Sophie's world by Nancy N. Rue

Author:Nancy N. Rue [Nancy N. Rue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion
ISBN: 9780310707561
Published: 2004-08-26T10:17:15+00:00

Nine

Sophie felt her heart slamming against her chest. It’s over, she thought.

Everything is over. Mama didn’t even get out of the car. “We have five minutes,” she said to Sophie as the Suburban sent gravel flying. “So start talking.”

As the neighborhood went by in a blur, Sophie told Mama everything. When they reached the school parking lot, Mama turned off the ignition and faced Sophie squarely across the seat.

“Look me in the eye,” she said. “Did you and Fiona cheat?”

“No, ma’am,” Sophie said.

“All right then,” Mama said. “Let’s get this mess straightened out.”

Mama looked at least three inches taller as she marched up to the school. It made Sophie lift up her own chin and walk fast to keep up. Seeing Fiona in Ms. Quelling’s room when they got there made her feel even stronger. Fiona was sitting calmly next to Boppa at a table, hands in her lap.

Boppa stood up until Mama had taken a seat. Ms. Quelling was nowhere around.

“Are you as fired up about this as I am?” Boppa murmured to Mama. He had a tiny red spot at the top of each cheekbone.

“I feel like a mother bear,” Mama murmured back.

Fiona grabbed Sophie’s hand under the table and held on.

It’s all right, Antoinette tried to say with the squeeze of her hand. Not even a council of Loyalists can take us down. We are the patriots in this battle. And we have the Wise Ones to defend us. We are not alone.

The door from the hallway opened, and Ms. Quelling bustled in and opened her office door. Out came the train of Pops. Julia Cummings. Anne-Stuart Riggins. B.J. Schneider. Willoughby Wiley. Kitty Munford.

Fiona’s hand gave Sophie’s a clench that clearly said, We’re doomed.

“May I ask who these ladies are?” Boppa said. He sounded proper, as if he were in a bank.

“These are the girls who informed me on Friday that Fiona and Sophie had a secret cheating code.”

The Corn Pops all gazed innocently at Ms. Quelling. All but Kitty, who was swallowing as if she had an elephant stuck in her throat.

“And you believed them,” Mama said.

“I listened to both sides,” Ms. Quelling said.

“And you believed them,” Mama said again.

Ms. Quelling wafted a hand over the Pops. “I’ve known all of them except Kitty since they were in kindergarten. They’re nice girls.” She cleared her throat. “However, I think it’s possible that they were mistaken this time.”

Julia’s eyes startled, and she raised her hand halfway. “We aren’t mistaken.”

Anne-Stuart nodded. “We wouldn’t have said anything if we weren’t sure.”

“I’m certain of that, girls. I just think someone else may have been privy to additional information.” She tilted her chin toward the hall and called, “Come on in.”

Maggie stepped in, stomping to the front like a chunky soldier.

“This is Maggie LaQuita,” Ms. Quelling said to Mama and Boppa. “Maggie, please tell everyone what you told me.”

“They didn’t cheat,” Maggie said. “Fiona and Sophie had a code of signals. But it isn’t what you think. Fiona coughs at Sophie when she sees her daydreaming, so she can keep her mind on her work.

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