The Dream Where the Losers Go by Beth Goobie Read Free Book Online Page A

unit supervisor, came over and sat down beside her. She was an older woman, her hair a silver gray. None of the girls would ever hit her.
    “There has been a problem,” Penny said slowly, “in the tub room.”
    The unit had a separate room for baths. Each tub had its own cubicle and was shared by two girls. The door could be locked from the inside by turning a knob, but only staff had the key to unlock it from the outside.
    “One of the cubicles has been broken into,” Penny added. “The lock is hanging off the door.”
    The girls seated closest to Viv were copying her ultra-bored expression. At the next table, Skey could see Ann staring down at her lap and scratching the inside of her wrist. The skin was reddening, going raw.
    “It must have happened this morning,” continued Penny. “The lock wasn’t broken last night.”
    “Whose cubicle is it?” asked Viv, without losing her bored expression.
    “It belongs to Ann and Leslie,” said Penny.
    “So ask them, why don’t you?” demanded Viv.
    “We’ve already spoken with them,” said Penny. “Now we’re asking everyone. Anyone with information about this should come and talk to staff. Until we find out who did this, only one girl will be allowed in the tub room at a time to take a bath.”
    A collective groan sounded. “We’re gonna stink like cows,” complained Viv.
    Penny’s mouth tightened, and then she said, “Does anyone have an issue they would like to discuss?”
    But no one was raising issues without Viv’s permission, and she wasn’t giving it. Quickly, the group meeting disbanded, with most of the girls following Viv back to the TV. Without a word, Ann got up and began her table-setting chore for supper. As Skey idly watched the other girl count cutlery, she noticed that the inside of her wrist was still red. Them with a start, Skey noticed that Ann’s right wrist had also been scratched raw.
    A choking feeling grabbed her throat and she turned away. If Viv was after Ann, then Ann could go talk to staff. That was what staff were for. Skey wasn’t risking her neck by getting involved with the problems of this place. She was at her old school again, Jigger and the Dragons had welcomed her back, and everything was like it used to be. Like she wanted it to be. In no time she would be out of this place, and then she would forget she had ever been here.
    Walking to her room, Skey closed the door and leaned against it until her quick-running heartbeats slowed and she could breathe normally again.
    T HE SUMMONS CAME around 7:30. Skey was in her room, drifting through People Magazine , when Ann appeared in her doorway. One guest in a room at a time, that was the rule. Without speaking, Skey nodded, and Ann sat down beside her on the bed, wrists curled in to hide the raw patches.
    “Viv wants to see you in the washroom,” said Ann, staring at the floor.
    Alarm shot through Skey. “What for?”
    “Wants to talk to you about something,” shrugged Ann.
    “So, maybe I don’t want to talk to her,” said Skey.
    “It’s your face.” Lifting a hand, Ann scratched at the back of her neck and her sleeve pulled up, exposing the chafed skin. Skey swallowed. It was so raw, it was shiny.
    “What d’you mean, my face?” she whispered.
    Ann’s eyes flitted around the room. “She thinks you’re too pretty,” she said quietly.
    Fear stirred an oar deep in Skey’s gut. “I can’t help how I look,” she muttered.
    Eyes once again on the floor, Ann stood up. “I’d talk to her if I were you,” she said. “She’s been in the detention center a couple of times. For fights. The last time she used a knife.”
    “What does she want?” asked Skey.
    Ann shrugged again. She was one of the girls giving Viv a wide berth. “I’m just giving you the message,” she said.
    “She’s the one who broke the lock on your tub door, isn’t she?” Skey said quickly.
    “Maybe,” said Ann. Turning, she slipped silently out of the room. For a long moment,