Chapter Sixteen

“What are we going

to talk about

today?”

Mrs. Topek

says.

 

I look at her

peach-colored walls,

all bright and

happy.

 

It doesn’t make

me feel like

talking

any more

than I already

do.

 

I finally meet her

gaze.

 

I

wave.

 

She gives me

a genuine smile.

Mrs. Topek

is starting

to like

me.

 

She waves

back.

 

I hand her

my report card,

which she looks over

with approval.

 

“Great job,

Kera.  Your grades

are great.

But what about

you?”

 

I make

a sad

face.

 

“Why?”

 

I shrug

and go

back to looking

at the wall.

 

I can’t really

describe that

Karl was an

angel-boy

and that something

has gone

terribly

wrong.

 

Well, I could try,

but that

wouldn’t

go over

so well.

 

It would make

my mom cry if she

found out I’d

said

anything.

 

Dad was

the only one

who called

Karl

that.