Chapter One

Today was like a dream. I was late doing my chores and I was afraid I wasn't going to get to eat again. I didn't get dinner last night, I was a bad boy. Mother, who was suffering from a hangover, caught me with my hands out of the water and I had to pay. She hit me a couple times and my head hit the counter but I couldn't show her that I was worried about not eating. Luckily, she stopped and she didn't verbally take anything away from me, like breakfast. I continued doing the dishes and I actually got to eat the leftover Lucky Charms from my brother's bowl. At least I got something in my stomach.Mother had to drive me to school today and I'm sure she wasn't happy about it. As I ran for the building she called me back, I immediately thought I did something wrong. I forgot my lunch that's all, two peanut butter sandwiches and carrot sticks. Mother told me to have a nice day, which must have been the hangover talking. I got my tardiness taken care of and walked to the nurse's office like usual to do the daily routine. She examined me with my clothes on and took notes. I then had to take off my clothes for the thorough exam. She asked me questions and I don't like to answer but I did. She leaves the room and returns with the principal. He took part in the examination and talked with the nurse. I was dismissed to class and headed to English. I was unprepared for the test that was to come once I walked in the door. The substitute reacted to my smell along with the rest of the class. I couldn't help it though; I have worn these clothes for two years. I took my test and proceeded to my seat, but before I got there I was called to office. I once again went on my way leading to more trouble. I walked into the office and was taken back to the teacher's lounge. I didn't know what was about to come. Once I entered I recognized the people sitting around the table, Mr. Hansen, Miss Moss, Miss Woods, Mr. Ziegler, and the nurse but there was one person I didn't recognize... a police officer. I was motioned to sit down and join them so I obeyed. The police officer asked me to tell him what has been going on at home between Mother and me, I shook my head no. I eventually gave in and told them my story. The "meeting" ended and I was worried about what kind of trouble I could have just caused. Mr. Hansen brought me a school lunch and later some cookies. What will happen to me once I got home?The teachers started hugging me and telling me things would be ok but I didn't believe them because some were crying. How could I believe them when they weren't convincing? I was told to be a good boy and was left to leave with the police officer.I was nervous. I knew I was going to jail. Maybe it was a good thing; Mother couldn't beat me anymore if I went there. I sat there hanging on to my cookies allowing things to run through my mind. I wasn't used to thinking freely. The police officer was trying to make conversation but I just continued to clench my cookies. We passed the city limits and the police officer made one more attempt to talk to me. He said, "David Pelzer you're free." I didn't know what that meant. Could this be the start of something good or a horrible ending to something bad?