Her coat, her scarf, and her sweater were all scattered around her on the floor, which was wet from the snow she had brought inside with her.

Atanabi finished unwrapping herself from all her wintry layers. I walked back inside the performance space as Mrs. How I Received My First Surprise of the Day Here this whole time I had assumed that Ximena Chin didn’t even know who I was! And now, it turns out, I’ve been noticed. It’s been noticed? What does that even mean? Noticed by who? Savanna? Ellie? Is that what they say about me? Is that what they were talking about in the lunchroom yesterday, when they were so obviously talking about me that even Maya-who can be so clueless about social stuff-felt sorry for me? Okay, so maybe I am a little nicer to Auggie when teachers are around. I’ve never done anything like that to Auggie! I don’t know!īut even if that were the case, at least I can say I’ve been nice to him! That’s more than most people can say! That’s more than Ximena can say! I still remember that time she was partnered with Auggie in dance class and looked like she was about to throw up. Tushman that I was being a good welcome buddy? Maybe. Is that true? Has it been noticed? I mean, have there been a couple of times when I was being especially nice to Auggie Pullman because I knew it would get back to Mr. You’re nicer to him when you’re in front of teachers.

Is that how other people saw me? Like I was this hypocritical fake or something? Or was that just Ximena being her typical snarky self? I could see out the hallway window that the snow really was coming down hard now, and a part of me just wanted to run outside and ice-skate away. It felt like I’d just gotten slapped in the face. Because I could feel my cheeks burning, like they were on fire. I pretended to drink at the water fountain, but what I really needed to gulp down was air. Ximena and Summer ran up the stairs to help her, but I turned around and walked out to the hallway. She looked like a little snowman as she walked down the stairs carrying four ridiculously full tote bags. “So sorry I’m late, so sorry I’m late!” she announced breathlessly, covered in snow. Atanabi burst into the performance space through the double doors in the back of the auditorium. “It’s been noticed.”īefore I could answer-not that I even knew what I would have answered-Mrs. “You know, you’re nicer to him when you’re in front of teachers,” she said very seriously. She was looking at me with a knowing smile. “I don’t think I would have called him a freak,” I said quietly. “See? You’re being a saint even now,” said Ximena. Tushman hadn’t asked her to be a welcome buddy.” “And I don’t think Charlotte would have called him that, even if Mr. “I’m not a saint,” Summer answered quickly.

Shingaling a wonder story