Chasing William Read Online Free PDF

those. Let’s get a good debate going.
Come on, class!”
    I don’t normally comment in class, and when
I do I never respond after Amanda. There’s this unspoken rule that,
no matter what, we always agree with Amanda and even if you don’t
agree you keep your mouth shut. I realize that’s ridiculous and if
we’re friends it shouldn’t matter but it was just another one of
those things. I really liked this story though. I felt for Gregor,
or I should say I felt like Gregor. Since William died it’s
like I’ve somehow transformed into another person and none of my
old friends want to be around me. Even my parents are treating me
differently. I get Gregor. It makes sense. I don’t feel like I had
something to say very often, but I never pass up a chance when I
do. I don’t want to go against Amanda, though. No one in our group
has ever tried before -- in three years it has never happened – and
I’m not sure I want to be the one to find out what she’d do.
    “Christine? You look like you have something
to say.”
    I’ve made the mistake of looking up from my
textbook and Miss R. chooses that moment to pounce. She is always
on me to speak up more in class, so whenever I look like I had
something to say she calls me out. In her defense, when I look like
I had something to say I usually do.
    “Well, maybe it’s more personal than man and
society. I mean, people change and sometimes when they change in
unexpected ways people start to shun them. I mean, at the very end,
Gregor’s sister starts to transform too, but because everyone
expected that change, it’s implied she won’t go through the same
thing. Like when people talk about the sophomore switch and how
people change in high school and end up finding new friends.”
    “Excellent! And way to tie it into real
life. That makes my job a lot easier.”
    Miss R. walks over to the board and starts
her lecture. I force myself not to look at Amanda, but I can feel
her eyes burning into the side of my head. I’m not sure what I did
that was wrong, but I know it won’t do any good to try and argue
the point with her. It’s hard to pay attention to Miss R. I’m not
sure if other people have this problem but whenever something
happens and people seem mad at me it’s always harder to concentrate
on the rest of life. Miss R. might be talking about Kafka and
themes and reminding us to take notes, but I don’t care. I just
can’t handle anything else right now. I don’t want Amanda to make a
big deal about something so ridiculous because I can’t deal with
any more problems on my own.
    The bell rings for lunch. The moment of
truth.
    “So I guess that was your grad once-a-year
contribution to class discussions?” Amanda’s smiling but I’m not
sure what she’s thinking. It’s hard to tell what people are
thinking in general, but with Amanda it’s even tougher. She doesn’t
follow normal people rules.
    “Yeah, sure.” I smile back and try to act
like it’s not a big deal. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to
act like things aren’t a big deal when you tell yourself to act
like it’s not a big deal?
    “We all know I don’t have that problem.”
This is the point where it could go either way. I’m never sure how
Amanda will respond; it’s like walking on egg shells. I hold my
breath. “I mean, no one would ever accuse me of not being able to
fill a room with hot air.” Amanda laughs and I start breathing
again. She’s having a good day. “Come on, Crissy. Let’s get
lunch.”
    My little group and I have sat at the same
table for lunch every day since we found each other freshman year.
Back then I think we thought it was lucky. Now I think we just
don’t have anywhere else to sit. It could be the losing William
thing, it could be the growing up and not knowing what to do next
thing, but I’m starting to see everything with different eyes. The
table doesn’t seem so safe anymore.
    “Crissy! Amanda!” Mars always seems to be
the first one