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us have learned something today. Zane, why is the book In Cold Blood so important?”
    Crickets were chirping somewhere. “Uh…because…”
    Ms. Pitt tried to help him along. “Because it was a revolutionary event of literature—”
    â€œâ€”that blurred the line between, you know…reality and fiction,” Zane blurted, almost stunning himself. “When Truman Capote wrote it, he used, like, newspaper writing and then he combined it with creative writing, basically.”
    Ms. Pitt raised her eyebrows. “Very good. And how did his writing change because of Harper Lee?”
    â€œWell, we’ll never know. I wasn’t there. Just as Capote wasn’t there the night Perry and Smith killed that family in Holcomb, Kansas.” He sort of smiled, maybe a bit proud. That was it. I was officially in love. I knew he was the sort who had to be coaxed and once they were on a roll, they’d be unstoppable. “But I can imagine that Truman as a…well, let’s just say not a lot of dudes like Truman were showing up much in Kansas. He was pretty flamboyant and I bet having Harper with him made the townspeople open up and trust him more. I bet he got a better story because of her.”
    â€œAnd I bet you’re right. Great work, Zane. Okay, Hadley. You’re up next.”
    Soup and Nan spun in their seats and shot daggers my way. I froze in my chair.
    â€œHadley? I said you’re up.” I had no choice. I felt myself walk to the front of the classroom, empty-handed. No oral presentation to cling to and read from. My heart thump-thumped, thump-thumped in my chest.
    â€œWhenever you’re ready…” Ms. Pitt offered.
    Except I wasn’t ready. I was dying! Couldn’t she see that?
    Ms. Pitt cleared her throat as if to say “begin already.”
    I cleared my throat in response. And gulped. I had to begin. “So, uh… To Kill a Mockingbird . Great book. Harper Lee knows how to write a book. And she did write one. Which is the one we read.” I just knew it, I couldn’t put any thoughts together. My head was swirling.
    Nan and Soup shared a look and I knew this was going to be as bad as I thought. Ms. Pitt leaned in, concerned.
    â€œSo the book…the book was,” I heard myself say. Was that even a sentence? “ To Kill a Mockingbird . I mentioned that…is about this girl. I mean it is and it isn’t. There’s also a trial, so…” The room was getting fuzzy.
    â€œHadley, isn’t your topic about how race impacts justice?” Ms. Pitt said.
    I just nodded vaguely.
    â€œWould you like to talk about that, then?”
    Zane was wincing while he watched me, as if he was sucking on lemons. Focus, focus, focus, you idiot! Think of something!
    â€œUm…yeah. So O. J. Simpson…?”
    â€œWhat about him?”
    â€œHe, uh…well, you know…I have no idea,” I mumbled. This was more pronounced than any otherpanic attack I’d ever had. I was defenseless and mute.
    â€œHadley, I need to speak to you in the hallway.” Ms. Pitt trotted out of the class into the hall and I had no choice but to follow.
    I had never hated a Monday more in my entire life.

CHAPTER 5
    â€œHadley. This is so unlike you,” Ms. Pitt stated the obvious.
    All I could do was look down, humiliated. I had never ever in my life been called into the hall by a teacher.
    â€œI know it’s unlike me. I tried to tell you before!” was my only defense.
    â€œOkay, so tell me now. I’m listening.” Ms. Pitt gave me her best “I-really-get-you” eyes. Which only made me know how much she didn’t get me.
    â€œI switched to this Super Student Planner Plus organizer thing and I guess I spaced on writing down the date. I’m so, so sorry, but I forgot.”
    Ms. Pitt’s eyes grew like saucers. “ You forgot?”
    All I could do was nod yes. “Maybe I could