5
“What is that you’re wearing?” asked Mistie’s teacher.
Mistie looked down at herself. She had on her coat. She had on her pretty nightie. Princess Silverlace had a pink gown like this.
The other children at the math table stopped playing with the colorful little base ten logs and stared at her. They never talked much to Mistie except to tell her when to get in line or when to get away from them.
“Mistie?” repeated the teacher. “Let me see.”
Mistie stood still while the teacher pulled back the coat and looked at the nightie. “My goodness, just what is that?”
Mistie put her finger in her ear.
“Mistie, what are you wearing?”
Mistie thought of Princess Silverlace on Nick. Princess Silverlace was beautiful like Tessa except she was older and taller and she had a crown that glittered gold and silver. She wore a long, pink, and sparkly gown. She had a throne in a castle and everybody loved her. People gave her presents because they loved her and she did good things for the people because she loved them. Mistie watched it when her Daddy wasn’t around. When he was around he would say, “What’s that shit? I didn’t work out gettin’ cable to waste it on this crap,” and turn the channel.
“Is that your night gown?” asked the teacher.
Mistie rubbed the acetate and it felt good.
“Mistie, I’m writing a note. I want you to take it to the office and give it to the secretary. Do you understand me?”
Mistie nodded. She knew where the office was. It was a bright place with grownups. It had a bench and it had potted plants.
The teacher scribbled something on paper at her desk. She put the note into Mistie’s hand. Mistie didn’t read it. She wasn’t good at reading.
“That’s all, Mistie. Go on.”
Mistie went on.