Miyara: A Schoolgirl's Story

Miyara came home from school one afternoon and slung her backpack from over her shoulder onto the big leather couch. Her white shirt and tie and green, plaid schoolgirl skirt was wrinkled, torn and had a few bloodstains on them. Her raven, jet black hair, done in two pony-tails on each side, was blown astray. Her caramel-colored face also had small bruises and cuts on them. The 999-year-old she-demon with a girlish demeanor of a 16-year-old had worn a face of slight pain and anger as flopped on the living room couch after getting into another fight at school.

The residence at the half-way house she lived at would walk by and glance at Miyara, said nothing and acted like they didn’t notice anything wrong with her especially after a fight. They knew not to say anything because Miyara, who was very mischievous and fun-loving most times, had a nasty temper that sometimes got way out of hand. The residence knew that she had gotten into a fight at school, again (as she usually did every two weeks) but didn’t confront her about it for they didn’t want to face her wrath.

The staff manager at The Gates OF Peace, Mrs. Angela Wilson, sat in her office as she heard Miyara come in. Mrs. Wilson, an average-built black woman in her mid-30’s, walked in and went to see if it were Miyara.

"Miyara?" Mrs. Wilson called as she walked into the living room, "Are is that you?" Mrs. Wilson looked and saw her battered client sitting on the couch with her head resting in her palms with an icey look on her face as she stared off into nothing. Miyara heard Mrs. Wilson call her name and slowly turned to her. Then she turned back into her state of misery. She knew Mrs. Wilson was going to chew her out about fighting again.

Mrs. Wilson, who knew Miyara had a reputation of getting into fights at school, was not surprised to see the delinquent she-demon coming home with her clothes nearly ruined. Since the first year Miyara’s stayed at The Gates Of Peace after Miyara was taken away from her parents, who showed little responsibility in raising Miyara all through her young life, she’s grown used to Miyara’s temper tantrums, acting out, cursing and the way Miyara’d pick up on the male clients. But as well, Miyara would always speak about going home and going back to her parents during counseling time. Getting into fights at school, though, was threatening that dream because Miyara was near being expelled from school. Mrs. Wilson cared a lot for Miyara and chose to tolerate Miyara’s rebellious attitude and resistance to authority when others wouldn’t. But she also knew that disciplining was something Miyara was going to have to take from her, whether Miyara liked it or not.

"Got into another fight at school, I see," Mrs. Wilson said, placing her hands on her hips, in a disappointed tone. Miyara didn’t reply. In fact she acted like she didn’t hear the staff manager. Mrs. Wilson sighed deeply and asked, "Miyara... why can’t you go more than two weeks straight without getting into a fight?"

Miyara turned up at Mrs. Wilson and exploded, "I didn’t start it!! Dana the Bitch tried to pour gasoline on the flame tips atop my head so my hair can set on fire!!!"

"Now I’ve told you about that mouth of yours, Miyara!" Mrs. Wilson scolded. Miyara stood up angrily and confronted Mrs. Wilson.

"You don’t tell me what to do!" Miyara hissed, "You’re not my mother or my father!"

"I’m not trying to be your parents, Miyara!" Mrs. Wilson reasoned, "But if you’ve got to follow the rules of the outside world, and this facility, if you want to stay here!"