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I pledge Allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America….
Fifteen good little third-graders at Hatchetfield elementary chanting those ever-familiar words to the flag. Just as they’d been taught since Kindergarten, as soon as the loudspeaker crackled to life and instructed them to do so, they stood up straight like robots, put their hands to their hearts, and proclaimed allegiance to their great country.
And to the Republic for which it stands….
Hannah Foster was one of those good little children. She stood when she was supposed to and chanted the words to the Pledge along with her classmates. But she didn’t like it. She felt like she was being yanked by the collar every time she had to stand, like the words were being forced from her mouth.
“What’re you saying, Han-nah Ban-ana?” The doll in her head would taunt. “ You must weally weally love me if you pledge to me evewy single day!”
“N-no,” Hannah would mumble under her breath. She couldn’t be heard dissing the Pledge of Allegiance. She would get in lots of trouble for that. “Not you.”
One nation, Under God, indivisible….
“Thaat’s wight, Han-nah,” the voice in her head whispered. Webby was silent during those times. Hannah wondered if she could even hear. Hannah would call out to her desperately in her mind but would hear no response. “ I’m a God. You pwedge to me. Don’t wowwy, Banana.” Horrible laughter filled her head, drowning out the voices of the fourteen other little drones swearing fealty to the monster in her mind. “ It’ll all be over weaaal soon . You'll still be pledging allegiance. Don't you worry about that! Won't be any different!”
With liberty and justice for all…..
"Well, maybe not that," Wiggly's voice taunted. "But, did you weally have it anyways?"
Hannah couldn’t take it anymore. She sobbed out the last words, the laughter ringing in her ears as the other kids stopped and stared. The teacher sighed. This wasn’t an uncommon occurrence in her class, not by a long shot. Hannah tried to stammer out an ‘I’m sorry,’ but the teacher didn’t seem to hear. She just pointed Hannah to the nurse’s office so she could calm down. Another time her mother would be called about her behavior, and another time her mother would be angry when she got home. The thought itself made Hannah tremble.
“ Aww, why so mushy, Ba-na-na,” the voice in her head taunted. “ Nothing to be ashamed of. You were made in America after all, just like me!”
Hannah let out a scream that rocked the hallways, but it couldn't drown out the voices and laughter and pledge of allegiance in her head.