Raven (Orphans 4)

"I don't know what's going on," I said, "but it's coming to an end."

"What are you going to do?" Tern asked as I rose from my seat.

"Watch," I told her, and started to march across the cafeteria. I heard the laughter and chatter die down and saw that heads were turning my way. Everyone at Jimmy's table stopped talking and looked up.

"I hear that you're making up stories about me, Jimmy," I said, glaring down at him.

He shrugged. "Hey, in some cases, you don't have to make anything up," he said.

Jennifer grunted, and her friends smiled.

"In your case, I imagine it's ninety-five percent invented," [said. "After spending only a few minutes with you alone, I can understand why you're always looking for a new girl."

Smiles faded. I heard someone suck in air. Jimmy turned; his face was turning bright red. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"You're a lot better at basketball than you are at making love," I said. "I guess you waste all your talents on the court. If you don't stop making up nasty stories about me, I'll tell everyone why I left the bedroom so quickly."

For a moment, Jimmy was unable to respond. Everyone at the table turned from me to him, their eyes widening with new awareness. I knew there was no better way to make a boy like Jimmy afraid than to attack his manliness and his souped-up reputation.

"Huh?" was all he could utter.

I started to turn away when Jennifer piped up. "Stop trying to cover up, Raven. You're the one who's always fouling out," she shouted. "That's why you're here, living as a servant in my house." Her friends laughed.

I froze for a moment, feeling my spine turn to cold steel. Then I turned slowly and stepped back toward the table.

"Me? Cover up? Please, Daddy," I whimpered. "I didn't mean to throw up all over the place. Raven made me do it."

"Shut up!" she screamed.

"I'm a good girl. Daddy's little good girl," I mimicked.

Everyone held their breath. Jennifer turned so red I thought she might just burst into flames. Instead, she reached down, seized a half-eaten bowl of tomato soup, and threw it at me. The hot soup splattered my clothes and face, and the bowl crashed to the floor, shattering.

Mr. Wizenberg, the cafeteria monitor, came running over. "What's going on here?" he demanded. "Who did this?"

Everyone at the table stared at him. He turned to me. "Who threw that at you?"

"No one," I said. "It flew up on its own." I wouldn't be a tattletale, not even to get Jennifer in trouble. Frustrated, Mr. Wizenberg sent the whole table and me to Mr. Moore's office. Unable to get anyone to rat, Mr. Moore put us all in detention and sent letters home to each and every student's family. Naturally, they all blamed me.

Before our letters arrived, Jennifer went crying to Uncle Reuben, claiming I had started it all. This time, Aunt Clara interceded before he could unbuckle his belt.

"Don't, Reuben," she said. "It can't be entirely her fault, and you've punished her enough already."

Uncle Reuben was angrier about Aunt Clara's interference than anything, but he didn't say a word. He pointed his finger at me and shook his hand without speaking. To me, that was more frightening. He looked monstrous, capable of murder. I retreated as soon as I could and let him vent his rage to Aunt Clara.

"She is obviously the one who needs discipline, Clara. We can't keep her here if we don't try to control her bad ways. Look at all the trouble she's caused in the short time she's been with us. Don't ever interfere again, understand? Understand?" he threatened.

"Yes, Reuben, yes. I'll have a talk with her."

"Talking doesn't help that kind. She's too spoiled, too far gone. I'm her only hope," he declared.

If he was my only hope, I was long gone.

When the letter arrived, he pinned mine on the inside of my bedroom door.

"Don't you dare take this off here, understand?" he declared. "I want you to see this each and every time you walk out of this room."

"Are you pinning Jennifer's to her door, too?" I asked.