My Life as a Dead Girl

Zach:
Feeling better?

Brittany:
Huh?

Zach:
You got sick during that pop quiz in Phelps' class this morning.

Brittany:
[unaffectedly, arms crossed] Oh, yeah. I'm okay now. Probably going to drop that class anyway.

Zach:
That's a terrible idea. I won't get to see you as much. [both chuckle]

Brittany:
That might take a backseat to the fact that I didn't know a single answer on that test.

Zach:
I knew them all.

Brittany:
Good for you.

Zach:
No, that's why I'd make a great tutor. And luckily I have an opening in my schedule, so... [whistle] oh, come; jog with me. We start by doing laps; it's stupid.

Brittany:
It's a nice offer, but, uh, I don't even know how long I'm gonna be at this school anyway, so, I wouldn't waste your time. [chuckles a little]

Zach:
Where you goin'?

Brittany:
Jamaica.

Zach:
[friendly] Oh, where at?

Brittany:
It's-it's in the Caribbean.

Zach:
I know that; where at in *Jamaica*? Ocho Rio, Negril, Montego Bay...?

Brittany:
Negril? What are you, like some geography nerd?

Zach:
My family goes down there every year to vaycay. Yeah, sometimes Punta Cana or the Bahamas, but yah, man. [in an accent] I've been to Negril a few times.

Brittany:
That's amazing. I have, like, a million questions about it.

Zach:
Okay, well, how about we discuss it on our first-ever study session together today after school?

Brittany:
[relenting] Fine. You win. [he raises his arm in victory] I'll suffer through that history class.

Zach:
I'll make it less painful, I promise.

Brittany:
Just don't make promises you can't keep. [whistle blows twice]

Zach:
Never have; never will! [whistle blows for a long period of time without break]

Zach:
Okay. Explain to me why Roosevelt's election in 1932 is a turning point for America.

Brittany:
First, tell me what Negril is like.

Zach:
*Why* do you want to go there so bad?

Brittany:
Who wouldn't? It's beautiful there! Plus, there's a job op.

Zach:
What kinda job?

Brittany:
Bartender at the Shishu Resort. I heard you make like 200 bucks a day.

Zach:
[chuckles] Seriously, what's the job?

Brittany:
[smile fades] That's it. Bar-tending.

Zach:
[incredulous] Wait, that's seriously your plan for the future? Be a bartender?

Brittany:
[confident] What's wrong with that?

Zach:
Nothing, nothing, no, but why not go to college, get a degree in hotel management and run the bar? You'd make a lot more than 200 a day.

Brittany:
I don't think you understand. 200 a day is a lot of money.

Zach:
[starts illustrating on paper] Look at it this way: Two hundred a day times five days a week is $1000. That's $52,000 a year; that's great money; you're right, but it caps out; that's the most you could *ever* make doing that. Now, let's say you go to college and get a degree. Get hired as an assistant manager at a bar for 30K a year.

Brittany:
See? That's a lot less.

Zach:
Yeah, but it's only for two years. 'Cause after that, you get promoted to manager and you get bumped to 60K. Another two years, you've already made up the difference. Then, three years later, you get promoted to hotel manager for $80,000. Now, you're making bank and all the bartenders and hotel employees work for you.

Brittany:
[impressed] Wow. I guess you are right.

Zach:
Yeah. Math. History. Economics. I'm pretty much your guy. Oh, and believe it or not, I'm also on the varsity wrestling team, so if you need me to pin someone for you, I can do that, too.

Brittany:
[amused] Okay.

Zach:
So, should we get back to FDR and his New Deal?

Brittany:
Yeah.

Zach:
Okay.

Brittany:
[driving up to driveway in car, Zach driving] Well, thank you for helping me study. And for the ride.

Zach:
You are very welcome. Same time, same place tomorrow?

Brittany:
Sure. Bye.

Zach:
[with a smile] Bye. [Brittany gets out and Zach looks at the house]

Kim:
[Brittany enters and closes the door] Hey, how was your first day?

Brittany:
Uh, overwhelming. [puts bag down]

Kim:
Thanks for calling and letting e know that your friend, what's his name, Zach? That he was bringing you back.

Brittany:
Yeah. Of course. I didn't want you to worry.

Kim:
I got a call from the school today. They said you walked out of your history class during a quiz.

Brittany:
I didn't know a single answer and I sorta panicked. But, um, it's all cool now 'cause Zach is tutoring me. He's really smart, actually; he - he wants to be a lawyer.

Kim:
Good. Uh, there's also some confusion about your old school. They contacted Central and there's no record of you ever attending there. [Brittany looks caught in headlights] I need you to be 100 percent honest with me.

Brittany:
[nods, uncomfortable] Okay.

Kim:
Why didn't you want us to know where you really went?

Brittany:
[scoffs a bit to have time to think] Oh, um... because, uh... [sighs] I didn't go to high school. I haven't gone to school in five years.

Kim:
Oh, you mean you were home schooled?

Brittany:
Uh, not really. [sits on stairs] My foster parents just... just didn't put me in school. [shakes head]

Kim:
You mean they just left you home all day?

Brittany:
I helped take care of the other kids, mostly. Some of them were too little for kindergarten and...

Kim:
[incredulous] My God! Nobody from the state ever checked up on that?

Brittany:
Uh, I guess not. So, basically [stands up] I'm just - I'm pretty far behind.

Kim:
Well, it's just reprehensible. You know, first thing in the morning I am gonna call the agency, I'm gonna report-...

Brittany:
No, no, no! Please don't. Please jus-just don't report them or anything. Please.

Kim:
Honey, what they did is not right.

Brittany:
I know, but I just... I just want to close the door in Portland forever, please?

Kim:
Okay, okay, I - I won't.

Brittany:
Look, and now that I'm here with you and Uncle Donnie it's like a whole new beginning. Today was the first time I felt like a normal kid in a really long time.

Kim:
[affected] Okay. I understand.