"You try to take off and I'll break your legs, you got that?"
"Yes," Grace said as the seat restraints were removed. "I'm not gonna try anything."
"I've heard that before," the corrections officer said, backing out of the van. "All right, come out slowly." As much as Grace disdained the woman, she was nonetheless appreciative of the steadying hand that helped her step down. "When I release your handcuffs, keep your hands still until I tell you otherwise." The cuffs were removed, then the chains that met at her waist. "Hold still." Another set of leg cuffs were put on her, the chain shorter than the one required for use with the shackles. Finally the first set of leg cuffs were removed and Officer Baker stepped back. "Since there will be a proctor in the room, I'll wait in the hall."
Grace looked at the question again. Wolf is to pack as blank is to blank: horse to saddle, goose to flock, fox to lair, dog to sled or lion to cub. Grace tapped her pencil rhythmically against her chin. I hate these questions. Wolves run in packs. Dogs run with sleds. Is that what they mean? No. It's supposed to be a clear relationship. That's what the instructions said. Flock. A goose flies in a flock. A single to a group. That's got to be it. Grace let the pencil hover over the circle, reading the question once more before filling in her answer. Thumbing the remaining pages, Grace let out a long breath. I'll never make it. Without thought she shifted her feet, causing the chain to scrape against the floor. Damn. Several heads turned but just as quickly went back to their own tests. Tapping her chin with the pencil, Grace looked at the next question. Down is to goose...What is it with all these questions about geese? All right, down is to goose...
"All right, settle down," Carey said as Bravo Squad entered the classroom. "Take your seats and get those pens out from behind your ears. We have a lot to cover today."
"What happened to Waters, ma'am?" Jan asked.
"I hope you were worried more about your homework than what's going on with someone else," Carey said. "Now, we were talking about the types of sexually transmitted diseases. Bowen, what's the cure for herpes?"
"Um, penicillin, ma'am?"
"Bowen, drop for ten. Campbell, cure for herpes."
"Surgery, ma'am."
"Campbell, drop for ten. Hathaway, cure for herpes."
"There is no cure, ma'am."
"Good, I was beginning to think that for some reason the writers of your text forgot to include it," Carey said. "Do you girls need to go back to the barracks and pick up your brains? Jones, what are the visible symptoms of herpes?"
"A rash, ma'am?"
Carey slammed her book on the desk. "Jones, when were you planning on studying?"
"First period study hall, ma'am."
"And did you even open your book?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Really? Did you read it?"
"No, ma'am."
"So what were you doing?"
"I was asking if anyone knew what happened to Grace, ma'am."
"If Waters wants you to know what happened, she'll tell you when she gets back," Carey said, seeing smiles form on many of the faces in the class now that they knew Grace would be returning. "Now since obviously Hathaway seems to be the only one who did any reading, you can all sit here and read not only what I assigned for today but through the end of the chapter. Next class will be a test."
"And...time. Please put your pencils down and remain in your seats," the proctor said, closing his pocket watch and rising from his seat. "After I collect your exam, you may leave." Grace remained in her seat, not wanting to have everyone see her leg irons. Only after the last student had left did she get up from her seat, her legs groaning after being in the same position for so long.
Stepping into the hall, Grace was surprised to find it deserted. Maybe she went to the bathroom. I'd better stay right here. Leaning against a locker, she waited until the proctor left the room. "I'm sorry, miss, you have to leave now," he said.
"I'm supposed to wait for the guard to get me," Grace said, wiggling her leg and making the chain jangle.
He pulled his pocket watch out again and checked the time. "I don't know what to tell you, but I need to lock up the school."
What am I supposed to do? "Sir, can you just wait here a minute and I'll check and see if she's in the ladies room? Please, if she shows up and I'm not here, I'm gonna be in big trouble."
He sighed and shut the classroom door. "The ladies room is down the hall on the right side. It's the only one available during testing times."
"Thanks," Grace said, moving as fast as her leg chains would let her. The bathroom was halfway down the hall but when she opened the door and called out, no one answered. Now very nervous, she checked each stall before returning to the hallway. "Did she show up?" she asked, even though she could clearly see only the proctor was standing in the hallway.
"No. Come on, miss, you'll have to wait outside."
There was no sign of the IJCF van when she went outside. An hour later she was still sitting on the high school steps. She thought about calling Sapling Hill and letting them know what was going on but there was no pay phone in sight and she was afraid not to be right there when the corrections officer did show up. So she sat there, her feet on the step below with the chain slack hidden behind her feet. Passersby would see nothing more than a teen sitting on the high school steps waiting for a ride. When the van did pull up, an angry Officer Baker greeted her. "Let's go, get down here," the woman yelled from the curb while opening the rear door of the van. Grace worked her way down the steps, mindful of the short chain that hobbled her usual gait. "I thought it was a four-hour test."
"Three," Grace said, letting her hands rest at her sides in preparation for the shackles. "It ended about two hours ago." The guard moved quickly, wrenching Grace's arm up behind her back and slamming her against the mesh door.
"Did I ask you a question, you little bitch?"
Grace smelled alcohol on the woman's breath.
"Now stand still." Grace gritted her teeth as the drunken woman's hands moved over her torso, then up to her breasts.
"Having fun?" Grace said, her anger flaring.
"I'm just making sure you're not hiding anything," the corrections officer said, backing up and easing the pressure of the mesh against Grace's cheek. "Turn around." The shackles were applied, then the wire mesh door was opened. "Get up there." The leg chain made it impossible for her to just step up, forcing Grace to go in butt first, then roll up on her knees. As she was about to push herself up onto the seat, the guard was there, pushing Grace off balance and causing her to fall against the hard steel edge of the bench.