“Renata,” said Mr. Bowman slowly, as if he was counting each word. “I called you into the office because of a complaint made by another student. Karin Walters’ watch is missing, and she claims you stole it. She says she saw you in the vicinity of her locker at the time she inadvertently left her locker open. As I said to Karin, that is circumstantial evidence at best, but I feel it’s my duty to speak to you about the matter.”
“I didn’t take her watch,” I blurted out.
“I understand this is distressing to you,” said Mr. Bowman. “It distresses me too. You have no record of misbehavior, but I must tell you Karin was quite convinced of your guilt.”
Mr. Bowman was distressed! Ha! It wasn’t his neck on the line. He didn’t care about me. I remembered how abrupt he was when I first registered at the school with Mom.
“Will you be able to arrive at school on time?” he had asked me then. “The school is some distance from your ... apartment.” He knew we weren’t part of the upscale neighborhood the school was located in.
“I’ll be on time,” I had barked at him. Mom said she could hear the anger in my voice.
“You have to be careful,” she cautioned me when we left his office. “When you’re poor and an immigrant you have to be especially careful of your behavior. People make judgments.”
“I don’t care,” I told her defiantly. “He can think whatever he wants. I have every right to go to this school. Just as much right as the rich kids.”
Despite my words I knew Mom was right. It just wasn’t fair. Why did people judge Karin and me differently? If I had accused Karin with no evidence would Karin be hauled into the office? Or would Mr. Bowman assume that because her family has money that she wouldn’t possibly steal?
Just because you have money doesn’t mean you won’t steal. What about those heads of companies who take huge salaries and bonuses when their companies are losing money and lower level employees are being fired? Isn’t that stealing? The newspapers were full of stories about people like that. What about famous actresses who shoplift? They don’t need the stuff they take, but they take things anyway.
“I accept your words,” said Mr. Bowman, “but I can’t close the matter yet. Stealing is a serious offense. If you have anything more to tell me on the subject, I hope you will.”
“I don’t,” I said. I knew I sounded angry, but I couldn’t help it. Mr. Bowman thought I was guilty and that I needed to confess. How dare he?
“Good day to you then,” he said, dismissing me.
I walked out shaking, less because of Karin than because of Mr. Bowman. To him, I was half-guilty just because Karin had accused me.
Perhaps I should have told him why Karin wanted to get me in trouble. But I had no evidence, just a feeling that Karen wanted me out of the play so she could have my part. How could anyone be that awful? A wave of anger hit me so hard I felt nauseous. Suddenly I wanted to run away from school. I wanted to hide from the people, accusing me with the look in their eyes. I knew that Karin was not going to give up.
It sounded like a plot in a movie. Maybe it was a movie. Only I wished I wasn’t starring in it.