Cookie

[farmer Joe]

Originally Posted by ELaken-Palmer

Thanks to the both of you for taking the time to read this and leave your comments. Fish Monster, you make a good point. The next chapter is just about finished and will be up very soon.

good i was just about to ask FJ

[snowleopard3200]

ELP - waiting and wondering for Cookie in the next chapter; hopefully this will turn for the better for her.

One thing about 'what if..' stories is they honestly cause us to stop and think; what if we seen this happen? what if this was going on with us? etc.

Looking forward to the good stuff happening yet again for her in the upcoming chapters.

[ELaken-Palmer]

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12. The nurse
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___Cookie awoke, lying on a cot, in a small, yellow-painted, cinder-block room with a slender, young, pretty brunette woman, in a white nurse’s uniform, smiling down at her and holding a cold compress to her forehead.

___“Are you alright?” the woman asked.

___The back of Cookie’s head hurt, as did her shoulder and knee, but she said, “Yes,” in the subdued voice of one who is disoriented.

___“I’m Miss Fleming, the school nurse,” the woman said. “I hear that you blacked out and they brought you here to me.”

___“I guess so...,” Cookie said, trying to sit up.

___“No. No.” Miss Fleming told her as she reached to her shoulders to steady her. “I want you to just lay back and relax for a few minutes, okay?”

___“I’m alright,” Cookie stated as she swung her legs around and sat fully up, holding her hand to her now dizzy, aching head.

___“Hmm,” Miss Fleming muttered dubiously, looking Cookie directly in her pale, blue eyes. “Then, can you tell me what day it is, sweetheart?”

___“I... um... it’s Tuesday... I... I think it is.”

___“Let’s try a little more easy question... what’s your name?”

___“Cookie. Cookie Mullins.”

___“Cookie,” Miss Fleming repeated the word. “Gosh, that’s a pretty name for such a pretty girl.” As she said it, she put the back of her hand to Cookie’s cheek and caressed it softly.

___A swirling rush of feelings overtook Cookie, as she looked up at the nurse, and tears suddenly appeared and streaked down both of her cheeks. As much as she desperately craved the kind words and the soft touch of this lovely woman, she was terror stricken by the immensity of the pent up emotions that were welling inside of her. Cookie knew that losing control and letting those emotions out would surely overwhelm and destroy her, right here where she sat.

___“Please don’t touch me,” she loudly stated, pushing Miss Fleming’s hand away from her face.

___“I’m sorry, honey,” Nurse Fleming said. “I didn’t mean to...”

___“It’s alright,” Cookie quickly interrupted, deathly afraid that she might have hurt the woman’s feelings by her reaction to the innocent gesture. “I’m just not used to anyone touching me or being kind to me, that’s all. I don’t know how to handle it.”

___“What? A pretty girl like you? Who wouldn’t be kind to you?”

___“Nobody,” Cookie told her directly. “There isn’t anyone who is nice to me... ever.”

___“What are you talking about?” the nurse asked. “Hey, honey, tell me what happened to you today? Why did you pass out like that?”

___Cookie suddenly realized that she had said far too much, to this nurse, already and that she shouldn’t have. Her father had strictly ordered her never to speak of her private life to anyone ever. She didn’t know this woman and had no idea if she could be a friend or another trap set by her father. If she got curious and tried to get involved, she could cause a lot of trouble for Cookie.

___“I skipped lunch today,” Cookie hurriedly told her, “and I started to feel weak in sixth hour. I shouldn’t have done that. I... I’m trying to lose weight.”

___“Lose weight? There’s hardly that much of you as it is, sweetheart.”

___“Please don’t call me that, Miss Fleming,” Cookie pleaded to her as new tears ran down her reddened cheeks, her lower lip trembling now as she spoke, “I don’t deserve that. I’m nobody’s sweetheart.”

___“Oh, Cookie,” Miss Fleming gushed in a voice brimming with concern. “What are you talking about? What has happened to you?”

___“I... I just skipped lunch is all,” Cookie replied, sniffing her grief inward and girding herself as she firmly wiped her cheeks with her bare hands. “I do that a lot.”

___“Don’t skip your meals, honey,” Miss Fleming seriously advised her, patting her knee as she spoke to her. “You need nutrition at your age.”

___“Yes, ma’am. I won’t. I’m fine now, really. There’s nothing wrong with me. Nothing at all. May I go?”

___The nurse turned to a small refrigerator and pulled out a little can of orange juice which she opened, on each side, with the church key from the counter. She handed it to Cookie and said, “Here. Drink this and, when you’re finished, you can go.”



___Cookie was glad to leave school that day. She was already running late and had to get home to clean the house and make dinner for her family.

___She made beef medallions with hunter sauce, buttered redskin potatoes and Waldorf salad and got it all on the table just as her father came home.

___ As she placed the chilled salad plates before him and her brother, her father stated, “I heard you passed out at school today.”

___“I did,” Cookie said, filling the water glass by his plate, “but I’m okay now.”

___“I could care less if you're okay,” her father told her, placing his napkin across his lap. “Just don’t make a spectacle of yourself at school.”

___“No, sir. I won’t.”

[farmer Joe]

Bastard

rotten Bastard

[ELaken-Palmer]

Originally Posted by farmer Joe

Bastard

rotten Bastard

Sorry. I must not have written that part quite right. I'll do better next chapter.

[belizelarry]

ELP Farmer Joe is just expressing what we all feel for the father. The nurse is the first caring emotion Cookie has felt and is not used to it. Isn't it funny how many readers have turned this story into a real life drama and bring out all the emotions of revenge and retaliation. I even suggested Max from My Daddies the best lawyer to pay a visit to the father, coach, and principal. Good writing to bring out such feelings. Hate the people but love the story.

[snowleopard3200]

ELP - glad to see the nurse is concerned about Cookie; just based on what she told the nurse should have at least one red flag going high into the air. Cookie is acting like many injured or abused people do, withdrawing into herself, seeing herself in a negative light that is not true at all; and yet still trying subconsiously to make contact with a fellow human being.

Once again I can see there is a ray of hope for her, and from a new direction. Still curious as to who sent her all the clothing a few chapters back.

The father is much what all of us figure -- gator bait.

If he changes for the better, then so be it; if not...no loss.

Awaiting the next chapter.

[ELaken-Palmer]

I knew what Joe meant. I was just trying to add a little humor to the thread.

[nicelymoistly]

I'm on the fence with this story, it's so hard to believe that so much misfortune could happen one sweet little girl, in such a short time that she's been on this earth, hmmm, yet i'm totally drawn to it. Brilliantly written, please continue.

[farmer Joe]

Originally Posted by ELaken-Palmer

Sorry. I must not have written that part quite right. I'll do better next chapter.

LMAO

Keep it up (the story that is). Eagerly awaiting the next instalment
FJ

[ELaken-Palmer]

Originally Posted by nicelymoistly

I'm on the fence with this story, it's so hard to believe that so much misfortune could happen one sweet little girl, in such a short time that she's been on this earth, hmmm, yet i'm totally drawn to it. Brilliantly written, please continue.

Thanks. I just need a liitle time to recover from writing this part.

[Hornycountryboy]

Nice to see someone trying to look out for her. I am with Snow in wondering who sent the clothes. Maybe one of those mysteries we may never find out, but I am still curious though.

[Author7474]

After reading through all four chapters of your story, I find myself satisfied and hungry for more. My only negative comments are that I found it difficult at times to utilize my willingness to suspend disbelief, specifically when you wrote of Cookie's treatment at school and when with her family. These scenarios are unrealistic to me, although I suppose they could be plausible. However, these minor critiques are easily overidden by the emotional evocation of your story. As I read I became increasingly vehement, nuturing a contempt and malevolence for Cookie's prosecutors and a strong sense of empathy for Cookie herself. Also, on a more philosophical note, I enjoyed the dismal mood, seeing it as a relief from the happy ending cliches and deus ex machinas that run rampant in writing.

[snowleopard3200]

Originally Posted by Hornycountryboy

Nice to see someone trying to look out for her. I am with Snow in wondering who sent the clothes. Maybe one of those mysteries we may never find out, but I am still curious though.

HCB - good point, I wonder if there is a hidden relation or parent figure who is doing this. I hope the mystery does get solved.

[farmer Joe]

I wonder if Corey had anything to do with it.

[ELaken-Palmer]

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13. The shoes
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___A few weeks after that day, Cookie walked into her fifth hour combined class to find the few of her classmates, who were already there, happily chattering among themselves.

___Stepping down the row to her desk, Cookie’s attention was drawn to Margarita Santana who was sitting at her own desk, over by the windows, with her head down in her folded arms and trembling in obvious, emotional distress.

___Cookie walked right over to her and asked her what was wrong.

___With tears wetting her face the daughter of recent immigrants from Mexico looked up at Cookie and said, “Somebody stole my shoes from my gym locker last hour. The lock, it does not work. I thought it would be okay. But somebody took them. Now I have no shoes to wear.” With her accent, she pronounced the word as “chews”.

___Cookie looked down and saw that Margarita was indeed only wearing her white ankle socks.

___“It will be okay,” Cookie told her, patting her shoulder to try and console her.

___“No it won’t. You don’t understand,” Margarita cried. “My father will kill me. Those shoes were very expensive and he worked hard to buy them for me. I will be punished severely. I know I will.”

___Cookie did not like the sound of that at all. “What kind of shoes were they?” she asked.

___“They were black with flat heels and a gold buckle in the front,” Margarita explained. Looking down at Cookie’s feet now and pointing, she added, “They were just like your shoes, Cookie.”

___Looking down at her own shoes now too, Cookie asked, “What size were they?”

___“They were size six.”

___“Mine too,” Cookie said brightly. “Look. Why don’t I just give my shoes to you?”

___“What?”

___“I have other shoes at home and this way your father won’t know that your shoes were ever stolen and you won’t be in any trouble.”

___“Would you really do that for me?” Margarita asked, her facial expression brightening visibly as she spoke.

___“Of course,” Cookie smiled, stepping out of her shoes and then picking them up and handing them to the Mexican girl.

___“Oh, thank you, Cookie. Gracias mucho, Galleta!” Margarita gushed, taking the offered shoes from Cookie and putting them on the floor to step into. They fit her perfectly. Margarita now smiled broadly in relief but then her cheery grin faded as she looked up and inquired, “But, if I have your shoes, what will you wear now?”

___“Oh, I’ll just run back to the locker room and put on my gym shoes for the rest of the day. It will be alright, you’ll see.”

___And Cookie hurried from the classroom and did just that, elated that she had helped a girl who really needed her help. Maybe this was a beginning of a change in her fortune and Margarita would be the friend that she had so longed to have.

___Cookie got back to the classroom just as the bell was ringing and Mr. Gilley was about to begin a lecture.

___As Cookie took her seat Mr. Gilley, standing in front of his desk, looked her up and down and asked, “Miss Mullins, what are you wearing on your feet?”

___“My gym shoes, Mr. Gilley.”

___“But you’re aware that gym shoes are for gym only and against the school dress code, aren’t you?”

___“Yes. I’m sorry, Mr. Gilley,” Cookie started to explain, “but I gave my shoes to Margarita, over there, because her shoes were stolen and I didn’t want her to be in trouble with her father.”

___Mr. Gilley looked over to Margarita now in the first row by the windows. “Is this true, Miss Santana?”

___Margarita looked back at Mr. Gilley with a sudden look of extreme trepidation on her acne-pocked face and she said, “No. That is not true, Mr. Gilley. Don’t take my shoes from me, please. These are my shoes.”

___Mr. Gilley looked back to Cookie now. “So then you’re lying to me, right?”

___“No, sir. I gave my shoes to Margarita. She has nothing to be afraid of. They’re her shoes now. I gave them to her.”

___“Margarita?” Mr. Gilley looked back to her. “Are those, or are those not, Cookie’s shoes that you’re wearing?”

___“They are not, Mr. Gilley. She is lying. These are my shoes.”

___“Alright,” Mr. Gilley said, walking to behind his desk and writing something down on a scrap of paper. Looking to Cookie now, he said, “It’s bad enough that you flaunt your breaking of the rules by coming to class in the wrong shoes but you add to it by making up a lie about it.”

___“No, Sir,” Cookie said, her heart starting to beat faster as that all too familiar ache of fear started to come over her. “I didn’t.”

___“Stan,” he said to the boy in the front row, “take this note to the office, for me, right now.”

___Stanley Worchel stood and took the note and left the room as Mr. Gilley looked at Cookie and said, “I’m sending for your father to come and deal with this situation.”

___“Please don’t do that,” Cookie pleaded. “He won’t understand and he gets very angry. Bothering him at his office will just make him even madder.”

___“You should have thought of that before you lied,” Mr. Gilley said and then he looked to the class in general and announced, “Everybody turn in their history books to chapter five and start reading to yourselves.”

___Cookie was gripped by an inner terror as she sat there at her desk, trying to read from her book as she thought, fearfully, about what was to come. Her father only worked five minutes away from the school. He would be here before the hour was up, if they really went ahead and called him and he were truly coming. What was he likely to do to her here? Would he believe her if she tried to explain what really happened? Would he take her out in the hall and punish her? Was he really going to come here to the school?

___Sure enough, Cookie’s father rushed through the classroom door not ten minutes later and he was noticeably seething with anger. “What do you mean, bringing me here from my office? What the hell is this all about, Gilley?”

___Mr. Gilley nodded toward Cookie. “She came to class in gym shoes, Mr. Mullins. That’s against the rules. Then she lied to me about why. She said that she gave her regular shoes to that girl over there in the white sweater.”

___“Is that true?” Cookie’s father loudly demanded of Margarita.

___“No sir,” Margarita’s voice trembled with fear. “She is lying. These are my shoes. My father buy them for me.”

___“Damn it, Gilley,” Cookie’s father yelled at him. “Didn’t I tell all of you teachers, at the meeting we had, that she’s a manipulative, lying, little bitch and that you all have to discipline and clamp down on her or she’ll walk all over you?”

___“Yes, but...”

___Cookie’s father looked right at her now, his eyes ablaze with anger. “Get up and get me that pointer,” he said, gesturing to the chalkboard ledge.

___Cookie quickly arose from her desk, as ordered, and ran to the chalkboard and brought the hardwood pointer directly to her seething father at the front of the room.

___“Face the class and bend over,” he ordered her and Cookie did just that, looking now at all the rows of faces, staring back at her with many expressions of curious anticipation.

___“Hold your skirt up in the back.”

___Cookie could see all of her classmates’ leers and smirks as she complied with her father’s order and slowly pulled the back of her pleated skirt up, exposing her bare upper thighs to everyone’s gaze.

___“I’ll teach you not to lie,” he said and then there was a loud whoosh and a crack as the hard pointer hit tender flesh. No sound came from her tightly clamped lips but the immense pain registered in the widening and watering over of her pale-blue eyes as her father hit her twice more, in quick succession, before the pointer broke in half, its tip flying across the room and almost hitting Kevin Miller in the front row.

___Cookie wavered and dropped to one knee but her father grabbed a handful of her blonde hair and pulled her back up to a standing position before the class. “Now,” he yelled at her, shaking her head by her hair, “go and apologize to that girl you lied about.”

___Cookie walked unsteadily over to Margarita’s desk and stood beside her. Margarita did not look up as Cookie said, “I’m so sorry,” in a voice quivering with the agony that she felt in her heart as well as her backside.

___Mr. Mullins handed the broken pointer to the teacher now and said, “You should handle this kind of thing yourself, in the future, Gilley. I’m a busy man.” And then he left the classroom as Cookie walked slowly back to her desk, as if in a trance, and gingerly sat down, her buttocks and upper thighs on fire and swelling in blue welts beneath her skirt.

___“Now,” Mr. Gilley told the class, “the drama is over so get back to reading chapter five.”

___It was quiet for a time until Nancy Martin, sitting to her left, leaned to Cookie and said, “That must have been embarrassing to have your father come here and beat your ass, in front of everybody, like that.”

___Cookie just stared down at her book but found it impossible to read as her vision blurred and the tears started dripping from her eyes and splashing down on the page below her face.

___“Funny about those shoes,” Nancy added now, “I found a pair, just like that Spic had, in an open gym locker, just before class.”

[ejls]

Wonderful writing, ELP. I hope when you are done that you'll place this in one complete thread so that we can read the uninterrupted version.

This is some of your best work.

[farmer Joe]

Agreed, i would love to read it from start to finish - FJ

[snowleopard3200]

I really feel for Cookie, no one is coming to her aid at all right now; yet with all she is going through, maybe the nurse or someone will soon stand up for her side of things.

Doing that to her in front of the entire classroom provides more than enough witnesses; and Cookies unknown benefactor must be aware or suspect the abuses she has to face daily.

Here is something I am beginning to see as the story unfolds; at least ELP I think this may be what is going on in the background...

A mysterious benefactor aiding her from off screen (so far) like with the two trunks of clothing and shoes; plus her fathers indifference (so to speak) of them.

The other is in such things as the mixup of her winding up in boys gym class...leading me to think someone is deliberatly messing her life up.

I have to wonder if somehow the father is caught up in a larger game being played and he is on a knifes edge.

Of course Cookie is caught in the middle.

Again this is what I see building; though most likely I am wrong.

Keep up the great work.
Awaiting the next chapter with anticipation and hope for Cookie.

[ELaken-Palmer]

Originally Posted by ejls

Wonderful writing, ELP. I hope when you are done that you'll place this in one complete thread so that we can read the uninterrupted version.

This is some of your best work.

Thanks so much ejls! I don't know if I'm up to it or if there would even be room enough to post the whole thing.

[ELaken-Palmer]

Originally Posted by snowleopard3200

I really feel for Cookie, no one is coming to her aid at all right now; yet with all she is going through, maybe the nurse or someone will soon stand up for her side of things.
Keep up the great work.

Awaiting the next chapter with anticipation and hope for Cookie.

Thanks to farmer Joe and snowleopard3200. After each chapter I need to rest my head and my eyes. It gets to me. I must be getting old.

[Hornycountryboy]

Great chapter ELP, you still have my interest in wondering where all these paths lead up to.

[Versed]

Aww... that girl has no decency! Eagerly waiting that next chapter. It's like a TV show, sort of, with those commercial breaks in between that you wish would end xD

While I agree with others that I do have my suspicions about the sender of Cookie's school clothes, ect. I'll just have to wait. I suppose in time it will come..

[Wimmers]

I hope Cookie is going to apologise to Kevin Miller, that flying tip could have had the poor lads eye out, perhaps she is evil?

E.L.P. I have enjoyed this immensely, it has had me howling with laughter. Some of the lines have been absolute classic. I do not mean this as an insult, it is my sense of humour. Knowing your sense of humour I am sure you are also in stitches when you are writing some of this.

I can't wait for the next chapter, it honestly cheers me up.

[ELaken-Palmer]

Originally Posted by Wimmers

I hope Cookie is going to apologise to Kevin Miller, that flying tip could have had the poor lads eye out, perhaps she is evil?

E.L.P. I have enjoyed this immensely, it has had me howling with laughter. Some of the lines have been absolute classic. I do not mean this as an insult, it is my sense of humour. Knowing your sense of humour I am sure you are also in stitches when you are writing some of this.

I can't wait for the next chapter, it honestly cheers me up.

That is an interesting take on this story, Wimmers. Although I can almost find some humor in the character of Mr. Cross who I patterned after my own Junior High phys-ed teacher and actor R. Lee Ermey (if you see the resemblance).

If I were going for laughs, my sense of humor would be pretty far out there.

[Jackskellington1]

This is really interesting story so far. I cant wait for the next chapter. I knew someone like cookie in real life and she turned out very strong.

Keep up the good work ELP.

[ELaken-Palmer]

Originally Posted by Wimmers

I hope Cookie is going to apologise to Kevin Miller, that flying tip could have had the poor lads eye out, perhaps she is evil?

E.L.P. I have enjoyed this immensely, it has had me howling with laughter. Some of the lines have been absolute classic. I do not mean this as an insult, it is my sense of humour. Knowing your sense of humour I am sure you are also in stitches when you are writing some of this.

I can't wait for the next chapter, it honestly cheers me up.

I must not be doing something right... not setting the correct tone or using the right words or expressing the exact emotions. I just don't know now. I may have to re-think all of this.

[belizelarry]

I didn't think there was anyone else like Gunny Sgt. Ermy. Hoo-rah. Let Cookie's dad have five minutes with Gunny and all will be even.

[snowleopard3200]

Originally Posted by belizelarry

I didn't think there was anyone else like Gunny Sgt. Ermy. Hoo-rah. Let Cookie's dad have five minutes with Gunny and all will be even.

Dont you think gunny would be bored with the remaining four minutes, fifty nine seconds after dealing with Cookies father?

Of course he would probably, as a marine should, stand nearby her to ensure her safety.

My grandfather was a marine DI before WW2; he said the only thing more fierce than an enraged marine protecting a child was the rest of his regiment backing him up.

[ELaken-Palmer]

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14. Guidance
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___That very afternoon came an announcement, over the school’s public address system, that President Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. All students were dismissed and school did not resume until after his funeral, almost a full week later.

___Thanksgiving came and went and then Christmas with the usual hurts and disappointments for Cookie on Christmas morning.

___This year the family Christmas party was held at Cookie’s house and she made sure that the house was very festively decorated and that the Christmas dinner was extra special for everyone.

___She tried to make herself festive too, putting on a green skirt with a white blouse and a red sweater-vest and that made her feel in the holiday spirit, even as she stood off to the corner of the room, so as not to attract attention, watching her family members open their exchanged gifts.

___That’s when her cousin Kate came over to her holding the Kingsmen album her that Uncle Mike had bought for her. “Your dad is so super,” Kate said, her smile so infectious that it made Cookie smile too, even though her father hadn’t gotten her anything.

___Looking her up and down now Kate asked, “Where’d you get that skirt and that vest? You look just like Christmas.”

___“Some clothes came for me before school started,” Cookie explained. “This outfit was among the things I got. Do you like it?”

___“Like it?” Kate exclaimed. “I want it!” and she looked around the room for Cookie’s father.

___“Uncle Mike,” she yelled as she spotted him, and he looked up from the box of golf balls that he’d been unwrapping.

___“What is it, Sweetheart?” he asked her.

___“I want this outfit Cookie has on. I have another Christmas party to attend tomorrow and I want to wear it.”

___“Anything for you, Katie,” Cookie’s father called out. “Cookie, go take that stuff off and give it to Kate.”

___“Yes, Poppa,” Cookie called back over the noise of all the relatives merrymaking around her. “Come up to my room,” she told her cousin.

___Cookie led Kate to her bedroom and Kate sat on the bed as Cookie removed her vest, skirt and blouse and stood there in just her panties and a loose camisole undershirt.

___“God, who picked out this hideous wallpaper?” Kate exclaimed as Cookie set her clothes on the bed for her cousin.

___“My mother did,” Cookie replied as she opened the long closet to find something else to wear.

___“Well she sure had rotten taste in wallpaper,” Kate stated before her eyes locked on the closet full of clothes Cookie stood before. “Gosh,” she blurted out, “standing up and walking to where Cookie stood, buttoning a yellow top she had pulled on. “Look at all these clothes! Someone gave them all to you? I want them!”

___“They’re all I have,” Cookie said as Kate walked to the bedroom door and opened it.

___“Dad! Uncle Mike!” she called out and both men came running and walked right into Cookie’s bedroom with her still not fully dressed.

___“What is it, Pumpkin?” Uncle Bryce asked her.

___“These clothes Cookie has. Look at them all in her closet. I want them.”

___“You have enough clothes,” her father told her. “Far better and more expensive clothes than these, Katie. You don’t need any of her raggy junk.”

___“But they’re not raggy, they’re nice, Daddy. I want them.”

___“Sure,” her Uncle Mike told her. “You just pick out whatever you want and she’ll be happy to give it to you, sweetheart,” he glared at Cookie now, “Isn’t that right?”

___“Yes, Poppa,” Cookie said in resignation.

___“Go ahead,” Cookie’s father encouraged his niece but Kate was already in the closet selecting things and setting them on the bed.

___Both men chuckled as they left the room and Cookie sat heavily on the bed as she watched her cousin rifle through the few things in life that she actually owned.

___“Have you got this skirt in yellow?” Kate asked, holding up a light-blue one with pleats.

___“I’m not a department store,” Cookie sadly stated.

___Cousin Kate looked sharply back at her. “Is that in the nature of a smart remark? Do you want me to call Uncle Mike back up here and tell him what you said?”

___“No, Kate. Please take what you want.”

___Cookie’s Christmas, that year, was a net loss of three dresses, four skirts and five tops, not including the Christmas outfit.

___
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___When school resumed, after New Year, an announcement was made that all seventh grade students were to report to their guidance councilors for a one-time, instructional class. The boys were to see Mr. Garrett in room 13 and the girls to see Mrs. Shields in room 24.

___Room 24 was a large room with chairs and no desks and Cookie sat in the second row as Mrs. Shields stood before her desk and watched all the girls come in.

___Mrs. Shields was a slim, mature woman with her grey hair styled up on her head and wearing a light-brown, flower print dress and smart-looking high heel shoes.

___Once everyone seemed to be there and seated, Mrs. Shields announced that she was the seventh grade girls’ councilor for Pershing Junior High and that, if any of the girls had problems or questions, they should come to her office and talk to her. She told them that she would be available to them any time of the day and that all they need do is ask a teacher and they would get an immediate hall pass to see her.

___This sounded like a very good thing to Cookie. At last there would be a woman for her to talk to, and ask questions of, if she needed help.

___“Today we are going to have guidance class,” Mrs. Shields now announced. “We are going to talk about the female body and the changes that you girls are (or will soon be) going through.”

___“It’s the birds and the bees!” Linda Johnson called out and Mrs. Shields and the other girls laughed.

___“That’s right,” Mrs. Shields said. “We’re going to talk about your developing bodies and menstruation and reproduction in a very frank and serious manner and separate from the boys so we can talk freely and feel more comfortable.”

___This was what Cookie needed, she told herself, and wasn’t it great that the school was to provide this for her when she required it most?

___At that moment came a knock at the door and one of the school secretaries came in with a note for Mrs. Shields who took it and read it and then had a quiet discussion with the secretary before she looked at the class and asked, “Is Cookie Mullins here?”

___“Yes, Mrs. Shields,” Cookie said from her seat.

___“You’re to go with Miss Andrews.”

___And Cookie walked with the secretary down the hall to room 13 where all the boys were sitting in rows of chairs before Mr. Garrett.

___“But this is the boys’ class,” Cookie protested as Miss Andrews started to open the door.

___“The class schedules show that you’ve been assigned to Mr. Garrett as your councilor,” Miss Andrews explained. “That means that you’re in his class for this guidance lecture.”

___“But...”

___Miss Andrews wasn’t listening as she opened the door and placed her hands at Cookie’s back and pushed her into the room full of boys.

___“Here’s your straggling student,” Miss Andrews announced loudly and all the boys turned and saw Cookie in her pink sweater with the white, pleated skirt and laughed.

___“Settle down, boys,” Mr. Garrett said and then, to Cookie, “find an empty seat...” he looked down and consulted his class list, “...Miss Mullins and sit down.”

___“But Mr. Garrett there must be some mistake,” Cookie tried to explain, “I’m in the wrong class. I should be with the other girls. Mr. Garrett I need this class but I need to be with Mrs. Shields.”

___“Well, mistake or not, I’ve been assigned to council you and this is my Guidance class so take your seat.”

___Cookie reluctantly took an empty chair, among the boys, about midway down the second row.

___“Now, to continue,” Mr. Garrett said to the class, “you’re going to notice a lot of changes in your bodies in the next year or so. You’re going to get bigger in body mass. Your penises are going to get a lot larger, as is your scrotum, and you’re going to see coarse hair growing on your bodies and in your armpits and at the area around your penis and your testicle sack...”

___“My balls itch all the time,” Richard Gershick said from the front row. “Is that normal?”

___“Yes,” Mr. Garrett replied. “With normal growth and with pubic hair coming in, some itching is expected. Just try not to be digging and scratching at your scrotum when anyone is looking. Now, as far as wet dreams and masturbating and ejaculation and the discharge of semen...”

___Cookie’s face was as red as a stop sign and she had bent her head and was trying to conceal her embarrassment under the cover of her open hands, pretending in her mind that she wasn’t there.

___Seeing this, Mr. Garrett stopped what he was saying and asked, “Miss Mullins, is something wrong? Do you have any questions on this subject?”

___Cookie took her hands from her face and looked up at the instructor, “I need to know what the girls need to know, Mr. Garrett.”

___“Oh,” he said, standing up and taking a pink booklet from his desk. “I was prepared for this. This is for you, Cookie.” He walked over now and handed the pamphlet to her. “It’s called “Why Jane Can’t Go Swimming” and it came from a box of women’s sanitary napkins. I’m sure it will cover any information you need to know.”

___The boys all laughed uproariously now as Cookie looked around with an extremely distressed expression on her reddened face, holding the pamphlet that depicted a cartoon drawing of a sad-looking girl, in a bikini bathing suit, on its cover.

___“Any more questions, guys?” Mr. Garrett asked the gathering.

___Scotty Anderson stood and said, “I can’t ask questions, about this stuff, with her in the room.”

___And a lot of the boys announced their agreement with what he had said.

___“She’s like a spy from the other camp, isn’t she?” Mr. Garrett observed and they all hastily agreed.

___“Cookie,” he said to her now, “maybe you better go stand out in the hall until this class is finished. We don’t want you to embarrass any of these boys or make them feel uncomfortable.”

___Cookie, welcoming the excuse to leave the room, stood and started quickly toward the door.

___“I have a question,” John Madison now loudly stated.

___“Yes, John?”

___“Well... why can’t Jane go swimming?”

___And all the class was laughing loudly as Cookie opened the door and quickly left the room.

[snowleopard3200]

Its good that Cookie did not lose ALL her new clothing; yet I still have to wonder what is going on here?

ELP - query: Has Cookie by chance been registered as a boy? Say by her father, as he would know the absolute humiliation this would inflict upon her?

Honestly, the more her father and relatives put Cookie through the more I want to unleash a pack of javalinas on them.

[ELaken-Palmer]

Originally Posted by snowleopard3200

Its good that Cookie did not lose ALL her new clothing; yet I still have to wonder what is going on here?

ELP - query: Has Cookie by chance been registered as a boy? Say by her father, as he would know the absolute humiliation this would inflict upon her?

Honestly, the more her father and relatives put Cookie through the more I want to unleash a pack of javalinas on them.

I am sure that Mr. Mullins is behind all the mix-ups in Cookie's life. He is a seemingly cruel and controlling person. The only thing I can say about her clothes is that, if you remember, her father told her that he was sick and tired of seeing her in those tattered outfits. If he indeed bought them for her, he would not have wanted to just give them to her as gifts...

[Hornycountryboy]

Good chapter. Seems like the nurse is the only one who is the only one she can talk to, if only she will open up to her.

[snowleopard3200]

Originally Posted by ELaken-Palmer

I am sure that Mr. Mullins is behind all the mix-ups in Cookie's life. He is a seemingly cruel and controlling person. The only thing I can say about her clothes is that, if you remember, her father told her that he was sick and tired of seeing her in those tattered outfits. If he indeed bought them for her, he would not have wanted to just give them to her as gifts...

Good point, I had forgotten about that part with the cloths.

Looking forward to things getting better for Cookie though.

Well done.

[DeepinsideXXx]

Originally Posted by snowleopard3200

Good point, I had forgotten about that part with the cloths.

Looking forward to things getting better for Cookie though.

Well done.

I agree. Well written, and even though I wonder how anyone could handle that much abuse, hopefully it gets better for her. It seems hard to imagine this kind of thing happening to a kid these days, but parts of the story were familiar to me.

Thoughts of the times when my own mother broke wooden items beating me, and the time when she threw all my clothes out on the lawn at 14 years old.. Having nowhere to live wasn't fun but it was the smack across the face with her asking me "what did I ever do to deserve you" that really hurt. All over some $2 item I shoplifted because I was young and stupid, and even though the store let me go, my sister told her.

I don't usually think about it now. I look back on it now that I've read this much and wonder if I'm too hard on my own kid, but he doesn't have any of that or anything close to deal with. He won't either, and I'm glad for that.

Kinda sickening that it still happens to some.

[farmer Joe]

Cookie's rotten luck is so constant it is quite predictable. How much can a person take? I just want to see her poison her whole smug families precious Christmas dinner. FJ

[Hornycountryboy]

Originally Posted by farmer Joe

Cookie's rotten luck is so constant it is quite predictable. How much can a person take? I just want to see her poison her whole smug families precious Christmas dinner. FJ

Yes I keep waiting for her to snap like the girl from Carrie.

[Versed]

I would love to see Cookie's family poisoned while she watches from the living room, though I don't think that would fit with the storyline.
This story is rather depressing, but it holds me because I'm anticipating when the good finally happens. If it does.
And I'm hoping it will!

Please continue, ELP. Excited for the next chapter.

[KnightDeamon]

The Story is nicely written, and well detailed. My Heart goes out to Cookie. No Girl or woman should ever have to go though what she had too. I am a Firm believer in if someone hurts a child, in this life or the next, someone will go to work on them with a Drill and or Blowtorch.

[ELaken-Palmer]

Thanks to all (so very much) for your continued comments, support and reactions. I can not keep going without your help.

Originally Posted by KnightDeamon

The Story is nicely written, and well detailed. My Heart goes out to Cookie. No Girl or woman should ever have to go though what she had too. I am a Firm believer in if someone hurts a child, in this life or the next, someone will go to work on them with a Drill and or Blowtorch.

Good response that touches a nerve.

You say No Girl or woman should ever have to go though what she had too.

Would "Cookie" generate as much vehement reaction if the main character were a boy?

Is there really a deep undertone of sex and sexuality to this story?

If a male gets his penis stuck in a pool intake hole, that's comedy. If a female gets her vagina impaled on a fence rod, that's tragedy.

True?

The next chapter of "Cookie" this weekend.

[buff4737]

Interesting story, sad, disenheartening, and makes one wish someone would show up to exact revenge on all those who have been so abhorrent to poor Cookie.

I keep hoping that her brother will "man up" and take her side against her father, but it seems to be a dream unfullfilled.

Keep up the excellent work, it is proving to be an incredible demonstration on your writing range.

[ELaken-Palmer]

___
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___
15. The Class Trip
___
___
___
___During the winter Cookie put up an ad, in the two local supermarkets, that she would do babysitting for fifty cents an hour. This, she figured, would give her some spending money which was something she had never had.

___Her father didn’t seem to object as long as it didn’t interfere with his meals or her housework.

___By March, Cookie had a tidy sum put away, enough to buy birthday presents for Corey and her father and for her to treat herself to an after-school soda or something once in a while.

___She also found that she simply adored small children and babies and loved tending to their needs and playing with them and getting them ready for bed and reading them stories. She had done this for her young cousins Tommy and Janice and Little Bryce and Alice since she was nine. She also found that little children repaid her kindnesses with returned kindness and made her feel worthy and good about herself and her abilities.

___Spring finally came and (with it) lots of studies and end of year exams.

___Mr. Gilley announced that, because they had all been so good all year, the seventh grade class would be taking a school-sponsored trip to Cedar Pointe amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. The trip would take place the last week of May and that would leave two weeks before the students were to bring back their signed permission slips and their twelve dollars to cover park admission and lunch.

___Cookie was very excited by this. She had never been to an amusement park or on a class trip and she so wanted to go. She had the money but, she wondered, would her father allow it?

___She made him his favorite dinner that evening and even set the table with the good china and stemware for him and her brother.

___It was when she brought out the strawberry éclairs that she mentioned the class trip to him and showed him her permission slip.

___Her heart pounded in her chest as he looked at the slip and then up at her with a scowl.

___“Get me a pen,” he said and Cookie ran into the kitchen and came back with one for him, her hand shaking as she handed it to him, trying to keep the smile from crossing her excited face.

___“Don’t expect me to pay for this,” he told her as he signed his name at the bottom of the paper.

___“Oh no, Poppa”, she gushed excitedly. “I have babysitting money enough for this and I’m looking after the Bradley twins this weekend.”

___“Just make damn sure this house is taken care of and my meals are on the table.”

___“Yes, Poppa.”

___Cookie brought in her permission slip and her twelve dollars to school the next day. It was all the money she had but, she knew, more was coming.

___When the big day arrived, Cookie could hardly contain her happiness and excitement. She was going on a bus trip, during a school day, to a place that (she’d heard) was full of excitement and fun.

___Cookie had never had any fun in her whole life and now she was going to let herself be happy, at least for a day.

___She dressed in her yellow shorts and an open white shirt over a t-shirt to try and hide the breasts that were rapidly becoming easily noticeable in anything she wore. On this special day, she was even allowed to wear white canvas shoes over her ankle socks.

___The students all reported to their classroom and then Mr. Gilley and Mr. Sharp, both wearing shorts and sport shirts, led the class out to the waiting, yellow bus that said BEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS on its side.

___The students piled in with Cookie taking a seat at the back of the bus next to Mr. Sharp.

___It was a two hour drive and, all the way there, Mr. Gilley led the students in singing “Ninety-Nine Bottles Of Beer” and “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round The Mountain” until everyone got sick of it, just after they passed the Ohio border.

___“I know what we can do,” Nancy Martin said from her seat.

___“What?” Mr. Gilley asked.

___“We can do class superlatives!”

___“What’s that?” Stan Worchel asked her.

___“It’s where we select who is the smartest in our class or who is the cutest or the best dressed...”

___And everyone seemed to love the idea.

___“Edward Bradley is the smartest,” Shelly Christopher called out and everyone seemed to agree with that.

___“Nancy is the cutest,” was called out by someone and that was agreed upon too.

___“Ken Parlicki is the most handsome,” Nancy called but because (everyone knew) she had the ‘hots’ for him.

___“What about class geek?” Eric Coleman shouted out and laughed.

___“That would be Cookie Mullins,” Nancy yelled and everyone laughed at that and quickly agreed with her.

___“And class dunce?”

___“That would be Cookie too.”

___And everyone laughed again.

___As Cookie sat there and listened, she was voted most ugly, stupidest, worst hair, worst dressed and the person you most love to hate.

___She tried very hard to smile along good naturedly, at everyone’s laughter and merriment, but she just couldn’t help but turn her face to quickly wipe a few tears away. She just couldn’t let them spoil this wonderful day for her... this once in a lifetime day.

___When the bus pulled in to the huge parking lot and stopped, Mr. Gilley (wearing his cool sunglasses) stood up holding all the admission tickets in his hand.

___“Now,” he announced, “we are all to stick together as much as possible in the park. The picnic area, at the front, is our gathering area. Either Mr. Sharp or I will be there all day in case any of you get lost or separated. Your admission ticket gets you rides all day so have as much fun as you can. Don’t forget the train ride to the Frontier area and the sky ride and the Blue Streak and the log flume. We will meet for lunch, at the picnic area, at noon sharp. Your hot dogs, fries and Cokes have been paid for and will be ready for you to eat and get back to the rides and fun. Now remember this: we gather back at the picnic area at four o’clock to leave the park and get back on the bus. Don’t be late because the bus leaves at four-thirty sharp and you’d better be on it or you’ll be spending your time alone here and waiting for your parents to drive all this way and pick you up.

___“Now,” he continued, “I want you to file past me and I’ll hand you your ticket as you get off the bus. Then stand outside the bus and we’ll head in to the park.”

___Everyone got up and began to pass Mr. Gilley who handed each student his or her blue park admission ticket.

___Cookie became newly excited as she walked, at the end of the line, up the center row of the bus to Mr. Gilley who, she saw, gave Wendy Banes her ticket and then John Madison his. Then Cookie stood before him with a rare smile on her pretty face as he looked at her, empty handed, and said, “I’m afraid that John’s was the last ticket.”

___Cookie’s smile quickly evaporated. “But I paid my fee, Mr. Gilley. I brought my money in the next day.”

___“I know,” Mr. Gilley said. “I remember. Someone must have come without paying but I have no way of knowing who it was. It’s too bad you were at the end of the line or you would have gotten a ticket.”

___“But can’t you get me one? I paid. You know I did.”

___“I have no money with me, Cookie. Neither does Mr. Sharp. I’m afraid that you’ll just have to wait outside the park until three-thirty.”

___“No, Mr. Gilley. Please! I paid. I’ve never been to an amusement park in all my life and I want to go so badly.”

___“I’m sorry, Cookie,” Mr. Gilley said as he stepped off the bus and stood in front of the other students.

___Cookie got off the bus now and stood in the sunshine next to her teacher, hearing the joyous screams of the amusement riders and the clickity sounds of the coasters and the circus-like music of the midway coming from inside the park. “Please, Mr. Gilley. There must be a way to get me a ticket.”

___“Okay,” Mr. Gilley told her and then he turned to the gathered class. “We seem to be one ticket short and Cookie didn’t get one. Is there a student here who didn’t pay?”

___Nobody said a word and Mr. Gilley looked back at Cookie, shrugged his shoulders and said, “Sorry.”

___“But, Mr. Gilley, I paid for my ticket. You know I did. I don’t mean to complain, Sir, but this just isn’t fair.”

___“Alright,” he said, looking back at the group. “Is there anyone here who would like to just give their ticket to Cookie so that she can go into the park?”

___Again there was silence from all the other seventh graders.

___“Sorry, Cookie,” Mr. Gilley said over the sound of the bus pulling away toward a distant parking area. “Just wait out here until we come out in a few hours.” And, with that, he turned to lead the class toward the park entrance.

___“Please, Mr. Gilley,” Cookie cried out to him, tears now streaming down her cheeks. “Please don’t leave me alone out here!”

___Mr. Gilley stopped and turned back to her. He looked angry now. “Okay, Miss Mullins. You can go in, if that’s the way you want to be about it. We’ll settle it right here and now.”

___Cookie felt suddenly relieved at his words and she sniffed and wiped her cheeks before Mr. Gilley told her, “Just pick a student, out here, whose ticket you want to take away and I’ll have them give it to you and they can wait out here in your place, okay? So, go on, pick one!”

___Cookie looked at all her classmates as they protested, to Mr. Gilley and to each other, about this ominous decision and then they all stood there and worriedly looked back at her.

___Cookie then bowed her head in resignation. “I won’t take anyone’s ticket away,” she softly stated to the pavement at her feet. “Go ahead. Go in and have a good time.”

___And the class filed into Cedar Pointe for a day of fun, leaving Cookie standing in the parking lot, in the hot, late-May sun, for five and a half hours.

[Fish Monster]

As well written as it is, this is getting quite annoying. Every time you give a glimmer of hope that this child may find some footing onto a path of happiness you yank the carpet out from under our feet. How much longer until someone either beats her to death or she kills herself?

FM

[belizelarry]

I agree with Fish monster. It is so frustrating to get your hopes up and then have more sadness happen to her. I am now cussing at my computer screen like an idiot. My wife asked "What's wrong." This story is getting to me. Good job ELP. I hate it. But that is because you have written it so well that it brings out so much emotion. I do hope you have the final chapter in mind to bring this tragedy to a happy conclusion and not have Cookie commit suicide or something like that. I will come after you! Thank you. (I think)

[ELaken-Palmer]

Originally Posted by belizelarry

I agree with Fish monster. It is so frustrating to get your hopes up and then have more sadness happen to her. I am now cussing at my computer screen like an idiot. My wife asked "What's wrong." This story is getting to me. Good job ELP. I hate it. But that is because you have written it so well that it brings out so much emotion. I do hope you have the final chapter in mind to bring this tragedy to a happy conclusion and not have Cookie commit suicide or something like that. I will come after you! Thank you. (I think)

Actually, Larry, input from you and others IS starting me to thinking about a suitable conclusion to this story. It is only a germ of an idea right now. Cookie's story spans a period of time until just past her high school graduation and this story is told in episodes from her life. We are not there yet. The question is: does everyone just want me to cut this short with an ending right now, or is anyone still interested in the many things that happened to her through her teenage years? Tell me. Your continued comments mean EVERYTHING to me.

[SW1]

Cookie's story is an interesting tragedy to follow. I hope for more.
S

[ejls]

I hate this. I hate this more than I can tell you. How dare you make us care for a fictional character?

Never doubt what you're writing doesn't bring out emotions.

[belizelarry]

That is it. Ejls said it best. I hate this because it is so strong a story. Sad to think that some people really live like this. There is a lot of love in life, but there is still a lot of hatred and bigotry. I just want Cookie to come out stronger and braver after having to put up with so much abuse. Since you portray her as being pretty, I would like to see some boy fall in love with her and give her all the caring and respect she deserves. Get married, have a beautiful baby, and live happily ever after. In my dreams! Don't stop now or cut it short. You have us hooked. After reading this. I feel my life has been blessed with all the good things and family in my life. I have been lucky to have been able to do many things that have left fond memories and experiences. Keep writing.

[Versed]

Continue, please. I'd rather hear the somewhat happy ending as it should be than to have it abruptly ended.

Cookie, my dear, let Miss Versed teach you a lesson.
1. Find a male who is bothering you.
2. Look at the instructional diagram below.

[Hornycountryboy]

As much as I enjoy to hate this story I would rather read the entire story than to see it cut short.