Сумерки

           Icandothis,Iliedtomyselffeebly.Noonewasgoingtobiteme.Ifinallyexhaledandsteppedoutofthetruck.

           IkeptmyfacepulledbackintomyhoodasIwalkedtothesidewalk,crowdedwithteenagers.Myplainblackjacketdidn’tstandout,Inoticedwithrelief.

           OnceIgotaroundthecafeteria,buildingthreewaseasytospot.Alargeblack"3"waspaintedonawhitesquareontheeastcorner.IfeltmybreathinggraduallycreepingtowardhyperventilationasIapproachedthedoor.ItriedholdingmybreathasIfollowedtwounisexraincoatsthroughthedoor.

           Theclassroomwassmall.Thepeopleinfrontofmestoppedjustinsidethedoortohanguptheircoatsonalongrowofhooks.Icopiedthem.Theyweretwogirls,oneaporcelain-coloredblonde,theotheralsopale,withlightbrownhair.Atleastmyskinwouldn’tbeastandouthere.

           Itooktheslipuptotheteacher,atall,baldingmanwhosedeskhadanameplateidentifyinghimasMr.Mason.Hegawkedatmewhenhesawmyname-notanencouragingresponse-andofcourseIflushedtomatored.Butatleasthesentmetoanemptydeskatthebackwithoutintroducingmetotheclass.Itwasharderformynewclassmatestostareatmeintheback,butsomehow,theymanaged.Ikeptmyeyesdownonthereadinglisttheteacherhadgivenme.Itwasfairlybasic:Bronte,Shakespeare,Chaucer,Faulkner.I’dalreadyreadeverything.Thatwascomforting...andboring.Iwonderedifmymomwouldsendmemyfolderofoldessays,orifshewouldthinkthatwascheating.