Robin and I carried Teal's cot back into the barn and put it where it had been. Then, with the buddies watching us, we began to wash down our cots. We were all working like robots now, just moving thoughtlessly, doing what we had to do. When we finished the windows, we were told to bring the dirty water out and dump it. Then, we were rewarded with ten minutes of rest before dinner. I was afraid if I lay back and closed my eyes, I would fall right to sleep, even on the hard wooden surface of the cot.
“I mean it,” Teal muttered. “I'm running away tonight. I'd rather die out there.”
“You will,” Mindy said. “You don't know anything about surviving in the desert. You would have to trek through miles and miles of brutal desert where there are scorpions, snakes, poisonous lizards, and devastating heat and dryness during the day, bone-chilling cold at night. You wouldn't know the first thing to do if you ran out of water or if you got bitten.”
“Oh, and you do?” Robin snapped at her.
“I know some, but not enough to make me confident enough to try it.”
“What about you?” Teal asked Gia. Gia looked up at us. “You want to ran away? You want to get out of here? Give Dr. Foreman what she wants. That's your only escape.”
“When are you getting out, smarty pants?” Robin asked.
“Soon.”
We were all quiet. I knew I was thinking she might be right and she was lucky if it was soon. Robin looked defeated, too. Teal just looked angry.
“Okay, my little princesses,” M'Lady One said from the doorway. “It's time to go to dinner. You all go to the pottery room first and fetch your bowls and your plates. When we see them on the table, we'll decide if they're good enough to eat upon. Move it!” she ordered, and we rose and filed out.
As we crossed toward the bigger barn, I could hear Teal muttering under her breath. She was losing it faster than Robin and I were, I thought. Soon, not even Natani's mystical medicines would be enough to save her.
Our bowls and dishes were on the table. They didn't look bad to me. I couldn't imagine anyone not approving of them. We carried them back to the house, set them down, removed our shoes, and washed our hands. Then we were permitted inside. Our food was already on the table to be served family style from large plates and bowls. I saw what looked like steamed vegetables, as well as mashed potatoes and slices of chicken. There was water to drink, but no bread and certainly nothing for dessert.
We set our bowls and dishes down and greeted Mindy and Gia with the “Excuse me. I'm sorry.” I had forgotten about it, but Robin remembered and we did it.
Dr. Foreman entered the dining room. She was wearing a pink and white blouse and a skirt. Her hair was the same, but I could see she wore some lipstick. She stood there for a moment looking us over.
“Natani took care of two of them, I see,” she said to the buddies, who smiled. “I hope you thanked him properly. Tomorrow, after breakfast, I will be giving the three of you your school books and assignments. Every night after dinner, you will have two hours to work. You can work together or separately. That's a decision I leave up to you for now.”
She nodded at the buddies, who then stepped forward to inspect our pottery, M'Lady One inspecting mine, M'Lady Two inspecting Robin's, and M'Lady Three looking at Teal's. They ran their fingers over the plates and around the bowls and then looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Bumps and crevices,” M'Lady One said.
“Inferior work,” M'Lady Two agreed.
M'Lady Three dropped Teal's bowl and plate and they shattered on the floor. The same was done to Robin's and mine.
“Eat off the table tonight and try again tomorrow,” M'Lady Three told us.
“Before you leave, you will wash their bowls and dishes carefully and then clean up these broken inferior bowls and dishes,” M'Lady Two said.
“There was nothing wrong with my bowl. That wasn't fair,” Teal protested.
I looked up at Dr. Foreman.
She smiled at me.
Soon, she was surely thinking, soon you will be my girls and whatever I ask you to do, you will do.
The four of them left the dining room and Teal lowered her head to the table and started to sob.
“Don't do that,” Gia said sharply.
Teal raised her head slowly and looked across the table at her. “Why not?”
“There's no point in trying to get them to feel sorry for you or any of us for that matter. We can't do much, if anything, to help you. And it doesn't do you any good here to feel sorry for yourself.”
“Oh, you're so damn smart,” Teal said, flicking the tears from her cheeks.
“No, not smart. Desperate,” Gia replied with no emotion.
“Why are you here?” I asked her.
Mindy began to serve herself food.
“Lots of reasons, I suppose.” Gia began to serve herself as she spoke. “They called me an arsonist.”
“Arsonist? What did you set fire to?” Robin asked.
Gia paused. “My own house.” Then, in the coldest, most matter-of-fact tone I could imagine, she added, “Almost killing my baby brother.”
The three of us sat staring across at her.
“You'd better eat,” Mindy urged. “They'll be back very soon and whatever you've eaten will be it.”
Robin dipped the serving spoon into the mashed potatoes and dropped a glob on the table. Then she took some vegetables and some chicken and did the same.
My stomach churned both with disgust and with hunger. I quickly copied her. Reluctantly, Teal followed and the three of
