Both. Create. Help. The words hurled at him like can-nonballs. He tried to feel angry, and failed. All he felt was
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cold and frightened and more alone than ever. "I'll wait," he said dully, "but I won't go in."
They'd reached the schoolhouse by the time she finally answered. "Yes, Jack, you will."
Chapter Thirteen
Katie sat cross-legged on the rag rug, staring forlornly at her own feet. "What'dya think's happenin' now?"
Savannah held her finger out to Caleb, who was lying on the floor between them. He curled his tiny red hand around her forefinger and squeezed. "I dunno. Prob'ly ain't there yet."
They lapsed back into silence.
"Mama seemed pretty mad when she saw the note," Katie said quietly, plucking a wrinkled strip of blue flannel from the rug. "Not like last time."
"No ..." Katie shuddered at the memory of "last time." Mama had smacked her hard and yelled at her for being such a stupid, lazy little girl who didn't want to be no better'n her crazy daddy.
"Don't think about that." Savannah touched Katie's knee. "It ain't gonna be like that again."
Katie looked up. Stupid, stinging tears filled her eyes, but she couldn't hold them back. "You don't know that," she whispered. "Could be she's just tryin' to trick us again."
Savannah swallowed hard. "I know, but ... but I don't think so. She seems ... differ'nt."
A tear slipped down Katie's cheek and plopped on the hand fisted so tightly in her lap. She was so scared, she
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felt sick and twisted-up inside. Savannah was just tryin' to make her feel better. They both knew what was gonna happen when Mama got home. It was gonna be just like last time.
And there was nothin' they could do. Nothin' that would change anything. They just had to wait.
"Mary Katherine shouldn't be in school."
Tess thought she'd misheard. "Excuse me?"
Miss Ames peered down at them from her position in the front of the room. Planting her palms on her desk, she scooted her chair out from behind her and stood. A thin, humorless smile stretched her lips. "I said, Mary Katherine has no right to be in this school. She's lazy, inattentive, and obviously has no intention of learning to read." She paused, frowned. The wire-rimmed spectacles slid down her bumpy nose. "Perhaps she's not all there. In the head, you know, somewhat?"
"Don't you dare say it," Tess hissed.
Miss Ames pursed her lips in disapproval. "It seems Mary Katherine's poor manners are learned at home."
"How dare you imply such a thing about a seven-year-old child? Has it ever occurred to you that there's a reason she learns more slowly than the other children?"
Miss Ames sniffed loudly and pushed her spectacles back onto the bridge of her nose. "I don't believe I understand you."
Tess took a deep, shaky breath to maintain her calm. Remember, Tess, you want this lady's help. She twisted her hands together in a nervous ball and forced a polite smile. "I?I think perhaps Katie needs a bit more of your time than the other students. You're so helpful, so smart. Certainly you can find a way to ... help Katie. What is it ... exactly that's problematic?"
Miss Ames thought about that for a moment. A small
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frown pleated the skin between her eyes. The glasses slid down her nose again. "Well, the pressure of reading aloud seems to be particularly challenging to Mary Katherine."
Tess leaned slightly forward, resting her palms on the rough-hewn desktop. "Maybe during your lunchtime ..."