I am not in big trouble.
Ms. Dee says she might even play
a trick or two
herself—later.
For now, what she wants
is for me to take
another sixth grader,
Kyra Blazak,
“under my wing.”
See, Kyra came to
Hamilton Middle School
in September
after being homeschooled
since she was five.
Ms. Dee says Kyra is still
having a few problems adjusting.
Ms. Dee tells me that Kyra
had no homework at her homeschool.
“At home, Kyra could ask her mom
a half-dozen questions in a row.”
I nod. “Kyra does ask
lots of questions in class.”
“And that’s fine,” says Ms. Dee,
“up to a point. But sometimes
it holds up the lesson.”
“Another thing,” says Ms. Dee.
“I notice Kyra is reading too much.”
Am I hearing right? “Reading too much?”
Ms. Dee laughs. “Don’t faint, Bindi.
Reading is wonderful.
But I notice Kyra reading all through lunch.
Nearly every day.
I think she could do with some company.
Some chitchat with the girls.
Can you help with all this, Bindi?”
I tell Ms. Dee I’ll give Kyra a try.
Ms. Dee pulls a box of candy
from her desk drawer.
She offers me a piece.
I take what looks like
a chocolate-covered caramel.
I bite into it.
It’s rubber.
Ms. Dee grins.
“April fool!”
