The twelve-year-old who had been finger-banged behind the mall was the same girl who had been spat upon by the neighbor she adored. Her body had developed early and she was in the midst of a year characterized by relentless sexual harassment at school, and the shocking change of her body’s meaning in the world—a confounding degradation publicized as a promotion. Her own desire combined with social conditioning made it impossible to deflect or refuse every sexual petition. She did not enjoy being finger-banged behind the mall. She had only wanted to be kissed. She had followed the call of her
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