But today I just sat on the chair and started right in. "Which are smarter? Chimpanzees or orangutans?"
"That’s an interesting question, Clementine," Mrs. Rice said. "Maybe you could ask the science teacher after you’ve told me what you’re doing here."
"Also, I’ve been wondering what the difference is between smashed and crashed."
Mrs. Rice handed me her dictionary.
And then suddenly I didn’t want to know anymore! That is the miracle about dictionaries!
"Well, how about you put it on the floor so you can rest your feet on it instead of kicking my desk?" Principal Rice suggested. "You seem to have very busy feet today."
So I did, and it felt good. "Thank you," I said. "I don’t have any talents."
"Excuse me?" said Principal Rice.
"I don’t have any talents," I said again.
Mrs. Rice looked at me for a long time and then she said, "Oh."
Then I told her I was all done being there and I left.
When I got off the bus, Margaret’s brother, Mitchell, was sitting on the front steps of our apartment building.
"What’s the matter, Clementine?" he asked me right away—I guess my worried face was still on.
I handed him the stupid flyer my teacher had sent home with us.
