Promptly after that, Miss Hummel rang the bell, calling students inside.

She stood at the front of the class, her hands folded in front, surveying the students as they came filing inside.

As soon as all the students were seated, Miss Hummel let her displeasure be known.

She began by stiffly stating, "I hear that I've been delegated to taunting and amusement in a very unkind manner. I had hoped that

we could all be courteous to one another here in our classroom, but I'm beyond discouraged, and disbelieving that that is ever going to

occur-" She glared at the faces that were turned to her.

"It seems-" she began, just as there was a tap tap tap on the side door.

'What timing', is what went thru Charlie's mind at that moment. It was the men from the school board. Charlie recognized Lucy's father,

of course, and then there were three other men that she did not recognize. She was surprised to see Val come in, as well. What was he doing

here?

At first Charlie had been relieved when Miss Hummle was interrupted by the arrival, but then she didn't feel relieved any longer, but

full of dread. What if Miss Hummle told the board about the rhyme?

The men all stood near the front, but off to the side a bit. One of them, a large man who looked as though he was overly warm, spoke

first.

"Good afternoon, Miss Hummle. Good afternoon, children."

Miss Hummle responded, and some of the students did, too, with scattered 'good afternoons' or 'hellos'.

"We've come to visit your classroom," the same man announced.

Miss Hummle looked flustered, disturbed, with spots of color in her cheeks. Charlie wondered if she was surprised by the visit, or

had known about it in advance. She and Rebecca exchanged a glance.

One of the other men asked in a general way, "How are things going? There should be lots of learning going on-"

"I strive for that," Miss Hummel said. Then she gave an angry look over the seated children. "However, it has not been

the case recently. There is blatant disrespect against me by certain students."

"That's certainly a sorrowful thing to hear," the first man said.

Miss Hummle went on, complaining about how the boys acted up, and there were few children who did their lessons promptly or

correctly.

Then she went on to state that she was being tormented, by the erasing of lessons on the board, and tacks left on her chair, and an abominable

song that insulted her. Charlie felt like sinking down in her seat.

The men all looked grave, and the first man said, sounding stern, "This classroom is meant for learning, and that is what we, as the

school board, expect to occur. We are fortunate to have a school here in our town, and we will not have that opportunity squandered

or underappreciated. Students, each one of you will do your lessons as you should, and show respect to Miss Hummle. We'll have no more

nonsense in this classroom. Is that understood?"

There were nods, and some 'yes, sirs' in response.

Miss Hummle looked satisfied, a smirk on her face. "We'll start with staying after school today, for those who arrive tardy, who don't do their

homework-and find it amusing to be disrespectful."

"Guess you figure to fill up the room," Monte said, low-like, and there were titters of laughter from other kids.

"That will do, young man," Lucy's father spoke for the first time. "We will have order in this classroom."

He eyed Monte with an angry expression, and Charlie had the fleeting thought that it seemed out of place for Mr. Stone to be

so stern now, to another child, when he allowed Lucy to behave any old way that she wanted.

"Yes, sir," Monte said, in apparent contrition, but then he looked across at Charlie, and gave a wink.

Miss Hummle began to name off students who would be staying after school, with Charlie's name among them. When she heard that,

.Charlie felt her temper rising. She knew she'd done her homework, and Miss Hummle didn't know that it was she who had made up that

horrible rhyme-so it had to be because of her nearly-late arrival at school this morning. And it had been nearly-late. Not late.

Without thinking it out, Charlie raised her hand to speak, protest hot on her lips.

To her bewilderment, Val shook his head at her, just slightly. Val had been standing off to the side, his arms crossed, just listening. But, now,

he met Charlie's eye, squarely on, and gave that shake of his head.

Charlie lowered her hand, her protest unanswered, and unheard. The anger she felt bubbled up, lasting thru lunch, and all the

afternoon. She hardly felt like eating the lunch Maria had prepared, she was so furious. There were others protesting, as well, about the

staying after school. But, Charlie felt truly put-upon. She had not been late. Miss Hummle had no right to punish her!

When the lunch hour was nearly over, Charlie saw Val approaching, walking from the sheriff's office. She was surprised when

he paused, a small distance from the school yard, just on the edge at the street.

When he called to her, Charlie looked at him, and then he beckoned.

Getting to her feet, and amid the other kid's teasing jibes about what the sheriff might want with her,

Charlie went over to where he stood, near the large Oak tree.

She approached Val slowly, still feeling the simmer of her temper, and the resentment that he'd discouraged her from

protesting.

Without greeting him, Charlie stood, giving him a look.

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened earlier," he began.

"I wasn't late," Charlie said. "She's got no right to make me stay after."

"A misunderstanding, huh?" Val asked, looking sympathetic.

"No. She's just wrong," Charlie said, vehemently.

"Well-" Val said, considering.

"And, you wouldn't let me speak up about it," Charlie accused.

"Now, Charlie, nothin' would have been gained at that point by arguing. Emotions were already running way high."

"I've got no way to let home know I'll be late," Charlie said. "They'll be wondering where I am."

"Well-I'd ride out and let somebody know, but I've got to go to Stockton," he said.

Charlie gave a shrug, still put out with the tall man before her.

"Come on, now," Val said, coaxingly. "It'll be alright."

As Miss Hummle began ringing the bell to call the students inside, Charlie turned around and began to walk away with

saying anything.

"See ya later," Val called after her.

Charlie mumbled a unenthusiastic goodbye.

The afternoon drug on, seeming, at times, to be interminable.

Lancer