The Snake Pit: Jr. High Can Be Torture by Donna Dillon Page B

hadn't.  But, I did, and I just tried to give Cinda what I thought was a safe place to fall.  We spent a lot of time to gether during those first few months, either at her house or mine.  My mom even said she thought we were joined at the hip.  My mom thinks she ’ s funny.
     
    Then, toward the end of the winter break, Cinda got braces on her teeth.  Even with a mouth full of metal she looked a hundred percent better.  She started walking with her head a little higher, although getting her to keep her hair out of her face proved to be a much more difficult task.
     
    And, of course, Cinda still had to deal with the snake pit.  Kids made fun of the way she ate, the way she walked , the way she talked.  It was endless, and I don't know how she dealt with it.  But, she did, and her ability to cope seemed to upset one person in particular.  Lisa Kellen .
     
    Lisa Kellen .  Golden girl, cheerleader, honor student.   Everything everyone wants to be...at least if you ask her.  If you ask me, I will tell you, beware of poison in pretty packages.  If you ask me, and you ARE asking me, that's the girl you need to be talking to.  She's the reason for this whole mess...I'm just saying.
     
    All right, all right.  Back to the story.   Lisa Kellen had a big problem with Cinda and it was no secret to anyone.   Lisa has a way of insulting you with such fake sweetness that you weren't sure you were insulted until you thought about it later on. Then you just ended up feeling like an idiot.
     
    Cinda tried to steer clear of Lisa, but, frankly, Hargrove Jr . High isn't that big, and Lisa made it a point to be wherever Cinda was.
     
    Why did Lisa have it in for Cinda ?  Who knows ?  I suppose it's a question you'll have to ask her.  Lisa seemed to have it all....except for Bobby Thompson.  But, Cinda certainly was i n no position to go after Bobby in any kind of romantic way ; but who knows what Lisa thought.  Everyone is a threat in Lisa's eyes.  Everyone she couldn't control.  Me, Cinda , and Bobby.   Bobby once told Lisa to lay off Cinda , and I think that is when this whole thing started spinning out of control .

 
     
    Chapter Four
    The Golden Girl
     
    I don't even know what I'm doing here...I hardly know the girl.  Just that she is some kind of freak … she doesn't belong here.   That's all I'm saying.
     
    Well, you know...people like her should be home-schooled.  Our school got along just fine until she showed up.  Walking around with her head down and her hair in her face.   And that face … God, who wants to look at that every day?? Not me … it's creepy I tell you.
     
    When I first saw her I figured she must be some mental defect, you know … but I guess she is some kind of  genius or something.  Whatever.   I could be a super genius too if I had nothing better to do than stay home and study.  Well, what else is she gonna do? It's not like she can get a date or anything.
     
    Bobby Thompson???  What about him?  He sure wasn't interested in Cinda , I will tell you that much.  Big deal, so he felt sorry for her and stuck up for her.   It doesn't mean anything. Everyone has a moment of charity once in awhile.
     
    Assault?   What assault?   We did not assault Cinda in the cafeteria.  She tripped and fell on her food tray and we were just having a little fun.  Please. If we had assaulted Cinda , don't you think Principal Martin would've stepped in and stopped us?  As far as I know, no one even got a detention that day.  It was just a harmless joke. I f she took it differently, that's her problem.
    Charlie Carsten ...that's who you need to talk to.   Another loser.   Thinks she's all that because her dad owns the factory.  She and Cinda were supposedly good friends … kind of strange if you ask me.  Charlie used to be a normal person until she started hanging with that freak and got all weird.  She used to tease people worse than anyone, and then she got all high and mighty