Imogene is suspended for the rest of the week. The Sunday night before she has to return to school, she lies in bed, unable to turn off her brain. She writes out a list of possibilities.
Things to Prepare For:
She imagines eyes on her, like insect legs on her neck. She imagines whispers that sizzle like bacon. She imagines delight sparkling in grinning jowls. Calling her Cecil obviously drives her crazy. Why would it bother her if it was a lie? They know she knows. They know they are right.
She reads for distraction to put herself to sleep. In Ender’s Game, Ender worries about his brother Peter’s anger, his mad mood. Maggie sent the book in a box for her birthday along with yellow slouch socks and a brightly coloured Swatch watch. Maggie, who can’t talk about her dad or Cecil, but can select items just for her, a new novel, a pair of shoes.
On Monday morning, Imogene slips into class around the back as usual. She doesn’t look around until she is safe in her desk. Liam is nowhere to be seen. Outside, it is grey with drizzle and the mood carries into the room; students sit in their desks like they’re made of string.
Crystal Seymour whispers with Shelly MacInnis. She pauses to give Imogene a tiny wave. Her eyes glisten with a devilish light.
The bell rings. As Mr. Benoit moves to close the door, Liam darts in. Mr. Benoit opens his mouth to speak, but just shuts the door instead. Liam slouches down in the first available desk. He wears a ball cap clamped down over his face. When he reaches up to adjust it, Imogene sees red scabs along the knuckles of his fingers. Did she hurt his hand? Did she step on his fingers? Along his jaw, a yellowing bruise. The hockey stick connected there.
He says nothing all day and doesn’t look at Imogene. No one says much of anything. Liz Constantine, always ferocious in her royal-blue eyeliner and stirrup pants, nods to her in the hallway. Imogene feels like she is wearing the Cone of Silence from that old show Get Smart. Everyone slides past her keeping a neat, invisible circumference.
In gym class, Mr. Percy makes Imogene apologize to Liam in front of everyone and for him to accept her apology. No one looks at her when she says, “I’m sorry.” Liam folds his arms and stares at the floor. Then Mr. Percy claps his hands. “Warm up. Fifteen laps around the gym.” A radius of about three metres is maintained around her as she runs. Later, she is the fourth person chosen when sides are picked for volleyball. There are no complaints when she messes up her serve.
At lunch, Rita smiles at her from her group of friends and invites her to sit with them. Cherry MacIssac offers her a cookie. During math class, Imogene leaves her binder on her desk and it remains untouched. In the bathroom, Antonia Martin stares at her hard, cracks her gum and says, “Imogene, I like your Swatch watch.” Shelly MacInnis says, “Imogene, my sister pays a pile of money to dye her hair close to the colour of yours. You’re some lucky.”
Two weeks later, she walks into the library as Liam exits. She freezes. He angles himself around her and floats out the doorway. He keeps his head down as he walks up the hallway, his hand rubs the back of his neck. From a distance, he looks like a bird with its head tucked under its wing, avoiding the light in order to sleep.