She didn’t look surprised, didn’t offer a protest or an exclamation. She just said, “Why don’t I get you a chair, Rashid? This room is free for a little while.”

She did that and he sat and she looked at the papers carefully, comparing, chewing her lip. She pushed her hair behind her ear once. Rashid stared out the window when he wasn’t looking at her. Finally she spoke.

“I think you’re right, Rashid. Josh’s test isn’t that much better than yours. I think we need to speak to Mr. Washington about this.” She paused, leaned her elbow on the desk and her head on her hand, closing her eyes for a minute. “And to Mr. Fox.” She lifted her head and looked straight into his eyes, took his hand. Her skin was dry and thin; he could feel the large bones underneath. “I’ll help you.” They sat like that for a long time.

By the time he was done talking with her, the school day was over. They had decided to speak to Mr. Fox the next day and set up a meeting with him and with Washington. Rashid felt curiously empty now that it was done, although his stomach still jumped around a bit, nervously. He went outside, thinking only of getting some fresh air, no particular plan in mind. He swung along the road to the barn and the cross-country field on his crutches, enjoying the cold crispness of the air. His armpits hurt—there was still another week before he’d be off the crutches, and he couldn’t wait. Almost before he knew it, he had walked all the way out to where the cross-country team practiced. He saw Washington standing with a stopwatch, outlined against the blue sky Mr. Sasser standing a few feet away. He could hear the shouts of his former teammates. He suddenly knew he was where he needed to be. He moved closer, close enough for Washington to hear him. “Hey Mr. Washington.” Almost a shout.

The man looked up, startled, then walked toward the boy warily, the way you might toward a dog you didn’t know. Mr. Sasser watched from a distance. He took a few steps toward them, but Washington gestured him away. “Mr. Bryson, what brings you out here? You can’t serve us very well in your current condition.”

“I know about you.”

“What?”