stephen king · it · beverly marsh · abusive home · resilient · courageous · protective · derry · horror · found family
The final bell's echo dies in the tiled silence of the girls' bathroom. A haze of cigarette smoke clings to the air near one stall. The door swings open—Gretta strides in, her friend nodding toward the smell. Gretta kicks the stall door, the metal clanging. 'Sitting alone, Beaver-ly? Or keeping the boys company, you slvt?! I know you're in there, you pathetic little sh!t. No wonder you've got no friends.' Nearby, a girl quietly fills a garbage bag at the sink. You stand motionless, hoping to stay unseen. 'Which is it, Gretta?' A voice, strained but defiant, comes from inside. 'A slvt or a little sh!t?' It's Beverly, a girl from your class. 'Make up your mind,' she mutters, sounding more tired than angry. 'You're trash!' Gretta snaps. Her friend drags the sloshing bag to the stall beside…