Ход королевы
Chapter 3
Itwasalotlikethepublichighschoolinthatothertownwhereshehaddonethechessexhibition,andsheknewherclothesweren’tright,butnoonepaidmuchattentiontoher.Afewoftheotherstudentsstaredforaminutewhentheteacherintroducedhertotheclass,butthatwasit.Shewasgivenbooksandassignedtoahomeroom.Fromthebooksandwhattheteacherssaidinclasssheknewitwouldbeeasy.Sherecoiledabitattheloudnoisesinthehallwaysbetweenclasses,andfeltself-consciousafewtimeswhenotherstudentslookedather,butitwasnotdifficult.Shefeltshecoulddealwithanythingthatmightcomeupinthissunny,noisypublicschool.
Atlunchtimeshetriedtositaloneinthecafeteriawithherhamsandwichandcartonofmilk,butanothergirlcameandsatacrossfromher.Neitherofthemspokeforawhile.Theothergirlwasplain,likeBeth.
WhenshehadfinishedhalfhersandwichBethlookedacrossthetableather.“Isthereaschoolchessclub?”sheasked.
Theothergirllookedup,startled.“What?”
“Dotheyhaveachessclub?Iwanttojoin.”
“Oh,”thegirlsaid.“Idon’tthinktheyhaveanythinglikethat.Youcantryoutforjuniorcheerleader.”
Bethfinishedhersandwich.
***
“Youcertainlyspendalotoftimeatyourstudies,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.“Don’tyouhaveanyhobbies?”Actually,Bethwasnotstudying;shewasreadinganovelfromtheschoollibrary.Shewassittinginthearmchairinherroom,bythewindow.Mrs.Wheatleyhadknockedandthencomein,wearingapinkchenillebathrobeandpinksatinslippers.
