TEARS OF CHAGRIN FILLED GERALD'S ALREADY HE HAD MADE A FOOL OF HIMSELF BEFORE HIS NEW CLASSMATES!

EYES.

MEANWHILE, MISS LOUISE FLOUNCED OUT OF THE ROOM. OH, HOW HE WANTED TO RUN AFTER HER. INSTEAD, HE REMAINED THERE MEEKLY, WAITING FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS FROM MISS NATALIE.

01

"LET ME SEE SHE MUSED, GLANCING ABOUT THE ROOM. "AH, YES THERE IS AN EMPTY SEAT NEXT TO MISS JANIE, I BELIEVE,"

000

SHE LOOKED TOWARD THE PERSON SHE HAD REFERRED TO, AND MISS JANIE QUICKLY ROSE TO HER FEET FOR GERALD'S BENEFIT IN LOCATING HER.

"THAT WILL BE YOUR SEAT, MISS GERALDINE. YOU WILL TAKE IT, PLEASE!" SHE SAID.

GERALD KEPT HIS EYES ON THE FLOOR AS HE MINCED SWISHINGLY TO THE DESIGNATED SEAT, THEN SAT DOWN. MISS NATALIE RETURNED TO HER TEACHING OF THE LESSON.

"HI, GERALDINE!" JANIE WHISPERED, REACHING OUT TO TOUCH HIS HAND.

"HI" HE REPLIED, BUT WITHOUT MUCH

ENTHUSIASM.

44

MISS NATALIE TAPPED ON HER DESK WITH A RULER AND SPOKE UP SHARPLY. "MISS JANIE, YOU KNOW WE DO NOT ALLOW WHISPERING DURING CLASS. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM IT!"

"I'M SORRY," JANIE REPLIED. NOT HAPPEN AGAIN." 00

"IT WILL

"VERY WELL, SEE THAT YOU REMEMBER IT. OTHERWISE, I SHALL HAVE TO REPORT YOU FOR DISCIPLINING," MISS NATALIE SAID.

"YES, MA'AM," REPLIED JANIE.

GERALD'S THOUGHTS WERE FARE REMOVED FROM THE HISTORY LESSON MISS NATALIE WAS TEACHING AT THE MOMENT. HE SAT SILENT AND DEMURE DURING THE REST OF THE CLASS PERIOD, WONDERING HOW MANY OF THE OTHER GIRLS HAD DISCERNED THAT HE WAS MERELY A PETTICOATED

ΒΟΥ.

AT LONG LAST, A BELL SOUNDED, AND MISS NATALIE ANNOUNCED THAT CLASS WAS DISMISSED AND INSTANTLY GERALD FOUND HIMSELF SURROUNDED BY CHATTERING GIRLS.

THEY QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT WHERE HE LIVED, WHAT SCHOOL HE HAD ATTENDED SO FAR IN THE TERM, WHETHER HE WAS A BOARDING PUPIL OR A DAY PUPIL, AND WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD A BOYFRIEND.

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