After depositing books and papers in their lockers, Faye and her friend Sarah walked the school hallways and ate their lunch. Faye slowly nibbled at her sandwich and sipped juice as they meandered around the circuit of main corridors and talked about school and boys and the pressure they were feeling to get their English essay done. They had already tried the gym, but there were just some boys there trying to play basketball and making rude jokes, so they returned to the hallway. As they rounded the corner to the “back hall”, Faye had to step sideways to avoid a spill of lettuce and croutons on the floor. Today was lasagna and salad day in the cafeteria.
Meeting them were a group of students, four or five grade 11 and 12 boys, and two grade 9 girls. Jeff was laughing loudly and body-checking his friends into the lockers. Faye and Sarah moved to the opposite side and switched to single file, Sarah ahead, Faye behind. The boys barely glanced their way as they passed, but one of the girls spoke to her friend in a half-audible voice, “… at least we have someone to hang out with.”
As they walked on, Faye could hear a teacher behind her:
“Jeff, is that your salad on the floor?”
“No, that wasn’t me … That was Sarah and Faye.”
“Yeah right, Jeff.”
Faye checked her watch. They had almost 15 minutes left. They decided to try the library.
