Francine tried to hug her, but Nova pulled away. She did not enjoy hugging. Francine made a sad sound, like a sigh, and Nova wasn’t sure why but it made her feel bad, so she handed Francine NASA Bear.

“Na-ah Beah bebba,” she said. She meant “NASA Bear makes everything better.”

“I don’t understand,” said Francine, looking pained. “But I love that you’re talking! Can you tell me again?”

“Mm,” said Nova. She meant no.

Outside, a fat gray squirrel whipped his way up a leafless tree. Nova gasped. What was the squirrel doing out in this cold weather? She crawled on top of the desk to see him better. He seemed to sense her. He stopped on a low, bare branch and stared back at her, tail twitching.

“Guuhhhh,” said Nova, slapping her palm against the window. She wanted to ask why he was out in such cold, but the words would not come out. “Guuhhhhggguhh!”

“Get down, please, Nova,” coaxed Billy. When she didn’t respond, he put his arms around her waist and removed her from the table, which she did not like. She pulled away.

“We don’t sit on tables,” Francine admonished, friendly but firm. “You know that.”

Nova glanced back at the window. The squirrel was gone.

Now she felt sad. She needed NASA Bear. She looked down at her arms, then at the desk. Where was he? She looked at Francine and Billy. Oh! There! Francine was still holding him. With a screech, Nova grabbed one of his legs and yanked him roughly away, hugging him to her chest.

“Are you okay?” asked Francine.

“Mm,” she answered, but it was not a yes or no sound. She meant “Mine.”

“Nova?” asked Billy. He reached for her. She backed away, certain he would hit her for screaming. But she would not let him. Instead, she hit herself, one-two-three-four times in the side of the head with her free palm.

Gently, Francine took her hitting hand and lowered it. She guided Nova’s chin with her thumb. Nova let herself make eye contact with Francine for a second. She did not see anger there, but the feeling of looking right at Francine was intense anyway. Nova wanted to say she was sorry, even though she wasn’t sure why she should be. It simply seemed like the sort of thing kids said when adults started staring at them.

“It’s okay, Nova,” said Francine softly. “Everything’s okay.”

Nova, feeling calmer, glanced around the classroom. Her gaze settled on the list of rules posted by the teacher’s desk.

Quiet Voice

Calm Body

Nice Words

Happy Hands

Listening Ears

Respect Property

Help Others

Be Kind

“Is she reading the sign?” asked Principal Dowling. He sounded surprised.

“Just looking,” said Francine pleasantly.

But Francine was wrong.

She was reading the sign.

She’d read the whole list, every single rule.