Page 105 - The Mending Season

the principal came, I would be prepared to give my statement. Yes, I had been there. Yes, I had been playing. I did acciden­ tally bump into Beth. Our heads did knock against each other. We were both a bit dizzy. Yes, I was right behind her when she said it. No, not “it”, she had said “kaffir”. No, she did not say it to my face, but she was referring to me.Worries about my accent alternately faded and resurfaced, depending on whether or not I imagined speaking in front of my whole class. It was possible that Mrs Allison would take me outside and question me. I nodded at my desk, telling myselfI was prepared. Girls whispered all around me. Would there have to be a statement from the whole class? Would Veronica be asked back to the principals office? Would the netball teacher speak to the newspaper?Veronica did not say anything. I turned to see a note being passed to her from Marianne. I looked as Veronica unfolded the piece ofpaper and put it on her desk so that I could read it too. “Is your mom coming?”the note asked. Without think­ ing about it, she took her pen and wrote “NO”. She re-traced the pen over the letters to make them look bolder and then sent it back through the same chain of girls until it reached Marianne. Marianne opened it, read it, then looked at Veronica and moved her lips, “Why?”Veronica took another piece of paper and wrote “SHE WORKS!!!!”She sent the note back. Just at that moment, the principal entered the classroom.“Good morning, Mrs Tanner, I just wanted to have a word with the Standard Sixes for a moment, please.”I was still taking deep breaths, ready to speak when my turn came.“Ofcourse,”said Mrs Tanner and sat down at her desk. The principal glanced at her as if she might ask her to leave but apparently decided against it. Trish once said that while the105