42. Before Leaving

Later that afternoon, as I’m moving slowly through the masses trying to avoid Gus, I see two figures huddled near an open classroom.

I can see Mr. Meiners looking down, his arm around someone.

Then I see her.

Jocelyn.

She’s got her hands in her face. One hand wipes her eyes.

Tears.

I wonder if someone she knows died.

I stop and nearly get trampled by the herd behind me.

“Watch out,” some girl says.

I want to go to Jocelyn, see what’s wrong.

She doesn’t want you knowing.

I lurk around the lockers on the other side and watch them.

Jocelyn continues to cry. But then she does something else, something strange and baffling.

She laughs.

The tears she’s crying—I can’t tell if they’re tears of sadness or of joy.

Or maybe both.