Pinned (9780545469845) by Flake Sharon

Author:Flake, Sharon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Published: 2012-08-17T04:00:00+00:00

Disabled is me not being able to read. And you with out legs. So (u + me) = perfect. Right?

Mr. Epperson up there winking at me. Asking ’bout my opponent and how well I did against him. Only I ain’t sure which one he talking about. The boy I wrestled last night or algebra? Or someone in this class? Then he stick my last test paper in my hand.

Peaches jumping up and down, screaming, after she get her paper. “Nice job. A hundred percent,” Mr. E. say, loosening her arms from around his neck. “Autumn. Finish handing these out.”

Calling out names, sitting papers on desks or sticking ’em in hands, I get to see how everybody else did.

If grades was trees, mine would be the root. At the bottom, way down low. Nobody did worse on this test than me.

December got a ninety-two. A’Destiny got a seventy-six. When I take my seat, she turn around, asking what I got. I make a D in the air with my finger. Sitting at his desk, Mr. E. saying maybe now Peaches’s mom will get off his case. He smiling. But I know what he mean.

The whole period Peaches leave her A paper sitting out like a prize she won. She and me. We talk about everything. Our periods. Cute teachers we wish we could date. Miss Pattie and the PTA president arguing the other night. But cheating … on the test. She ain’t mentioned it yet.

Picking up my paper, I shake my head. ’Cause today really sucks. This morning Miss Baker say she calling my mother. And report cards come out soon.

Mr. E. ask to see me when class ends. Jaxxon and a couple of more people get called up, too. He concerned we don’t understand the material. If we get any further behind, he afraid we never gonna catch up. The six of us crowd around him, hoping people walking out the room can’t hear.

“You six. You’re all in competition with one another.” He points to us one by one. “For last place.”

Markey takes his eyes off the floor. And looks at me.

Mr. E. lets everyone hear what my grade average is so far. I get to hear theirs.

“Is this legal?” Markey wanna know.

Mr. E.’s eyes smile. “Miss Knight. If this were a wrestling match … you would win against them. You’re an A-plus wrestler. So tell me. How can you be a D student?”

Mr. E. looking at Michelle from Mrs. Carolyn’s book club. Her average almost as low as mine. He asking how many books she read this month. “Three.” He ask Markey if he belong to any clubs or teams. He don’t. “Go to church?” Markey says yes. Mr. E. closing his grade book. “Out there”— he’s pointing toward the window — “you all do your best. In here … the bottom is good enough for you. I need to know, why?”

Markey’s hands, deep in his pockets. He saying he gonna be honest. “I can’t do it. I quit trying.

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