Read Online Desire in Any Language by Anastasia Vitsky - Free Book Online

report, signed by Lee Sonsengnim and the other teachers saying that my work and attendance have been acceptable for the past week.  I offer it to her with a silent plea.  She takes it from me and pushes her glasses up her nose to read the brief notes.
    “Acceptable,” she reads out loud.  She turns back to me.  “I know you’re trying, Mira, but this isn’t going to be enough.” 
    I bristle at her words.  “I’ve done all of my homework and it’s only been a week and…”
    She stops me.  “We’re almost halfway through the term already.  You lost your chance for the scholarship this month, you’ve missed most of a day, and your homework hasn’t been turned in.  Mira, you should have been off probation ages ago.  I thought just the threat would be enough.”
    If it weren’t for the other teachers chatting nearby, the silence would be deafening.  It’s not fair , I want to say.  I can’t fix everything all at once, and you’re the one who said it would be all right .  I have a feeling, though, that these are the thoughts of the Mira who got into this mess in the first place.  What would a Mira say who wanted to get out of her mess?
    I choose my words carefully.  “I know I have a lot to make up, but I don’t know what more I can do.  I don’t want to be on probation any more, either.”
    “Do you know what it means if you are on permanent probation?”
    I shake my head.  I don’t think “very bad things” is the answer she wants.
    “All of your teachers, especially Lee Sonsengnim and I, will need to fill out extensive paperwork at the end of the term evaluating whether you should be allowed to continue.  The school disciplinary committee will meet and review your file.  Also, if at any time during the permanent probation your work is unsatisfactory, you will be dismissed at Director Choi’s discretion.”
    I gulp.  I most definitely did not know that.  She leans forward, tapping her pen against the cover of my notebook for emphasis.
    “Mira, if that happens there is nothing I can do.  We need you off temporary probation immediately, and unless your midterm scores are high enough I can’t justify that decision to Lee Sonsengnim or Director Choi.”
    I pick at a blister on my palm.  I thought today she would be happy that I had a good report and happy that I did so much work on my translation.  I thought everything would be wonderful after our lunch and new understanding.  Didn’t she say I could call her Oni?  She’s being even sterner than Lee Sonsengnim, and that’s saying something. 
    I work very hard to keep my voice respectful.  “The listening is really hard.  It’s always too fast, and the recordings are fuzzy.”
    “Mira…”
    “And the history.  There’s just so much!  I try to read extra stuff online in English to fill in what I can’t understand, but then I don’t know how to translate it back and the questions are always really hard.  You know I’m good at the reading, and even if my translation isn’t great it’s getting better.”
    She puts a hand over my fingers digging into the palm of my hand.
    “Mira, I’m trying to help.”
    It doesn’t feel like it at the moment, even though I know she is right.  Exams are only two weeks away. 
    “How are we going to do this?”  She asks the question I can’t answer, at least until I realize that she has again said “we” instead of “you”. 
    “We?” I ask her.  She nods. 
    “Can we look at my translation first?  Please?  I spent all night on it yesterday.” 
    She starts to say something, but I interrupt.
    “Then I’ll talk about it, I promise.  But I really want to show you my translation.”
    She sighs but nods in agreement.  “Very well,” she says, uncapping her red pen.  “Let’s have it.”
    I open my notebook to the last page and show her my translation.  As she reads it, she starts to laugh.
    “Mira, you can’t say ‘abduct’ when the original word means