THE NEW DEAL

CASSIDY DOESN’T WHISPER ANYMORE.

She doesn’t tiptoe around the two quiet loser boys. Now she calls us out repeatedly in front of the class.

Over and over.

Never letting us off the hook.

Luisandsam, are you listening?

Pointing her chalk at us.

Luisandsam, I know you’re thinking.

Tapping our table with her long, press-on fingernails.

Luisandsam, where is your homework?

Glaring at us over her plastic glasses.

Be ready, Luisandsam. I’m coming at you with questions on this.

She says it and she means it. She’s on our case from the second we walk in the room until we walk out the door.

Cassidy’s turned into a rabid pit bull, hell-bent on breaking us, turning us into students.

That’s her new deal.

And she sticks to it.

Every minute.

Every day.