I flicked my sunglasses over my face and hummed along to the Beach Boys’ “California Girls” blasting from the stereo. I opened my eyes and leane... over when I heard rustling beside me. I watched as Georgia had also laid out her towel and laid down. “Hi Georgia.” Georgia leaned over. “Hi, Stacey.” The both of us leaned back and began to tan. After an hour of turning and roasting, Georgia and I got up to go play some volleyball. The teams were divided, and the game commenced. A boy, around my age,. Could the horror possibly ratchet up any further? My body convulses into a rigid knot. Neck clenched, shoulders up around my ears, eyes locked closed and tearing. Trixie exclaims, "Young lady what in God's name is going on here? How dare you!"She spun me around and got right in my face. The tip of her powder-dusted nose merely inches from my own. Her finely plucked brows scowled in condescension. Her lacquered lips pursed in withering scrutiny. I could smell her perfume. I couldn't meet her. Soft music played in the background as we made small talk. We ordered drinks and a Shirley temple for Ella. As we looked over the menu, the room slowly began to fill up with diners. Our table was situated in such a way that Ella faced the other tables, while Nora and I sat on either side of her. We ordered our food and sat back sipping our drinks."So, Ella my dear, how is your bum feeling now?" Nora asked quietly.Nodding her approval, Ella answered: "Oh, it's feeling much better now, Miss. My parents were moving to some relative’s home for the foreseeable future. They wanted me to accompany them but I had already been assigned a living space in the Council headquarters, where I would be safer while not being a threat to my parents.I walked to the car, only to find my mother still refusing to talk to me. Ever since the revelation of me being an Untethered three days ago, she had refused to say more than a few words to me. Her hostility towards me had only intensified after being.