"Who's talking?" she demanded. "Well, who is
it? Confess or I'll hold you all accountable."
The smaller girl sat up and pointed at me. "She talked," she accused.
My mouth dropped. How could she do that,
squeal on me?
"Sure. It just had to be my girl." M'Lady One
muttered unhappily. "and after I thought she was
beginning to do well." She entered the barn and
approached me.
I turned away and looked down, but she kept
coming.
"When lights are out. you go to sleep." she said,
hovering right over me. I kept my head dawn. "Are
you just stupid? Or are you just a hard case? What do
you need to convince you we're serious about the
rules here? Well, which is it, stupid or defiant?
Answer immediately when you are asked a question,"
she bellowed.
I turned slowly. I was tired. I ached and I was
afraid. but I couldn't help myself. I looked up and into
her face as bravely as I could manage.
"I'm not stupid. This place is stupid."
She raised her eyebrows and then smiled.
"Really? What do you find stupid? Surely, not your
buddies," she said, and M'Lady Two entered the barn.
She walked up beside M'Lady One and put her hands
on her hips.
"What's the problem now?" she asked. "My little sister here says this is all stupid. I'm
trying to find out what exactly is stupid."
I looked at Robin, who immediately looked