Chapter 8
Maggie L. Walker Primary School was a squat, ugly building. Gray stone and narrow windows. And practically everyone walked to school. There were only two buses, but Uncle Scooter was walking her to school.
“Next year,” he said easily, “you’ll get t’ take the bus down to the other building, but we’re real close now.”
Billie looked up at the sky. It wasn’t raining today, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t. She was dragging her feet and practically letting her brand new backpack scrape along the ground. The backpack was a gift, supposedly, but Billie didn’t like it. It was pink and ugly and stupid.
She kicked a rock sullenly. “I don’t want to go to school. I’m sad.”
It was only the third day at her new school, but she’d figured that one out right away. The teacher, Miss Ellis, ha
