Chương 16: “Parents Evening”

Lauren came home from it with the folder under her arm and the look of someone who had been given information they needed time to organize. She sat at the kitchen table. June came downstairs slowly and sat across from her.

"Mrs. Adeyemi says you've been helping Bilal with his reading." June shrugged.

"He's dyslexic. He just needed someone to sit with him." Lauren opened the folder. Closed it.

"She says you're working two years above your level." June looked at the table. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"She also said you spend lunch in the library a lot."

"It's warm."

"June."

"It is warm." Lauren was quiet for a moment. Then she reached across and tucked a braid behind June's ear. Just that.

"You're doing really well, bug." June didn't look up.

"I know." She didn't say: I know because the library means not being in the playground where Bodie is, but Bodie had been different lately so maybe soon she won't have to. She didn't say any of that. She said I know in the voice of a child who has learned that you don't put your private things on the table until you're sure what the table will do with them. Vorrath, in the pencil case, knew all of this. He had been in the pencil case every day.

He knew about Bilal, and the library books, and the notebook she kept of words she wanted to look up later. He had not said anything about any of it. He was starting to understand that some things you keep for the person they belong to.