wood-shop

Creosote made Mandy think of the thrill of rushing through a garden sprinkler as a kid, of playing washer toss in the backyard, of spending nights in the neighbors_ huge in-ground swimming pool when she was twelve, throwing glow sticks in the turquoise water during Canada Day block parties. She thought of Jud for a moment, how he__ loved doing all those things when he was a kid, but how, as he got older, it was all about popularity, sports, a life of illusion_ and without warning, a totally different kind of memory filled her mind _ the dull feeling of her head hitting the concrete walls near the wood shop at her old high school, the sounds of kids laughing, the sharp smell of sawdust, the buzzing of electric sanders nearby, the sound of Jud laughing while he beat her up_ without realizing it, she__ started crying noiselessly.

I know what I'm talking about, Alecto! When I think of Jud, I think of the times he wanted to be a coal miner, the times he took Wendy and me sailing in the harbour, the times he showed me how to play soccer, but I forgot all the bullying and I__l never understand why. And now you ask me, you ask me what happened once we were in high school. You said you didn__ understand what having a family was like, so ask me!_ Mandy was shouting at him without even realizing it, her words sharp and unforgiving.___._ Alecto started, hesitating for a moment. __ou don__ seem like yourself Mandy Valems, not at all_.___o, go ahead! You want to know what having a real family is like?_ Mandy snapped, turning to stare at him coldly. __sk me what happened, I__l tell you anything you want to know!___What happened?_ Alecto asked quietly, looking nervous and confused.__ stayed late after school in shop class when I was in grade 9, trying to keep my lousy grades up. I was building a birdhouse, something like that, and that was when Jud and all his popular jock friends came storming in, laughing and swearing like a bunch of pigs,_ Mandy continued. __o ask me what happened next.____ I don__ want to ask you what happened,_ Alecto replied.__sk me!_ Mandy yelled.__lright, what happened next_?_ Alecto questioned.