"Oh," She pasted a smile on as fast as she could. "No, Miss Hanes, I'm fine. I'm just waiting for Miss Margie to be done on the phone. Mr. Allway sent me with a note about the new history books."
Miss Hanes was a psychology major and much shrewder than she looked. Her kind brown eyes softened, drilling into Emmy with a knowing expression. Emmy tried to appear at ease and normal, her heart still pounding. She could still feel the rush of the wind and the beating of the wings as clearly as if she had really been among the birds as they rose into the sky.
“Are you sure there’s nothing bothering you? Your face looks a little pale.”
“Oh that’s just because of the winter. And I’m always pretty pale.” Emmy answered quickly. Too quickly Miss Hanes thought but she nodded and walked back to her desk, resolving to keep a closer eye on the Spencer girl.
Emmy breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to have to offer any explanations today. Sinking back into her seat, she twirled a golden brown curl around her finger and glanced over at Miss Margie, still on the phone. Shaking her head dizzily, Emmy cringed at the grating laughter she heard in the hallway.
How could they be so cruel?
The joke was on some poor freshman who had made an enemy of one of the populars and was therefore doomed to suffer the rest of the year in humiliation. Emmy sometimes envied the boys. They often argued and joked, and black eyes were seen on rare occasions. The girls, however, were vicious, attacking soul and spirit.
Emmy sighed, wishing she had the energy to go out and say something to the gossipers. As it was, she barely had the stamina to get to her feet when Miss Margie called her up, she was so dizzy and lightheaded.
“Thank you, Emmy. Hurry back to class now.” Miss Margie said hastily, hardly looking up at all.
Emmy nodded, starting back without a word. She paused to look out the window again, as the last of the gray geese departed for the South.
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