Everyone in study hall is quiet, except for David Hurley,
who’s telling Ann at the next table about his science project,
a water mill that has a motor.
“I’m making it in wood shop. Mr. Sperangio lets me
go in after school.”
“Quiet, now,” says Miss Borden, the librarian.
David and Ann glance at each other,
then back at their books.
I’m staring at my math book,
but trying to solve a different problem—
How to ask Mr. Sperangio in wood shop
about using the tools.
“That’s not possible,” he tells me
in his classroom after school.
“Shop is for boys.”
“But I’m not talking about taking shop.
I just want to use the tools.”
“These tools are dangerous.”
“I’ll be careful. I’m always careful.”
“You haven’t had any training.”
“I can learn . . . really fast.”
Mr. Sperangio lifts his hands,
and shakes them, like I’m a fly.
“Look, Miss Oliver, I’m sorry,
but girls can’t come in here.”
“So, the answer is no?”
“Yes,
the answer is no.
You’ll have to find another way
to solve your problem.”
Disappointment
ripples through me,
but I won’t let it defeat me.
I’ll find another way.
As I walk to the door,
David Hurley comes in
and slips on a pair of goggles.