eep. It had been slipped into my locker between third and fourth period, a folded-up sheet of

uriosity is a powerful thing, especially when you're a high school

stopped me in the hallway. Her eyes, sharp and always searching for somethin

avis?" she asked, he

. Albright.

out her hand, palm

pocket and handed it over. She unfolded it without a hint of apology, her eyes scanning the lines

en. She just folded it neatly an

turning and walking away, her heels clicking

e long, quiet hall to her office, a tiny part of me felt a strange sense of relief. At least this would

ed on h

n," she

Every award and plaque was perfectly aligned on the wall. She sat be

own, C

pposite her, my hand

ed to make students uncomfortable. Finally, she

c. Overly emotional. Exactly the kind of d

hing. I just star

n a new, more official tone. "I believe this letter presents a perfect teachable

cold. "What

d. For everyone. The parents, the teachers. They need to understand the kind of things t

The room felt like

. "You can't do t

hly. "That makes it a school matter. And I am making i

. I'll take any punishment. Detention, suspension, whatev

y private humiliation private. But I wasn't just think

tting an example." She picked up the letter again, holding it between her thumb and forefinger as if it were contaminated. "An

me straight

letter, you will tell

e demand was so outrageous, so profoundly unfair, that a bitter, hysterical laugh

o thick I could

d so certain in her rigid worldview, ready to make

icly humiliate, the boy whose heartfelt words s

the perfect son of a perfect principal. The boy she held up

r. And she was abo