—HORACE ANDY It’s my first day out of whites and I’m ready to take on whatever’s coming my way, or so I think. Already the day’s been full of drama. I’m not looking forward to the meeting with Nigel, Mickey, and Mrs. Bennett, but it’s inevitable. At least it’s during fourth period, Mrs. Bennett’s planning time. She and the assistant principal are really tight, and he does pretty much whatever she says. Must be nice to have that kind of power when it benefits your cause. It seems unfair that people with more influence can get away with more shit. It’s also unfair that some people can get away with murder—whether literal or metaphorical—and the rest of us have to pay for it. Now I know what it means to be caught up in the matrix. “I’m so glad you could join us, Miss Jackson,” Mrs. Bennett says from her stance next to the vice principal’s desk. “This shouldn’t take long. We wouldn’t want you to waste any more of your precious time.” Why is she so snide with me all the time?
