OCR Text |
Show 0 J Miss Petrov's voice was full enough to be heard throughout the classroom, yet so soothing that Karl's mind began to wander. The inside air felt hot and still. A fly buzzed against a windowpane, droning in a monotonous hum. As she talked, Miss Petrov moved slowly and gracefully across the front of the room, never very far from Karl. Her beauty settled softly over his dreaming, like a pleasant mist. When he noticed a sheen of perspiration on her upper lip, he unconsciously licked his own lip, tasting salt. The door banged open when Miss Croft arrived to teach penmanship. Karl jerked awake, frowning irritably at Miss Croft. During the rest of the afternoon, he drowned in boredom while teachers who seemed old and drab in contrast to Miss Petrov taught penmanship, elocution, and American history. He longed for the final bell, eager and a little nervous because Miss Petrov wanted him to stay after school Five minutes after the bell sounded, Miss Petrov returned to the classroom, which was empty except for Karl. For an instant she seemed surprised to see him, but then she said, "Oh yes, Karl Kerner. I asked you to remain, didn't I?" He nodded, hurt that she'd forgotten the meeting he'd anticipated for two hours and forty-three minutes by the dragging classroom clock. "Sit for a minute, Karl," she told him, "while I find the book I'm looking for. Here it is. It occurred to me, when I read the paper you wrote...first, let me ask you. Had you ever read any of the Shakespearean sonnets before today?" "No, ma'am." |