Chapter 8
The whispers were worse the next day. Jedrick was gone to Armand, and Paris was with Monique, and Charles was quiet and didn’t even try to talk to her. Children weren’t hiding their quick signs of the crosses at her passing; a few of the boys spat on the floor when the teacher wasn’t looking. Jeanne had the sense to know none of this was meant as an insult to her, or to target her. People were afraid.
What had the Auditor said? “When they cannot understand, they hate.”
Ms. Milovskaya was not at her desk when Jeanne came in, so Jeanne left a note on top of a stack of papers:
I will be able to catch up on my geography notes after school, if you are available. Thank you.—Jeanne
When Ms. Milovskaya whirled in, red-faced and fleeing Ms. Roma, and looking about to spit invectives
