Kinetics

MultiMind

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2021 by MultiMind

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review or proper fair use.

Fragmented M logo is a trademark of MultiMind Publishing.

For more information, e-mail: multimindpublishing@gmail.com

First paperback edition, September 2022

First e-book edition, September 2022

Audiobook edition, September 2022

Cover design by Ejiwa Ebenebe

ISBN 978-1-952860-08-9 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-952860-09-6 (e-book)

ISBN 978-1-952860-21-8 (audiobook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022907348

www.multimindpublishing.com

Content Warning:

• Theme of Abuse (Grooming)

• Severe Blood/Violence

• Reference to Sexual Violence

Kinetics

Prologue

The school bell chimed as Latin class started. It was the middle of the day and Ava already wanted to go home. She loathed school, every minute of it. Third class of the day and one more to go. Ava slumped at her second row desk by the stained dry erase board as the remaining students wandered in.

Ava didn’t want to check her phone. Nasty messages were already springing up in her notifications by lunch. All created by Roma, all passed around by everyone else. It didn’t matter whether or not Ava had classes with Roma or even crossed paths with her that day, Roma always had something awful to say. It has been like this for years, stretching back into middle school. Roma just loved to mess with her for fun – well, Roma liked picking on anyone she could get away with but Ava was a special target for some odd reason. Ava used to wonder why but her curiosity died out long ago. She just wanted to survive the day.

Everyone, in your seats! commanded Ms. Dorrell as she leaned back against the front of her wooden desk. She had a shrimp’s demeanor: pale pinkish-brown with beady eyes, tall but a bit bent, scuttled a bit as she walked – unless there was a student to harangue. Her hair was short, brown and bobbed, her voice was bored and loud. The chalkboard behind her was filled with streaks from countless washings with dirty water and faint skitters from previous lessons. 

The students continued to mill about and chatter until Ms. Dorrell stomped, "Now!"

Everyone sat and remained quiet. 

Thank you, the teacher said with strained politeness. She continued in a regular tone, This is not Freshman year, everyone! You have more to worry about than what is going on in your lives. SATs, ACTs, colleges, the lot. You have to think about your future lives. And there’s not a single, decent college that will take a cut-up just because they think they have to. Oh, no. They’ll pass you over quick. So please, try to pay attention and let’s begin. Starting with the homework from last night, please pass it forward and turn it into the tray.

Ava’s body prickled. She didn’t get a chance to do it the night before. She was too busy fighting with her mother, Yvonne, over the dishes. Yvonne had found a few dishes sitting in the drying rack that still bore flecks of dried food. When she woke Ava up from napping on the couch, that’s when the turmoil began. Yvonne made her do the soiled plates again but Ava’s twin brother, Tyrone, pitched in. He dried the dishes and handled the more stubborn stains. This caused more uproar. All the while, their father, Jermaine, reclined in his favorite chair, watching the evening news in his usual sleepy stupor. He never cared to get involved unless forced to.

Ms. Tanis? Ms. Dorrell chimed from her desk. 

Ava straightened up, alert and afraid.

Where is your packet? You had all week to finish, the teacher dryly inquired. Students began to giggle but a look from Ms. Dorrell silenced them.

Ava shifted in her seat, her eyes drifted downward. Um ..., I–

Are you answering to the desk or are you answering to me? Ms. Dorrell snapped.

Jabbed with humiliation, Ava looked up and replied, I didn’t get a chance to finish it–

"Ms. Tanis, when did I give out the assignment?"

Meek as a mouse, Ava replied, Monday.

When? The Latin teacher lifted her sharp chin and gave a disdainful stare down her flat nose.

Louder, Ava repeated, Mond–

‘Monday’. Exactly. And what is today?

Wednesday. Heat flourished in her chest as her mouth grew dry. All eyes were on her, they pierced like needles.

Ms. Dorrell’s voice crawled with bemused surprise, So that means you had time to work on this. Isn’t that right?

Ava shrugged and sunk her head. The previous night flashed across her mind. Anger bubbled underneath her shame. She wished her mother left her alone; the fighting swallowed up the night. And the night before last was filled with homework from other classes – which she had hardly finished because there was too much of it.

Ms. Dorrell tilted her head as she narrowed her eyes. Her hard-permed bob moved little towards gravity. Are you telling me you don’t know?

Ava lifted her head and replied, I had a lot of hom–

What college do you plan to go to?

I ... I haven’t decided ye–

"‘Not decided’? Ms. Dorrell sliced in. Ms. Tanis, before you know it, it will be Junior year. And then Senior. Besides that, do you think college will have less work or more work?"

Ava mumbled, More wo–

I can’t hear you, Ms. Dorrell jabbed.

More work! Ava answered. Her blood grew chill with seething. She wanted to bark back at the teacher but it would just cost her more chiding and a quick one-way trip to the administrative office. That’s how it always was in that class for others, and she imagined no different for herself.

Exactly. Ms. Dorrell walked to the window as she rubbed her arms. Her heels clicked behind her words, You will not get an easy pass in life, none of you. I didn’t tower on the work, I gave a simple packet that should have only taken two nights to do. She hefted open a tall window. A soft, humid summer breeze wafted in. One night, if you were paying close attention in this class. The teacher sat on the emerald painted sill of the window, "When I give you work to do and set a deadline, I expect that work to be done by the deadline. None of this is impossible. Just do the work. Ms. Tanis, you have until tomorrow morning to turn in your packet or your grade on it will drop a whole letter. This means if I don’t see that packet in my mailbox by lunch, it will be a B if it was supposed to be an A. If you decide to take more time on it and spend an extra day, it will drop to a C. Spend another day on it and it will be a D – at which point, you might as well not even turn it in. Do I make myself clear?" Ms. Dorrell rubbed her hands. She had a chill that simply wouldn’t go away, goosebumps collected on her arms and legs. 

Yes, Ms. Dorrell. Ava replied. She hoped that would be the end.

Good. You’re not going to start this year on the wrong foot. Lifting up from the sill, Ms. Dorrell said, Now, let’s start the class ... is anyone else cold? I guess they turned up the AC too much today. Either way, pull out your books and turn to our last section. We were on section thirteen, page forty-six. Section thirteen, page forty-six.

The rest of the class was fairly normal but Ava