Transience by Stevan Mena Page A

it.  
    She hadn't slept through the night in so long, an ache started developing in her head.   It receded slightly when she closed her eyes — which she tried to do often, irritating her teacher who had to keep reminding her to please pay attention.  
    She held her eyes shut, drifting off, the noise of laughter and shouting became just a drone in the distance.   She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
    Thwack!   A large rubber ball smacked off the brick wall behind her head, snapping her eyes open.   Tommy collected the rebound and wound up again, aiming it right between her eyes.
    "Look what I found!" he said with a grin that showed every tooth in his mouth.   "I thought they locked you up in the basement during recess, freak."
    He released the ball with a grunt.   It missed her by inches; Rebecca flinched and covered her face.
    "Reba the retard," Tommy sang repeatedly.   He lobbed the ball again, not as hard this time.   Rebecca reached out and caught it reflexively.   Tommy's expression went dark, furious.
    "Give it back!"
    Rebecca threw the ball to her right, it bounced down a stairwell.   Now Tommy would have to get permission, and probably an aide, to go fetch it.   His face burned bright red, similar to the way his father's did whenever Tommy's mother bested him in an argument.   His father's response was to throw her against the wall, while Tommy and his younger siblings watched helplessly from the staircase.
    "You stupid shit!" Tommy shouted, approaching.   Rebecca hurriedly tried to erase her sketch.   Tommy marched over and stepped on her hand.
    "Ow!" Rebecca squealed.   Jeff and a few others overheard the sweet sound of suffering and rushed over to join in the fun.
    Tommy stepped back and saw the chalk dust sketch.   "What, you gonna draw us a picture?" Rebecca tearfully massaged her squished fingers.   Jeff moved in and knelt beside her, getting right in her face.
    "I think she's gonna cry," Jeff said, dribbling spit like some mad dog.   Rebecca pushed him and, because he was kneeling off balance, he went tumbling backwards.   Several kids laughed out loud, which made Jeff want to hurt Rebecca more.   Rebecca knew staying on the ground would leave her vulnerable to his assured counter attack.   She stood up, her back to the wall.  
    Tommy clenched and whirled his fist as if he might strike her, but stopped just short of landing one. "I ought-a kick your face in!"  
    Christina saw what was happening and skipped over, followed by a few bottom feeders.  
    "Nobody likes you, retard," Christina said.  
    "I don't care," Rebecca said, keeping her chin up.   Christina recoiled at her defiance and got right up in her face, shoving her.  
    "Think you're so smart, don't you?"   She grabbed Rebecca's shoulders and pushed her again, hard.   "No one likes you."   She went to do it again, but Rebecca pushed back.   A look of stunned disbelief on Christina's face.  
    The crowd of children "oohed " like a bloodthirsty mob.   Rebecca thought about what Jack had told her the other day.   Maybe if she just ignored them, they would leave her alone.   She relaxed her shoulders.  
    Christina took a running start and shoved Rebecca again, the back of Rebecca's head slammed into the brick wall.   Rebecca's eyes welled up from the shock and pain.   She rubbed her scalp, but showed no fear.  
    Tommy and Jeff joined Christina, pushing and pulling Rebecca like toddlers fighting over a rag doll.   Rebecca fought to stand her ground.   There was a familiarity about the violence that unleashed waves of hysteria inside her.   Her skin got numb, her mouth dried up, she felt dizzy.  
    The crowd thickened, growing louder and riotous.   They shouted taunts and encouragement to Tommy and his gang of thugs.  
    "Grab her hair!" one said.   Christina obliged and they all tumbled to the ground.
    Holly pushed her way through the crowd.   Rebecca was trapped under the pile, only her small feet visible,