Jenny looked up and decided to erase the last line and replace it with something else。 Ms。 Crumb
might get offended； since she obviously had some kind of ear…cleaning fetish。
But instead of writing something else to replace the ear…cleaning line； Jenny？s mind wandered
back to her e…mail。 She？d been checking it regularly； just like Blair had told her to； however； the
only messages she？d gotten had been jokey ones from Elise and her brother； telling her to stop
checking her e…mail and get back to her homework。 She glanced at Elise； who was scribbling away；
already on her second page。 Jenny wished she had Dan？s knack for the written word。 She was
better at detailed drawings and painting and calligraphy。
At the top of the page she drew an elaborate drawing of Elise？s ear and the side of her face；
hoping she？d score points for being artistic； even if her essay sucked。 Her mind wandered again；
to the blond boy she？d spotted in Bendel？s。 Was he artistic； too？
The bell rang to mark the end of last period and Ms。 Crumb stood up and brushed chalk dust
from her dark gray wool pinafore dress that looked like it had been made by nuns somewhere cold
and fashionless； like Greenland。
？Time？s up； ladies。 Pencils down。 You can hand in your papers as you leave。？ She tucked her
maroon…stockinged feet into a pair of black felt L。L。 Bean clogs。 ？Happy Thursday afternoon！？
？So what？d you write about？？ Jenny asked Elise after they had packed up their book bags and
were on their way out the school doors。
？None of your business；？ Elise answered； blushing。
？Don？t think I？m never going to find out。 You？ll probably have to read it out loud on Monday；？
Jenny