I don't need your God

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

‘Kaz! Wait!’ the principal shouted. ‘Your social worker is on her way here.’

‘I don’t want to talk to her,’ Kaz shouted back over her shoulder.

‘Where are you going?’ The principal asked with concern.

Kaz stopped at the door. She shrugged her shoulders. ‘I don’t know___somewhere, where I can think,’ she escaped.

Kaz wondered how Ms. Shaw was doing. Her first class this morning was English.  Ms. Shaw looked devastated.  Could she handle her naughty senior class? They were always teasing her and serenading her with poems. How would she cope now?  Kaz found herself walking to her class. She hovered at the entrance. She saw Ms. Shaw in the front, looking distraught, taking a tissue to her eyes and quickly dabbing at it. Their eyes met. Ms. Shaw’s eyes widened, she summoned a half smile. Kaz slowly made her way to Ms. Shaw’s table.

‘Are you okay?’ Ms. Shaw murmured softly, blinked furiously at the tears threatening to fall.

‘It’s going to be okay,’ Kaz smiled, reaching out for Ms. Shaw’s hand consolingly.

The class went dead still, curiously watching the somber interaction between their normally chirpy teacher and the generally uncommunicative Kaz. Everybody was intrigued. Kaz never spoke to any of her teachers, or any of her class mates. They were not surprised that Josh was the only one she conversed with. Josh made it his duty to befriend all his classmates. Often, encouraging them or exhorting them with a word from the bible.

‘Would you like to be excused from your test this morning?’ Ms. Shaw bit on her lip, trying with difficulty to hold herself together.

Kaz nodded. She was in no frame of mind to sit through a test right now. She was also concerned for Ms. Shaw. She wanted to offer her a hug, but the classroom full of curious students would wonder what the hell was going on!

‘May Josh be excused too ___please?’ Kaz pleaded.

Ms. Shaw took a huge gulp of air. Kaz had a valid reason to be excused, Josh did not. Ms. Shaw wished, she herself could escape and just be by herself. Everything was becoming pear-shaped. She’d thought the guardian would be happy to be released of her guardianship. She looked at Kaz again, perhaps she could do with some consoling from Josh. He was always such a tower of strength to his fellow pupils.

‘I’ll excuse Josh,’ Ms. Shaw nodded, but he must sit during his break and complete his test.’

Kaz nodded again. She turned around and looked in Josh’s direction. He looked back curiously. His eyes silently asking her what was going on?

‘Josh,’ Ms. Shaw spoke. ‘Please come to my desk.’

‘Yes, Ms. Shaw,’ Josh rushed forward. He thought she wanted him to hand out the question papers.

‘I’m excusing you from writing your test now,’ Ms. Shaw spoke. ‘Kaz will explain to you. Please come back during your break and complete your test.’

‘Okay,’ Josh nodded, looking at Kaz and trying to deduce what was going on. ‘We can go to the student room,’ Josh took Kaz’s hand.

‘Can we walk on the sports ground instead?’ Kaz requested.

‘Okay,’ Josh repeated.

‘Josh please ensure you attend your next class,’ Ms. Shaw reminded him.

‘Yes ma’am,’ he led Kaz out.

‘Kaz! What’s going on?’ Josh questioned the second they exited the class room. ‘Why does Ms. Shaw look like she’s about to cry? Kaz, talk to me!’