⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Mr. Epstein, The Not-Manager Manager

December 9, 1961

The next week went by slow as its predecessors. It seemed John dropped the question he had gone to ask last Saturday. I couldn't tell if I was disappointed about it or not.

"Earth to Donna!"

I jerked out of a trance and looked at Trixie. "Pardon?"

We were in last period and it seemed I was daydreaming again. The snow had continued on and off throughout the week and so I'd found myself inside most everyday.

She shook her head with a laugh. "What in the world are you thinking about?"

I shrugged. "Nothing in particular."

She smirked at me. "You think I believe that?"

"I wish you would."

"C'mon, Donna, is something bothering you?"

I shook my head. "Not in the slightest."

She rolled her eyes. "Keep your little secrets then," she said. She looked away quickly, suspiciously.

"Do you have a secret I don't know about?" I asked teasingly. She looked at me, wide-eyed, and shook her head. "That was the most suspicious response I have ever received in my life." I laughed.

She looked down with a laugh of her own. "I have no secrets, no." she responded and the teacher came in and began rambling about something I didn't catch because I found my mind wandering away again.

I was only snapped back to attention towards the end of the class when she called my name. I sat up quickly from where I'd been slouching and hid my trembling hands under my desk.

"Can you help us with this one, Donna?" she asked with a tight frown.

"Oh—uhm—which one?"

She sighed. "Number 9," she answered.

I frowned and looked at the paper I had. It was multiple choice, so I had a quarter of a chance to get it right.

"C?" I replied more questioningly than confidently.

She gave a cold look. "That's correct," she answered and I exhaled deeply.

I quickly answered all of the questions down the page, discreetly, so as not to get caught catching up.

When the bell rang a few minutes later, Trixie and I were the first ones out.

"I can't believe you did that," Trixie said, laughing.

"Well, when pressure calls," I replied with a giggle.

"She looked so mad too," she laughed.

"I swear smoke was coming out of her ears." We laughed again.

"Miss Epstein?"

Trixie gave me a little pat on the shoulder and left.

"Mrs. Gale?" I asked to my English teacher behind me. She was smiling, so I guess I wasn't in trouble.

"I just wanted to tell you that I was really impressed with your essay on Romeo and Juliet," she said with a smile. "I particularly enjoyed your clever uses of metaphors throughout."