She Got Bling, I Got Sold

Morning hit. I dragged myself off the balcony floor and limped out. Before school, I had to haul cement at a construction site just to make some cash.

A whole morning of that got me, what, ten bucks.

My busted leg slowed me down. The wooden stick jammed into my thigh. Every step with a cement sack felt like knives.

By the time I made it to class, I reeked. Sweat stuck to me, sour and thick. Kids clustered up, whispering.

"What is that smell? Talia, you that broke you can't even shower?"

"It's not just that—she hasn't changed either. Last gym class, her socks had holes everywhere."

Nina stood in the middle, all sweet and fake. "Guys, stop. Even if Talia spent the summer working like a dog, we shouldn't laugh at her."

The second she said it, the room blew up.

"No way—Talia got shipped off to Nyamara? What, she sold a kidney?"

"I knew it. She smells worse every day. Bet she got forced into that kinda work, haha."

I tuned it out and kept my head down, flipping through my notes.

I promised Grandpa I'd study hard. I was getting into college.

Nina wasn't done. She tapped my shoulder. "Talia, why are you ignoring me? I asked if this is yours."

I turned. Grandpa's photo was clenched in her hand.

My eyes snapped wide. I pushed up and lunged. "How'd you get that? Give it back!"

I barely touched her, but Nina screamed and dropped. Her forehead smacked the desk corner. Blood seeped out.

She looked at me like she'd won. Then her eyes dipped. Her voice went small. "Talia, if you need money, I can give you some. Just... don't steal, okay?"

Between her sobs, Dad, Mom, and Ms. Anderson rushed in.

Dad grabbed my hair and yanked me up. "You disgusting brat! I knew you wouldn't change! You even stole the class money?!"

Mom apologized to Ms. Anderson. "I'm so sorry. Our kid caused trouble."

Ms. Anderson stepped in front of Dad. "Don't hit her yet. What if this is a misunderstanding?"

Nina spoke up, all sweet. "Yeah. Talia only took five hundred from Mom and Dad. That doesn't mean she took the class money. It's probably a misunderstanding."

Ms. Anderson's voice softened. "Even if she messed up, you can't hit her like this."

Dad didn't listen. His fist slammed into my face. "Ungrateful girl! You'll steal anything! If I don't fix you now, you'll get worse!"

Everything went black. I hit the floor.

Then hands yanked me up. Another hit came.

The class went quiet for a second. Then the whispers started.

"Her parents really came here to beat her. That's so embarrassing."

"Talia's so pathetic. If I got caught stealing at school, I couldn't show my face."

Every word hit hard. I felt small. I felt ashamed.

Right before everything went dark, I heard Nina lean in close.

"Talia, sorry you had to take it. I already spent the class money."