Anna, her face full of sympathy, hugged me.
"Rover died in his shell," I told her as a tear escaped my eye.
* * *
A few weeks went by before we got word that the judge was ready to deliver his decision.
The air in the courtroom that day was thick with anticipation. I was one of the last people to arrive. Gwen saved a seat for me in the back, which was a good post from which to observe the proceedings.
Brandon wielded his notebook. I assumed Miss Tellsini wanted him to cover the story for the school paper so she could be sure the whole school had a full accounting of how she took care of students who disagreed with her.
After the opening formalities, Judge Silva was ready to render his decision. He leaned forward on the bench. He seemed stately and more personable than he had dur
