M
olly and I were late for a student council meeting. She had hurriedly tried to finish a can of pop before we ran down the hallway. Just as we rounded the corner, she let out a huge belch, and we both fell into Twig’s room laughing.
Twig is Mr. John Terwilliger. He teaches history and is Smith’s fault. It is my fault. I don’t deserve this job.” easily our favorite teacher. He is the only teacher with a Then he sat down. Ph.D., and everyone says he should be a college professor. “No,” said Kame, her voice slowly rising.“You are a great But he says that would be too easy. He makes history teacher. You taught us more than anybody. So what if you come alive in class. His lectures are as gripping as movies. weren’t in Vietnam? You didn’t hurt anybody. We can just Molly and I fell into the room like we were crashing a forget about this.” funeral. Our council mates were seated in the front row, Twig grimaced and looked at his shoes. Mr. Smith said, and Mr. Smith, the school “It’s not that simple. We superintendent, was sitting have a code of ethics. This awkwardly in a folding clearly violates the ethics.” chair next to Twig’s desk. “That’s stupid!” glared Jason looked angry, and Kame, punching the air. Kame was crying. Twig sat “You’re going to fire him slumped behind his desk. It just because he looked as though he exaggerated? Because he hadn’t slept in days. told a few fanciful stories I felt a chill and saw to some kids? He taught from the corner of my us. He made us love eye that the color had history. He inspired us.” drained from Molly’s “It’s not . . .” Smith face. She beat me to the began, but Twig cut him punch as she croaked out, off with a gesture. “What’s going on?” “I am not being fired. I “Have a seat, girls. I have am being suspended . . . for some news,”Twig said. We one year . . . without pay. sat down, but before Twig And I am not protesting.” could say anything, Kame Kame started to speak but blurted out,“This isn’t fair.” Twig stopped her.“Listen, Twig started to reply, Kame, this is a generous but Jason interrupted.“I’ll offer. I committed a terrible tell you what’s going on. breach of trust. Mr. Smith Twig is a liar.” Jason stood and the administration are up and started slamming doing the right thing for his books into his bag. He me and for you.” went on,“He wasn’t in “But why?” I asked. I was By Kathy Luder Vietnam. He didn’t march in shock. My mind was with Martin Luther King. He reeling.“This doesn’t make made that stuff up.” He sense.Why did you tell us hoisted his bag to his stuff like that?” shoulder and twisted “I don’t know,”Twig said around to fix Twig with a steely gaze.“He probably made quietly, rubbing his eyes. He looked out the window,“I everything up,” he said. Then he headed for the door. guess I wanted you to like me.” “Wait,” said Twig, standing up also and stepping toward I felt myself grow angry and surprised myself when I Jason.“I’m sorry. Please hear me out.” slapped my desk. Molly jumped in her seat. All eyes were Jason stopped. Twig gestured for him to sit back down. on me. I said,“But we loved you! Wanting us to like you is Jason fell into a chair by the door, pouting. totally stupid.”Then quietly,“I just don’t get it. Why would Twig took a deep breath, looked at the ceiling, and you lie to us?” said,“I’ve hurt you. I lied, and I’m sorry. This is not Mr. Twig looked right at me. I could see tears in his eyes. He
Dead White Guys Their Lies
H I G H E R
T H I N G S __ 18
