Chapter Nine

Chapter Nin e

Bridge Home School for Girls, Misty

T he shrill blare of the alarm blasted throughout the entire school announcing morning bible study, waking Misty from a deep sleep. Her entire body ached. Yesterday, Mrs. Turney had decided to address Misty’s stubbornness over her refusal to marry by following her around and pointing out everything Misty did wrong. The cane landing across her back caused stinging pain along with mental shame that she was treated this way. When the horrible school day was over, trash cleanup was added to Misty's kitchen duties.

Misty learned in the first week that both Mrs. Turney and Mrs. Sanders picked on someone different each day. You had to make it through and if you cried out or objected in any way, the punishments grew worse. The only girl outside this routine was Paige. The older women singled her out daily and it never seemed to let up. Paige always suffered silently but she couldn’t hide the fury in her eyes and sometimes it increased the punishments. Paige never complained about it either although her plans to escape stayed in the forefront.

Due to her aches and pains, Misty had barely slept. She longed to roll over and go back to sleep. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. When she stood, even the bottoms of her feet were sore from being on them so much the previous day.

She had made her decision during the night. Misty would leave with Paige. She was not going to marry an old man, nor was she going to stay at the home and take abuse.

At breakfast, Mrs. Sanders made an announcement. “There is a large storm moving in, and we need to secure this building. The plywood for covering the windows is located in the storage shed along with tools. The lower windows must be covered first. We have a rolling platform for the upper floors that must be put together so you can reach the second and third-floor windows. During the storm, we will stay in the chapel and pray for the safety of our families.”

The girls looked at each other, and then Sarah, one of the youngest at the home, found the courage to ask a question. “If it’s dangerous for our families, why aren’t we evacuating the school?”

Mrs. Turney struck Sarah from behind with her cane, hitting her repeatedly on her back and shoulders sending Sarah to her knees. “God protects those who deserve His protection,” she yelled. “You do not question our commands. Your job as a woman is to follow the path the Lord bids for you and to sacrifice.”

Sarah cried loudly and maybe a little melodramatically. No one offered comfort because it would only bring punishment down on them. The repercussions Sarah faced for asking the question they were all thinking left Misty questioning everyone’s safety, especially that of her little brother. Storms scared him, and Misty knew her father would not leave their home. They didn’t have a cellar. Her mother had outfitted a closet with supplies and she would fill their home’s two bathtubs for emergency water while they squeezed into the tight confines to suffer while the storm raged.

At church, they would announce the names of anyone who died during the storm, and even then, Misty hadn’t questioned God’s will. Now, she doubted everything she had grown up believing and wished Mrs. Sanders had not mentioned the danger to those outside the school.

From Misty’s perspective, the Lord didn’t seem to care what happened to the girls forced to live in this horrible place with her. The cruelty and abuse she had suffered over the past few weeks was changing her mind about many things. Paige helped too. Her thoughts and ideas weren’t as outlandish as they first seemed.

No matter her aches and pains, Misty worked beside the other girls to secure the school against the impending hurricane. The gathering clouds grew darker, and the wind picked up making the arduous task worse.

The platform ladder wasn’t in the best shape. They put it together, and the girls took turns climbing up and hammering the boards into place. It wobbled horribly and the biting wind added to the danger. Misty almost fell off when it was her turn and she had never been so happy to finish a chore in her life. Unfortunately, the next girl, Gale, wasn’t as lucky. The sound of her leg snapping when she fell was one of the worst things Misty had ever heard.

“Step back,” yelled Mrs. Sanders, trying to be heard over Gale’s screams.

The girls moved away, and Mrs. Turney and Mrs. Sanders took over until it was time to move Gale to her room.

“What about a doctor or the hospital?” Sarah asked, the stubborn look back in her eyes .

She received a quelling glare from the administrators, and fortunately, they were too busy to discipline her. Misty had no doubt they would make up for it later.

“The Lord provides what you girls need. She will be fine in her room,” Mrs. Turney said dismissively.

They all knew this wasn’t true. They had heard, then seen, the damage to Gale’s leg. Mrs. Turney called out names to help move Gale. Everyone not helping was to go to the cafeteria when the last of the boards was in place. Paige went up the platform ladder twice to hurry it up.

Unlike at meals, they formed small groups when they got to the cafeteria. Misty and Paige moved two chairs to a corner. Paige wasn’t liked by the other girls, and when Misty had befriended her, it had put Misty on the outs too. They were both surprised when Sarah brought a chair to their corner and sat it down beside them.

“I know you’re leaving here,” she said, looking straight at Paige. “I’m going with you.”

“How do you know that?” Paige asked, her expression stony.

“I watch you. I know you take food from the kitchen, and it’s always something easy to store that will last. I’m not stupid,” Sarah replied confidently.

Paige looked at Misty. “Can we trust her?”

Misty turned to Sarah. “Why do you make them punish you?”

She shrugged. “I get punished no matter what I do.” She smiled, her chipped tooth noticeable. “The only person they pick on more is Paige. They did this to my tooth.” She smiled wide. “My mother and father visited me last month and said a man would overlook my imperfect teeth, but he would not overlook a wife who didn’t obey.” She shrugged again. “I’m not going home.”

“It won’t be easy on the street and your theatrics when you’re punished won’t work out there,” Paige warned.

“The loud crying and moaning?”

“Yes, that.”

Sarah’s smile grew and a spark lit her eyes. “I want to be an actress. I work on roles every chance I get. The cane hurts but I found they lighten up when I make a bigger scene.” She shrugged. “It’s not easy in here, and it definitely wasn’t easy at my house.”

Paige looked back at Misty. “We could use the help.”

Misty gave a slight nod rather impressed with Sarah.

“You’re in,” Paige declared, “but if you tell anyone, I’ll beat your ass.”

“You’ll try,” said the younger girl, who was at least six inches shorter than the older two.

Paige gave her a look, and Misty was sure Sarah had just ruined her chances of going with them.

“I like you,” Paige finally said. “You’ve got guts, and even though you’re a scrawny thing, you’ll do okay on the street.”

“When are we going?” Sarah asked eagerly.

“As soon as the storm arrives,” Paige replied, sealing their pact with fist bumps.