What Happened On Reno Street?

All I Can Do Is Remember.

Things were better back then, the warmth of the house felt like a warm blanket over my face. The laughter of mom and dad was a sound of happiness that filled even the smallest crannies of the house. My innocence was meant to be everlasting at that age. The sun shinned more into the kitchen than it did in any other room. I remember that day, the sun was shinning so bright, it felt as though those rays were for me, maybe god felt sorry for me, and gave me one last bright morning. I only need to close my eyes and remember, it's the only thing I can do. 

"Sara You're gonna be late for school!", mom yelled, the thought of her curly hair being a mess made my lips lift up-ward in a smile, she looked like the mad hatter. "Ten Minutes!" I yelled back. I can still remember the sound of my voice at that age, so small and high-pitched.

"Nope, you gotta' get up Sara. You've been late to school three times now, and I'm not getting another call again." I groaned as I heard my mother's loud bickering from the kitchen and picked my weight up from the bed to scratch the top of my hair, already feeling the knots in it. As my feet hit the cold floor, they felt sore, almost as if they were mad at me for waking them up from their warm slumber. "Don't blame me, blame her, and school." I said looking down at them. I walked into the bathroom still not wanting to fully open my eyes, "How come you don't wake up dad! I was having a dream about flying with peter pan in the clouds! I was just about to kiss him!" I complained as I brushed my teeth making the foam fall from my mouth which each word 

"What did you say?", I choke on what seemed to be a beverage.

"Nothing!", I yelled back.

 "Cause, unlike you, your father wakes up early." , Mom yelled back making dad laugh. I rolled my eyes at her exaggeration,  "It is early it-", turned my head over to see the time "Its 7:40? The bus get's here at 8:00!" I exclaimed choking on the toothpastes' foam. My footsteps thumped on the wood floors as I ran into my room and pulled on the dark blue uniform over my head. I ran down the stairs almost falling, but I maintained the speed as I rushed down. "Sara, your gonna be late! What took so long?!" I sighed as I brushed the knots in my hair while my dad watched me, amazed that I didn't seem to be in pain. I didn't want to eat breakfast at school, so I made sure not argue with mom, "Can you make me some Pancakes? Please!" I dragged out the word looking up to her bright blue eyes.

My mom shook her head and gave me a plate of perfectly cooked tan pancakes with a side of  bright red strawberries and crispy brown bacon.  She was always prepared, but most of the things she spent nights over-thinking about never happened, so why worry? Because everything's possible in this piece of shit world. "The bus arrives in five minutes!" dad said hurriedly as he downed his coffee, gave my mom a kiss and grabbed my hand. "Wait! My breakfast! " I yelled as my dad dragged me away from the plate. "Here!" my mom said, handing me my lunch box. "Eat what's in there while you wait at the bus stop. I'll come by school and take you out for lunch. And don't give any of the sandwich to biscuit, he'll just barf it all up." I nodded giving my mom a big smile and hugged her tightly, I don't think she was ready, I think she was meant to live. I took out my service dog Biscuit from our backyard and clipped his leash on the small circular metal object on his collar. "Another day biscuit, and the school still hasn't been destroyed by a giant hurricane caused by dinosaurs breath, I guess Avery Koss lied about the future. I'm going to get those twelve cents back." I told him as we quickly walked to the end of the street and waited for the bright yellow metal on wheels to arrive.

  I quickly gobbled everything in that lunch box just in time, the bus had arrived, or as I liked to call it, hell on wheels. I gave my dad a hug and ran to the steps of the bus, before I entered it completely I turned around and waved goodbye, but his back was already turned. I shrugged my shoulders as I walked into the bus and sat down with Biscuit. The chattering of the jumbled up kids became louder, each kid expression their shares of yelling's, laughs, and stomping, but for some reason everyone's emotion matched, they were all laughing. I glanced behind me to see their eyes and fingers pointing at me, well, rather at my skirt. My eyebrows furrowed as I tore my attention from them to my lap and suddenly felt the cool dry fabric of my skirt turn to a moist warmth on my knee, biscuit was peeing on me. The yellow stinky liquid began to drip down to my knee and onto the floor.  I Told dad he needed to go! He always sniffs the neighbors petunias when he has to go! 

The grossness of the situation soon wore off as I heard the laughter become annoyingly louder, if that was even possible. I didn't turn to face them, I knew what they were laughing at. I just sat there, feeling the fire of rage crawl onto my skin, making me feel hot. "Shut up!" I yelled standing  up from my seat. I wiped my hot and soaked cheeks and repeated myself, "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" I stomped my foot with each word trying to hold back my sobs. The bus driver was looking at me with wide eyes as someone beeped him out of his shock. I sat back down next to Biscuit, everything was now silent if you don't count the giggles and the "She's fuckin' mental" being repeated only a couple feet behind you. I sniffled and I looked down at my skirt, there was a big wet looking patch right in front of it. I turned and looked down at Biscuit who had put his head on my hand. "It's okay, I forgive you." I said closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, "This is going to be a long day." I just didn't think it would be that long.

Present time:

 "Mrs. Edwards?" I opened my eyes to find the Judge looking directly at me showing his annoyance to a great extent. "Yes, sorry, your honor.  What was the question?" The people seated scoffed as the Judge shook his head in disbelief. They must have such interest in me, a fascination for an animal in four walls. 

"I said how does the defendant plead, guilty or not guilty?" He asked. The room was no longer filled with muttering, it was now silent. They were waiting on my answer, so excited to see what a murderer would say. They claim to be disgusted by my mere existence,  but they're all animals, they're only excuse is being kept in a zoo called society, they have to act normal, or else they'll be me.  They're all sinners, they just haven't been caught. "How do you have the goddamn conscience to even ask that question?! She killed my husband! She's a killer!" I heard  Caroline Waters, my dearest Step-mother shriek. I tauntingly looked up to the judge, then back at her and opened my mouth, "Mr. Waters please-", The Judge began to say, but I interrupted him already knowing my answer.

"Not guilty, your Honor."

The crowd gasped making me smile at them, they're surprised yes, but they're pleased to know they can see someone like them can be free, while they can be in their safe zone. Where they can remain normal, while feeding off my insanity, sometimes it makes me laugh my head off.

"You do understand that you're being charged with first degree murder?" Asked the Judge who seemed bothered by the small smile I wore on my lips. I was not smiling out of happiness, I was smiling because they can't take anything away from me that they already have. Which meant I had no need to worry whether I died in a cell or not. I had nothing left to live for, everything was gone. So why am I pleading not guilty? I just wanted to see that rats face, I wanted to see fear in her eyes, she was looking at me and I was looking at her. I had nothing left to lose, but I want to make sure she loses everything. 

"Yes, I do, your honor. I plead not guilty, I did not kill my father."