12. I’m Sorry

Chapter 12 I'm Sorry Marvin tapped the red post—for luck—then bravely walked to school. He entered his classroom. Mrs. North wasn't there. "Have you talked to Mrs. North yet?" asked Casey. "What are you going to say to her?" Marvin shrugged. "Man, I can't believe you're here," said Clarence. "If I were you, I'd be in Mexico." No one got close to him, not even Nick or Stuart. No one wanted to be seen with him when Mrs. North walked in. The bell rang. Marvin kept his eyes on the door. "She probably can't stop crying," said Melanie. "That's

why she's not here." Maybe she never came home, thought Marvin. That's why she never called. Maybe she had such a good time on her trip, she decided to stay forever! Maybe she fell in love with someone. And she's sailing around the world with him. Mrs. North walked through the door. "Good morning, everyone," she said. "It's nice to see you again." She glanced at Marvin, then turned her head away. He looked down at his desk. He thought he saw a flash of hatred in her eyes. "Well, let's see if anyone learned anything while I was gone," she said. "This won't be graded. I just want to see how far you got. Gina." Mrs. North handed a stack of tests to Gina, and Gina passed them out. Marvin set right to work. He didn't dare take his eyes off the paper. Mrs. North was walking around the room. Marvin wasn't looking, but somehow he knew. She was coming toward him. He could feel it in his bones.

The room got very quiet. She was getting closer. He tried to focus on his work. She was right beside him. He could see her shoes.

He closed his eyes. Her cold hand touched the back of his neck. "Come on, Marvin, we need to talk."

He stood up. Every eye in the classroom watched as Mrs. North led him outside. There was dead silence. "I'm sorry," said Mrs. North. "You're sorry?" said Marvin. His legs were shaking. "It was unfair of me to ask you to take care of such an old—" She stopped. "I just didn't want to put him in a kennel. You must have felt awful!" The next thing Marvin knew, Mrs. North was hugging him. "The plane was very late," she said, still hugging him. "Otherwise I would have called you last night. You probably thought I hated you." "Maybe a little," said Marvin. She let go of him. "I spoke to Dr. Charles this morning," she said. "He told me what you did. I'm so glad Waldo had someone like you." Marvin noticed her eyes were wet. "Liver was his favorite," said Mrs. North. "He died happy." She paid him the money she owed him. She gave him twenty-five dollars, as promised.

"I'd like to do something special for you, too," she said. "How about I take you out to lunch this weekend? You pick the restaurant." "Okay," said Marvin. She hugged him again. "He had a good life," she said. They walked back into the classroom. Everyone was watching. And wondering. Marvin kept his head down. Let them wonder, he thought. He sat at his desk and returned to his test. Casey Happleton stared at him. Her ponytail stuck out of the side of her head. Her finger was in her mouth. "Wait, let me get this straight," Nick said at recess. "She's taking you out to lunch because her dog died." "Twenty-five dollars!" said Stuart. "And he only had to take care of the dog for five days instead of seven." "What restaurant are you going to choose?" asked Nick. Marvin shrugged. "Man, you're so lucky," said Nick. "It's unfair. Some people have all the luck."