by Orca Various
Creekside? he says. New years? he says. You have 2 many questions Bunny. All you need to know is north. And north is that way.
He points at the sky. Like the hole world is a map and he is pointing to the top where the north pole is.
That star will always be there and always show north he says. See the way it is at the end of the handle of the little dipper?
I dont know what he is talking about. The star he is pointing at is small. Is he laffing at me? I cant tell.
I say it was nice to meet him and that maybe his son will call soon.
I will listen for him he says. It is how I herd you.
I glide away. The statu outside his house doesnt say anything.
I head down the road a different way from the way I came. There is no lite exept the moon and it is going behind a thick cloud. The road in front of me is hard to see. I look up. Rite over my head I see a little star that culd be Orvils. It is near a couple of other ones in a bendy line. The clouds are getting thicker now but this little star is shining pretty good.
Turns out its my lucky star. I skate to where the road starts to bend and find exactly what I am looking for. My trip is over.
THE CLOUDS GO LOWER.
Mist swirls around me and blocks what I can see. Thats when I almost run into a metal fence I know—the fence that goes around Creekside. This is perfect. I am not used to looking at it from the outside but the fence is the same. It goes strait up and leans in at the top so you cant clime out.
No body is around. There are lites on but no people. I skate over to the gate and nock but no one comes. Funny eh? They spend a lot of time making it hard to get out of the place but it is not easy to get in ether.
I think how cool it wuld be to break in. They will all be suprised to see me—Greg the gard and Rosco in the kitchen and Mr Wing if he is there and Benj. And Lukas if he is back from Christmas yet. That will be cool all rite.
I skate around the place trying to think of a way in.
Along the back is a ditch I dont remember from last week. It runs beside the fence. It is deep and the ice in it is smooth. I swoosh to the bottom of the ditch and then back up the top fast enough to come off the ground for a second. Witch gives me an idea. Skate borders do this on TV—down and then up the other side. They call it a half pike dont they. Or is that something else. I wonder if I can do it here?
The ditch is on my rite side and the fence is beyond it. No body is around and no body can see any thing because it is so cold and foggy.
I go off for a bit and then turn round and skate back toward the fence. The land is flat and the ice is ok and I am moving fast. When I come to the ditch I woosh down one side and then let myself go coming up the other side. I fly thru the air and land more than half way up the fence. I poke my hand on the barbs and fall down.
Not bad I think. The idea mite work. I try it again only this time I fall over at the bottom of the ditch and make a mess. My breath is coming harder and I am starting to get cold.
Next time is the winner. I bend lower down to go faster and then straiten my legs to jump up as soon I get to the edge of the ditch. The skate borders on TV zoom down one side of the ramp and up the other and they stay in the air for a long time. So do I. I end up near the top of the fence—the leaning part. When your inside Creekside the fence leans the rong way for climing out. But I am climing in. I scramble over and hang on for a second by my mitt. Then the mitt comes off and my hand comes free and I fall into a snow pile.
I am home. My eyes and my pants and shirt and hat and coat are full of snow but I am inside the fence and I am not hurt. Good enuff! I hop forward and find the main bilding. It is starting to snow hard now. I can not see very much. I am shivering and looking forward to bed. There is a key pad where you enter your code to get into the bilding but the lock is frozen. I pull on the door because sometimes it is open any way. And it is. I close it tite.
I am in. The gard room on the left is empty. Greg or who ever is on duty is walking around. My dorm is the middle hall way down the stares. I am staggering with tiredness and reliefness and good to be home ness by now. The lites in the hall are dim and the door to my dorm is open. I xpect Rosco or somebody to wake up and start yelling but he doesnt. I have made it. The surprise will be fun in the morning. I yawn my way out of my coat and skates and pants and shirt and into bed and fall asleep like a lite going out.
RISE AND SHINE! EVERYBODY UP!
I dont know how many hours it is later but it is not enuff. I pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep. I dont think any one knows I am here. The gard doesnt say anything.
He is new. I hope Greg has not been fired. I like Greg. My first week at Creekside I wuld look thru the fence at the people and dogs who culd move around while I had to stay inside the fence. I didnt do anything—just watched. Some gards yelled at me to get away from the fence and go inside but Greg never did. He new what I was thinking. Once he came over to where I was and we watched a bird floating in the air—a sea gull or something. It sat there on the wind and then swooped away and Greg and I watched it. And he said Yeah and walked away. That was all.
But this gard is not Greg. Ive never herd him befor. He says brekfast is in 15 minits and that means all of us. I hear his footsteps walking away. There are grunts from the other guys.
I am thinking that rite after brekfast I have to call Spencer. I have his number on my arm. He will know who I shuld tell about the kid napping. He is the smart one in the family. I can carry stuff and smile when times are bad—that is what I can do. Spencer knows things. We make a good team.
I peek out from under the covers. 2 strange guys are standing by the door. What are they doing in our dorm? And why are they dressed like this?
Whats with the green suits? I say.
Normally we have orange. I wonder if its green for Christmas or if we are changing colors.
The tall 1 turns around to stare. This is the first thing hes herd me say. He didnt think anyone was in my bed—just covers. I was hoping to surprise everybody. But his surprise is more than I thot.
Whos there? Who said that?
He jumps on me and starts hitting. Why? Jail is tuff but not normally like this. I try and fite back. Its hard because I am under covers and this guy is fast and strong. But I do my best. I grab his hand and say Hey and Woe and like that. And I see real plain and clear that I am in the rong place.
This is not my bedroom. One wall has a big poster with DO and DONT on it. Another wall has a hole in it. The cover on the lite is broken. These are different from my room. Not much different but a little different. My room has a poster but it says RULES not DO and DONT. And our bathroom is over there insted of over there. And we dont have a hole in our wall. At least we didnt when I left.
So theres that. And then the guys. I am fiting with the big 1 but the little 1 is staring at me like I am a nite mare. A gost or something—witch is funny when I think of what happens later. He puts his hand to his face and screams. Aaaa! he screams and then O my God! and then Aaaa! again. His finger nails are brite red and I see what I shuld have seen befor. The little one is not a guy at all. It is not just the nails. The hair. The face. The way the suit fits. He is a girl. I mean she. She is a girl.
It is sometimes hard to tell. I have been fooled befor. Mind you I have been fooled by traffic lites befor. I am easy to fool.
As I am getting used to the little guy being a girl I see that the big guy who is punching me in the face and calling me names is also a girl. My face hurts—she is a strong girl. I fall on to the floor and she jumps on me. Just befor she lands on me I twist out of the way. She trys to punch me. I grab her hand and say Sorry.
This isnt my room. I shuld not be here. If someone came to my room I wuld be upset. I mite even fite them. I wonder where I am?
Stop hitting me and I will go find my place I say.
She pulls her hand free and looks me up and down. Her face changes now she is smiling.
Oh no.
She i
s all dressed and I am not. I took off almost all my close when I got in last nite so I have SpongeBob under pants and a t shirt and that is all. I dive back into bed and pull up the covers.
She—the big one—starts to laff. You beleeve this Teena? she says to the little 1. Who shakes her head.
We shuld TELL on him Teena says. Teena the tiny. She has a little girl voice to go with her name. We shuld get him in TROUBLE she says.
Yeah says the big 1. We can report him rite after he gets dressed. Or maybe befor.
And she laffs some more.
Dont make jokes Bet says Teena.
No please I say. Let me get dressed and I will get out of here and on my way to—
And I stop. I have been so busy fiting that I never thot about my big problem. Now I see it clear. I am not just in the rong room—I am in the rong jail. Creekside does not have girls in it. This is not Creekside.
Oh crap I say. And sink back into bed.
What? says the big 1. Big Bet. She is older than me I think. How did you get here? she asks. What is going on?
I shake my head.
Come on! she says but I cant tell her.
Her nose is bent side ways and when she frowns it bends even more. Whatever is going on it is messed she says.
Yah I say.
Whatre we gonna DO? asks the other one. Teena. She is still standing by the door. She is older than me 2 but she sounds little and winy. We shuld TELL on him she says.
Hes in enuff trouble says Bet.
He slept in our ROOM says Teena. Hes a boy and he was HERE. He mite have seen us getting DRESSED!
She has her hand to her mouth again. The nails are like straw berrys. How culd I ever think she was a boy?
He was sleeping so he didnt see anything says Bet. And what does it matter if he saw our under wear? We saw his SpongeBobs huh? Besides if we tell on him who is going to get in trouble? We are—that is who. Remember when Marthas boy frend stayed after visitors hours? Thats what will happen to us.
But its not FAIR! says Teena. What do we DO?
We get him out of here says Bet.
They look at each other. They both want me to go away but they are not on the same side. Bet wants to do something and Teena doesnt.
Well I am HUNGRY says Teena.
Go on to brekfast then says Bet. I will take care of him.
Does she mean it?
Can I drink your chocolate milk? says Teena.
No says Bet.
Teena scrunches up her face and stomps out the door.
OK SAYS BET.
I will help you. But first what is your name?
I shake my head. I dont want to tell her. I dont want to give her anything.
OK she says again. Get dressed. I wont look.
She turns away and I pull on my close. The air is warm and smells like cement and soap. Better than Creekside.
I want to make sure.
How do I know you will help me get out? I ask her.
Cause I said I wuld.
But why shuld I beleeve you?
She doesnt turn around. I can see her sholders bunch up under her suit.
Are you calling me a lyer? she says.
Maybe I say.
I am thinking about Vi. I beleeved her and I was rong.
Bet doesnt talk for a second. The hole in the wall is about the size of a fist. And it is about the same place her fist wuld be if she punched the wall.
Are you dressed yet? she says. Can I turn round?
Yes I say.
So she turns and she is mad all rite. Her face was dark befor but it is darker now. Her eyes are thin and her hands are fists.
I am a bad girl she says. The judge said so. I do not have a lot going for me. I am not rich or pretty and my parents dont love me. I am a JO—I broke my uncles arm and I am here because of it she says. I am angry a lot of the time. But I do what I say I will do. My frend Tracy lives in my bilding back home she says. Tracy isnt my mom or anything but she gives good advice. Keep your word she says. If you say you are going to do something do it. No matter how it turns out you will be able to live with yourself because you did what you said you would do. Your word is good.
Bet is looking away from me. She is thinking about her frend Tracy. Her eyes are long distance. She is knowing things. Vi never looked like that. Not even when she kissed me.
I said I wuld help you says Bet. And I will. Or I will go down trying to help you. If you dont trust me—well you wont. But you will be rong.
A bell rings some where down the hall and the lites go off in the dorms. They do this in Creekside to save energy. We are supposed to go to the common areas now—gym or dining hall or class.
Bet doesnt move. The whites of her eyes disappear and then come back when she blinks. I cant say when someone is lying but sometimes I can tell when they are not. Bet is not.
My name is Bunny I say.
She nods. I put out my hand and we shake. Her hands are as big as mine.
My hall looks just like this I say. Thats why I broke in last nite. Sorry. Now I have to get back to Creekside befor my Christmas pass runs out. Thanks for helping I say.
She looks away.
Whats a JO? I ask.
Juvenile offender she says.
Oh.
And why did you break your uncles arm? I ask.
None of your dam business.
THE ONLY REASON I HAVENT BEEN FOUND OUT YET
is cause of the holidays. Other girls normally live in this room along with Teena and Bet. I was in 1 of there beds last nite.
And we dont have much time says Bet. Teena is a chatty girl. She will talk even tho she shuldnt. Skrillex will find out.
Skrillex is a gard? I say.
She is awful. She makes you want to scream. Come with me now.
I start toward the door.
Stop says Bet. Walk slower and swing your hips.
She found a green jump suit that is almost my size and I have it on and also a big towel around my head.
Hows this? I ask.
Pretty bad says Bet. You make an ugly girl Bunny.
She is smiling but not with her eyes. She carries a green garbage bag. I am wearing sandals that hide my guy feet and are better to walk in than my skates witch are in the garbage bag along with my coat and hat.
The hall is brite like at Creekside. Lots of ways the 2 places are the same. The noise bounces around off the same hard walls and floors. The windows have the same bars on them.
A couple of guys go past talking about home. Sorry girls not guys. But they are talking the same as if this was Creekside and they were guys. One of them says how her home sucks and the other one says yah but it is better than here. Then they are past.
Take your hands out of your pockets Bunny says Bet. You just washed your hair. Thats why you have the towel. Use it to hide your hands.
Rite.
Visiting is in the caf like at Creekside. Bets plan is sneek me in so I can go out later with the other visitors. It is a good plan. All I need is a place to change back into a boy. And a reason to be there.
Who am I visiting? I ask.
Me you dummy says Bet. You can be my—
And she stops.
I know what she is thinking. Who can I be? Brother isnt rite. I am a lot whiter than her. Cousin maybe. But probly not.
Frend I say. I can be your frend visiting from Toronto or someplace.
Where? she says.
Toronto. You know—where the Maple Leafs are from.
I heard of it she says. Making a joke.
Some other girls are coming toward us. I dont see them—just there jump suits. I hide my head in the towel. I am afraid of bumping into a wall so I slow down.
I hear them say Hey Bet. I smell something sweet. Candy or something.
Hey says Bet.
I have to act like a girl but all I am doing is standing. Do girls stand different from guys? I never noticed.
Whos this? says a new voice. Shes a big one isnt she?
/> This heres Bunny says Bet. She just got here. Shes in C dorm with me.
Hi Bunny says a few voices. I hear them like a waterfall. Hi Hi Hi. I nod my towel.
Bunny cant talk on account of her cold says Bet. It came on sudden after she washed her hair. Her voice drys up. Rite Bunny?
I nod.
Bunnys mom is coming to visit today so Im taking her to the visitors room says Bet.
I feel a hand on my elbow and hear her saying This way. A minit later I smell soap and cleaner and bathroom tile. I know where we are. I listen for voices and sounds of splashing or flushing but there arent any—we are alone.
Can I take off my towel? I ask.
Shh says Bet. Wernt supposed to be here.
She pushes me into a what do you call it—a place with a toilet—and throws the bag in after me. A stall. Thats what I mean.
Get changed quick and I will take you in to the visitors room she says.
I put on my old shirt and pants so I am a boy again. Its hot.
I hear a new voice outside. Not Bets. A woman it sounds like.
Hell she says.
Bets towel is on the toilet seat. I put it back on—in case.
Hell says the new voice. Hell hell hello Bet. Watcha watcha watcha doin here?
Her breath comes in pants in between her talking. Watcha pant pant watcha doin?
Skrillex says Bet.
Yournot she says. Yournot allowed yournot yournot yournot allowed—
Allowed in here on visitors day? Bet cuts in. Your rite Skrillex.
Skrillex is the gard who drives Bet crazy. If she talks like this all the time I beleeve it.
I was on my way to brekfast and I just had to go says Bet. Sorry.
Sorry? says Skrillex. Not so so so so so so so sorry enuff. This is out of bounds. Out of out of bounds. Im counting she says. Im counting the strokes youll get for breaking bounds. Can you gess? Gess how many? How many strokes? Can you can you can you?
I hear Bet thru the door of the stall. She goes Huhhh. Its always 14 she says.
Thats rite says Skrillex. Im counting to counting to 14. Im counting til counting til your sorry for breaking the rules. You are in so much so much so so so so so so much—