“Is that what you’re wearing? We are going somewhere nice. Can’t you put on something decent?” Christine says to Ashley who’s wearing white Tripp pants and a black beater with some chains around her neck.  She puts on her socks and shoes. Then she goes in her bag and pulls out a black and white checkered tie. She puts it on and stands at the door with her stuff. Kyla joins her shortly after. “Ishy kila cruells pandi de.” (I’m sorry Mom’s mean to you). Kyla says in code. “En nod, cruella perra.” (Don’t be, she’s a bitch). Ashley replies. “Piki, sine teo ace! (Ash, that’s not nice!)” Kyla exclaims. Bill turns towards the door. “I thought I told you to stop that nonsense!” “Ucci…(Dick)” Ashley mumbles. Kyla squeals as they go out to the car.

“You’ve got to get a handle on those kids Chrissy. They can’t keep disrespecting me like this if I’m going to be their step-dad in a few months.” Bill sighs. “I know. After we tell them they should be fine, but right now they still see you as temporary. This new school should fix them. I mean Kyla’s not the problem, there’s just something wrong with the other one.” Christine says admiring her engagement ring on the chain around her neck. “Well, I told the administrators she might be a problem. I think they can handle her though. They have her scheduled for therapy.” Bill says indifferently. He puts his arm around Christine and they walk out to the car.

Ashley is reading and Kyla is sketching. Christine glares at Ashley through the mirror. “Alt solo yaw cruella soren bile im gib seu es let nos ez schow. (The only way mom could hate me more is if I tell her I’m gay)” Ashley whispers to Kyla. “Cruella noda bile de. (Mom doesn’t hate you)” Kyla tries to assure her. Slowly they drift back to sleep. Ashley has a night terror. She’s in the dark and she can’t move or breathe. Her heart is pounding in her ears and her lungs are starting to burn. She tries to scream, to move, nothing. She feels someone poking her and wakes up gasping. Kyla holds out her inhaler. “Are you ok?” She puffs it twice. “Yeah, I will be.” She looks out the window, grass and trees are going by and then they stop.