Rachel 1

The door is unlocked and the female kidnapper comes in. Despite her face being hidden by the ski mask, I sense an air of jollity.
She sits a ways away. Forget overpowering her, she's bigger and has a gun in her holster. And that's to say nothing of the two men outside the door. She has kept them mannerly thus far, so by far my best odds are to cooperate with her.
"Mrs Klein, time you and I talked philosophy. Now see those two no-minds, they're to blame you're here. I said never choose a wife, you just never know how hubby will react; instead choose a child, he'll always pay." Switches to sarcastic tone, "but that's democracy for you, I was outvoted two to one."
We both laugh.
"Mrs Klein, just guess your husband's reaction."
"Not hard to do, he flat out refused to pay so much as a nickel."
"We started at a million, kept dropping down, finally just asked for two grand to cover expenses. He wouldn't even cough up that."
I nod.
"So guess what happens next."
A way too cheerfully, I reply, "you kill me of course."
This takes her back, she ponders a moment, then, "I can see you find the idea interesting. But forget it, no murder raps please. We're just gonna turn you loose."
"But but, surely"
"No risk, you haven't seen any faces. Only problem, you must not know where here is or cops could vacuum it for DNA evidence. We're gonna drop you some ten miles down a disused logging road. By the time you walk to the highway, we've got time a plenty for getaway."
"That is really very kind of you, thank you."
"Mrs Klein, it ain't my place to give marital advice, but all the same, are you really going back to that clown?"
"I ah well ah that is"
"Surely by now he's shown what he thinks of you."
"Ye-es, I have thought a bit. Just long enough to get clothes, then my attorney will be in touch with his."
She laughs, "that's much better, now look at the bright side of all this."
"There is one?"
"Sure there is, I ask you, what if all this happened ten years later?"
"Ah you mean ah"
"At least now you're still young enough to find someone else."
A girl's voice chimes in, "how she looks, hell'd freeze over before she finds anyone. I'm guessing Mr Klein was legally blind."
The class roars with laughter. Teacher scowls, "Cindy, you and I will talk privately later."
Cindy's defiant smirk says bring it on.
The "kidnapper" peels off the mask, quietly says, just to me, "horrible itchy thing. What a b**** she is! We coulda got applause instead we get laughed at."
I shrug, "that's show biz. Forget what the kids say, only thing important is does Teacher give us a good mark?"
She punches my arm playfully, "yeah, guess that's how it goes. One week you play Broadway. Next week, off Broadway, a night club in the Catskills."
We both laugh.
After recess, Teacher asks Cindy to come up front.
Cindy gives a goofy grin, "ah Rachel, sorry I insulted you during the play." Blushes a bit, "truth is, Mum forgot my medication this morning."
I nod gravely, thank her. With Cindy, that's all the apology you'll ever get.
And when I discover we got a B+, the matter is over, far as I'm concerned. I'm just not a person who gets into revenge. And I actually do believe she's without meds today.