Read Online Window Boy by Andrea White - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andrea White
Tags: Window Boy
Ads: Link
trying to work out the lineup for the game,” Charlie explains.
“Don’t ever let me catch you passing a note again, all right?” Mrs. Martin says.
“Yes, ma’am,” Charlie says. He is so tall that he barely fits behind his desk. Sam has overheard Charlie say that he is already thirteen.
Mrs. Martin returns to the front of the class and clears her throat. “Boys, Mr. Fitzpatrick told me that there is a Tomcats game this afternoon.”
The boys cheer.
Sam wants to join in, but he’s too self-conscious about his voice.
Mrs. Martin scowls at them. “But if I catch anyone else not paying attention, the whole class will have to stay inside during recess.”
Bobby groans. Charlie presses his lips together as if to prevent a sound escaping from them.
“Now, take out your notebooks,” Mrs. Martin orders. “In preparation for a national essay contest, we’re going to start a short unit on World War II.”
Sam loves studying World War II. Even better, after school, he’s looking forward to watching the Tomcats play.
Mrs. Martin writes on the blackboard: “Pearl Harbor.” She begins talking. “World War II started when Japan bombed the United States on December 7, 1941.”
Sam can’t believe his ears.
He knows that the United States entered the war on December 7, 1941. But he also knows that World War II began long before that. On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. Soon afterwards, Churchill became the prime minister of England. After France was defeated, England, led by Churchill, battled the Nazis alone. What about the Battle of Britain, Mrs. Martin? Sam wants to cry. You’re leaving out many important events.
“Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin were known during the war as the Big Three,” Sam hears Mrs. Martin continue. “All of these men were great leaders, but Roosevelt was the most powerful and important.”
Roosevelt? Sam likes Roosevelt. After all, Roosevelt used a wheel-chair. But his teacher’s statement totally overlooks Winnie’s heroism as Britain fought on alone, waiting, hoping, and praying for the U.S. to enter the war. Sam wants to remind Mrs. Martin of the great speech Winnie made when England was so unprepared and under-equipped to fight Hitler. He hears Winnie’s gravelly voice: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” 10
How can Mrs. Martin be saying these things? When Sam has choked down enough outrage to be able to listen, he hears Mrs. Martin say, “Eisenhower chose June 6, 1944, as D-Day. D-Day took the Germans by surprise.”
What about Winnie, Mrs. Martin? Sam thinks.
Mrs. Martin picks up a piece of chalk and begins writing.
“So now write down the names and dates on the blackboard:”
December 7, 1941
June 6, 1944
September 2, 1945
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Pearl Harbor
In her ten-minute lecture, Mrs. Martin has managed to com- pletely overlook Winnie. Sam must defend his hero. But what to say? He considers the words that he has practiced speaking out loud most often: Mother, window, school, food, fan, hello, sad…
Then, some random words that Miss Perkins and he had worked on pronouncing: dictator, trapped, ocean, potato, Peter…None of the words fit. Mrs. Martin goes on to explain the Pacific theatre of the war.
In the middle of her description of Hiroshima, Sam finally opens his mouth. He doesn’t even try to speak softly. He bursts forth with the only word that he has mastered that has even a slight application to her lecture:
“NNNNo.” It sounds harsh, guttural, even to his own ears.
Mrs. Martin jumps. The kids all stare at him, their eyes bugged in horror. Yet, he’s so intent on righting the wrong that he doesn’t even feel ashamed.
Mrs. Martin puts her hands on her hips and turns toward Sam. “What did you say?”
“NNNo,” Sam repeats.
“I told you guys that he talks a lot,” Ann says. “But you wouldn’t believe me.”
“He sounds Russian,” Sam overhears A.J. Douglas say.
“Don’t ever let me catch you passing a note again, all right?” Mrs. Martin says.
“Yes, ma’am,” Charlie says. He is so tall that he barely fits behind his desk. Sam has overheard Charlie say that he is already thirteen.
Mrs. Martin returns to the front of the class and clears her throat. “Boys, Mr. Fitzpatrick told me that there is a Tomcats game this afternoon.”
The boys cheer.
Sam wants to join in, but he’s too self-conscious about his voice.
Mrs. Martin scowls at them. “But if I catch anyone else not paying attention, the whole class will have to stay inside during recess.”
Bobby groans. Charlie presses his lips together as if to prevent a sound escaping from them.
“Now, take out your notebooks,” Mrs. Martin orders. “In preparation for a national essay contest, we’re going to start a short unit on World War II.”
Sam loves studying World War II. Even better, after school, he’s looking forward to watching the Tomcats play.
Mrs. Martin writes on the blackboard: “Pearl Harbor.” She begins talking. “World War II started when Japan bombed the United States on December 7, 1941.”
Sam can’t believe his ears.
He knows that the United States entered the war on December 7, 1941. But he also knows that World War II began long before that. On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. Soon afterwards, Churchill became the prime minister of England. After France was defeated, England, led by Churchill, battled the Nazis alone. What about the Battle of Britain, Mrs. Martin? Sam wants to cry. You’re leaving out many important events.
“Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin were known during the war as the Big Three,” Sam hears Mrs. Martin continue. “All of these men were great leaders, but Roosevelt was the most powerful and important.”
Roosevelt? Sam likes Roosevelt. After all, Roosevelt used a wheel-chair. But his teacher’s statement totally overlooks Winnie’s heroism as Britain fought on alone, waiting, hoping, and praying for the U.S. to enter the war. Sam wants to remind Mrs. Martin of the great speech Winnie made when England was so unprepared and under-equipped to fight Hitler. He hears Winnie’s gravelly voice: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” 10
How can Mrs. Martin be saying these things? When Sam has choked down enough outrage to be able to listen, he hears Mrs. Martin say, “Eisenhower chose June 6, 1944, as D-Day. D-Day took the Germans by surprise.”
What about Winnie, Mrs. Martin? Sam thinks.
Mrs. Martin picks up a piece of chalk and begins writing.
“So now write down the names and dates on the blackboard:”
December 7, 1941
June 6, 1944
September 2, 1945
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Pearl Harbor
In her ten-minute lecture, Mrs. Martin has managed to com- pletely overlook Winnie. Sam must defend his hero. But what to say? He considers the words that he has practiced speaking out loud most often: Mother, window, school, food, fan, hello, sad…
Then, some random words that Miss Perkins and he had worked on pronouncing: dictator, trapped, ocean, potato, Peter…None of the words fit. Mrs. Martin goes on to explain the Pacific theatre of the war.
In the middle of her description of Hiroshima, Sam finally opens his mouth. He doesn’t even try to speak softly. He bursts forth with the only word that he has mastered that has even a slight application to her lecture:
“NNNNo.” It sounds harsh, guttural, even to his own ears.
Mrs. Martin jumps. The kids all stare at him, their eyes bugged in horror. Yet, he’s so intent on righting the wrong that he doesn’t even feel ashamed.
Mrs. Martin puts her hands on her hips and turns toward Sam. “What did you say?”
“NNNo,” Sam repeats.
“I told you guys that he talks a lot,” Ann says. “But you wouldn’t believe me.”
“He sounds Russian,” Sam overhears A.J. Douglas say.
Similar Books
