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CHAPTER 1:







         Ragina started this day like she did many in the past. She woke up, despite being up all night listen to her mother and her new nightly lover arguing; drunken words banging against her door frame. Until the slams and the slaps started and then the night would die out with hushed whimpering and the endless smell of lit cigarettes.

         As she woke that day she took her usual 30 minute shower, proceeded by her beauty treatment, that involved hair, makeup, and a thoughtful pick of which outfit would best flatter her curves. Ragina is 12 years old, but her body spoke years ahead of her. She walked barefoot into the kitchen; there is no breakfast cooking or a pleasant “Good morning” presented to her. All that is waiting for her is an ashtray full of cigarettes butts, and the aroma of bear which took over the entire apartment.

         Ragina lived with her mother and younger sister, who was all of a year younger then her. Her mother was a single woman, who’s alcoholism had gotten more sever over the years. She had little to no care about her younger sister. She was nothing but a pure distraction, put there only to bring her annoyance. Ragina stepped through the house to see what type of damage had come from her mother’s latest fight. She is not surprised to see her mother passed out sitting up right in her arm chair; with a beer still in her hand. Her little sister is laying on the coach enjoying early morning cartoons.

         “I’m not going to school today. Mommy is sleeping so I don’t have any clothes to ware.”

         Her naive little girl voice not only annoyed Ragina it enraged her. She thought to herself, how could she be that stupid? Her mother wasn’t sleeping, she was passed out! Ragina looked at her sister with furry in her eyes “I don’t give a fuck what you do Julieanna, I’m not your mother.”

         Ragina proceeded to grab her purse; a book bag would serve her no purpose since she had no thoughts of attending any classes, and the book bag through off her outfit anyway. She walked out the door with her black tube top and jean miniskirt.

         On the school bus Ragina would always think about her mother. What would she do if she came home and her mother was not yet awake? Sometimes she thinks it would be easier, some how better for her not to be there. The fights that had kept her awake most nights for the past few years would finally come to an end. She would no longer have to come up with the many excuses for her friends not to come visit, in fear her mother would be drunk and embarrass her once again. During her daydream she is suddenly awoken by a familiar voice. It is Catherin, a new girl who she had recently adopted to her ‘group’ in school. Thankfully Catherin only lived 3 bus stops away from Ragina and always found a seat next to her.

         “Ay, bitch what’s good? What happen to you last weekend? I thought you was going to come through and sip on this young bottle with us.” Catherin energetically said while hoping into the seat nearest to Ragina..............