Throwaway Girl Read Online Free PDF Page A

thinks she’s going to do with all these people around her, and Madge and Phyllis look ready for whatever she wants to dish out.
    â€œDon’t you even think about touching me,” the girl warns. Madge and Phyllis stand on either side of her, clearly not intimidated. The girl’s eyes are blazing; her fists are clenched and ready to strike. Her head is shaved, black stubble peppering the white of her scalp. She wears no makeup except for heavy black eyeliner and to me she looks like a corpse. Dressed in a frayed denim skirt which barely covers her bum, torn fishnet stockings, and combat boots, she looks the part of someone who doesn’t give a crap about what anyone thinks of her.
    â€œOkay Trina, let’s get in and get settled,” Madge says sternly. She reaches for the girl’s elbow to guide her through the office and Trina jumps back in alarm.
    â€œCut the drama, honey,” Phyllis smirks.
    â€œScrew you.” Trina spits, her saliva hitting Phyllis square in the face. Phyllis wipes it with the back of her hand and pretends it never happened.
    â€œLet’s go, honey,” Phyllis says softly. “You can make this easy or you can make this difficult, but either way you’re here.” Trina sticks her tongue out at her and gives her a shove. Madge steps in, taking her by the arm.
    â€œI don’t have to be here if I don’t want to,” Trina says. “And I sure as hell don’t have to stay.” She straightens her skirt and pulls it down. I’m not a rocket scientist, but anyone can see that if she dares sit down, the bottom of that skirt would sit at her hips.
    â€œTrina, dear, come with me and we’ll get you settled,” Betty says gently. Trina glares at her but follows. Knowing we shouldn’t be spying, we all stand up straight.
    â€œGet back to your beds or head for breakfast, girls,” Madge barks at us. We turn on our heels, scurrying back down the hallway. We all giggle and head back to our room.
    â€œShe seems like a real winner,” Analise says.
    â€œAnd what’s with her hair and that outfit? Yikes,” Monica remarks.
    â€œWe get her instead of Mandy? Great …” Analise says sarcastically.
    All of us girls start on our morning chores before heading to the cafeteria for breakfast. Eggs, toast, and fruit are on the menu this morning, and my stomach jumps at the sight. I love breakfast. It is my favourite meal of the day. Living at Haywood has given me three square meals a day and I have never missed one. I make sure to eat whatever is made. Even a basic bowl of cheerios with its delicate crunch and hint of sweetness mixed with cold, creamy milk is a culinary delight to me.
    I eagerly scoop bits of egg and the flowing yolk onto my fork and follow it with a bite of warm toast. “This is so good,” I breathe. The others look over at me and laugh.
    â€œAndy and her food,” Lisa says, shaking her head. She sits perfectly straight in her chair, her hair and makeup artfully applied. Lisa is obsessed with her appearance. She is rail thin and picks at her food, eating tiny bits at a time, and chewing them for several minutes before swallowing. She always looks at me in disgust when I eat, and sometimes I eat more than I feel like eating just so I can get a reaction from her.
    The girls are always teasing me about how much I eat, how I can’t wait for the next meal. We make small talk while I start on my orange.
    â€œLook!” Analise says, pointing. “That girl is here.”
    Phyllis is guiding her down to the cafeteria for breakfast.
    â€œGirls,” Phyllis announces. “This is Trina Baxter. As many of you know, she has just joined us this morning. I hope you all help her to feel welcome here.”
    Trina does not look up at us. Her arms are crossed in front of her. Phyllis points to the stack of trays and the food buffet, but Trina simply scoffs at her and turns away. She stomps