I was aware of what everyone else was thinking when I walked into the classroom. The voice was spiteful and gleeful as it shouted the most terrible things about my father. I would have lashed out at the people daring to think those thoughts but…the same things were passing through my head.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdnUGaNzrp
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNNieONfKg
Clara…842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsW3cdiBTj
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBwkjdbiIF
What was it about the name that haunted me? Was it merely because it was the name of the woman who my father wronged?842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJSu9nalHy
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAyQQxzS86
“What in the world happened? Everyone’s saying that Uncle Tony…”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuDGnb1OTB
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0rAaPIFdD
Jenny, who had cut me off from her life since Jolly's funeral was the only one who bothered to come over to me. She was incredulous, eager to hear me contradict the accusations. But what could I say?842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWV0BewsKy
She read the worst from my silence. “No…That’s stupid.”
I could see Nancy looking at me. Her expression not hostile for once. But she made no move to come over.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjyQF2HQdS
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlVHJdwDXT
“I heard it, Jenny. I was there.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzRxagrtX0
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSu3uER17w
She opened her mouth to speak but stopped when footsteps sounded from outside the class. The one who entered was not Roy Sir, our Physics Master who was supposed to take the first hour, but Lekha Madam, our headmistress.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXrtlPlsSY
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oTv8KoXM3
One thing to say about Lekha Madam is that she is an example for ‘appearances are deceptive.’ A short petite woman who looked as fragile and delicate as glass. But beware anyone who mistook her weak appearance for a lack of authority. With a booming loud voice and an uncanny ability to command, Lekha Madam soon set them straight.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpckd4cfZ6
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRWnrOry8g
“Before class starts, I would like to pass along a message from our manager.” She frowned as if she was taking especially nasty tasting medicine. “As you all might now, the Inspector is waiting to question all members of Jolly’s class. Our manager wants the incident of two weeks ago not mentioned. No matter what kind of questions the Inspector asks.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsqvcepCwt
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiKSD15bIJ
“That…” Before anyone reacted Jenny was on her feet. “That is not something we should hide from the police.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8e6JmLeGC
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBr6dBJ67Z
“Jennifer…”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDWcq3KWHM
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MWD6U1WKn
“What he insists is hardly fair. We can’t conceal the truth.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wMxH5DTfZ
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu1ZCFpPml
“Jennifer…”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcORZeWxvy
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFMpGbZEsn
“What is he so afraid of? Did you ask him that? Is he afraid of…”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkhQLwFkmF
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWDrrulOTR
“JENNIFER!”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Cje2FFKqv
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipqN20ceKT
Jennifer gasped, looked here and there. “I…”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlrgnRJI7e
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwOiA7GrkJ
“Jenny…” Lekha Madam said kindly. “I understand your feelings but…I advise you not to get into trouble.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92ySLuF6lH
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3iee9uVTV
“What has my Dad threatened to do to students not heeding his request?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnVQFp3zed
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtvz0PAmA1
“Expulsion. Any student who divulges the information will be expelled.” Lekha Madam’s voice was calm but the voice told me how angry she was. "That is what your father, the manager, said."842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH8KFxTLgS
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPrTYszHxV
A stony silence filled the classroom. I wondered how many of them were making the same decision as me. To hell with any warning! That incident is the first thing the Inspector would hear from me.
To be continued...
ns216.73.216.8da2
