The Walls Around Us

dotted Lola's bunk with chewed gum

had been watching Lola sleep

took Lola's 3-pack of shirts

taunted Lola with the endgate pin

coated the toothbrushes with acid

set explosives in the cell corners

sent carbon dioxide through the vents

poisoned the peas in the pot

Kendra poured syrup into Ori's tap shoes

Sarabeth wore Ori's sweater

the glass cracked across the picture of Ori

he had to listen to a recording of Ori's voice

read the private messages inside the books

climbed stacked books to reach the vent

borrowed the same books as the popular girls

rode the cart down the ramp into the foam pit

different wings began a conga line each day after she taught the steps

she promoted table manners after stacking her dishes neatly

ringing the attention bell no longer made girls a target after she rang it

girls wanted the red cup after she felt lucky to have it on her tray

made a threatening banner aimed at her classmate

left a message on her house phone telling where her sister was

poured bleach into her friend's drink as a joke

wrote in her diary about her stepfather's death

traded photo cards

jumped the escalator stairs

sealed ribbons with wax

ran in front of a car

tricked her into thinking she had a press conference

sent her a bouquet that leaked fake blood

would not permit an encore

held up a green card with a circle and a slash through it

Ori accidentally walked on Ellie's newly planted strawberry patch

Lana won Rock Paper Scissors or rights to be Ori's friend first

Guard T-32 wrote his phone number on Ori's admit ticket

Mirabel took bets on whether Ori would fight or try to escape

tried to communicate with thumps and slaps on the wall

made a family of two from a tiny stick in the corner

found a nail file and added it to the message on the floor

shrieked and screamed in a pattern like the cuckoo bird