Handbook for an Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother, and Still Came Out Smiling (with Great Hair) Read Online Free PDF

ball. Ball!” I said, pointing to the word.
    “You know what that word is, Rosemary?”
    “Yes! It says, ‘ball’! She likes to play with it, right?”
    “Yes. Please take it outside.”
    She left quickly.
    I took the book and sat close to the door, watching the other kids romp and play with each other. I tried to read the book, but was distracted by my misery and by the girls playing as if nothing was wrong. They all seemed okay with being here.
    Before bedtime, all the little girls in Baby Girls lined up again in the bathroom, each of us in a nightgown, a bathrobe, and slippers, holding a toothbrush. There were three or four sinks, a couple of bathroom stalls, and one humongous shower. Three by three, the girls walked up to the sinks, washed their hands and faces, and brushed their teeth.
    I was standing behind Crazy Cindy, who couldn’t stop talking and making jokes and acting silly. I was still quiet. I was uncomfortable. I’d never worn a bathrobe. I only saw people wear them on television, like Shirley Temple in
The Little Princess
. I wasn’t sure if I liked wearing one or not. I wanted Tia so bad. I wanted to suck my thumb so bad. I wanted to cry and run out, but I didn’t dare. I just moved along the line with the rest of them, inching closer and closer to the sink.
    It was our turn. I turned on the faucet. The light of the moon, peering from a small window above, glistened on the running water. My eyes were transfixed by the dancing sparkles of light. I slowly began to wash my hands, and I started singing, “A tea for two, a two for tea.…” I didn’t even realize I was singing until I heard laughter. I turned around and the girls were all pointing and laughing at me. I flushed with embarrassment.
    “That’s enough, girls!” commanded Sister Mary-Domenica as she stood at the doorway of the bathroom. “And you! What is your name again?”
    I was terrified.
    “Wosie,” I answered.
    “Her Christian name is Rosemary, sister,” said Sister Ann-Marie.
    “Hurry up and brush your teeth,” she snapped. “We don’t have all night here.”
    I looked at Sister Mary-Domenica towering over us, with a paddle in her hand. Her mouth was tight and stern. The bathroom fell silent. I grabbed the toothbrush and started brushing. I don’t remember if I even knew how to properly brush by then. I wanted to vomit. I swallowed the feeling instead.
    “Everyone over here. Reading time,” Sister Ann-Marie commanded politely.
    We all formed a semicircle around Sister Mary-Domenica, who was sitting in a rocking chair, holding the same book I’d been reading earlier. I looked up to Sister Ann-Marie; she smiled and winked at me. I smiled and winked back. A lot of the girls couldn’t sit still during the reading, but I did.
    Sister Mary-Domenica closed the book and shouted, “Get ready for bed, girls!”
    I walked over to my bunk and began to climb up. Crazy Cindy pulled me down. “No. You have to wait to say prayers.” She pulled me next to her, told me to kneel, and indicated with her hands for me to put mine together in prayer.
    “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
    Everyone quickly jumped up into bed. No one tucked us in. No one kissed us good-night. No one told us they loved us and they’d see us in the morning. Sister Mary-Domenica shut off the lights and left. I started to cry.
    “Psst. Psst. Rosie. Where you from?” whispered Crazy Cindy. She was leaning over her top bunk toward mine.
    “From my mommie’s house,” I whispered back through a few snotty tears.
    “But where, stupid?”
    “Why did you call me stupid? That’s not very nice,” I replied, hurt.
    She tried to