"Please, sir, I want some more."
- Oliver Twist
Sara Cuchard was a mysterious and unsettling little girl, but her parents were even stranger. The boys in school took delight in tormenting her, referring to her as Sara Cucumber, fully aware of the distress it caused her.
"Come, Biancha," she murmured to her closest confidant in the eerie halls of the Catholic school. A place where the forbidden act of kissing was strictly prohibited, and any transgressors would face the wrath of Mother Abigail, a menacing figure who administered vicious paddlings to the disobedient.
Banita and Biancha sat down at the lunch table in the church cafeteria, engrossed in their conversation about Sara. As they discussed Sara's daring adventure on the slide and her unexpected separation in Mexico City, their voices carried a mix of concern and judgment. The echoes of their words bounced off the walls, reaching the ears of other diners who couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation. Despite the occasional glances from their fellow church members, Banita and Biancha continued their animated discussion, unaware of the attention they were attracting. It was clear that their thoughts and opinions on Sara's actions differed greatly, creating an atmosphere of tension and curiosity at the lunch table.
Banita and Biancha sat down at the lunch table in the church cafeteria, engrossed in their conversation about Sara. As they discussed Sara's daring adventure on the slide and her unexpected separation in Mexico City, their voices carried a mix of concern, judgment, and even a touch of sarcasm. The other diners couldn't help but overhear snippets of their conversation, intrigued by the heated exchange between the two girls.
Banita expressed her belief that Sara's decision to go on the slide was a display of poor judgment, emphasizing the potential danger she could have faced. Biancha, on the other hand, accused Banita of using derogatory terms and called her out for allegedly lying about what happened. The conversation quickly turned into a clash of perspectives, with Banita defending her firsthand experience and Biancha questioning Sara's motives and actions.
Their discussion then shifted to Sara's separation in Mexico City, highlighting the language barrier and the challenges she faced. Banita pointed out the vulnerability Sara displayed during this incident, while Biancha acknowledged the luck of finding her father and the emotional turmoil she must have felt. Their differing opinions on Sara's reactions and behaviors continued to fuel the conversation, with Banita being labeled as heartless and Biancha being accused of being an emotional mess.
As the conversation took another turn, Banita made a comment about Biancha's own fears and anxieties, attempting to shift the focus away from Sara. Biancha opened up about a terrifying experience she had faced, highlighting the importance of self-preservation and the potential dangers she could have encountered. This revelation led to a moment of reflection, where Banita questioned whether Biancha's fear was worse than what happened to Sara.
In the midst of their intense exchange, it became evident to the other lunch-goers that Banita and Biancha had strong opinions about Sara and her actions. The atmosphere at the lunch table grew tense, with curious glances and whispers circulating among their fellow church members. Unaware of the attention they were attracting, Banita and Biancha continued their spirited discussion, each holding steadfast to their own perspectives.
"That's Kimberly Marsh," Biancha said, her voice filled with dread. "She's not human." They both turned to look out the windows, observing Kimberly as she made her way towards the main entrance of the building after lunch. Biancha reiterated, "She once threatened to kill me with a knife. And last year, in gym class, she brought a machete to school and showed it to me in her locker. She whispered something truly disturbing, saying, 'If you tell anyone about this, I will curse you to become a boy and bite off your... you know.' She's seriously twisted."
Banita's voice trembled as she added her own terrifying encounter with Kimberly. "She once held a box cutter to my throat during a sleepover when we were still friends. We're not friends anymore, of course. It happened before my parents found out." She paused, her voice filled with horror. "And you won't believe this, but her parents actually drink blood, Biancha."
Biancha's disbelief was evident as she responded, "Are you serious? Her parents drink blood?"
Banita nodded solemnly. "Yes, we were eating her mom's homemade meatloaf, and I could taste it. I could tell she had bitten her lip and let the blood drip into the loaf. It was an eerie experience. And then she casually asked me if I had AIDS. I told her no, and she smirked, saying something about being type O negative."
As the second bell rang, startling the girls, they quickly grabbed their book bags. Biancha's bag was a purple Jansport with a friendship bracelet attached to the zipper of her crayons and pencil pouch. Banita carried her English and Book of Judith books. As they climbed the stairs, they encountered a small set of five steps leading up to a hallway. It was at this point that Banita froze, as if she had seen a ghost. Another one of her hallucinations had taken hold, and she saw Lady Theresa holding a large kitchen knife, her gaze filled with an intent that sent chills down Banita's spine. However, she couldn't be certain if it was real or just a figment of her imagination.
Biancha rushed to Banita's side, gently lifting her off the ground where she was crying, and helped her to class. "Come on, Banita," she reassured her friend, her voice filled with comfort. "It's all over now. You're going to be okay. It's going to be okay. Trust me."
