فصل 35

CHAPTER 35

A Picture Is Worth a Gazillion Words

We have a sub. This is bad news.

Then it gets even worse. We begin with an assignment to write about a person that we know who is brave.

I start to come up with reasons to get out of the assignment. Go to the nurse? I haven’t yet met a sub who says no to a trip to the nurse when you tell them you’re going to throw up on their shoes.

I put on my sick look. Just as I’m about to raise my hand, the sub turns to the class. Where is Ally Nickerson?

Huh? Freaky.

I raise my hand.

Oh, I have a note here that says that you don’t have to write, so you can just draw a picture of your person.

My face gets hot.

Well, that figures, Shay says. She can practice her coloring. And then there will be Play-Doh and nap time.

My toes curl in my sneakers and I slide down into my chair. The sub looks at Shay and shakes her head, but kids are already laughing, so what’s the difference?

The sub gives everyone else a piece of lined paper and she gives me a plain one.

I sit, stunned. Wondering why Mr. Daniels would do this—betray me. Now I feel like I really am going to throw up.

I stand and have to concentrate on walking to move toward the door.

Where are you going? the sub asks.

Out.

You come back here and do your picture. Now. I mean it.

I’m finished.

What are you talking about? It’s blank.

No, it’s not blank. I drew a ghost in a blizzard.

As the door slams behind me, I hear kids laughing at my answer.

• • •

Soon I am keeping Mrs. Silver’s chair warm.

So, Miss Nickerson. I must admit that I have enjoyed not seeing you lately. Things seem to be better with Mr. Daniels as your teacher. He’s keeping you in line?

Yeah. He’s a peach, I say with cut in my voice. Are you going to call my mom?

No, I don’t think so.

I want you to call her. Please call her.

Why?

Please? I ask. I don’t even know why I’m asking exactly.

She looks surprised but is silent. She dials the phone and talks for a bit. Tells her that I’ve had a tough day. Then she hands the phone to me. She would like to speak with you.

I take the phone from her.

Ally. What in the world is going on?

I try not to cry, I really do, but the tears leak from my eyes. Everything is so tight inside and I’m so tired of it being this way. It’s not like I wake up every day planning to be a failure. And I thought I had finally found someone to help me. And then Mr. Daniels pulls this . . .

Ally? Did you hear me?

Mom? is all I can get out, but it’s squeaky and filled with longing to pull her through the phone wires to sit with me.

I hear it in her voice. She feels as upset as I do. Put Mrs. Silver back on the phone.

Mrs. Silver listens for a bit and finally says, Oh. Okay, Mrs. Nickerson. We’ll be in touch, then.

I head to the bathroom and sit in a stall long enough for the evidence of crying to go away.

When I get back to class, I ask Keisha to help me write a note so I’m sure it’s all correct. I leave it on Mr. Daniels’s desk I’m never reading after school or playing chess with you ever again. Not ever.

• • •

That afternoon, I drop onto my usual spot at Petersen’s. I wonder what my mom will say about the call from school.

When she comes over, she kisses the top of my head. Which says it all.

So, a ghost in a blizzard, huh? She smiles at me.

I half smile. Yeah.

Pretty funny, I think. She leans over and puts her hand on my cheek, and it’s everything I can do not to cry right there in front of everyone.

I trusted him, I tell her. He was the first teacher who . . . And I stop because I can’t say the words.

You know, honey, I bet there’s an explanation for this. I bet Mr. Daniels didn’t mean for this to happen. Give him a chance, okay?

I nod. I hope she’s right, because I want to think that Mr. Daniels doing something mean to anyone is like a fish swimming upside down and backward.