Ход королевы

           Onedayshewassenttothebasementtocleantheblackboarderasersbyclompingthemtogether,andshefoundhimsittingonametalstoolnearthefurnacescowlingoveragreen-and-whitecheckerboardinfrontofhim.Butwherethecheckersshouldbetherewerelittleplasticthingsinfunnyshapes.Somewerelargerthanothers.Thereweremoreofthesmallonesthananyoftheothers.Thejanitorlookedupather.Sheleftinsilence.

           OnFriday,everybodyatefish,Catholicornot.Itcameinsquares,breadedwithadark,brown,drycrustandcoveredwithathickorangesauce,likebottledFrenchdressing.Thesaucewassweetandterrible,butthefishbeneathitwasworse.Thetasteofitnearlygaggedher.Butyouhadtoeateverybite,orMrs.Deardorffwouldbetoldaboutyouandyouwouldn’tgetadopted.

           Somechildrengotadoptedrightoff.Asix-year-oldnamedAlicehadcomeinamonthafterBethandwastakeninthreeweeksbysomenice-lookingpeoplewithanaccent.TheywalkedthroughthewardonthedaytheycameforAlice.Bethhadwantedtothrowherarmsaroundthembecausetheylookedhappytoher,butsheturnedawaywhentheyglancedather.Otherchildrenhadbeentherealongtimeandknewtheywouldneverleave.Theycalledthemselves“lifers.”Bethwonderedifshewasalifer.

           ***

           Gymwasbad,andvolleyballwastheworst.Bethcouldneverhittheballright.Shewouldslapatitfiercelyorpushatitwithstifffingers.Onceshehurtherfingersomuchthatitswelledupafterward.Mostofthegirlslaughedandshoutedwhentheyplayed,butBethneverdid.

           Jolenewasthebestplayerbyfar.