I am pretty sure Savannah Heaton changed her clothes on the way to school. Her skirt is way too short for a girl whose mama prides herself on being the most conservative woman in town – and that’s saying something in a town smack-dab in the middle of the Bible Belt where the only place more crowded than the Piggly Wiggly on Free Sample Day is the Baptist Church on Sunday Morning. There is no way Mrs. Heaton would have let her darling daughter out of the house looking like a two-bit hooker (her words, not mine). Though when she said them she was not talking about her daughter. Oh no, her daughter would never dress like that.
The incredible amount of thigh showing beneath Savannah’s worn denim skirt told me that Mrs. Heaton wasn’t so in touch with how her daughter would or would not dress. I wondered where Savannah hid all her trashy clothes. I was imagining a secret panel in the back of her closet – hidden behind all the conservative, demure church dresses she wore on Sundays – full of short skirts and slinky tanktops, when she noticed I was still staring at her legs.
“Ew, perv, stop tryin’ to look up my skirt.” If looks could kill, I would be on my death-bed by now. Then again, Savannah might not have any looks other than killer ones. She certainly had never given me any.
Blood rose to my face and I turned back to my book, trying not to look back at her again. Not that I could really help it. I mean, Savannah might be a bitch, but she was just asking to be stared at when she put that much of her flawless skin on display. She thrived on the attention she got from her outfits – she must to keep wearing them – but she only wanted that attention from boys like Brent or Tristan. Boys with fast cars and a lot of money to throw at her. Attention from a boy like me was only going to get her one thing: irritated.
And you don’t want to see Savannah Heaton when she gets irritated. No one in school was in a position to ruin a reputation faster than she was, and no one in town (and probably on the planet) derived as much pleasure from doing so than she did. Not that I had much of a reputation to uphold, but just the memory of what she did to Jeremy Davies last semester was enough to remind me not to push my luck. I stole one more quick glance – really, those legs were like magnets to my eyes – and then forced myself to pay attention to Mrs. Childs.
“Now, who can tell me why Raskolnikov gets the fever after the murder?” Mrs. Childs fingered the cross that hung around her neck as she waited for one of us to answer.
Savannah raised her hand, but didn’t wait to be called on to answer, “well, it’s ’cause he was feelin’ guilty for his sins, ma’am. He got sick ’cause he didn’t go to the Good Lord for forgiveness.” She sure knew how to spread her honey-sweet act out thick.
Mrs. Childs beamed at her, and from the back I heard laughter. I closed my eyes and prayed he wouldn’t -
“He’s not a feverin’ because of his sins. He’s sick ’cause he killed the nice sister too.” Ryan, my best friend, never knew to just sit back and be quiet. Because of this, he was one of Savannah’s favorite punching bags. Surely, he would pay for laughing at her answer later.
Savannah whipped around to face him, eyes narrowed, “Are you really sayin’ that he would be fine killin’ someone as long as they weren’t nice?”"
“Nah, I’m not sayin’ that. I just think he did it all wrong. He shouldn’t have killed anyone he knew. If he really wanted to kill someone without feeling guilty, he shoulda picked a random person is all.” Ryan smiled right at Savannah, and I envied his ability to not let her under his skin.
“Mrs. Childs, are you a hearin’ this? Ryan thinks he can kill a man without havin’ to answer to the Good Lord.”
Our teacher worried at her necklace cross some more. “Now, Savannah, I don’t think that’s exactly what he was saying.”
“You heard him! He just said as long as he don’t know the person, he could kill them without guilt. What if the random person was good, church-goin’ folk? Which is more than we can say for Ryan.” She stared at him pointedly. In her eyes, Ryan had already committed a sin bigger than murder – he was Jewish. “Now, Mrs. Childs, I don’t think that’s a kinda thing we should be teachin’ in schools.”
Here’s the thing about growing up in a town like Vicksburg, where everyone goes to church and can pull a Bible quote for any situation (usually they quote them out of context for their benefit, but there’s no telling the Thumpers that): the fear of God trumps all, even in a public school. So Savannah won, and Ryan was sent to the office to talk to Principal Harper. Probably he would leave school today with a copy of the New Testament. It wouldn’t be the first time.
16 Comments
Now I admit I have yet to read Crime and Punishment. So I have no idea what is your story/plot and how much you’re drawing from the book. But I gotta say… girly I LOVE it. Seriously. Even unedited and unpolished I adore it. I think it’s brilliant. And I adore the characters you paint as well. Subtle things, like the teacher worrying the cross, and Savvanah’s mother. Dayum girl but you can write!
Yay! Thank you. It makes me smile so big to hear that you like it.
No go read Crime & Punishment!
I haven’t read Crime and Punishment either, but I think I don’t need to, to appreciate this. Cool that you start it off with the class discussing the book that inspired you to write THIS book. I already hate Savannah
Good job daughter!!
Love, Mom
Thanks, Mom.
Yeah, you don’t HAVE to read Crime and Punishment to appreciate this. But you should read it anyway, cause it rocks. I have a few copies you can borrow.
Well rae….as u know i’m not a reader but i totally just read this. It rocked! Keep up the good work! And…..i doubt i’ll read crime and punishment… Lol
Yay, Ryan! I am glad you read it. I won’t even try to get you to read Crime and Punishment…that’s a battle I know I will lose.
I HAVE to read Crime & Punishment. Ugh, adding it to the list of tomes!
This was so short! I mean, I know that is the way it works best for blog-novels, but when it ended I was like RAAAAWWR GIVE ME MOOOOAAAARR. Which is a good thing?! Provided I don’t go on too big a rampage.
And I have to say…. I get the idea of rough and unpolished, but if this is your rough and unpolished first draft, you’ve got talent, missy.
Thanks Glenna! I had a hard time keeping it short, too. I just wanted to keep on going. Then Baby Caveman woke up and gave me reason to stop. I have a feeling I will be updating way more than once a week though, cause I am loving this.
I have a hard time with the really short chapters, but I know that’s what is best for this online thing. It is a fun little challenge for me.
Very interesting! I’m so glad you are doing this, and I’m very excited for the next chapter. I love writing – and reading – short chapters so this works perfectly for me! And I’m excited it takes place in the South. You know I’m a Southern girl.
I’m a Southern girl at heart, so since I can’t live there, I love writing stories that take place there. It’s the next best thing!
Great way to hook the reader from the beginning. Can’t wait to see how it unfolds! And I have read Crime & Punishment but it was Mr. Baran’s class senior year. Not the best memories ever. =o) I will have to give it a second chance.
Yeah, that is no way to read Crime & Punishment…the first time I read it was with Ms. Karnop Junior year and I HATED it.
I just have to ask where did u get the names for the characters? ik a savannah heaton and a jeremy davis! and a miss childs! is it a coincedense?
It’s total coincidence, but that’s awesome!
Hey! I’m italian, from Rome. I found this blog looking for some Raskol’Nikov picture, ’cause I’ve just read “Crime and Punishment” and it just won’t go away from my head! So i stopped here and started to read your novel… it’s amazing! You got talent man! I like your style, it’s kind of post-modern, isn’t it? So I’m going to read more, also just because this is titled “Raskol’Nikov Project”, love it!
Cheers from Rome!
Federico
Yay! I’m glad you found it and are enjoying it! Thanks for stopping by.