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Chapter 3
“Why weren’t you at school this past week?” Asked my teacher.
“I had some sort of stomach problem.” I grumbled.
“That’s the sixth time you’ve been absent this month.  Are you alright?” My teacher sounded so genuinely concerned, that I almost told her everything.  But then, my father’s words flashed through my mind.  “You tell anyone, and I’ll kill you.  You know I will too.”  I did know, and I was afraid that he would find out and I would die at thirteen.
“Yeah.  My mom was sickly as a child, and I’m afraid I’ve inherited that from her.” I was an expert liar at this point in my life.  Trish was lucky; she had no need to lie.  Mom and Dad never hit her.
“Oh, that’s a shame.” Ms. Perkins didn’t look quite convinced though.  I knew she
could still see the traces of my bruise.  If anyone asked though, it was from ballet.  Another girl had kicked up at the wrong time and hit me in the face.
I sat in the back row, as usual, in a corner so as to isolate myself as much as possible.  When I was seated, Ms. Perkins said, “Okay, now clear your desks.  It’s time for a pop quiz.”
I raised my hand.  “Ms. Perkins, I’ve been absent, do I have to take it?” I asked, knowing that I wouldn’t, just reminding her.
“Actually, I’d like you to take this.  Ana-Patricia tells me she’s been keeping you up to date.”  Ms. Perkins and Trish exchanged looks and I saw Trish wink out of the corner of my eye.
The quiz, as it turned out, was easy.  I felt I did well.  Trish had been keeping me as up to date as possible.  I was thankful for what Trish had done, but I knew she had done it because someone had asked her to, not because she wanted to.  We might be on less shaky ground than before, but I knew we weren’t friends enough for her to help me without being asked by an authoritative figure.  Authoritative figure.  I never would have used such a phrase before Trish started helping me.
The next day, in science, I was sitting in my usual seat, with my head down, half asleep because I was so tired from all the work I was doing.  Someone tapped me however, and I looked up.  There was Ms. Perkins, smiling.  I knew that she had made a mistake though.  She was handing back the quizzes, and she always handed back higher grades first.  She had only announced that she was passing them back a few seconds ago.  Either Ms. Perkins had become super man and had lightning speed, or I had gotten a good grade.  I took the paper she was holding out with my eyes closed.