Read Online The Castle Cross the Magnet Carter by Kia Corthron - Free Book Online

the same. Nick and Megan are kind, trying to be ungloating winners. One of their nun teachers, an old woman, gives me dirty looks. A young nun smiles brightly at me. Mr. Hickory is giving Lucille some encouraging conciliatory words. He turns to me but before he can say anything, the principal calls him over, and he indicates for me to wait until he returns. Where’s my mother?
    â€œThat was great!” It’s some kid, maybe a couple of years older. Dark hair, tall, wiry. “I didn’t understand half of what yaw said, but you sure sounded smart!” He offers his hand. “I’m Francis Veter. I used to go here, graduated sixt grade few years ago.” We shake. “I saw your picture in the paper and I came. I must say I am thoroughly impressed!” Everybody in the St. Mary’s circle is praying now. Gratitude. Wonder if they’d be praying if God had lost it for them.
    Lucille’s parents are comforting her. She wipes her eyes, trying to do everything not to burst into tears but it’s coming. She hasn’t even looked at me since my rebuttal. Her mother is also heavy, her father tall and comparably slim. The way she is with him, I’m sure Henry Lee made up that whole thing about the two of them.
    â€œHey Randall.” I turn around. Francis Veter is still standing there. “I saw you. Before.” He winks, like some secret between us. I have no idea what he’s talking about.
    I look over at Mr. Westerly who seems to be ranting to Mr. Hickory. They steal glances at me. When Mr. Westerly notices I am looking back, he turns away. I head fast for the exit.
    The air out on the football field is chilly but I barely notice, bawling on the sidelines thirty minutes straight. In the distance some boys running cross-country. Monday I could have been some kind of school hero but instead I’ll once again be the dunce. None of them gave a damn about the debate but they’ll use it, just another excuse to get me, act like they hate me, like they’re so disappointed about the blamed competition but for truth they’ll love it, all the more reason to pull my chair out from under me, to flick at my ears when the teacher’s back’s turned flick my ears till they’re blood red, my face blood red and I’ll pretend it doesn’t bother me I’ll shoot myself, I should just shoot myself, my father hasn’t hunted in ages but still gotta be bullets in that shotgun I could go into Pa’s work shed and get that shotgun and blow my brains out blam and I am soothed by the image, my brains and blood splattered all over the walls. There’s one of my eyes, there a piece of my nose. I’m peering close to figure out if that pink spot is from my tongue or my lip when I see Mr. Hickory walking toward me with the young nun.
    â€œRandall! I thought I told you to wait for me.” But he’s all smiles.
    â€œI liked your speeches today, Randall,” the young nun says, also glowing.
    â€œRandall, this is Sister Gabriel. Math teacher.”
    â€œAnd I really, really liked your rebuttal.” She holds out her hand, and we shake. “Excellent work.”
    â€œIt sure was.”
    â€œIf I were the judge, I guess I would have had to vote against my own school.” With that, Sister Gabriel leaves.
    â€œThat was some rebuttal, Mr. Evans.”
    I look at him. I don’t know what to say. I’m afraid anything I say might turn on the sobs again.
    â€œListen. People don’t wanna hear what you said. I didn’t wanna hear what you said. But if the panel voted fair, who made the stronger case and not just who said the safe things, you young man would have easily given St. Mary’s their first loss of the season.” He touches my arm, giving it a warm squeeze. “I sure hope you’re considering law school.”
    Nobody’s home except my father grousing about no supper on the stove. “Probably took him