Summary

In the Principal’s office, the teachers “discuss what to do about Bea” (52). The dead, cut-up bird sits on a paper plate in the middle of the desk. The Teacher insists the bird “has been dead for days” and Bea does not need a punishment (52). She demands the Principal let Bea return to class.

Bea chews her gum noisily throughout the Teacher’s lesson. When she snaps the gum so loudly that she scares another student, the Teacher gets upset. She sees it as Bea challenging her. She thought she and Bea had “an unspoken agreement” (52). Now she is unsure if their respect is mutual. She is supposed to be the only one who can reach Bea.

Bea does not attend class for four days. The Teacher feels worthless, though she knows “she shouldn’t” (52).

The Teacher wonders if she should not have...