One-Cut Queen

ng and Sarah was just a few people behind me. As I got closer to the counter,

lies the school. He said the athletic boosters are giving Ms. Patty kickbacks. That's w

hind me, I could feel Sarah le

usual-and walked away. I had plant

verywhere. It was in the hallways, the bathrooms, the locke

reassigned." The new cafeteria manager was a nervous man who used a m

A small one, but it felt huge.

ctory had

eared on my locker. "See me

ed, tired-looking man, but he was one of the few adults a

ternoon. The room was cluttered

he cafeteria rumor, Eli.

wer. I just

that's not why I called you in." He leaned forward. "I was helping a teacher

x across the desk

an cold. I

running away," he said

ure, for the phone call to m

. "Running away, you'll end up on the streets. You'r

at him,

you an adult in the eyes of the law. You could live on your

lt in years, flickered insid

grades, and with the situation at home.