From Grass to Grace - Chapter 3
16-09-25 (13:19)
**Episode 3: Whispers in the
Hallway**
Amanda’s first day at the local
elementary school was a stark
reminder of her outsider status. Her
hand-me-down clothes, though
clean, were noticeably shabbier
than those of her classmates, who
flaunted designer labels and the
latest trends. The lunch Mrs. Eleanor
packed for her, consisting of a
wilted sandwich and a bruised
apple, was a far cry from the
elaborate, brightly colored meals
the other children pulled from their
fancy lunchboxes.
She tried to blend in, to be invisible,
but her efforts were in vain. The
other children noticed her
immediately, whispering and
pointing, their curious eyes filled
with a mixture of pity and disdain.
During recess, she stood alone by
the edge of the playground,
watching the other children play
tag and jump rope. A group of girls
approached her, their faces etched
with curiosity.
"What's your name?" one of them
asked, her tone a mixture of
friendliness and suspicion.
"Amanda," she replied shyly.
"Where do you live?" another girl
chimed in.
"With the Hawthornes," Amanda
mumbled, her face flushing with
embarrassment.
The girls exchanged knowing
glances. "Oh," one of them said.
"You're the one Mrs. Hawthorne
found in the trash."
Amanda's heart sank. The secret
she had tried so hard to conceal
was out in the open, a badge of
shame for all to see. Tears welled
up in her eyes, and she turned and
ran, seeking refuge in the
anonymity of the school bathroom.
Back at the Hawthorne mansion,
Richard's cruelty escalated. He
began to touch her inappropriately,
brushing against her in the
hallways, squeezing her arm when
no one was looking, whispering
lewd suggestions in her ear.
Amanda was terrified and
confused. She didn't understand
what Richard was doing, but she
knew that it was wrong, that it
made her feel dirty and ashamed.
She tried to confide in Mrs. Eleanor,
but her attempts were met with
indifference. "Richard's just being a
boy," she said dismissively. "Don't
be so sensitive. Besides, you should
be grateful that he's even paying
attention to you."
Amanda was devastated. The one
person she had hoped would
protect her had turned a blind eye
to her suffering. She felt trapped,
alone, with no one to turn to.
One day, her teacher, Mrs. Davis,
noticed Amanda's withdrawn
behavior. She called her aside after
class and asked if everything was
alright.
Amanda hesitated, torn between
her fear of Richard and her need for
help. Finally, she blurted out,
"Richard… he's… he's being mean to
me."
Mrs. Davis's face clouded with
concern. "What do you mean,
Amanda? How is he being mean?"
Amanda struggled to find the
words to describe Richard's actions.
She stammered and blushed, her
eyes filled with tears.
Mrs. Davis gently encouraged her to
speak, assuring her that she would
help her. But before Amanda could
reveal the full extent of Richard's
abuse, Mrs. Eleanor arrived to pick
her up.
Mrs. Eleanor, sensing that
something was amiss, fixed Mrs.
Davis with a cold stare. "Is there a
problem, Mrs. Davis?" she asked,
her voice dripping with
condescension.
Mrs. Davis hesitated, unsure how to
proceed in front of Mrs. Eleanor.
"Amanda was just telling me that
she's been feeling a little… down
lately," she said cautiously.
Mrs. Eleanor scoffed. "Nonsense.
Amanda has everything she could
possibly want. She should be
grateful for the life I've given her."
She grabbed Amanda's hand and
pulled her away, ignoring Mrs.
Davis's worried expression.
As they walked to the car, Mrs.
Eleanor glared at Amanda. "Don't
you ever talk to anyone about
what happens in this house," she
hissed. "Do you understand? You're
lucky to be here. Don't you forget
it."
Amanda's heart ached with despair.
She was trapped, a prisoner in a
gilded cage, with no hope of escape. Don't forget to leave a Comment 
