Hazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow

Author:Lisa Jenn Bigelow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2019-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

When Mrs. Paradisi handed back our family history assignments, I glanced at mine just long enough to see the red A at the top before tucking it in my folder to take home. So I was surprised when, at the end of class, Mrs. Paradisi said, “Hazel, could you stay a minute?”

I hesitated, watching the rest of the kids stream out of the room. “I can’t miss the bus.”

“I won’t keep you long.” She leaned back against a lab bench and clasped her hands in front of her. “I wanted to let you know I enjoyed your essay.”

“I know,” I said. “You gave it an A.”

“I did”—she smiled—“though to be honest, I’m always giving As to papers I don’t particularly enjoy. But yours was different. You painted a wonderfully detailed portrait of your family. I felt as if I’d gotten to meet everyone in person, and I feel I know you better as well.”

I fidgeted with my backpack straps, knowing this couldn’t be the real reason she’d asked me to stay.

“There’s just one thing,” said Mrs. Paradisi. “I couldn’t help noticing some discrepancies between your essay and your family tree.”

I frowned. Was this about Paul? Did she mean I should have included him in my essay? I hadn’t even thought about that. I readied myself to argue.

“On your family tree, on the branches for your siblings,” Mrs. Paradisi continued, “I saw three names. But you only wrote about your older brother, Rowan. Hazel, do you want to tell me about Lena and Miles?”

My heart caught in my throat. I felt like I was stuck in a bad dream. I’d erased Lena’s and Miles’s names, hadn’t I? I distinctly remembered doing it. I remembered doing it twice.

“It’s okay if you don’t,” she added. “I was just surprised. The rest of your essay was so detailed. It seemed like an odd oversight. I wanted to give you the chance to talk about them. But only if you want to.” She smiled again, encouragingly.

“No,” I said. “I mean, it’s okay. Because they’re cats.”

Immediately, I wanted to kick myself. Where had that come from? My mouth had been working faster than my brain again. And that wasn’t the kind of thing you could un-say, like, Oops, when I said cats, I actually meant to say my little brother and sister who died in utero.

Mrs. Paradisi blinked. “Oh. I see. Well, I can understand that, I suppose. My cats are furry family to me.”

“Right,” I said, feeling my face flush. “But it wasn’t scientifically accurate, so I erased them. Or I tried. I guess I didn’t do a good job. Sorry for the confusion.”

I hoped Mrs. Paradisi wouldn’t ask for details. I didn’t want to turn Lena into a calico cat who loved tuna, or Miles into a Russian blue who chased milk rings across the floor. On the other hand, nor did I want to tell the whole sad truth. Cats were a lot easier to talk about, even when they were imaginary.

Mrs. Paradisi said, “That’s all right.

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