A Scholar's Fury: The Road to Justice

g to each other, glancing nervou

Ma," one of them, t

s name," Brenda snapped, though her

unaway, probably heard st

trying to convince hers

ve Jessica' s story,

they coul

ed, frustration and de

place! My Grandma Betty makes the best apple pie

g to make them believe, thin

their faces blan

ook her h

try, but Jessica was clear,

treamed down my face, I wan

ey be so stu

ohn and Grandma Betty

us to Ashton for hi

more opportunities, but

n law enforcement, knew the wo

to make me a target, or for people to treat me differently,

omething broadcast widely in Ashton, or among people

hip, only knew my grandparents as "Sa

r standing, their power

forts to protect me had, in a twisted

as then, t

hat these people intended, it oversha

wiping the tears from m

is," I said, my voi

andfather f

sentence, the implication

patience

!" she shrieked, her fa

gain, not by the arm this

ug in, cuttin

randpa is or isn't!" she hiss

e mine, and you'll

gainst the rough wood

ehind my eyes, p

break me, to sil

he word a strangled gas

ter! They' re trying to... to keep me here! I' ll

oping someone, anyone, a neighbor,

up a little, maybe

ain, a hard slap across the

lurred, I t

tus!" she yelled

nasty grin on his fa

e rough porch boards scraping my cheek as I

like he wanted

cut through the air,

is going on here? You beati

weathered face, stood at the edge of

n a neighbor, or

d, a desperate

und, her hand drop

ons f

renda said, her voice suddenly smooth

Jessica Peterson brought by, tro

trol the narrative, t

firm hand,

myself up, my body s

bbing, blood tri

a hand towards

elp me, I'm Sarah, Sheriff John' s gr

contact, to convey t

rawled in the mud, to B

hook his head, his eyes s

eized th

renda said smoothly, step

ng, Hank, this ai

ns. "Boys, get her ins

was younger, maybe even my age, grabbe

ging me towards t

da' s fingers had brui

sob was all

crushing weight

lp was right there, an

turni