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Mr. Gorf’s nose lay on the floor. Miss Mush picked it up and put it in her apron pocket. “It will go good in spaghetti sauce,” she said.
Soon all the children had their real voices back. Rondi and Joe called their mothers on Mr. Gorf’s portable phone and told them they loved them.
While far away, in a small village in Scotland, a man who hadn’t spoken for twenty years turned to his wife and said, “Top of the morning to you, Tilly.”
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Chapter 13
The New Teacher
The new teacher entered the classroom carrying a big blue notebook stuffed with papers. She had white hair and wore glasses. She was a lot older than anyone else in the class.
She took a big breath. “My, it’s tiring walking up all those stairs, isn’t it?” she said.
Nobody said anything. They just stared at her.
She set her notebook on the teacher’s desk. “My name is Mrs. Drazil,” she said. “And I’m not from Brazil.” She smiled at her little joke.
Nobody else smiled. After Mrs. and Mr. Gorf, they didn’t trust teachers.
Drazil, thought Deedee. Where have I heard that name before?
“Where are you from?” asked Leslie.
“Actually, I was born not too far from here,” said Mrs. Drazil.
“Then why’d you say you came from Brazil?” asked Benjamin.
“No, I said I wasn’t from Brazil,” said Mrs. Drazil.
“Have you ever been to Brazil?” asked Eric Fry.
“No,” explained Mrs. Drazil. “It was just a little joke. Brazil rhymes with Drazil. I thought it might help you remember my name.”
Terrence laughed. “Drazil — Brazil!” he shouted. “That’s funny!”
Several other kids laughed too.
But not Deedee. She had heard of Mrs. Drazil somewhere. She was sure of it. And whatever she had heard, she was sure it wasn’t good.
“What’s a Brazil?” asked Eric Ovens.
“Brazil is the largest country in South America,” said Mrs. Drazil.
“Oh,” said Eric Ovens. “I thought it was one of those things that, you know, women wear, you know, on their bosom.”
Several kids laughed.
“No, that’s a brassiere,” said Mrs. Drazil.
There was more laughter.
Stephen was shocked. “She said ‘brassiere’!” he whispered. “Right in class!”
“I know, I heard her!” said Jason.
But Deedee still didn’t trust her, even if she did say “brassiere” right out loud.
