Is She Lying? by Lucas Frances

Author:Lucas, Frances [Lucas, Frances]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2023-06-29T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Katie

Every now and then things actually go my way. I ace a test. A teacher singles me out in class with praise. An interim principal is called to a meeting away from the building, leaving me free to work on my art project after lunch. It’s that kind of morning.

I finish my zebra picture and complete the online rubric about what my piece should say to critics. Easy. “Animals should be armed against trophy hunters for a fair fight,” I write. I give myself an A and turn the sucker in. With Mrs. Pugh out of the office as well, I check my phone.

No texts from Virginia. A bummer, although there’s probably no cell service on the water. No texts from Dad, Mom, or Denise either. That’s definitely good news. With eight minutes of free time before fourth hour starts, my thoughts turn to what Denise told me this morning. Mom said I was her world? I’d like to believe it, but it doesn’t sound like her.

Back in Washington when I visited her in the hospital, we talked about school and whether the neighbor I was staying with was feeding me enough. Fruits? Vegetables? No processed meats? She quizzed me every day. We didn’t discuss Dad or the shooting except when it came time to prepare for his trial. And even that was brief.

“Just tell the truth,” she instructed.

Dad’s text yesterday said she hit him first. I don’t believe that either. But regardless, it wouldn’t have mattered. There’s no justification for shooting someone unless you’re a zebra exercising self-defense.

The office door opens and I slide my phone into my pocket. Mrs. Pugh’s a pretty okay person now, but last year you earned yourself a detention if you so much as thought about taking out your phone in her class.

It’s not Mrs. Pugh at the door, however. Amy Meeks walks up to the counter. “Oh, hi! I didn’t expect to see you here,” she says. “Are you in trouble, or do you work here?”

“I’m an office aide. The pay stinks.”

She laughs. “Mine, too. I’m Mr. Spurling’s aide.”

“Lucky you.”

Mr. Spurling is considered by many as the single best teacher at North. It’s widely known that his tests come straight out of the back of the textbook, and he spends most of every hour at his desk with his face hidden behind a newspaper. Kids say he’ll talk sports on occasion because he also coaches football, but he mostly leaves them alone. That’s my kind of class, but one Virginia would detest.

“Are you running an errand for him?” I ask.

“Yeah. Is Mrs. Pugh here? I’m supposed to tell her he needs a sub sixth hour, but under no circumstances is she to ask Mrs. Hicks because she always complains he doesn’t leave enough lesson plans.”

I hide a smile. Sounds just like Mrs. Hicks, which is probably why she’s Virginia’s favorite teacher. “Mrs. Pugh stepped out. I’ll pass along your message.”

Amy taps a finger on the counter and turns her gaze to the teacher photocopier in front of the mailboxes.

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