canada.

  Cover design: Shabnam Safari

  Cover image: iStock

  Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

  Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

  Miller, Nancy, 1943-, author Gang girl / Nancy Miller.

  (SideStreets)

  ISBN 978-1-4594-1288-0 (softcover).--ISBN 978-1-4594-1289-7 (EPUB)

  I. Title. II. Series: SideStreets

  PS8626.I4527G36 2018 jC813’.6 C2017-906497-5 C2017-906498-3

  This digital edition first published in 2018 as 978-1-4594-1289-7

  Originally published in 2018 as 978-1-4594-1288-0

  James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers

  117 Peter St, Suite 304

  Toronto, Ontario

  M5V 0M3

  www.lorimer.ca