Amy, on Her Own by Marilyn Kaye

Amy, on Her Own by Marilyn Kaye

Author:Marilyn Kaye [Kaye, Marilyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8041-5006-4
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2013-09-24T16:00:00+00:00


Sitting at a desk in the school media center, Amy hunched over her algebra homework and tried to concentrate. It was a Friday afternoon and the last bell had rung, so there was hardly anyone in the large room. Even so, the slightest rustling of someone else’s paper disturbed her. It used to be so much easier to shut out noise, she thought. Just as it used to be easier to hear noises when she wanted to hear them. She missed having that kind of control over her world.

And these algebra problems were hard. She’d been working on them for over an hour now, and the media center was staying open only for less than an hour more. She absolutely had to finish this homework here. It was even harder to concentrate at home. It had been a long, strange week at school, and not just for her. Her teachers were puzzled.

“This isn’t like you, Amy” Ms. Hunsucker had said when she handed back a pop quiz. Amy hadn’t been prepared. She’d started reading the assignment too late at night and had fallen asleep and been unable to answer half the questions on the next day’s quiz.

“Are you all right, Amy?” her algebra teacher had asked when Amy was stumped by a problem in class. Her phys ed teacher had asked if she’d been having personal problems and suggested she visit the school counselor. In chemistry, the teacher had expressed concern for her health and suggested she see a doctor.

The most difficult conversation had taken place in French class, even though it was conducted in English. Madame Duquesne, her favorite teacher, had asked her to stay after the bell.

“This is very unusual, Amy,” she’d said, showing Amy the results of her test. She’d received a B-minus. Her last two homework assignments had resulted in Bs too. “There is nothing wrong with a B,” Madame Duquesne told her. “But you have always been a straight-A student. I do not understand why your grades are falling.”

Amy hadn’t known how to explain it. “Maybe I’m not studying as much as I used to,” she offered, but that sounded feeble.

“No, I do not think that is the problem,” Madame Duquesne said kindly. “I fear you are doing this intentionally. I believe that you are making mistakes on purpose.”

Amy’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? Why would I do something like that?”

“I know that the other students tease you for making excellent grades so consistently,” the teacher said. “I know they call you, how do you say it, the little kitten of the teacher?”

“Teacher’s pet.”

“Yes, teacher’s pet. This cannot be pleasant for you.”

Amy thought about it. Yes, it had always been annoying when people like Linda Riviera called her the walking brain or little Miss Perfect. She’d grown accustomed to it, though. And she’d never lost any sleep over it.

“They are only jealous,” Madame Duquesne continued. “You must not give in to them. Take pride in your intelligence!”

Amy had promised that she would. She supposed she could still make As.



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