Another Life Altogether: A Novel - By Elaine Beale Page 0,174

ridiculous fantasies of rescuing her she really had needed to escape. Now she had left with a stupid, horrible bully. I just hoped that Stan treated her better than her father had. My only consolation was that at least she’d left before she could learn about my letters, that I wouldn’t have to see her turn around and hate me like almost everyone else. I could still hold on to her warmth, the kindness of her smile.

“I don’t know if I’m all right,” I said to Malcolm. “But I think I feel strong.”

“You should,” he said.

“I should?”

“Yeah. I mean, the sea ate a whole bloody cliff, but you, it spat you back up.”

“JESSE, CAN I SEE you for a minute?” Ms. Hastings said.

It was the end of her lesson, and though I was itching to leave now that the school bell had sounded I’d rather enjoyed sitting in the back of the classroom between Malcolm and Dizzy, while the class talked about Lord of the Flies. I’d even raised my hand and made my own comment during the discussion, and, despite scornful looks from Tracey and the Debbies, I liked what I said. Now, though, with Ms. Hastings looking at me solemnly and asking me to stay behind, it was obvious that I must have done something wrong.

“I’m not quite sure how to say this, Jesse,” she said as soon as she’d closed the classroom door after the last student. I dropped my eyes to the scuffed-up floor. “It’s just that I’m very surprised at you. Shocked, really.” She was standing a few feet away from me. I could see her big leather boots and the jagged hem of her pale cotton skirt. “You see, I took down those letters you wrote that someone put on the school notice board.”

My stomach plummeted. I was suddenly hot. I focused on Ms. Hastings’s boots.

“I know they were private, Jesse. And I’m sorry that they were stolen from you, but I have to confess that I ended up reading those letters myself.”

I wanted to dissolve into the floor.

“Like I said, I was very shocked. Jesse,” she continued, taking a step closer so that her boots and skirt filled my vision. “What you wrote, it was remarkable. Beautifully written. I’ve never seen you produce anything like that in my lessons. If I didn’t know your handwriting, I might not have believed those letters were written by the same girl.”

I let my gaze flicker upward, so that my eyes rested on the bright stripes that zigzagged across Ms. Hastings’s blouse.

“Young woman, you really are quite a talented writer.” She paused, and when I lifted my eyes to her face she was looking at me intently. “Do you realize that?”

I knew that she expected an answer, but I was flabbergasted. Those letters were nothing more than my absurd imaginings. They were ridiculous. Everyone at Liston Comprehensive thought so.

“I’m perfectly serious about this, Jesse Bennett. I’m not sure why you’ve been handing in such mediocre work in my lessons when you’re clearly capable of so much more. But I won’t stand for it any longer. Really, young woman, if you can produce such wonderful stories outside my lessons I don’t see why you can’t start doing the same here. Am I making myself clear?” She folded her arms across her chest.

“Yes, Ms. Hastings.” I studied her face. She was completely serious. She really thought my writing was good.

“Good. I’m glad we understand each other.” Then she turned away from me and walked over to her desk, where she picked up a sheaf of creased paper. “I believe these are yours,” she said, returning the little stack to me.

It wasn’t all of my letters to Amanda, but from its weight I guessed it was a good portion of them. “Thank you,” I said, taking them from her tentatively.

“That’s all, Jesse. Now go on—I know your friends are waiting for you.” She tipped her head toward the little window in the door. Malcolm’s and Dizzy’s heads were bobbing about as they peered through the glass.

“Yes, Ms. Hastings,” I said, my body surprisingly light as I turned toward my desk, gathered my things, and hastened across the classroom. As I put my hand on the door handle, she called to me.

“Jesse.”

I turned around.

“There’s nothing wrong with what you said in those letters. Nothing you should feel ashamed of. No matter what anyone else says, Jesse, I want you to know that.”

For a moment, I looked at her. Hands planted firmly