


I don’t try to be a jerk, but as the school hallways clear out and the parking lot empties, it becomes more and more unfair that I’m the only student kept after. Skinner keeps tracing a circle on his desk pad. When she does, I start swinging my leg again, not banging my shoe this time but still swinging. Mitchell avoids my eyes and I keep staring until she looks at me. It’s easy to tell when adults don’t like you.

This is the second time I’ve been in here in the past two weeks. This school is allowed to do that, with parent permission, even to fourth graders. The principal stares at me from across his desk with my teacher, Mrs. I flick my eyes up and immediately stop kicking my foot into my chair.
