Private (Private 1)
Well. I was officially beaten down. “Ye-yes,” I said, my mouth dry.
protested. It was four. I knew this. I learned this in eighth grade.
“I’d like to believe you, Miss Brennan, but perhaps you
FDR was my favorite president. I loved the New Deal and all the should see me after class so that we can make sure of that fact,”
acronyms. I memorized them all and aced that quiz. He had served he said.
four terms.
I swallowed hard. Tears of embarrassment stung my eyes. Every
“FDR was elected for a fourth term, but he died while in office single soul in the room was either staring at me or pointedly strug-and therefore did not serve four full terms,” Mr. Barber said.
gling not to stare at me.
My entire team groaned as he erased Constance’s one point.
He wanted to see me after class. My first teacher on my first day Under my skin my blood boiled.
at the new school that was supposed to change my life wanted to see
“That’s a trick question,” I blurted.
me after class. Well, something in my life had changed already. I Mr. Barber froze with his back to us. The students sucked in a
had never been reprimanded by a teacher before. Ever.
breath. My body heat was almost unbearable. What had I just done?
“Okay,” I said.
“Excuse me?” Mr. Barber said, turning around.
“Good,” Mr. Barber replied. “Now that we’ve wasted several
I cleared my throat. “That was a trick question,” I repeated,
minutes of your classmates’ precious time, perhaps you would allow unwilling to cower. “You didn’t ask how many full terms he served.”
me to move on.”
48
K A T E B R I A N
I felt hot and sick and stupid. I nodded stiffly. It was pretty much all I could do.
Mr. Barber turned to his next victim and Constance clucked her
tongue in sympathy.
Good start, Reed. Really stellar start.
NO EXCEPTIONS
I hovered next to Mr. Barber’s desk as he scribbled on a piece of white paper. Everyone avoided eye contact as they filed out of the room, like I was some kind of freak not to be associated with. One class and already I had pegged myself.