Сумерки

           Ismiledathimvaguelyandwentinside.

           Therestofthemorningpassedinaboutthesamefashion.MyTrigonometryteacher,Mr.Varner,whoIwouldhavehatedanywayjustbecauseofthesubjecthetaught,wastheonlyonewhomademestandinfrontoftheclassandintroducemyself.Istammered,blushed,andtrippedovermyownbootsonthewaytomyseat.

           Aftertwoclasses,Istartedtorecognizeseveralofthefacesineachclass.TherewasalwayssomeonebraverthantheotherswhowouldintroducethemselvesandaskmequestionsabouthowIwaslikingForks.Itriedtobediplomatic,butmostlyIjustliedalot.AtleastIneverneededthemap.

           OnegirlsatnexttomeinbothTrigandSpanish,andshewalkedwithmetothecafeteriaforlunch.Shewastiny,severalinchesshorterthanmyfivefeetfourinches,butherwildlycurlydarkhairmadeupalotofthedifferencebetweenourheights.Icouldn’trememberhername,soIsmiledandnoddedassheprattledaboutteachersandclasses.Ididn’ttrytokeepup.

           Wesatattheendofafulltablewithseveralofherfriends,whosheintroducedtome.Iforgotalltheirnamesassoonasshespokethem.Theyseemedimpressedbyherbraveryinspeakingtome.TheboyfromEnglish,Eric,wavedatmefromacrosstheroom.

           Itwasthere,sittinginthelunchroom,tryingtomakeconversationwithsevencuriousstrangers,thatIfirstsawthem.

           Theyweresittinginthecornerofthecafeteria,asfarawayfromwhereIsataspossibleinthelongroom.Therewerefiveofthem.