(2013) Looks Could Kill Read Online Free
beneath her headpiece and said: “That simply won’t do, Emma, now please study this.”
She put a copy of the King James Bible on the desk in front of Emma.
Emma took it, said “Thank you, miss,” and then returned to the class which had moved on to discussing caterpillars and their mating behaviour.
Religion or no religion, Emma settled into St Thomas C of E and the nuns eventually got used to her. Emma’s end of year report read: “Emma is clearly not a child of God but nonetheless shows academic potential and should be encouraged to pursue interests that do not lead her into conflict with religious teachings; a nursing career should be ideal.“
Her grandmother certainly agreed with that career choice and she was also delighted to see the growing collection of bibles at home.
October 1976
“Okay, class, please sit down,” said Miss Hancock, the chemistry teacher. “Last week, we looked at the group one alkali metals which I’ve put up on the blackboard as a reminder. Today, it’s the turn of the group two earth metals. Now, who would like to come up and write them next to the group one elements?”
A few hands went up, including Emma’s, but without much enthusiasm. Emma felt someone briefly touching her back.
“Yes, Emma, would you like to come up?”
Emma walked up, feeling confident that she knew what to write on the blackboard. She heard sniggers from behind her but she didn’t take any notice. Miss Hancock handed her a piece of chalk and Emma turned to write on the blackboard. She got as far as writing ‘Mg’ next to ‘Na’ and then the giggling erupted into laughter that rippled around the classroom. Emma turned around to find the reason for the merriment and saw that that all her classmates were laughing at her. At the same time, Miss Hancock reached out and removed something that had been attached to Emma’s back with a safety pin. Emma looked down and saw that it was a crudely constructed pair of wings. One of her classmates shouted out “It’s butterfly girl!” and the class dissolved into another peal of laughter. Emma singled out the ringleader, a girl who’d been sitting immediately behind her, and glared at her. And in a brief moment when they locked eyes together Emma felt a wave of emotions that traversed from joy and happiness to outright fear and horror. Her classmate’s eyes rolled up and her entire body started convulsing. The rest of the class gradually realised what was happening and their laughter turned into screams. Miss Hancock came running to the aid of the seizing pupil and tried to hold her arms to prevent her from harming herself. Emma took the opportunity to leave the classroom, closing the door quietly behind her.
Once outside the classroom, Emma ran to the nearest toilet and shut herself in a cubicle. She felt a combination of shock and excitement and, for the first time in her life, realised the potential of the ability that she’d kept hidden away. She shuddered, feeling frightened by the implications. She noticed a loose screw in the toilet roll holder and pulled it out of the wall. She briefly gazed at the sharp point and then lifted her skirt and scratched her inner thigh as hard as she could. Although there was little blood, the pain was sufficient to restore equilibrium and she was able to think more clearly. It was clear that her ability belonged somewhere in her future but she had no idea where or how. She shuddered again and scratched.
January 1977
Emma was confused by relationships and generally felt pulled in opposite directions by people she came into contact with. Her mother’s fear of intimacy and refuge in religion made life at home like walking on eggshells. Emma saw a lot of that in her own interactions. Religion and the conflicting messages about sex didn’t help either: “go forth and
She put a copy of the King James Bible on the desk in front of Emma.
Emma took it, said “Thank you, miss,” and then returned to the class which had moved on to discussing caterpillars and their mating behaviour.
Religion or no religion, Emma settled into St Thomas C of E and the nuns eventually got used to her. Emma’s end of year report read: “Emma is clearly not a child of God but nonetheless shows academic potential and should be encouraged to pursue interests that do not lead her into conflict with religious teachings; a nursing career should be ideal.“
Her grandmother certainly agreed with that career choice and she was also delighted to see the growing collection of bibles at home.
October 1976
“Okay, class, please sit down,” said Miss Hancock, the chemistry teacher. “Last week, we looked at the group one alkali metals which I’ve put up on the blackboard as a reminder. Today, it’s the turn of the group two earth metals. Now, who would like to come up and write them next to the group one elements?”
A few hands went up, including Emma’s, but without much enthusiasm. Emma felt someone briefly touching her back.
“Yes, Emma, would you like to come up?”
Emma walked up, feeling confident that she knew what to write on the blackboard. She heard sniggers from behind her but she didn’t take any notice. Miss Hancock handed her a piece of chalk and Emma turned to write on the blackboard. She got as far as writing ‘Mg’ next to ‘Na’ and then the giggling erupted into laughter that rippled around the classroom. Emma turned around to find the reason for the merriment and saw that that all her classmates were laughing at her. At the same time, Miss Hancock reached out and removed something that had been attached to Emma’s back with a safety pin. Emma looked down and saw that it was a crudely constructed pair of wings. One of her classmates shouted out “It’s butterfly girl!” and the class dissolved into another peal of laughter. Emma singled out the ringleader, a girl who’d been sitting immediately behind her, and glared at her. And in a brief moment when they locked eyes together Emma felt a wave of emotions that traversed from joy and happiness to outright fear and horror. Her classmate’s eyes rolled up and her entire body started convulsing. The rest of the class gradually realised what was happening and their laughter turned into screams. Miss Hancock came running to the aid of the seizing pupil and tried to hold her arms to prevent her from harming herself. Emma took the opportunity to leave the classroom, closing the door quietly behind her.
Once outside the classroom, Emma ran to the nearest toilet and shut herself in a cubicle. She felt a combination of shock and excitement and, for the first time in her life, realised the potential of the ability that she’d kept hidden away. She shuddered, feeling frightened by the implications. She noticed a loose screw in the toilet roll holder and pulled it out of the wall. She briefly gazed at the sharp point and then lifted her skirt and scratched her inner thigh as hard as she could. Although there was little blood, the pain was sufficient to restore equilibrium and she was able to think more clearly. It was clear that her ability belonged somewhere in her future but she had no idea where or how. She shuddered again and scratched.
January 1977
Emma was confused by relationships and generally felt pulled in opposite directions by people she came into contact with. Her mother’s fear of intimacy and refuge in religion made life at home like walking on eggshells. Emma saw a lot of that in her own interactions. Religion and the conflicting messages about sex didn’t help either: “go forth and
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