Dawn broke over the Morrow household. The brilliant December sun rising over Clausland Mountain. The sunlight entered the room; landing on the bureau, landing upon the pink pinafore dress hanging on one of the knobs. Along the wall, beneath the window, was Victoria's bed. Victoria, buried firmly beneath the quilt along with Amy. Amy came in at some point after last night's event; protecting her sister from any further attacks by Anne, attacks that could restart at any time.
Amy woke up first; rubbing her eyes, she looked over at the clock.
"6:30? Oh, no!" Amy thought as she got up from the bed and stumbled next door to her room. She noticed an uneasy quiet that fallen over the entire house. Sitting down on the bed to collect her thoughts, Amy felt uneasy. Her body felt as though it had burst into flames.
"I can't get sick now." She thought to herself. Amy braced for Anne to arrive any moment now. She didn't have it in her to fight back against her mother this morning. Last night's affair still fresh in her mind. After Victoria left, Amy backhanded her mother as she tried to grab one of Amy's braids. She felt bad about it, but she had to defend herself. Suddenly, Anne appeared in the doorway.
She looked as though she'd gotten into a fight on the street; her eyes sunken; her skin sallow. She reeked of alcohol as it oozed through every pore. Had she been a single woman, Anne would've made even old Auntie Mame reconsider her bacchanalia. Anne rubbed her head.
"Amy, you don't look so well." Anne said groggily.
"I'm fine." She replied, her eyes barely staying open without Amy forcing them open
"No. The way you're forcing your eyes to stay open and how pale you are screams, 'I'm sick.'" Anne put her hand on Amy's forehead; the way her hand recoiled, Amy thought she was on the verge of death.
"Good lord. Amy, get back in your bed at once. You're not going anywhere."
"But mom." Amy scoffed.
"No. You're sick. I'm calling the school. I'm sure you can make up the test." Anne reasoned
"Can I just go to school?" Amy pleaded. She couldn't stand being in the same room as her mother at the moment.
"Amy Vandeventer Morrow. Don't even try it." Anne glowered. She rubbed her eyes.
"Please?" Amy begged, standing firm.
"No. They wouldn't allow you to come in any way. They'd turn you back at the door." Anne
"No, they wouldn't; they'd let me in and allow me to go to class."
Anne laughed at her daughter's naïveté.
"I'll be back in a few moments; you'd best be in your bed upon my return."
Amy slunk down; giving up on her prospect of leaving the house. She listened for her mother; she was in Victoria's room, judging by the volume of her voice. Anne sauntered out of the room and back into Amy's.
"No one is going anywhere today. Victoria is also sick. Guiding Light is on in an hour. I expect you two down in the front room."
"Oh god, we have to watch Guiding Light? Gag me already." Amy thought as she stared at her mother, smiling weakly. She hated being sick, especially whenever her mother was hung over. The way Anne would sometimes pick Amy apart made Amy angry.
"When I was your age, Amy, I could take care of myself. I would lock myself away from everyone. Why can't you do that, Amy? It's as though you're incapable of doing such things."
"Is that all you do, mom? You love to hurt my feelings, like I'm not a good enough kid for you. Just go send me to live with Uncle Jack and Aunt Carol, already."
Anne could feel her hangover sharpen. She attempted to piece together what had happened only hours before. Was it all a dream to Anne, or was it a harsh reality? She was going to find out in due time.
"I had the strangest dream last night, Amy. For some reason, you and your sister were in it. That version of you slapped me after Victoria got dragged off."
"I'm sorry you had that bad dream, mom." Amy sighed. The feeling of her mother's hand on her loose braid sent chills up and down her spine.
"The look she gave me after she hit me. The devil himself would've cowered in fear."
"I don't know anything about your dream." Amy said softly, lying through her teeth.
Anne practically had to drag Amy and Victoria down to the front room. She assigned Amy the love seat and Victoria the main couch. Anne sitting up so that Victoria could lay at the other end. The earth tones of the room had come to take on a more matte finish; the result of years of cigarette smoke. Even the TV across the room had taken on a dull appearance. Anne took out a menthol Virginia Slim and lit it. Amy coughed. Anne said nothing. Taking another drag, she let it out in Victoria's direction; causing the girl to frown.
Anne's favorite soap opera; Guiding Light, came on. The way she became enthralled with the show reminded Amy of Victoria when watching Wonder Cats. Victoria coughed. Anne lit up another cigarette and blew the smoke in Amy's direction. The smoke cloud raced toward the TV; the nicotine becoming stuck among the other layers of tar and dust. Amy closed her eyes, shutting out the sappy soap opera and her disheveled mother.
Guiding Light ended promptly at 10 AM. Anne nudged her two youngest awake. Victoria's face took on a deathlike pallor. Anne noticed; a look of grave concern on her face.
"Amy, will you help me take Victoria to her room?" Anne pleaded.
"Can't she walk to her own room?" Amy inquired.
"Look at her, Amy. She can barely keep her eyes open. You don't look well, either; but could you please help me?" Anne pleaded.
"Yes, mom." Amy replied. Glad that her mother had finally said please to her instead of outright demanding. Bracing the younger girl on both of their shoulders, they led her upstairs. A bright spot on this rather dull day. Placing her on the bed, Anne placed the heavy quilt on top of her. Amy walked out into the hall and waited for her mother. Moments later, Anne reemerged.
"Amy, I'd like to talk to you about something." Anne muttered; her head facing the floor.
"What is it, mom?"
"I'm sorry about last night. I swear it was a dream, Amy. I didn't mean to grab you like that. You hit me out of reflex. Did you drag Victoria off of me?"
"I did. I didn't know what she was doing. I heard her go into your room, and then I heard a scream, so I ran in to see what was going on. That's when I saw her on you. She was literally laying on top of you, mom."
Anne grew horrified. Everything was beginning to click now. The odd weight she felt as it pressed down on her.
"I can't punish either of you. I was the one who was out of line last night."
Amy hugged her mother. Anne began to cry; mostly out of embarrassment for her actions, but a part of her had truly regretted what she had done. Amy's hug felt warm; much like when Victoria hugged her mother.
"Can you forgive me, Amy? I didn't mean to grab you. Please. Amy, you know I would never cause you harm, anyway."
"Mom, it's okay. I forgive you. You were drunk. I think that Victoria got scared, and she ran in because she heard you cry out."
They were back in Amy;'s room now. She sat on her bed, her mother following. Amy picked up her heavy quilt and put it on her lap.
"I hope you feel better for this coming Monday. I don't want you to become the source of a school wide flu epidemic." Anne began. Amy smiled weakly.
"Today, I want you to rest."
"Do you think something will happen to Courtney this week, mommy?" Amy asked, her voice pathetically trying to sound as normal as it could. This took Anne by surprise.
"Maybe something is happening to her, right now, Amy." Anne muttered. Amy still didn't seem convinced.
"Don't fret, little Amy. Courtney will get hers." Anne reassured.
Amy sat outside in the mild sunshine. The warmth of the wan December sun felt good on her skin. Anne had suggested that she sit outside; the fresh air would do her some good. Today, it offered quiet contemplation. She'd been drawing random doodles in her notebook. She began drawing a caricature of her mother. Amy nearly finished the picture when she heard a familiar voice.
"I figured you'd want some company outside, Amy." Victoria said. She seemed to look a little bit better, but not completely. Her sister's sudden appearance made Amy happy. Plopping down on a deck chair, Victoria turned to her sister; a serious look developing on her face.
"Thanks for saving me the other night. Mommy scared me. She was calling me and Kristina names."
"No problem Victoria. It's what sisters do. We have to protect each other." Amy reassured as Victoria threw her arms around her.
"But how will we help each other while we're at different schools?"
"I don't know yet, but don't worry about that right now. I have to go back to school tomorrow."
"Back to Courtney and back to everybody hating you." Victoria bluntly replied; her brutal honesty sometimes put itself on full display. Amy didn't care. Courtney and her stupid shit was miles away from Amy Morrow at this moment. Right now, she and her sister were the only people in the world that mattered.
"Do you think mommy will miss us, Amy?" Victoria wondered out loud.
"You know she will, Victoria. Why do you think she's started drinking so much? She's sad that we're leaving her." Amy replied, as Victoria stood up on the chair and jumped into the grass. Her coat parachuting just before impact. Her hat falling off her head. Victoria let out a massive laugh as she got up from the ground.
"You should try it, Amy. Jumping is really fun! I love jumping off the swings. Jumping makes me feel like I'm flying. I love how it scares mommy."
"A little daring, isn't it, Victoria?"
Victoria sat in the chair again. She rapidly turned her head towards Amy.
"I hope they let you jump at your new school. Because if you don't jump, you aren't happy."
Amy thought about what her sister said.
"Amy, I'm getting cold. I'm going inside."
Amy rushed into the building. The halls were a cacophony of sound, becoming a low murmur the further one traveled from the front door. She still didn't feel well, but she felt well enough to come back to school. She thought she saw her friend Stacy Greenbaum up ahead. Her pace quickened.
"Stacy!" Amy called out. She waited for her to walk over; hoping to catch up on whatever had happened since Monday. As she waited, Amy had no idea of the danger that she was walking into. Suddenly, Amy felt herself being shoved.
"Look who it is, Amy the camera dork. Take a picture of this, bitch."
Courtney Chase had struck again. Amy fell to the floor, too weak to absorb the blow. Amy lay there for a second, trying to get up off the floor. The murmur had become a cacophony of voices; from within the crowd a deep male voice was heard.
"You! What's your name?" The school resource officer yelled. His towering figure rising above nearly everyone else in the hallway.
Courtney didn't answer.
"Let me see your student ID." He demanded. Still, Courtney did nothing. This had all become a game to her. At age fourteen, Courtney was already a familiar face in the Rockland County Juvenile Justice System. This Thursday morning, she was supposed to be in the In School Suspension Room.
"You have five seconds to comply!" He demanded.
"Fuck off, pig." Courtney said.
"Put your hands behind your back!" He hissed. She didn't listen. Soon Courtney found herself being shoved into the very same lockers that she'd shoved Amy and countless others into. Placing her into the cuffs, the officer led her to the principal's office. Courtney kicking and screaming the entire way. The cacophony had become low cheers. Courtney was out of the hallways and in the arms of the administration and her jailers.
Everyone's attention now turned to Amy, who was now back on her feet. Stacy Greenbaum ran over to Amy.
"Oh my god, Amy, are you all right?" she asked. Amy nodded, but she could feel her fever coming back.
"You don't look so good. I'm going to take you to the nurse's office."
Moments later, Amy was in the nurse's office. As she sat in one of the blue plastic chairs, a member of the principal's staff came in to ask Amy what had happened.
"She always does this. I'm one of her targets. I've always been one of her targets."
"We're going to call your parents and let them know what happened."
"Okay."
The nurse had also arrived. Suddenly, Amy felt like she was someone being interviewed on the news. She took Amy's temperature and made a face.
"101. You're too sick to be here. I'm sending you home."
Amy sighed. She thought she was well enough to take that test. She could hear the nurse dialing the phone.
"Mrs. Morrow, this is the school nurse. I'm here with Amy. She has a temperature of 101. I'm sorry to have to send her home."
"Your mother is coming to pick you up. She has a meeting with the principal."
"Oh, no." Amy sighed. She knew she'd be in some kind of trouble due to this event.
"You're not in trouble."
She went into the back to lay on one of the hard beds.
Amy didn't know what time it was when her mother arrived. She had dozed off at some point. Her mother's voice woke her up.
“Amy, let's get you home.” Anne said, relieved. She helped Amy up from the low bed. Amy grabbed her coat and put it on. Five minutes later, they were outside. The bright sun stung Amy's eyes. Helping Amy into the car, Anne fastened Amy's seatbelt.
“I have good news, Amy.” Anne said, beaming.
“Courtney got arrested.” Amy said, a slight smile forming.
“Wait, what?” Anne asked, bewildered.
“Yeah, it happened right next to me! She shoved me really hard after she said, 'Look who it is; Amy the camera dork! Take a picture of this, bitch!'” Amy said, talking a mile a minute. Even though she felt like being raked over hot coals, she was ecstatic.
“Then the cop came and pushed HER up against the lockers. Mommy, it was awesome. So awesome. He even yelled at her, too!”
“Well, Courtney will no longer bother you. Today was your last day at Nyack Junior High. On to your next chapter.” Anne said with pride. Suddenly, Amy frowned.
“But mom, what about my friends, like Stacey?”
“You may call her tonight and tell her the news and invite her over tomorrow evening. After all you've been through, you need to see your friends.”
“Can they stay over?” Amy asked.
“Of course, Amy, it's been a while. I'll order pizza and pick up some party supplies at the grocery store.”
They headed home. Amy finally feeling free from everything. She couldn't wait to tell Stacey all about it.
“Oh my god, Stacey! Can you believe what happened to Courtney today?!”
“I saw it, Amy. She won't bother you for a while at least.”
“No, Stacey. Today was my last day. Do you want to come over tomorrow night? We're having pizza. Mom says you can stay over.”
“Say no more, Amy. You know I can't turn down pizza, is anyone else coming over?”
“Just you. Mom wants me to invite Ellen over, but I thought Ellen has mono?”
“It's because she kissed Nate Phillips.”
“What time tomorrow?”
“6:00. I can't wait.”
The fact that the third most popular girl in the eighth grade at Nyack Junior High was one of Amy's closest friends wasn't lost on her. Stacey Greenbaum was always seen as down to earth and allowing anyone to be her friend. Stacey was an aspiring young actress who often performed at the Orpheum Theater in Nyack; lately she was on a locally produced TV show, Catskill Saddle Club. Her character; Sadie, was a polar opposite of her actress: snooty and pretentious. Stacey loved hanging out with Amy because of her personality: bright and sunny.
Six O'clock came and with it Stacey. She knocked on the door; Amy answered.
“Hey Stacey!” She squealed; hugging the girl.
“So it's true yesterday was your last day? That sucks. Where are you going to go to school now?”
“Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. I get to see it on Monday.”
“Ooh, a private school. You won't forget us, will you?”
“No, of course not, Stacey.”
“Good evening, Stacey, how are you?” Anne inquired as she greeted the girl.
“I'm fine, Mrs. Morrow. I heard about what happened to Amy. I saw it, actually.”
“You saw the incident?” Anne gasped.
“The entire thing. From the shove to Courtney's arrest. Honestly, Mrs. Morrow, it was a surreal experience. I've never seen the cops at the school until yesterday.” Stacey replied, her eyes wide.
Stacey and Amy were in the kitchen. Anne reappeared; Victoria in tow.
“Amy, Stacey, I'm going out this evening. May Victoria join you both?”
“Of course.” Both of them replied.
Stacey Greenbaum was the daughter of a high profile forensic accountant working for the New York State Police named Marcia and a well-respected travel author; Samuel. Her blonde hair and brown eyes reflected the bright kitchen light and yellow walls. On the kitchen island were two pizzas and a case of Dr. Pepper.
“Have at it, girls. Have fun, don't stay up too late. Victoria, make sure you go to bed at a reasonable time.”
“We will, mom!” Amy exclaimed; waiting for the formalities to conclude. Anne walked out the front door.
“Amy got rid of her bully!” Victoria shouted.
“She got rid of herself, Victoria.” Stacey began.
“I'm glad that she's no longer allowed to roam our school and picking on other kids like Amy. Courtney never learned how to be herself; she always has to be the center of the attention.”
Victoria understood and nodded. She'd seen bullying at her school, but was never the recipient of it. Even Kristina, as awkward as she was, was relatively unscathed.
They grabbed the pizza and ran upstairs to the TV room. They watched the Whiz Kids episode Red Star Rising before switching to MTV. The Morrow's were able to have cable in three rooms of the house. Soon, the three of them were dancing the night away. Victoria had developed a new dance and was trying to show Amy and Stacey how to do it. Stacey, seeming to get the hang of it, managed to make it halfway through the video for Karma Chameleon before falling over onto the couch. Amy looked up at the clock.
“Stacey, Victoria, let's head to my room. Mom will be home soon.” Hurriedly, they made their way to Amy's room. Giggling as they passed through the door, the three of them decided to continue the festivities.
“So did anything happen while I was sick?” Amy asked.
“I totally forgot you asked me. A lot. Ellen is sick with mono, Julie got a detention from Mrs. Mellon for running through the hall. You should have seen the performance Julie put on.”
“Didn't she get a detention from her two weeks ago? Did you hear Katie Johnson made out with a sophomore on Long Island last weekend? I heard bits and pieces on Monday.”
“She did what!?” Stacey exclaimed, eyes wide open.
“Yeah, her dad took her out to Massapequa. She met him there on Saturday Afternoon They made out that night, while her dad was out somewhere.”
“That sounds like something Courtney would do.” Stacey replied.
“Totally!” Amy replied.
“Can we play truth or dare?” Victoria asked.
“Yeah.” Amy replied.
“Okay, Stacey. Truth.” Amy demanded.
“I hate the character I play on Catskill Saddle Club. She's a total phony and a brat. Sadie sucks.”
“Amy, you're up now. Truth.” Stacey prodded.
“I'm scared of my new school. What if they're all like Courtney? What will happen then?” Amy asked.
“You're scared of going to Plymouth Rock?” Victoria asked. The first time she'd heard her sister say anything.
“Of course. I've never been away from home before. Neither have you, Victoria. It's okay to feel nervous, at least I hope it's okay.” Amy replied.
“Of course it's okay, Amy. It's a new school.”
“Victoria, we dare you to show mom your new dance tomorrow morning at breakfast.” Amy said. Victoria breathed a sigh of relief; she wouldn't have to give up her secrets, for now at least.
“Until zen, Victoria, ve demand ze truth!” Stacey exclaimed in a decent ersatz German accent.
“My big sister Amy is my best friend, she's a good protector and I love her very much.”
“That's a good truth.” Stacey replied. Amy was embarrassed.
“Amy, Victoria is paying you the highest compliment. The fact you get along with your sister is amazing in of itself. My older sister is a total bitch.” Stacey reassured.
“You're right; Kelly can be a total bitch; even though she's a grade above us.” Amy replied.
Suddenly, a noise outside caused the room to go quiet. Anne's car pulled into the driveway; the car door gently closing. Anne was in a good mood tonight. Laughter filled the foyer as she closed the front door behind her.
“Your mom is in a great mood tonight, Amy.” Stacey whispered.
“I know, It's weird.” Amy replied. Anne walked past the door and entered her room. Judging by how quiet things were afterward, the rest of the night would be smooth.
“I beat my mom up the other night.” Amy whispered. Stacy grew horrified.
“What happened?”
“She grabbed one of my braids. She was drunk; like the kind of drunk where you don't remember anything at all. One time, my older sister Helen got like that when she fought with my mom.”
"That's terrible!" Stacey replied. Anne walked by the door and headed back downstairs. Twenty minutes later, howling laughter was coming up from the front room.
"Stacey, earlier you said you hated your character; is it true?"
"Very. Sadie is such a brat. The way she goes after Sasha nearly every week. The actress who plays Sasha is more like Sadie. Oh, she's mean. Like Courtney." Stacey whispered. Victoria had already passed out; leaving only Amy and Stacey awake.
