Chapter I: JB's accident
Bam!!
My head slammed into the wall clear on the other side of the hall when
those two boys raced out of the bathroom just when I was going in.
That was the beginning of all the changes that happened. I mean, who
would have ever thought that I'd become famous and the most popular kid
in the school back then? But I did.
I'd needed to go to the bathroom between classes, but by the time I got
there it was already crowded, and I don't like going in there when it is
like that (if you knew me you would see why) so I waited, and when the
warning bell rang four minutes later a bunch of the big boys came out,
and I started to go in.
Just when I put my hand on the door, it opened real fast. It hit me
right in the nose and knocked me into the wall. I grabbed my nose with
one hand and the back of my head with the other and tried real hard not
to cry.
The two boys were in a hurry to get to class, but as they jogged away
they laughed, and one of them said, "Watch where you're going, and you
should stay on the baby hall anyway, dummy." He said that last part
because at the Junior High I was at all the seventh graders had classes
on one hall and the eighth graders on another one.
But he was wrong. I didn't belong there. I was in eighth grade and had
turned thirteen just before school started last week. It's just that I
was really, really small, smaller than any of the seventh graders for
sure. My grandmother, who I used to live with before I got put in the
foster homes I used to live in, said it was because of all the dumb
things that my mom did before I was born.
But I didn't correct him, that would'a been stupid.
Just then a loud voice filled the hallway. "STOP!" it said, "Sam Magee
and George Lawson, come over here. Now! And walk."
I knew that voice. It was Ms. Evens, my history teacher, who was also
the head girl's coach. I thought even then she was really pretty for a
teacher and nice too. I guess I was getting a crush on her already
before all this, though I had only known her for a week. She was real
tall and thin, and sometimes she wore tight shirts and skirts that only
came halfway to her knee and shoes with real high pointy heels, but even
when she wore her coach's clothes she was pretty. Right now she had on a
blouse with the top buttons open and, when she bent over to look at my
nose (that was bleeding), I saw the lace around her bra!
All of this happened in a lot less time than it has taken me to tell you
about it, you know. The second bell hadn't even rung yet, and there were
people up and down the hall looking at me. I tried to pull away from Ms
Evens (even though I could see her bra, and even though she smelled real
good) and run into the bathroom. I didn't want the two boys to get a
good look at the kid that had got them in trouble or for any one to see
the tears that I could feel on my cheeks now. Plus I had been holding my
pee since the middle of the last class, and that was getting extra
urgent too.
But Ms Evens was holding my shoulder, and I couldn't even stand up, much
less leave. She said, "Wait a minute, little-one. Let me look at your
nose a second."
"Well, all three of you are very lucky; it isn't broken." Her voice was
real low and very cross, and I could tell the big boys were kinda
scared. You two have five marks." (That meant a detention.)
They nodded and then glared at me. The bell for the start of the period
rang, and she asked who their next teacher was. Then she told them to
tell him why they were late and to see her after school, and they left.
"I got to go!!" I said, and I was squirming and trying to keep my legs
tight together by this time, but she took a tissue out of her purse and
started wiping the blood off my nose.
"Don't worry, sweetie," she said, "I'll talk to you teacher, and you
want get in to any trouble. You're J.B., aren't you - from my second
period History?"
That is what everyone calls me. It stands for Jaden Bartholomew, which
is weird enough, but it's not Jail Baby, which is what my grandmother
told people it meant because my mother was in prison when I was born.
She was talking in a real sweet voice now, and I nodded. I was happy
that she already knew my name.
She stuck a tissue inside my nose then grabbed my hand and pushed my
finger up under my lip; she was trying to get it to stop bleeding. "Now,
hold that there, honey," she said, "and we will go to my office and get
some ice for you head. OK?"
Then she almost picked me up to get me on my feet, and I jerked my hands
down to grab my middle as my legs came apart, but it was too late, and I
felt the water on my pants and then on my legs and then on my sock, and
then I put my head down and started crying even harder.
Here I was, in a brand new school, in a brand new town, in front of my
brand new favorite teacher, and now everything was going to be even
worse than it used to be!!
"OH, poor thing." she said, "I should have known! Come on; we will go
and get you all fixed up. I'm sorry that happened, J.B."
I think she said my name, but it could have been something else. I tried
to hide my head in my chest. She wiped my face with a tissue and picked
up my books for me, then took my hand in hers and led me toward the gym
where her office was.
I didn't know how she was going to fix this; thirteen year olds don't
wet their pants - no matter how long they have to wait, right? But I
managed to stop crying, almost. At least there was no one else in the
halls.
Or so I thought, but as we turned a corner I looked up, and through my
tears I saw this girl walking towards us. I tried to hide behind Ms
Evens so the girl wouldn't see me, but Ms Evens called, "Amanda, are you
the office aide this period?"
"Uh huh," the girl answered and walked toward us. When the girl got
close I could tell it was the blonde girl that sat behind me in Math and
was also in my Art class.
"I want you to take a note to the office when you turn in the absence
slips," Ms Evens said to the girl, then in her soft voice again she said
to me, "Wait right here while I talk to Amanda, OK?"
I looked up at the girl and could tell she was staring at the giant wet
spot going all the way down my pants, and I turned to face the wall.
The two of them whispered while Ms Evens wrote a note, then the girl
said, "Don't worry, J.B., I won't tell anyone about your little
accident." Then she smiled at me and patted the back of my head, but
that just made me cry more.
After the girl left Ms Evens picked me up, she didn't even worry about
getting her shirt wet from my pee as I wrapped my legs around her, and
she hummed as she carried me the rest of the way down the hall.
Ms Evens turned to go into the girl's locker room! I had had my head
kinda hidden in her shoulder, but I stuck my hand out and grabbed the
side of the door. "NO!" I said, "I can't go in there!!"
Ms Evens set me down. Then she got down on one knee, which meant her
face was about the same height as mine. She held my chin so I had to
look right at her, and said, "Now listen here, JB, I can't help you if
you won't let me. My office is right through the door, and you want be
in the real locker room."
She wasn't talking nearly as nice as before, but I kept shaking my head.
"But the girls will see me," I said.
"No they won't. They should already be in the gym, and I told you that
my door is just inside this one. If you won't trust me then I can't help
you. Can you think of another way to keep this a secret? Do you want my
help, or do you won't to go to the office and have them call your mom
instead?"
"NO! But will you look and make sure first, please?"
"Yes, sweetie." She was talking nice again. "I'll check, but will you do
what I tell you?"
I nodded and she said, "Promise; cross your heart?"
I nodded some more, and she peeked through the door. Then she held her
hand out for me, and I took it, and we went in. She was telling the
truth. From the door all you could see was an entry and then a path down
to the doors to the gym. Her office door was only about three steps
inside, but we had to wait till she got her key out and opened it.
**********
Chapter II: JB in the Coach's Office
It seemed to take her forever to get the door to her office open, and
when she did I rushed inside. There was a huge mirror behind the couch
in her office, but when she turned on the light it turned into a window
into the girl's locker room, and I could see it was empty. She grabbed
my hand and lowered the blinds on the window, then she spread a thick
towel on the couch and made me sit down on it. She said "First thing
let's get your cute face cleaned up. OK?"
She opened the door beside the desk and I saw that it was a bathroom.
She came back with a damp wash rag, and I reached for it but she
wouldn't let me have it. Instead she began to wash my face herself.
"Well, my little one, your nose has stopped bleeding, and I don't think
you're even going to have a bruise on that sweet face."
It was weird, because she called me all these little names and cute and
stuff, and about the only time I'd ever heard them was when people were
teasing me, but somehow when she said them I liked it, kinda.
"Now, how is that bump?" she asked as she felt around the back of my
head.
I gasped when she touched it, but she said, "Oh, it's going to be a
robin's egg, which is a lot better than an ostrich egg, isn't it?"
I smiled and nodded, and she said, "It can wait until we get you cleaned
up, I think." Then she took my feet and removed my shoes. When she
pulled on my pants leg I grabbed them and said, "I can do it! I'm not a
baby!"
She frowned for a second, but then smiled and said, "OK, but stay on the
towel so we don't mess anything up, my big boy."
"Can't I do it in there?" I said pointing at the bathroom.
"No, honey. Do it here for me, so we don't get the wet clothes on
anything. Don't worry. It is nothing I haven't seen before, and you
shouldn't be ashamed of what you look like."
Yeah, but I was a thirteen year old and she was my teacher!
"Now JB," she said when I still hesitated, "remember what you promised
me outside. You're going to help me help you, OK? Don't be so shy, that
will just make things a lot worse."
I unbuttoned my pants and slowly pushed them down. When they reached my
knees she pushed me back down onto the towel and pulled them the rest of
the way off so they wouldn't land on the rug. She just looked at me
until I took a deep breath, and I push the underwear down without
standing up. She took them between two fingers and pulled them off when
they reached my knees. I had pulled my shirt down to cover all my stuff.
My face felt hot, I guess because I was blushing so much.
Ms. Evens took my feet one at a time and removed my socks, then she
said, "Come on I want to wash that shirt too."
I started to shake my head, but she was glaring at me, and I knew I had
no choice. The shirt was a pull over and, once my head was hidden in it,
she began to take it off me. As soon as it was over my head her face was
right by mine, and she said, "Surprise!! There you are again!"
I was shocked and surprised and even more embarrassed, but for some
reason I laughed aloud. I couldn't understand it. She was playing peek-
a-boo with me, not to mention that I was totally nude, and I'd wet my
self in the school hall, but I had laughed.
Ms Evens acted like nothing was strange at all. She pulled on my hand,
walked me into the private bathroom, and said, "Take a shower while I go
to the training room and put your things into the washing machine. Stay
in the shower until I come back. Can you do that like a big boy for me?"
I nodded to her. I mean what else could I do? She turned on the water
and asked me if it was too hot, and then guided me under it. She locked
the door on the other side of the bathroom but left the door to her
office wide open.
I stood in the shower and just let the water fall on me. Now that she
was gone I felt even worse and even more embarrassed, and I knew I was
crying again. This was so weird. My life had never been good, and lately
it had gotten even worse. She seemed so nice, but that kind of thing
didn't happen to me, I really wanted to make her like me but ... Oh,
What was coming next?
Then I heard her call as she came into the bathroom. "Is my favorite
little one all clean yet?" she said. And I felt better and smiled, I
couldn't help it.
She reached in and turned off the water, and then she took a towel and
started blotting it against my skin all over, legs, arms, head,
everything. I grabbed a corner of it and started rubbing, but she just
hummed a song, and acted like I wasn't even doing that. She even patted
the towel around the front of my legs, below my stomach, and even
between my legs. I put my hands down there to protect things.
Then she wrapped the towel around my shoulders, sat on the toilette and
stood me right in front of her. I knew she had something serious to say.
"I noticed how dirty your underpants were, honey. You need to start
wiping much better, but for now I need to check your bottom."
She said it in a nice voice and like it was nothing unusual. I didn't
think I could object and not get in trouble though. I was afraid she was
going to make me lie down and put my legs way up in the air, but she
just turned me around and then took the wash clothe and rubbed it in my
crack. She rubbed it by my bottom hole longest, and I was worried I must
have something dried out stuck there. I sometimes did and that would'a
been embarrassing.
I still had the towel over my shoulders and I tried to keep it over my
privates when she picked me up again, like she had in the hall, and
carried me in to the couch. She made me lie on my stomach and got an ice
pack she had brought from the training room and held it to my bump. The
towel was over my back but I could tell that my butt was sticking out.
She said, "I think that old bump is almost gone all ready. How about
that? We need to talk about what to do next. Your clothes are in the
wash, but want be done for a while. What teachers do you have these last
two periods, sweetie?"
I told her Mr. Johnson for Shop and then a lady whose name I forgot for
English.
She told me she would have another coach take her last period class, and
that she would tell my teachers I'd been helping her with a class
project. My clothes would be done about the same time as the
announcements started at the end of the day.
At least now she was talking to me like I was big again, and I asked her
if I could put some clothes on.
She said, "OH, are you cold, little one?" - like the only reason a
thirteen year old would want to have clothes on in front of a teacher
was because of the weather - but I nodded anyway.
"I don't have anything you can wear. In a few weeks the lost and found
box will be full but nothing yet." She told me to hold the ice to my
head and got a towel to put over me.
Then she said, "I have a treat for you, hon." and got one of those flat
sheets of fruit flavored candy out of a drawer. When I bit into it she
said, "Wait, let me show you another way to do that." She took the candy
and wrapped it around my thumb. She said, "Now lick it and suck on it
like it is a lollypop. It will last a lot longer that way." I did that,
and she grinned at me.
There was a knock at the door. I pulled one of he towels over my head,
and tried to look like a bundle of laundry. She went over and opened the
door. It was Amanda. She said, "They are done with me in the office, Ms
Evens, and I wondered if you needed any help with something."
Ms Evens said, "No, Amanda, and you don't need to butter me up to become
the captain of the volleyball team. We will decide that at practice."
They whispered a minute before Amada left.
Ms Evens gave me some more of the candy and I put it on my thump and
licked it. She sat on the edge of the couch rubbing my back, and I could
tell that the towel had moved, but I didn't try to put it back because
her rubbing felt good; I just sucked on the candy on my thumb. Then the
door open, with out a knock this time, and Amanda looked in and said,
"They were done so I put everything in the dryer, Ms Evens. Hi. JB."
I didn't say anything. Ms Evens just said "Thank you," and Amanda shut
the door. That was just when the bell rang to end fifth period. After
that Ms Evens handed me a copy of my History book and told me to do the
reading for tonight while she looked at some papers.
I started reading and she sat at her desk but kept looking over at me.
I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I remember she was
standing by me with my clothes. She told me that my underwear looked so
bad she had thrown them away. Then she slipped my shirt over my head and
put my arms through the holes. She fastened my pants for me; I didn't
fight it. She even put my socks on me and tied my shoes. Then she held
me in her lap while we listened to the announcements on the PA.
Before she let me down, she gave me a peck on the forehead. Then I went
outside to wait for my ride. I felt pretty sure she still liked me.
**********
Chapter III: JB at Home
I walked the eight blocks from the bus stop to my house. None of the
kids on the bus bothered me. Last Thursday one of he girls announced
that I smelled bad, and since then they had made me stay away from them.
My Mom's car was gone. I was kind of happy about that, but it made me
sort'a lonely feeling too. My mom was alright, sometimes. At least she
never used electric cords when she hit me, like my grandmother used to.
I'd only been back with her since last July, and I did cause her
problems sometimes, though I tried hard not to.
I hoped that she had gone to the grocery store or maybe the laundry mat,
but doubted that. All the doors were locked so I tried the windows, but
she hadn't forgotten to close them all this time. I went into the back
yard.
The house was a run down, ugly, brown duplex, with a carport on one side
that attached to a carport of another duplex. All the neighbors would be
gone except that old lady that screamed every time she saw me beside her
fence. There wasn't any grass in the back yard of any of houses, just
dirt and mud, but there was a little dog in the yard behind it that
would let me pet him.
I sat near the puppy and got the sticks that I sometimes used to dig
holes with, and sometimes I pretended were trucks, and (don't tell
anyone) sometimes pretended were other kids and talked to and pretended
to do things with, or dressed up in leaves.
I realized that I wasn't wearing any underwear still, and that felt real
weird. I thought about going to my room and getting some to put on, but
didn't. I put my hand inside my pants and rubbed it around for a minute.
Then I thought about Ms. Evens; I wondered if she was going to still be
nice or start treating me like a creep, and if that girl, Amanda, was
going to tell everyone what happened.
I heard the car drive up and went inside. My mom still had her maid's
uniform on from the hotel where she worked and was carrying some bags. I
said, "Hi," but she carried all the bags into her room so they weren't
groceries.
She came out a little later all dressed up and said, "I'm working at the
club tonight and need to go. Be sure to lock all the doors when you go
to your room, and don't leave you're crud spread all over the place
again. If you leave a mess tonight you'll pay for it. I might have a
friend come home with me, and I don't want him to think I live with a
brat." Then she left.
I got out the jar of peanut butter and the bread. The big jar had lots
left, but only one slice of bread and the heels were left of the bread.
The real slice had some green stuff on it but not to much, and there was
some lettuce that was only partly liquidy. I ate, and then tried to get
the TV to work by moving the clothes hangers back and forth, I got one
channel good enough to listen to while I did my homework, but then it
got bad, so I sat next to the wall and listened to the neighbor's TV;
they had cable, and it was a funny show.
I was laughing real hard at one joke and felt something wet on my legs.
I remember, again, I didn't have underpants on to catch any drips, and I
had made a spot on my pants. I got a paper towel to wipe it off and
tried to wipe it from inside the pants too. I did that a long time.
I tried to draw a picture of Ms Evens, but it was awful. Then I felt a
little hungry; I wished I had more of the fruit candysheets she had
given me. I put my thumb in my mouth and pretend I had a piece of candy
wrapped around it like she did it.
When the neighbors turned off their TV I packed up my books, being extra
careful to get everything, washed the fork and knife I'd used, and then
went out to my room, making sure the door locked behind me.
I had a room inside too but I slept in the little room at the back of
the carport. The other room had to be kept real nice in case my mom's
parole officer or someone came over, so I wasn't allowed in there.
I found my driest pair of underwear and put them on, then turned the
mattress over and got into bed. I was happy that it was warmer here than
in the town I had used to live in because my blanket smelled terrible
even to me and I didn't always have to use it.
I pretended to eat some more candy off my thumb until I heard my mom
yelling at me through the door.
**********
Chapter IV: JB's Breakfast
My mom always made sure that I got to school on time because, when I had
lived with her for a couple of months when I was eight, it was my
missing a lot of school that made the parole officer check up on her and
send her back to jail.
She was always in a hurry in the morning and always acted mad, but today
she was worst. She was late I guess. When she yelled I jumped up and got
dressed. I spread the underwear I'd worn to bed out on the floor to get
dry, then put on my driest pair and the same pants I'd worn yesterday; I
got a different shirt from the pile because sometimes people noticed if
you wore the same one all the time.
Before I had my shoes on, she pulled the door open, which she never
usually did, and said, "Come on, brat, get a move!!! Ghod it stinks in
here, you little pig."
I grabbed my shoes and books, and got in the car. I didn't even try to
go inside. There was a big truck in front of the house, so I knew
someone was inside.
When I got to school the breakfast line was still open, and I ran to the
cafeteria (that was the other reason she wanted me to get to school
early - I got free breakfast, and that saved her money.) Only real poor
kids got free breakfast, and no one ever talked to anyone unless they
lived close to each other, and everyone ate real fast to be done before
the busses got there. It was like that way no one else would know they
qualified for the free food.
Just when I had put my juice on my tray, these two kids pushed me out of
the way. I think they were seventh graders, because they were smaller
than some of the other kids, but still way bigger than me. They were
also the only two people that always made a lot of noise during
breakfast.
They knocked my juice off the tray, and it landed on one kid's foot. He
yelled, "Aww Shit! Stupid ef-er, look what you did, ay-hole!'
I said, "Sorry," and got some napkins to wipe it up, but one of the
cafeteria ladies said, "No! No! You two get down and clean that up, It
is you fault," and then she gave me my cereal.
I ate it as fast as I could and didn't look at the boys that were in
trouble. When I went to put my tray away they were gone.
I went out into the hallway just as the busses were pulling up outside,
and the boys were standing on both sides of the door, and each was
holding a glass of water in each hand. They threw all the water at me,
and hit the top of my pants.
One of them said, "Teach you to mess up my shoes, kid!"
The other one yelled, "Look!! That kid wet his pants like a baby!!" and
it looked just like I did
I ran back into the cafeteria, and one of the ladies said, "Too late,
get out," but the other one, the one who had made the boys clean up the
spill said quietly, "No, he's had an accident, Vera," and they laughed
at me.
I hollered, "No I didn't! They threw water on me!"
"Sure they did," the lady said, "Come on I'll show you where the nurse
office is." Then she grabbed the shoulder of my shirt and started
pulling me along.
She steered me right through the front hall where all the bus kids were.
I heard them say, "Look, he peed his pants," and meaner stuff. I kept
shaking my head because I hadn't, but couldn't get myself to yell out
the truth.
Amanda walked over and said, "Oh-oh, again, JB?"
I said, "No, it was spilled on me." and she said, "OH, OK," and went
away grinning.
"There was a line at the nurse office of people trying to get sent home
or out of PE. I asked the cafeteria lady if I could go to Ms Evens
office instead," but she just tugged me to the front of the line and
into the office.
One of the girls in line said, "Hey, there's a way to get out of first
period."
And her friend said, "Yuck, too gross; even you wouldn't do that," and
then both of them laughed.
When we got in the office the cafeteria lady let go of me, and the nurse
said, "Oh, geez. What is your name?"
I told her and tried to tell her it was just water, but she just said,
"Go into the second door and take your clothes off."
There was a bed in the room and I sat down on it. When I had peed myself
only one person had found out (maybe), but now the whole school thought
I had when I hadn't. It was so unfair!!!
**********
Chapter V: JB and the Nurse
It wasn't until after the end of homeroom that the nurse came in to see
me, which meant that I was missing first period already. When she came
in I was still sitting on the bed, still dressed, and crying again. You
must think I was a real crybaby. Well I wasn't - bad things kept
happening. I bet you would have cried too!
She said, "I told you to get the clothes off. Now hurry."
I said, "But it isn't pee!! Those boys threw a bunch of water on me!"
"It doesn't matter, Jaden. You still can't wear wet clothes around
school all day, now can you? AND I Will be able to tell once you have
them off."
"But what will I wear?" I asked, sniffling.
"Oh, just take the blanket off the bed for now. You're going to have to
wait here anyway, and no one will see you."
I pulled the blanket in front of me and pulled off my pants and
underwear, and she demanded the shirt too.
She sighed and frowned and said, "I'll be back as soon as these are in
the washer. Where are your books?"
I told her I had dropped them in the cafeteria, and she told me I'd have
to look for them later and wouldn't have anything to look at while I
waited. "Don't think of leaving this room," she added.
I nodded to her. Where was I going to go without clothes anyway? But I
heard her lock the door when she left.
The nurse was a lot different from Ms Evens. She was shorter and a
little plump too. She wore slacks, and just regular trainers, and a
baggy shirt, but you could tell that her breast were real big and round,
not so pointy as Ms Evens'. Also, she hadn't acted nice like Ms Evens at
all. She just told me what to do and didn't care at all how embarrassing
all this was. I started to think she might be real mean.
I sat there with nothing to do but hide under the blanket. I looked
around the room and noticed there was a window in the door. It had
blinds but they were open. I thought about getting up to close them but
was afraid I shouldn't or that someone on the other side would see me.
There was also a shelf with some books and some little kid's toys, like
a teddy bear, a little truck, some dolls and a top.
As I laid there I heard a girl go up the hall outside the door and then
walk back again. I peeked out from under the blanket and saw she glared
into the room as she passed. That decided it. I jumped out of bed and
tried to close the blinds. They were the tricky kind, and one side went
down before the other, but I got them to where only one bottom corner
wasn't covered. As I ran back to the bed I grabbed the teddy bear off
the shelf. Then I hid under the covers and petted her head. Well it was
just something to do; honest.
It seemed like forever before the nurse came back. Before she had closed
the door she said, "Sit up, Jaden." The nurse closed the door and fixed
the blinds, and didn't get mad about me messing them up.
"We must talk, Jaden," she said. "I looked at your pants and know that
was just water. Do you know who threw it on you?"
I shook my head, and she said, "Then why did they do it to you?"
She was real serious sounding, so I didn't try to not tell her. She said
she would find out who it was from the cafeteria ladies. I didn't ask
her not to, but knew it was going to make those boys madder, and
everyone would still think I had wet my self anyway.
Then she said, "Even though the pants were wet from regular water it
seems, can you tell me why your underpants were damp all over and so
dirty, Jaden."
I shrugged; I didn't want to tell her that I still wet the bed
sometimes. It's not like I did it every night, lots of times I didn't,
really. But she kept asking, and I thought she would get mad, so I told
her about it and about my mom not being able to get to the laundry mat
all the time, though she washed her clothes at the hotel where she
worked.
"And how did the spots get on them?" she asked.
I told her that sometimes I kind of leaked, but just tiny bits, I
guessed. I didn't know if she meant the skid marks in back or the dots
around the front, but that answer worked for both. I'd seen other boys
underwear in the locker room and when I had lived in group homes, and
mine wasn't a whole lot worse than some others if you didn't count the
night pee, at least I didn't think so.
"I see," she said very matter-of-factly. "More boys than you think have
all those kinds of problems, Jaden, but now I do need to examine you.
Give me the blanket and lie back. Remember I am a nurse."
Even though she asked me to give it to her, she pulled the blanket off
as she spoke. I covered my thing with my hands.
Then she said, "Put your hands up by your head." She ran her hand up my
legs - all the way up them. Then she did that to my arms, then had me
roll on to my stomach and rubbed my bottom and my back like that. I knew
she was just doing nurse stuff, so I let her. Also, it felt kind'a nice,
though I didn't think it was supposed to.
She asked me lots of questions too, like if I did anything to keep the
hair off my legs, and if I ever got pimples, and if I had any sores. The
answer to them all was 'no', except for the scab on my arm she had seen,
and I told her I took a shower about three times a week (although really
I usually forgot.)
"Now I need to take you temperature and get some things. Oh, but I think
you should have a treat for being so good for me."
I smiled really big! It was the first nice thing she had said, and it
had been real hard to act good all that time.
She got one of those fruit sheets and started telling me it was best to
eat it by sticking it to my thumb and keeping it in my mouth. I didn't
tell her I already knew about that. It must be better for your teeth or
something, and that's why teachers wanted you to do it that way a way
or, maybe, everyone eats them like that in this town and we had just
never heard of it in my old city. I didn't care because I had started
liking them a lot that way.
She got a thermometer and told me to get on my stomach again. Then she
spread my cheeks apart (yeah, the back ones.) and started to put it in
back there! I rolled over fast (I didn't even know you could do it that
way!). I just stared at her; I couldn't find the words!
She looked very stern, but said in just the same flat voice that she
always used, "I prefer to take temperatures that way because it is far
more accurate," then in an almost nice voice, and smiling, she said,
"besides, Jaden, it won't get in the way of your candy this way, well
it?" That, at least, a good idea I thought, and I knew I was going to
lose an argument, so I let her put the thermometer where she wanted.
It felt really weird at first, but it wasn't so bad. What was worse was
she had left, saying she would be gone for three minutes, and left the
door wide open. I couldn't move with that thing in me, and now I didn't
have the blanket over me. All I could do is lie there licking my candy
and hope that girl didn't walk down the hall again.
I heard the nurse talking to the girl as she came back, and I was really
worried, but she made the girl stop before she could see in, thank
goodness!!
"I was worried you were going to bring that girl in her," I said.
The nurse put the things she was carrying down, went to the hall to get
some more stuff fro, the girl, then she closed the door and said, "I'm
not here to embarrass you, Jaden, Just to help you. But Abby has
brothers so I don't think she would be all that interested, and you have
nothing to be so modest about."
Then why had the girl walked up the hall twice; and why did the boys
always make fun of my thing being so small if they saw it in the locker
room or bathroom or just saw my underpants even; and why did people at
the foster homes get mad if we ever left the bathroom in just our
unders? But I didn't say any of that to the nurse.
She pulled out the thermometer and said, "Well, at least that is normal.
Roll back over and fold your knees up as close to your head as you can."
I figured she was checking how flexible I was, so I didn't worry about
doing it, I am real good at that stuff and thought she would be
impressed. When I had both knees where I could lick them she pulled them
apart and said, "Very good, Jaden. You are starting to get a rash, and
I'm going put some medicine on it."
**********
Chapter VI: JB's School Day
She put her hand right there! Right between one thing and the other, if
you know what I mean, and it was real cold, and I jumped.
She said, "Now Jade, this is going to make you feel much better. You
should see how red you are down here, love. Doesn't it burn and inch?"
I had to admit that sometimes it did do both of those things, but
still!! "I can put it on myself though," I said.
"No, you can't; not and get it spread just right. I know it is cold, but
it is good for you. Now, lie back and put you legs back like you had
them. NOW, Jaden."
I hadn't even thought about what she was looking at from that end of the
bed, but now I did, and I put my hands over my things.
"Move your hands from your little pieces, Jade. Keep sucking on your
candy. It will make you feel better. See, doesn't that feel good. I'll
get this cream all around the red spots. And then some oil to make it
soft. You're going to feel so good..."
She kept talking like that as she rubbed all over the place, even right
on my thing, and she pulled the skin back on it, and she did around both
sides of my crack and right around my hole. I guess she talked to
distract me from what she was doing, and it worked sort of for a while
because I just kept working on the candy on my thumb. Until she put her
finger right inside me! In the place the thermometer had been, really!
When she did that I sat up again, but she didn't get mad.
She gently pushed me back down, and said, "And now some powder, Jade,
and we will be all done. You did very well. Now let's get you dressed."
She pulled my legs down so I could sit up, and I noticed she had brought
my gym clothes in with her; she must have a key to the gym lockers. Me
and Ms Evens should have thought of that yesterday.
Then she guided my arms though each of the t-shirt sleeves and did the
same thing with my legs for the shorts. She said, "There wasn't a strap
in your gym locker. Don't you use one?"
"My mom won't buy one."
"Why not? It is on the supply list."
Maybe it doesn't sound like a big deal after what she had just done, but
it was still embarrassing to say it. "Mom says it'd be a waste of money
for something so small. You've seen lots. Is it that small?"
"Well, Jade, people grow up at different speeds. You'll catch up someday
and do fine. Don't be in to big a hurry though, because there are
advantages to being as cute as you are."
The way she had just gone about all she had done I didn't think she
liked me, it was like it was just a job to be put up with, so her saying
that did make me feel better and like her better too.
It made me smile, and as she tied my shoes I said, "My name is Jaden,
not Jade, and everyone calls be JB too, you know."
"Why would you want to use initials when you have such a pretty name?
And I'm going to shorten it to Jade because that is a stone that is
almost as precious as you are. Do you mind so much?"
I liked what she said, but still worried. "Well, it sounds kind'a girly
and people have made fun of even 'Jaden' all the time, but OK, but not
in front of other kids, 'K?" (Of course they make fun of JB too, but I
didn't go in to that.)
"I'll try really hard not to do that, but now I have some bad news for
you, Jade. Anytime I have to but something on someone's bottom I charge
them for it."
"But I don't have any money! Ever! And you never told me."
"The price is one hug." She was grinning real big because she had
tricked me.
I put my arms around her and gave her a hug. I mean what else could I
do.
I had almost decided that the people in this town must be a lot
different from the people in my old town, or at least the grown ups, or
at least the teachers, or at least the lady teachers. In my old town
when I had an accident or a wreck in my pants no one acted like Ms Evens
or the Nurse did. They would all get disgusted and mad. Even, especially
the teachers and the people that ran foster homes, and my mom went
ballistic during the car trip down here last summer.
When I let go the nurse said, "That hug was so big you get some change
back." And we hugged again. (That was silly, right? 'Cause she had been
hugging me back anyway.)
As we walked to the outer office I told her that everyone was going to
think that I had really wet my pants, and I was going to get teased all
day.
That girl was still in the outer office, and I blushed when I saw her;
she smiled at me. The nurse said, "That is why I have Abby as my aide,
Jade - en. She is the biggest gossip in the whole school. She will make
sure that everyone knows what really happened by lunch time. Want you,
Abby?"
"I sure will, Ms Marks. So don't worry, Jaden."
"And, Jaden," the nurse, Ms Marks, added, "she is also too scared of me
to say anything to anyone about something she shouldn't talk about.
Right, Abby?"
"Yes Ma'am, Ms Marks."
Ms Marks wrote a note for me to show all my teachers and other grown-ups
that ask why I was wearing gym clothes to class. Then I went to find my
books. Abby came with me, and she stood right up to the cafeteria ladies
when they didn't want to let us in.
It turned out that it was still first period; I thought all that had
taken a lot longer. But I got to second period on time; that was History
with Ms Evens, and she smiled when she saw me.
Ms Evens read my note from the nurse first thing. Only problem was she
put her arm around me while she read it. That would have been nice if
all the big kids hadn't been watching. Some of the kids giggled as they
walked by me. Ms Evens gave me a hall pass so I could put my books in my
locker, because I still had my whole backpack. When I got back the class
was real, real quiet, and my desk had been moved to the front, next to
Abby's. No one from that class said anything else, even out in the
halls.
After that I had Math, and Amanda said 'hi' as I came in for the first
time. Then she walked with me to Art and made lots of silly jokes.
After lunch I had Spanish. I had that with the seventh graders because I
didn't have to take it at my old school, and they hadn't heard what
really happened this morning, but the teacher had and was on my side.
After that was PE today. Since I didn't need to change, I helped the
coach set up. They played floor hockey, but the coach let me just chase
the out of bounds balls without having to get run over three times
first. Before the end of the period, Ms Marks came in and ask if I could
come with her.
Back in the same little room as before she made me get on the bed. The
little bear was sitting on the pillows this time and she asked me to
hold it while she did her work. Then she pulled my shorts off for me,
and she put the medicine on me just like before, she rubbed me with the
cream and the oil and the powder (yeah, she put her finger in there
again too) but I knew what to expect this time and didn't mind so much.
She had thrown my underpants out, just like Ms Evens had, and I told her
that my mom would get mad if she ever noticed (which she would if she
ever did.), and she promised to get some new ones for me. Then she said,
"That bear's name is Molly, and I think she could use a special friend.
Would you take her home and take care of her."
"My mom wouldn't like me to. But thank you; is she always such a nice
bear?" I said just joking around.
"Oh, she is special, Jade. She is only nice to very nice people, and she
always knows. That is how I know you must be nice, because she likes
you. She can be yours, and I'll keep her right her, and you will have to
come visit her, OK?" (We were both being silly. That felt weird with a
grown-up and a teacher too.)
She asked if my mother would help put my medicine on at night. That
scared the h-e-l-l out of me! So she didn't make me take any home, but
told me to come see her before breakfast in the morning.
She also gave me a new t-shirt that was in a plastic bag, and told me to
stop wearing my briefs to bed, but to just wear the extra big shirt with
nothing under it. I should bring the shirt to her inside the bag if it
was wet. That would be good for the rash and my unders would not get so
ruined either. That was a good idea! She said it was only the second
best answer but would have to do for now. I wondered what the best is.
As I was leaving she said, "Wait, Jade; you forgot to pay me." I
remembered the price and gave her a hug. Then she gave me my change too.
The girl that was the infirmary aide that period (it wasn't Abby) was
giggling real loud, but I didn't even care, neither did Ms Marks.
Last period was English. When it was almost over the office aide brought
a note saying I should go to Ms Evens office just before announcements.
I got there just as Ms Evens finished with her gym class, and she said
she had had something for me that I needed before going home. At first I
thought it was extra homework, or a letter to my mother, but it was some
more of that candy, and she put it on my thumb for me. She set me in her
lap to listen to the announcements while I ate it, like we did
yesterday, and we made jokes about them and the way some of the
announcers sounded.
After announcements she gave me some candy to take home, (and pecked me
on the nose! I giggled!).
The bus kids all just ignored me like usual, so I guess they had heard
what really happened this morning too. I rode home sucking on some more
of my candy and realized I felt really happy! In spite of the awful
start it had been a not bad day. In fact it was, maybe, one of the best
ever school days ever - for me.
**********
Chapter VII: JB's New Clothes
"Hi, Ms Marks" I said when I saw her walking towards the infirmary door
where I was already waiting.
"Why, hi to you too, Jade. You're bright and early this morning, aren't
you?"
"You want help caring stuff?" She already had a tray from the cafeteria
even though its doors weren't open yet.
"Sure can you hold this while I get the door."
"I've got your breakfast here to too, Jade. Would you like to eat in
here?"
"'K," I said. I mean why not, and I'd be less likely to get teased too.
I sat at the desk in the rolling chair. The table was too high, so I had
to kneel to reach it; I'm use to stuff like that. She took the milk out
of my hand as I was opening it and fixed the cereal for me. She only had
to open the juice far enough to get a straw in it because she kept
straws in her desk.
Then when I leaned forward to take the first bite, the chair rolled
backwards, and the whole bowl and some of the juice flopped all down my
shirt, and I fell out of the chair on to the desk.
I guess I started to cry. Ms Marks came over and helped me up. "Oh,
Jade, I'm sorry about that old chair. It wasn't your fault at all. Let's
go in to your room and get you cleaned up. There, there. It's going to
be fine."
"But I messed up my clothes again. I - doing that - al - the time."
"Well, this time it is OK, because I have some new things for you."
She had carried me into the room I went into yesterday, but now there
were kind'a purple sheets and a flowered cover on the bed. Holly the
Bear was sitting on the pillows instead of on the shelf now.
She put me down on the bed and took my shirt and pants off. There was a
sink right in the room, and she wet a wash cloth and washed my chest and
stomach. She said, "Stay right there and play with Holly while I clean
up the mess out front. Be right back!"
I picked Holly up and hugged her. This was awful! - again!! I threw the
stupid bear onto the floor. Then put my head in the pillows and just
cried. Why was all this always happening to me? I had always had a way
of getting into trouble, but for the third day in a row some lady was
having to wash my clothes. And she had undressed me like a baby too! Or
at least a little kid.
But both of the ladies had been nice about it, hadn't they? It wasn't
like what my grandma or foster home people or even my mom would have
done at all. I felt sorry for Holly and went and picked her up and held
her while I sat curled up on the bed.
I tried to stop crying. Why were the ladies here so different - nice -
to me? I thought about the candy that Ms Marks and Ms Evens both gave me
and started licking my thumb. That's what I was doing when Ms Marks came
in.
She said, "Does that thumb taste good, Jade." She was smiling, and I
wasn't sure if she was teasing or not.
"I was pretending it had candy on it," I said, still sobbing though I
tried not to.
"That's OK, but I think it is still to early for real candy. Let's get
your medicine on you now, since you're almost ready."
I lay down on my back. I knew this routine by now, of course.
She lifted my butt up by raising my legs then spread a towel under it
before she put me down. She pulled my underwear off and told me to pull
my knees way up again.
This time the first medicine she used was real sticky. But other than
that she did everything like she did it yesterday. I said, "Ms Marks,
can't I try to do it myself. This is like getting a diaper put on, and
I'm too big."
I had had my hands on my privates, and she pushed them away, and started
rubbing oil around and on them. "Jade, lots of big people do have to
wear diapers sometimes you know, and it isn't their fault when that
happens. When there is something wrong there is nothing wrong with
doctors and nurses doing there jobs. So don't be ashamed. OK?"
I nodded and asked if I was going to have to wear my gym clothes all day
again.
She said, "Nope, like I said, I have some new clothes for you to wear at
school. I will keep them, and keep them clean for you. Does that sound
good?"
"Yeah, guess."
Ms Marks pulled some things out of a shopping bag and said, "First thing
is some new underclothes. I got you a different kind. They are thicker
at the front, because you said you had little drips sometimes." She
showed me a pair of underwear that was white with little blue, red and
yellow dots all over it, and slipped them up my legs.
I said, "Hey, these are too small." Even lying on the bed I could tell
they didn't come to the top of my crack, and also the elastic part
around the waste was way thinner than any I had worn before.
Ms Marks told me to stand up and then looked at me and pulled on the
unders. She said, "Nope, Jade, that is just like they should fit. Put
your hand on the front and feel how soft and thick they are. That will
be good for your rash, and so will having them tighter and higher on the
legs too."
"Are you sure boys wear these?" I asked.
"Of course they do, but girls do too, girls leak like that too and they
care about it more than boys. That is why they wear them more often.
Maybe when you have PE we will have to think of something."
She picked up a pair of bright red shorts and a pair of bluish-green
ones. "And you also have these," she said.
I picked them up. The legs were shorter than usual, but I was use to
hand-me-downs at foster homes, so them being small on me wasn't a big
deal. Both of them had cuffs, like at the bottom of pants, but the red
ones didn't have a fly, just a flap to make them look like they did.
"Ms Marks, how could I go to the bathroom in these? You got to pull them
down or something. The boys would see my butt if I did that."
"Oh, just a bit. You could go in the stalls."
I rolled my eyes. I had decided she was nice really, but she sure knew
nothing about boy's rooms.
"There aren't any doors, and people tease you if you sit down in there,
especially kids like me."
"Oh, OK. I guess we will go with the green ones. Now for a top." She
meant a shirt. There were four. Two of them were those knit kind, with
just three buttons and a collar, one white, one bright yellow. There
others were regular shirts, T-shirts. The first she showed me was light
blue and had a teddy bear on it! The second was yellow again, but pale
yellow and it had a star with a bunch of different points and the middle
was bluish-green like the shorts.
Ms Marks might be nice and smart, but how could she work at a school and
not know that boys didn't wear teddy bears, or that yellow was a girls
color? I guess she saw the look on my face because she said, "You think
people would tease you if you wore the bear? Well I picked that because
it looks like Holly, but we can save it for another time too. I didn't
have a lot to pick from, I'll look at some other stores sometime."
I said, "Does the school pay for this? You shouldn't buy me stuff, my
mom might get mad."
"It's not new really, Jade. I got them at a second hand store. I just
cleaned them up real well, is all."
They felt a lot nicer than all the stuff I got from used clothes stores
before, which was all most all I got. She must have been good at
cleaning them.
I thought the pale yellow might not get me teased too much and I
couldn't hurt her feelings too much, could I? So I picked it up and
started to put it on.
Ms Marks took it from me and said, "Tell you what - let's not put them
on until after breakfast, OK. Just in case."
I guess I couldn't fight that, I mean I already had messed up some
clothes. Also, I'd figured I wasn't gonna have breakfast since I had
spilled mine.
"You mean you can get me some more?" I said with a smile.
"I'll just let you have mine. I can get more any time because I'm the
nurse," she said.
She took my hand as we walked back to the front office. I didn't even
think about the fact that I only had on skimpy polka-dot underwear and
socks. I mean she just made it seem so regular.
When I finished eating she said, "Scoot back to your room, Jade, and
I'll come and dress you as soon as I get this cleaned up."
And I did. Scoot, that is, about halfway down the hall, before I thought
about her coming in to dress me. Then I walked slowly the rest of he
way, sat on the bed and held Holly.
I wondered if she thought I was really just a little kid because I was
so small. And I thought Ms Evens must too. Both had called me sweetheart
and stuff and helped do stuff that even little kids could do alone. And
they held and hugged me too. And I didn't mind, which made me feel real
weird too. But everyone had always told me I was weird, or lots worse
things than that, so maybe it didn't matter.
When Ms Marks came in I said, "You know I can dress myself."
"Well. Of course you can!" she said, "But I thought you might want help
because they are a bet different is all. Just let me give you a hand."
I got off the bed, and she picked up the green shorts she said, "You
know this color is called jade, just like your name, that's why I picked
them. I'm glad you like them." Then she held the shorts open down near
the floor. I guess she thought that was giving me a hand, but at least I
wasn't being dressed lying down this time.
I put my hands on her shoulders and stepped in to them. Just then a
voice said, "Hi Ms Marks. I'm hear."
I tried to jump around behind the nurse, but she grabbed my waist and
held me. She said, just like nothing was strange, "Good Morning, Abby.
Are the busses here already? I guess I better hurry, hadn't I?"
She had left my shorts around my knees while she said that. I leaned
forward and hid my head on her shoulders. When she had them up, she
said, "Stand up, so I can zip them, Jade. Can you get the maize socks
out of that bag, Abby?"
Abby handed the socks to Ms Marks and said, "Don't be shy, JB. I have a
twin brother who runs around the horse in his boxers all the time, and
he's not nearly as cute as you."
But her brother probably wasn't being dressed by the school nurse at the
time, and probably wasn't as small as me, and probably... I just looked
down at my feet.
After putting my socks and shoe on my feet, Ms Marks demanded her usual
payment for the treatment. I gave her a hug; she gave me one back; Abby
grinned at us. This day had started off even worse than yesterday; but
the hugs still felt good.
**********
Chapter VIII: JB and the Awful, No-Good Day
I was feeling really sad when I left the infirmary and had wanted to
keep on hugging but Ms Marks and Abby had to get busy. I remembered that
yesterday had started off bad too. But even the things that made
yesterday good were things I wouldn't have wanted to talk about. Like
the nurse being nice when she changed my clothes, or just because people
didn't think I'd wet my pants. It was all weird.
I was trying to get through the crowded front entry when a girl grabbed
me and said, "Wait, don't run away." It was Amanda. "Is that a new top?
It's very pretty, JB. Oh and your shorts match. That looks so sweet.
Look, Suzy, isn't JB's top cute?" And I had thought Amanda liked me.
Another girl said, "Oh, I saw that in the store, but my mom wouldn't let
me have it. She hates shirts with sparkles on them. You're so lucky, JB"
There were two boys next to them, and they were laughing. I said I had
to go and pulled away. I didn't think they should'a made fun of Ms Marks
shirt.
During Science class the teacher was doing an experiment with us
standing around the table. When she saw me at the back she picked me up
and sat me on the table cross legged. Everybody in the whole class
laughed about it. On the way out of the class I heard someone say, "JB
the baby." I hadn't heard that one at this school yet and had hoped no
one would think it up.
Next period was History with Ms Evens! She was standing at the door when
I got to the room and, without thinking about it, I kind of leaned
against her. She looked down at me and said, "Are you having an awful,
no-good day, JB?"
I nodded, and she put her arm across my back. One of the boys walked
passed and said, "Hey, teachers can't have pets."
I realized what I was doing and tried to pull away, but Ms Evens held on
to me and said, "We certainly can, Hal. Just because I'm nice to one
student doesn't make me any nicer or meaner to the others. Do you need a
hug real badly today too?"
The boy blushed and shook his head and went to his seat.
I was blushing too now. That had been dumb I thought. Ms Evens walked
with me over to my seat next to Abby, and Abby said, "Did you see JB new
clothes, MS E."
"Yes, I sure did. You look very nice today, JB." I blushed way more. I
was afraid Abby was going to say something about my new underpants too,
but she didn't.
The boy behind Abby whispered, "'You sure look nice, baby.'" as soon as
Ms Evens was behind her desk. After sitting in the room for fifty
minutes with Ms Evens I still didn't feel any better. After class I
waited tell everyone had left and asked her for another hug, and I got
one, a bigger one, and a smile.
Then just before Math Amanda said something else about my shirt being
pretty, and I said, "Shut up and stop teasing me!" I must have been too
loud because the teacher told me to sit down even though the bell hadn't
rung.
About ten minutes into the lesson, Amanda poked me in the back, then
about five minutes later she did it again. I yelled "Stop it!" and I got
sent to the office.
I had to sit and sit in the office. I had to write down why I had got in
trouble. I was already missing Art when this lady called me into her
office. She talked and talked - about paying attention and letting
others learn, and the proper way to deal with kids bugging me (tell a
teacher; yeah, right.) - but maybe she believed what I said in my
letter, because she didn't yell and only gave me two marks.
Since it was already first lunch I went and got my food. I didn't want
to go to Art with that Amanda again.
This day was a lot worse than yesterday, and it did not look like it was
going to get any better. I mean Ms Evens and Ms Marks were still nice,
but even Amada, who had been nice yesterday, was teasing me now, wasn't
she? And I wasn't too sure about Abby.
I went by the infirmary but there was a note on the door saying go to
the office because the nurse was teaching a health class.
I went to Spanish class and we had a quiz, which I think I flunked.
On my way to shop; which is always bad, worse than PE even; those two
kids that threw water on me saw me, and one yelled, "Hey, it's that
little kid that got us in trouble."
The other one yelled even louder, "Look, it's the little sissy that wet
his pants yesterday."
I started to run, and they chased me pushing people out of their way.
When I reached the hall by the shop class one of them jumped and tackled
me. The other caught up and said, "Let's see if the fairy pants wetter
can fly," and he tried to pick me up and throw me, but he only got me
about three feet. Then his friend tried. I was swing my arms trying to
hit them but it didn't help. Some of the big eighth grader boys were
coming now and they were laughing and one of them said, "Here, let me
try." He grabbed me and tossed me to another big boy. I was trying to
kick 'em and hit 'em now.
There were girls coming to the Home Ec and Band rooms and stuff, and
they laughed too or just watched. Mr. Johnson came out and said, "Hay
Gerry, throw him to me!" All the big boys thought that was real funny.
Mr. Johnson caught me and lifted me real high. He carried me like that
into the Shop before he put me down. To the boys in the hall he said,
"OK, that's enough everyone. Game's over. Get to class." Then he told me
to go to the back and stop crying. "I was all just in fun, JB. No big
deal," he said.
See why I hated Shop already? At least he didn't make me do anything
during class. About half way through class someone brought a note, and
Mr. Johnson announced that I was to go to the infirmary. As I walked to
the door a boy hollered, "He's probably got to have his diaper changed!"
and the whole room burst into laughter.
At the infirmary I just walked straight back to the room I always used.
Ms Marks followed me. I grabbed the bear off the pillows, and Ms Marks
had spread a towel under me before she said, "Have you had a hard day,
little Jade?"
I nodded, and she asked, "Do you want to talk about it?" as she took off
my shoes and pulled down my shorts.
I shook my head real slow. At least I wasn't crying.
Once my shorts were off, she sat on the bed and picked me up and put me
in her lap. She pulled my head close to her breast and rocked back and
forth saying, "There, there," over and over.
After a while she asked if I felt a little better, and I did. She
started stroking my hair and said, "When we're done, I'm going to brush
you hair, and we'll see if that helps. I bet it does. It usually does
with little girls. But tonight I want you to be sure to wash it really
well, two or three times. Can you get some conditioner from your mom?"
I nodded. My mom had lots of bottles in the bathroom, some of it stuff
she didn't like.
"Then use that too, sweetheart," she said, "but let's get you fixed up
now," and she sat me down on bed and took my shirt off, then my
underpants, and she spread the ointment and the oil and the powder all
over. This part was beginning to feel nicer and nicer, at least when I
was this sad.
When she was done she said she would be right back and went to get a
brush even before she dressed me. She sat me on her lap and started
brushing. She was doing a lot more than I ever did to it. My hair was a
little ways past the bottom of my ears, almost to my collar on the sides
and almost to my shoulder in back, because I hadn't had a hair cut since
I'd come to live with my mom. It was also kinda straight, so I didn't
think it need much but she kept wrapping it around the brush and
twirling it I guess.
Some times it pulled, and each time she said, "ouch" for me and kissed
the spot. While she was brushing her other hand had fallen in my lap,
and she just left it there. Then after a while she started rubbing my
tube back and forth at the same time as she stroked my hair.
Then she picked me up and carried me over to a mirror and said, "OK,
Jade, it would be better if it was cleaner, but look in there and tell
me if you recognize anyone."
I looked and instead of the limp and tangley stuff I always had on my
head, it was all wavy and soft looking. It was parted in the middle but
there were like little waves of bangs over each eye. I smiled; it had
really made up for this day but it did look nice. "Well, I recognize Ms
Marks," I said and she kissed cheek.
"And when you clean it it will look even prettier." She sat me down on
the counter top and pulled a yellow and pink bow out of a bag She stuck
the bow in my hair on one side and made me look again. "See how pretty
you can be, my piece of Jade?"
I nodded but said, "But boys don't wear ribbons!"
She said, "I don't see why not. Anyway that doesn't mean YOU can't
sometimes."
She was being silly again so I giggled.
Then she said, "But now we got to hurry or I'm going to be late for my
last period class. Come on into your old clothes, Shady-Jade."
I said, "I think I should wear those others for the rest of the day or
lots of people will notice I've changed and tease me. Would that be OK
for me to wear them home?"
"Of course, but want your mom wonder where they came from?"
"I can get them changed before she sees me."
"Ok, sweet, bring them back to me tomorrow."
I let her lay me down on the bed to dress me, she did put some different
underpants on me. Ones more the old style, but thicker in the middle
part. They didn't seem as comfortable to me as the new kind.
Once I was dressed we went into the front office and I gave her a hug
before I went out the door. I wanted to even though that girl at the
desk could see, and I had already 'paid' her in the other room.
There were lots of kids talking and laughing when I went down the hall
to the English class. I heard lots of "JB Baby" and "He caught him and
held up", so I knew it was about me. I went into the classroom early and
just sat at my seat and tried to ignore everything. I had felt a little
better in Ms Marks lap but that had all disappeared during the walk down
the hall.
The teacher told us we could spend the last part of class doing our
homework, and I asked her if I could leave to go see Ms Evens about a
project. I found Ms Evens in the gym; she blew her whistle when she saw
me and told the girls to run five laps. She came over and took my hand,
and we walked through the girl's locker to her office. She sat me in her
lap. She had heard all about the toss