The sun beat down onto the school on the last day of classes. The sweet promise of freedom brightened the windows of the classrooms, extending the slow ticking of the clock until the final bell would ring. The students were jittery waiting for the teachers to finish their final lessons, dreaming of what fun they could have.

August was sitting still starring forward dreading whatever the day would bring. The only freedom the school bell would provide would be for her to pull her beanie back on over her shaved scalp. The sooner she could do that, the sooner she could pretend that no one could see her missing hair.

Her insecure thoughts were soon interrupted by a wet piece of gum tacked onto her buzzed hair. The silent giggling's of Greta and her posse followed the vandalism of her head, but August refused to give her the satisfaction. August silently pulled a piece of paper from her binder and pulled the piece of gum off, crumpling the paper back up and laying it on her desk to throw away later. Never removing her eyes from the front.

The laughter died, and August felt looks from many of the students in the class. She even felt Beverly Marsh give her a curious look from the back corner. Beverly was also bullied by Greta frequently because of a false reputation someone gave her. However, it seemed that August was a reject from even the rejects. She could fit in with them, but there were a number of weird things about August that scared even the losers away. Her shaved head for one; her mother forced it on her one night many months ago, before the Christmas break.

Her mother had sauntered into the small house late after midnight, and August had been unlucky enough to be in the kitchen making herself something to eat. Her mother, who was called Ms. Greenleaf by her daughter and the town whore by everyone else, was slurping up her latest pig of a man walking backwards in through the door. They didn't notice her at first, but the man stopped to take off his coat and noticed August standing in the kitchen.

"Who's this?" His voice was gruff from some type of liquor he had indulged himself on.

"Oh, that's just my daughter. She won't bother us." Her mother's voice was thick with drunkenness too as she attempted to bring the man's attention back to her.

Instead he wobbled over to August still frozen in the kitchen, too afraid to make a move. When close enough he stopped and dragged his beefy hands through what once was her long, black hair. Liquor filled the air around her as he opened his mouth to speak once again to her mother. "She sure is a pretty thing, isn't she?"

Cold fear raced through August's body. Her breath held tight in her chest not daring to try to escape, for fear it would encourage him or anger her mother. "Is she for sale too?"

Her mother's pride overpowered her maternal instinct which wasn't out of the ordinary for Ms. Greenleaf. "What's so much better about her than me?" The drunken stance of her hands on her hips highlighted her annoyance.

"Her hair is long and sexy just like a woman's hair should be." My mother's contempt grew, as her hair was short and brown. August's black hair was contributed by whoever her father was, which was indefinitely unknown.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but the only person here to spend the night with is me. So, take it or leave it." Her voice dripping with anger and her mind filled with liquor, didn't understand that she probably shouldn't encourage the man to leave. However, her mother had a toxic streak of jealousy in her. She had many things toxic in her.

The man turned around quickly at her ultimatum, "Well then I guess I'll go. No woman around here worth spending money on anyway." He sneered at her before grabbing his coat and slamming the front door shut leaving mother and daughter in silence.

"You were supposed to be in bed." The anger was still there, but it seemed hotter than before the man left.

"I was hungry." August learned from experience that it was always best to sound vulnerable when mother angry; it would be the most likely thing to remind her that she was her daughter and that she should be kind to her daughter.

"You cost me tonight's money and a new client!" It didn't always work.

Ms. Greenleaf crossed the distance between her and her daughter in a few steps, impressively in the six-inch high heels she constantly wore. Grabbing August's hair, she dragged her into the bathroom. By now August was trying to hold back tears, but not reacting knowing that would only bring worse punishment. Her mother pulled out the shears from the cabinet drawer and plugged them in muttering as she worked, "Tonight was the last time your hair will cost me a client."

The metal shears were very loud against August's ears as her long black hair began falling onto the tiled bathroom floor. She remained emotionless throughout the entire haircut.

Going to school the next day after losing her hair wasn't anything less than excruciating. Everyone was looking at her and many laughed. Henry bowers and his gang weren't as kind. They grabbed her after school and dragged her to the kissing bridge and pinned her against the fence posts as Henry carved the word 'boy' onto her lower stomach. "So anyone who wants to do you will at least have a warning before they pull your pants down." Henry sneered and his goons threw her onto the ground before leaving her. She didn't cry then either.

Remembering that night and following day many months later sitting in the classroom still reminded her of the shame she felt. Her mother has kept her hair buzz cut short ever since. Memories and thoughts were interrupted by the final bell of the day to signify the last day of school had ended. Students raced out of the classrooms and into the hallways to meet the bright summer sun. August walked slowly. No friends to meet up with. Everyone avoided her because of her mother's reputation. Mother was probably at home sleeping off her latest hangover. 'Have to be well rested to do my job!' Mother said that every time August accidentally woke her up.

August passed Ben Hanscom and Beverly as she exited the building. She was signing his yearbook. 'At least he got one signature,' she thought feeling the loneliness surround her. Her oversized overalls scuffed against the ground as she walked through the grass. All he clothes were about two three sizes too big. Yet another precaution she had put in place to protect herself from mother's unsatisfied customers.

Mother wouldn't be gone until later tonight. August decided it would be best to spend time somewhere else for a while. The library seemed like a good choice. August loved reading and strengthening her mind. It was her most prized tool. Walking up to the library she noticed Henry bowers, Vic, Belch, and Patrick all waiting outside, placing themselves to ambush whoever would come out of the library. August FELT the intentions of the Bowers gang and knew they meant malice for whoever was in there. She placed herself against a wall of a nearby building and waited with them.

This was ordinary for August. She could FEEL things. People's intentions or emotions. An event that was about to occur. Or even an event that was already happening, she just wasn't close enough to witness it. Sometimes if she wanted, she could even understand someone else's thoughts, or move objects with her mind. These events have been happening ever since she was very young. She had practiced enough to get very good at it, but she always made an effort to keep it hidden from her mother and from people in town. Afraid people would think her more of a freak.

Ben Hanscom suddenly came running out of the library pale as milk. He didn't see Henry waiting behind the statue, neither did he see the others when they came up from behind him and grabbed him. She followed them all the way to the kissing bridge. She wanted to help, but she didn't know how. She was about to rush over when Henry began cutting into his stomach and Ben kicked himself over the fence and down into the barrens. Henry chased after. When Henry wasn't paying any attention August held out her hand and pulled Henry's pocketknife into her hand from where she was hiding. She heard Henry yell at his friends to find it when he realized it was gone. It was in safer hands now.

August closed her eyes and listened with her mind. Ben was bleeding and afraid. He was having trouble running because of how out of shape he was but kept going. There was a creek also slowing his pace. She knew where he was.

Ben was so tired. The adrenaline from the run was still coursing through his veins, but the pain from the cut was starting to ebb into focus. Breath burned through his lungs; he'd have to stop and catch his breath. He fell into the water, tripping over some of the larger rocks. Getting up again was a vain act as he once again stumbled into the water face first. To his right he heard voices and was afraid that it was Bowers. Luckily it was just some other kids from school. They looked worriedly at him, "Are you okay?"

"Bowers," was all he could sputter. They rushed off, dragging Ben towards their bikes and somewhere safer. August watched it all from the bushes. She wanted to help Ben, but once she realized that some of the boys from school were there she held back. How could she ever make friends? People immediately judged her as soon as they saw her. She practically had 'WHORE'S DAUGHTER' written on her head. Her shaved head.

She was about to leave when she heard Patrick, one of Bower's followers, splash through the water. He was holding his lighter and can of spray to go with it. He went looking into the giant sewer pipe, that she was coincidentally hiding next to. As he edged in, August suddenly felt a cold chill run up her spine. A bad feeling hit her like a bullet, and she wanted to shout out to Patrick. Don't go in there! But, any attempt on her part would only reward her with punishment. She hoped that it was just a mistake on her part and started her walk back to town.