Strictland Academy by Breanna Hayse, Carolyn Faulkner Read Free Book Online Page A

you have some traits that might attract a man
looking for a wife, you were given a choice:   jail or here.   You chose here.   I admit that it took some powerful
convincing to both you and your mothers to make the right decision, but I
firmly believe you are exactly where you need to be.   Strictland Academy is a place where you
can pay for your crimes and learn how to avoid future ones.   Here you will be taught what society
demands of you to be a member of worth.   You are to never question authority figures, whether it be your mothers,
your teachers or a future husband, and you are to obey without hesitation.   Through the strict hands and the
dedicated, watchful eyes of women specially trained in reform, and who will
deliver frequent, swift punishment whenever they deem it necessary, you will
learn to behave with the utmost modesty and decorum.   The humility you experience through days
of long, hard labor and well-deserved punishments is specifically designed to
remind you that you have fallen and that you must depend on the care of your
superiors for any hope of redemption.   Any questions?" he asked, slightly breathless as he recited his
long-winded, run-on statement.
    The
girls numbly muttered 'no, sir', knowing quite well that his inquiry was
rhetorical.   The headmaster nodded
with satisfaction.   He continued,
"During your stay here, you are expected to keep your eyes facing the
floor in a show of meekness and quietly accept any correction that is
considered necessary.   I assure you
that the Attendants and I will make very certain that you will learn all the
necessary dispositions of piousness and conformity before you are allowed to
leave this Academy and are given the privilege of marriage to a proper
spouse.   You have this one
opportunity to make a defense without consequences.   I strongly suggest you do so, ” he said, as he stood
with the paddle in his hand.
    Molly
glanced fearfully at her companions.   It was now or never.   "Thank you for giving us the chance to explain, headmaster.   I was with a friend at the junk store,
and she slipped that bracelet into my pocket.   I honestly did not know it was
there!   When the alarm went off, I
went right back inside.   I was
flipping off my friend, not the camera. I did not know they even had cameras. I mean,"
    "You
choice of companions is faulty.   Why
else would you be looking at bracelets if not to steal them?   I was also led to understand that you
had intended to run off with a certain young man of whom the State had not
approved. That leads to the conclusion that you were planning on selling the
stolen item to finance your escape. ”
    “ That ’ s not true! He was just
a friend and …”
    “ Your
sentence is as stands.   Franklin?   Your turn. ”
    "I
had a sip of my dad's cognac.   Just
a taste, I swear.   I wasn't
drinking!   I went outside and walked
into a cop car because I wasn ' t paying
attention.   He said he smelled it on
my breath."
    "Due
to the rarity of alcohol, and the world history of abuse, the age limit for
drinking is set solidly at thirty.   You are eighteen.   Your
failure to be aware of your surroundings and assault an officer of the law
clearly indicates your level of inebriation."
    "I
didn't assault him.   He shoved me
over the hood and threw handcuffs on me and said I would be a tasty morsel for
the judge to sample.   He did not
even use a Breathalyzer on me to support the charge that I was
intoxicated."
      "Your sentence is as stands.   Compton?"
    April
began to cry again, "There was nothing for dinner for my little brother
and I took money from our savings to go to the traders market.   I left my mother a note before I left! It
was not my fault she did not see it under the table.   I was hiding on the roof from a street gang,
which was why I was stuck out after sundown.   A police officer saw me and did not
believe I bought the bag of food and charged me with stealing.   He did not even