by Eric Filler
“Whataretheygoingtodo,spankus?”
“Maybe.”
“Kari,comeon.Don’tbeacoward.”
“ButI’mnotasoldier,notlikeyou.”
“Don’tworry,I’llbewithyouthewholetime.”ValtookKari’shandto giveitasqueeze.Foramomentitwasjustlikewhentheyweregrown-ups again.
“Allright,I’min.”
“Good.Comeon.”
Thekitchendoorwasstilllockedforthenight,butValhadalreadyprepared forthat.Shetookoutahairpinshehadsquirreledawaysomehow.Ittookher tinyhandsawhiletofinallygetthelockopened.DuringthattimeKarikepta watch,waitingatanymomentforMissSundretoseizethembytheearsand dragthemaway.Noonecame.
OnceValopenedthedoor,theywentthroughthebackdoor.Theywere finallyoutsidewithnoadultstowatchthem.Buttheycouldn’tjustrunforit; thenightwatchmanwouldseethemforsurealongthelevelgroundfromthe backofthekitchentothefrontgate.Sotheyhidbehindsomeoldcratestowait.
AgainKarikeptwaitingforMissSundretoshowuporsomeonetoraise thealarm.Valseemedmuchcalmer,hereyesfocusedonwherethetruckwould be.ThenagainValwasstillasoldierwhohadbeenondozensofmissions; hoppingamilktruckwouldbeanalmostliteralmilkruntoher.Karihadnever doneanythinglikethis,though.Shehadalwaysbeenagoodgirl,doingwhat herparentsandteacherswanted.ShehadneverrebelledagainstauthorityasVal didonadailybasis.Hergutchurnedasshethoughtofthisandwaitedtoget caught.
Atlastsheheardtherumbleofanengine.Themilktruckwasanordinary blackpick-up,itsbedloadeddownwithcratesofmilk.ValturnedtoKariasthe truckpulledtoastopnearthedoor.ValheldupherfingerstosignalKarito wait;Kari’sbodytensedwithanticipation.Theywaitedinhidingwhilethe milkmanstackedadozencratesbythedoor.Oncehebroughtuphislastload, Valdroppedherhandandthentookoffrunning.
Karihadahardtimekeepingupwithherfriend.Sheknewtheydidn’thave verylongtomakeitupintothetruckbeforethemilkmanturnedandsawthem.
Valjumpedontotheopenbedofthetruckwithoutmissingabeat.Karichugged along,waitingtohearthemilkmanshoutather.
ValheldoutherhandforKaritograb.Shetooktheprofferedhandand heardValgroanasshehauledKariupintothebedofthetruck.Valdrapeda canvastarpoverbothofthemforconcealment.Fromthere,Karisawthe milkmangatheringuptheemptycratestheyhadbeenusingforcover,counting theemptybottlesashedidso.
Oncehefinished,hereturnedtothetruck,droppingtheemptycratesinthe bed,onelandingrightonKari’srear.Sheheldinhergroanofpain,notwanting togetcaughtnow.ShefeltValsqueezeherhandasthetruck’senginerumbled tolifeagain.Theywerefree!
Byliftingthetarpalittle,Karicouldseethegreenhillsrollingby.She waitedforValtosignalthemtoescape,butherfriendpatientlywaited.Finally thetruckcametoastopatanintersectionandValdoveout.Karifollowedafter her,bothofthemlandinghardontheground.WhileKariwantedtoliethere bawling,shefollowedValintosomebushes.Theyhadmadeit!
Sheshouldhaveknownbetter.EveniftheycouldescapeMissSundreand thenightwatchman,theycouldn’tescapefromTaiLecau.Karididn’tfigurethis outuntilshefeltahandclampdownonherearandthenyankherintotheair.
TaihadlittletroubledoingthesametoVal,whoswattedandkickedathimtono avail.
“Iseeyoustillaren’tfittingin,”hesaid.
“We’llneverfitin,”Valshotback.“Youaren’tevergoingtomakeuspart ofyourperfectworld.”
“Isee.Well,perhapsyoutwojustneedamoreremedialeducation.”
EvenasKaridangledinTai’sgrasp,shesawherbodygettingsmaller.
Mercifullythistimeevenherstomachshrankwiththerestofher.Thejumper soonbecamelikeatent,onlythesolesofhershoesvisiblebeneaththehem.Her tummystillprotrudedagainstthefabric,butnotnearlyasmuch.Thehairshe spentsomuchtimeongrewlonger,acurlytendrilarcingoverhershoulderto almostherwaist.Shewatchedthehairturnfrombrowntoaprettyrussetcolor.
Theskirtofherjumperliftedbacktoaboveherankleswhilethetopofthe jumperdisappeared.Themintgreenblouseturnedintoanadorablewhitesailor top.
Besideher,Valwasundergoingmuchthesamechange.Herscrawnybody compactedintoherjumperbeforeittoobecameasailorsuit.Whiletherestof herwasshrinking,Val’shaironlygotlonger,untilitwentpastherwaist.The hairthickenedaswell,becomingawildblackmanethatseemedtoenvelopher.
Themessageofthatwasobvious:Valhadneverlikedlonghairandnowshe
wouldhaveanunrulyamountofit.Tocapoffherhumiliation,alargewhite bowappearedonthetopofherhead.Theglassesthathadbeentoobigbefore remainedthesamesizetoappearevenbiggeronVal’sface.
“Wemmego!Wemmego!”Valroared.
Taiunceremoniouslydroppedthembothtotheground.Karilandedonher bottom,tearsimmediatelystinginghereyes.Valleapedtoherfeet,butthebow onherheadcameuptoonlyTai’sthigh.“Owgetyouforthis!”shehowled.
“Ialmostforgottogiveyouthese,”Taisaid.Apairofbabydollsappeared inhishands.HetossedonewithcurlyhairthatwasaprettyredlikeKari’sto her.ThedollyworeapowderbluedresstrimmedwithwhitelacethatKariknew wouldlookprettieronher.
Val’sdolllandedatherfeet.Ithadblackhairlikeher,onlypulledintocute pigtails.ThedollevenhadfrecklesandstupidglasseslikeVal.Herdollywore anadorablepinkdresswithlacybloomers.WhenValdidn’tpickitup,Kari snatcheditaway,pressingbothtoherchest.
“Yougirlsaregoingtoneedthosewhereyou’regoing,”hesaidandthen therewasaflashoflight.
Chapter5
KaricreptovertoVal’sbedandthentuggedonhersleeve.Val’seyes openedandthenshesquinted.“Whatdoyouwant?”
“Iwentpee-peeinbed,”Karisaid.
“Again?”
“Sorry.CanIsleepwithyou?”
Valglaredatherforamoment.“Fine.”
Kariclimbedupintothebed,scrunchingagainstVal,theirbacksturnedto eachother.KaripressedherdollyJantoherchestandstrokedthedoll’scurly hairasshetriedtogetbacktosleep.Everynightinthetwoweekssince becomingatoddlerKarihadwetherbed.Val,thoughsmallerthanher,didn’t seemtohavethisproblem.ShesupposedherweakbladderwasthankstoTai, butitwasn’tfairthatshewashumiliatedlikethiseverysinglenightwhileno oneelsewas.
Afterafewminutes,ValkickedthebackofKari’sleg.“Moveover,”Val hissed.
Karislidoverafewcentimeters,untilshewaspracticallyoffthebed.It washardtobelievejustafewmonthsagotheyhadbeengrown-upssharinga bed,entangledineachother’sarms.BackthenKarihadneverwantedthenights toend.Nowshecouldn’twaitformorningtocome.“G’night,”shewhispered toValandJanbeforefallingasleep.
Thefiftygirlsinthepreschooldormitoryhadadifferentroutinethanthe oldergirls.Theywerestillexpectedtomaketheirbeds,thoughKarineverdid.
Sheonlystoodsheepishlybesidehers,waitingforNannyJenetocomeoverto herbed.Seeingthewetspotonthesheet,thenannywouldshakeherhead.
“Thatisnotacceptable,younglady.You’resupposedtobeabiggirl,nota baby.”
“Iknow.I’msorry.”
“Shedoesn’tmeanto,”Valsaid.
“Whethershemeanstoornotisirrelevant.Holdoutyourhand.”
Kariheldoutherlefthandandthenbracedherself.Therulercamedown hardenoughtobringtearstoKari’seyes.Theoldergirlsweren’tpunishedlike this,butapparentlyinpreschooltheybelievedincorporalpunishment,probably totoughenthemupforlater.K
arikeptherselffromcryingtoohardbyburying herfaceinJan’sdress;opencryingwouldonlyleadtoanotherwhackfromthe ruler.
Withfiftygirls,eachofthefivenannieswasassignedtencharges.These
wentintothebathroomonegroupatatime.Sincethetoddlersweretoosmall forshowers,theyhadtopairofftotakebaths.KariandValalwayswent togethertoavoidfurtherembarrassmentbybeingnakedwithastranger.The bathswereanotherformerintimatememorythathadsincelostitsmagic.These bathsweren’tlikethelong,luxurioussoaksinasuds-filledtublitbycandles; thesewerequick,efficientcleaningsessionswithastrangerrubbingharsh shampoointheirhair.
Theworstpartalwayscameafterwhentheyhadtocombtheirhair.Sinceit hadgottenmuchlonger,Karifoundherhairasnarledmessafterherbath.
Gettingthetanglesoutalwaysbroughtnewtearstohereyesasthecombtugged atherhairuntilshethoughtitwouldstartcomingout.Theproblemwaseven worseforVal,thoughoutofprofessionalprideValrefusedtocrynomatterhow snarledhermassofhairbecame.
Aftertheywerebathedandcombed,theywentbacktotheirbedstodressin theirsailorsuits.Thentheyhadtowaitontheirbedsuntileveryoneelsewas done.NannyJenewouldthenmarchthemintothediningroomforthesame oatmealtheoldergirlsate.OnlynowastheyateValdidn’ttalkofescape.Even sheseemedtounderstandtheyweretoolittletobreakoutofhere.Andevenif theydid,whatwouldbethepoint?
Instead,Valtalkedaboutendurance.“Wecan’twethimwearusdown,”
shesaid.“Wegottahowdout.”
“Forwhat?”Kariasked.Itwasn’tlikeanyonewouldcomeridingtotheir rescue.Thereprobablywasn’tanyoneleftwhoevenrememberedhowthings usedtobe.
ButValremainedoptimistic.“Therehadtobeothershipsoutthere.
Someonewiwcomeforus.”
“Andthey’llendupherewithus.”
“Don’tgiveup,Kawi.That’swhathewants.”
“Iguess.”
Afterbreakfasttheywenttothe“classroom”whichwasessentiallya playroom.Thoughbefittingtheschool’spurposeofpreparingthegirlsto becomegood,well-manneredhousewives,thetoyswereallrelatedtotheir futureoccupation:babydolls,dollhouses,andminiaturehousesandkitchen playsets.Thetoddlersweretaskedwithplayingfortherestofthedayunder NannyJene’swatchfuleye.Shouldanyofthegirlstryplayinganythingdeemed
“toomale”liketagorevenhide-and-go-seek,shewouldgivethegirlsin questionawhackoftheruler.
Val,alwaysamasteratinfiltrationandcamouflage,spentmostofhertime inthewoodenplayhouse,whereNannyJenecouldn’tseeher.Shedidn’tdo
anythinguptheremostofthetimeexceptstareoutthewindow—atfreedom.
Karijoinedheruntilshegotbored,thenshewouldgodowntoplaywithJanand Val’sunnameddolly.Theotherchildrenshestayedawayfromasmuchas possible.Shedidn’twanttobedisloyaltoValbyplayingwithotherkidsandon therareoccasionswhenshewasforcedto,Karialwaysfeltoutofplace.She knewthiswasbecauseatleastpartofheradultmindremained,makingherself-consciouswhiletheothertoddlersweresocarefree.Soshesatinthecorner withherdollsandwaited.
***
IttookthreemonthsofpreschoolbeforeValfinallysnapped.Itstarted whenKariwokeherup,havingpeedthebedyetagain.“CanIsleepwithyou?”
Kariasked.
“No,”Valsaid.
“But—”
“Sweeponthefwoor,”Valsnapped.Sherolledover,turningherbackon Kari.ForamomentKaristoodtherewithtearsflowingdownhercheeks.Then sheclimbedbackintoherownbed,curlingherbodytoavoidthewetspotas muchaspossible.
ThatmorningValmadesuretopartnerwithsomeoneelseforherbath, leavingKaritobathewithacompletestranger.Atbreakfasttheshunning continued,withValsittinginacornerbyherself.WhenKaricameovertoher, shegrowled,“Getwost.”
“Val—”
“Isaidgetwost!”Despitethespeechimpediment,theoversizedglasses, andthebowonherhead,thefuryinVal’seyeswasthatofsomeonewhohad beentrainedtokill.Karibeatahastyretreattoanoppositecorner,wheresheate heroatmealinsilence.
Whentheywenttoclass,NannyJenehadaspecialtreatforthem: constructionpaper,crayons,scissors,andglitter.“It’salmostFounder’sDay,”
sheexplained.“IwanteachofyoutomakeaprettypictureforFounder’sDay thatwillbehungforeveryonetosee.”
KarihadnoideawhatFounder’sDaywasorwhotheseFoundersbeing honoredwere.Sheassumeditwasn’tTaiLecau,asthatseemedtooobviousfor him.Heseemedcontenttorulehisperfectworldfrombehindthescenes.So withhercrayonsKaridecidedtodrawabunchofblockystructuresthatwere supposedtorepresentthetown.Overthetownshedrewarainbow,whichshe coatedinpasteandglittertomakeitespeciallypretty.
NannyJeneactuallypattedherontheshoulder.“Verygood,Kari.That’sa veryprettypicture.”
“Thankyou.”
Withwhathadhappenedinthemorning,Karihadn’tbeenpayingattention toVal.Shelookedaroundtheroom,butdidn’tseeherfriendanywhere.She muststillbepoutingaboutKariaskingtosleepinherbedagain,butifValdidn’t dotheassignment,she’dgethitwiththeruler.
KarifoundValinherusualhidingplaceintheplayhouse.Itbecameclear Valhadquiteadifferentprojectinmind.Shehadapieceofredconstruction paperonthefloor,thepaperslatheredinglue.WithapairofsafetyscissorsVal cutatherunrulyhair,thehanksaccumulatingontheglue-coveredpaper.Kari putahandtohermouthtostifleagasp.
“Whatareyoudoing?”Kariwhispered.“WhenNannyJenefindsout—”
“Idon’tcawe.I’mtiwedofthispwace.I’msickoftheirwuwes.”Ittook Kariamomenttorealizeherfriendhadsaid,“rules;”herspeechimpediment wasworsethanusualtoday.
“Val,rememberwhatyousaid?Youcan’tletthemwearyoudown.That’s howhewins.”
“Whybother?Youdon’tcawe.Youwannajustsitawoundawday pwayingwithyourdowies.Sowhydon’tyougoanddothat?”Tearsbubbled upinKari’seyesatthis.ShepressedJantightlytoherface,butValstillsaw.
“Goaheadandcwy,widowbaby.Stupid,stupidbabywhostiwpeeshersewf.”
Kariranfromtheplayhouse,pressingherselfintothecorner.Sheturned herheadtofacethewallsonooneelsewouldseehercry.Ifanyoneelsehad saidsuchawfulthingsitwouldhavehurt,butforValtosaythemhurtfar,far worse.Taihadfinallybeatenthem;he’ddriventhemapartatlast.
HertearshaddriedupwhenValfinallyemergedfromtheplayhouse.
Despitethedullnessofthescissors,she’dmanagedtocutoffmostofherhair, leavingapatchy,spikymessonherhead.Therestlayinaheaponthe constructionpaper,crownedbythewhitebow.
WhenValpresentedthepapertoher,NannyJene’seyeswidened.She couldn’tstifleagaspatwhatValhaddone.“ValRieKree,thisisvery,very naughty!”
“Goscwewyousewf,youstupidcow,”Valgrowled.
FasterthanKariwouldhavethoughtpossibleforanoldlady,NannyJene seizedVal’sarmanddraggedherovertoachair.ValstruggledvainlyasNanny JenepressedValacrossherknees.SheliftedthehemofVal’sskirtandthen pulleddownherpanties.Forthisbeatingshewasgoingtorelyonherbarehand insteadoftheruler.
Thefirstblowsoundedlikethecrackofawhip.Val’sbodyjerked,butshe didn’tcryout.Thatdidn’tdeterNannyJenefromhittingheragainandagain.
“Youawful,foul-mouthedchild.Iwillnottoleratesuchdisrespectinmy classroom,”sheshoutedasshecontinuedhittingVal.
IttookatleastthreeminutesforVal’sresolvetofinallycrumble,bywhich timeherfannywasswollenandred.
KarisawVal’scheeksturnredandthen magenta.Atlastthetearsbegantopourout.Thelastounceofherdefiance gavewayasshebegantosob.
StillNannyJenekepthittingher.“Goonandcry,youfilthychild.You willlearnyourplacesohelpme!”
SeeingValsobbingbrokesomethinginKariaswell.Shecouldn’tstop herselfasshechargedforward.“Leaveheralone!”shescreamed.Shetriedto pullValfromNannyJene’slap,butshewastooweak.
SoKarididtheonlythingshecouldthinkoftohelpVal:shebitNanny Jeneonthehand.Thewomancriedoutinpain.ThatgaveValtheopeningshe neededtorolloffofNannyJene’slap.Stillwithherpantiesdown,Valranfor thedoor,Karirightbehindher.
Beforetheycouldreachtheknob,thedooropenedonitsown.Taistoodin thedoorway,gloweringatthem.HeturnedhisgazetoNannyJene.“Don’t worry,MissLucend.I’lldealwiththesetwo.”
“Yes,sir,”NannyJenemumbled.
TaiseizedKariandValbytheear,heftingthemintotheair.Karialready knewwhatwouldhappennext:hewouldusetheStoneofChangeonthem.
Whatwouldhedotothemthistime?Wasthereapre-preschooltosendthem to?
HecarriedthemdownthehallwaytoadoorwithalabelKaricouldn’tread anymore.Hekickedthedooropenandthentossedtheminside.“Ithinkyou twoneedsometimetothinkaboutwhatyou’vedone,”hesaid.
Alightflickedontorevealtheywereinthedancestudiofortheoldergirls.
Mirrorslinedonewall,givingKariagoodlookatherandValastheybeganto changeonceagain.Herbodystartedtoshrink,untiltheskirtofthesailorsuit reachedherfeet.Herbodyturnedpudgier,especiallyherface,whereadorable applecheeksblossomed.Herhairbecameshorter,toonlyhershoulders,and thenwounditselfintotightcurls.Evenashersailorsuitturnedpowderblueand lacebloomedalongtheedges,sheunderstoodwhatwashappening:shewas becomingherdolly,Jan.
Valunderwentasimilarprocess.Hersailorsuitturnedpinkwhilethe pantiesNannyJenehadpulleddownbecamelacybloomers.ThehairValhad savagedwiththescissorsregrewtopasthershoulders,whereitsplititselfdown themiddlebeforewrappingintopigtailsatthetopofherheadtiedwithpink ribbons.Thickbangsspreadoutacrossherforehead.Thegeekyglassesshe’d