Page 4 of Someone Knows

“The yellow one with a butterfly on the front that sometimes you have out during class?”

Jocelyn looked down. “Sorry.”

“I’m not looking for an apology. Good writers write when it strikes them. Tell me, what kinds of things do you write about in your notebook?”

Jocelyn shrugged. “I don’t know. Stuff.”

“Do you write about boys?”

Her cheeks grew warm. “Not usually.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Ever had one?”

“Not one that’s worth writing about.”

Mr. Sawyer’s lip twitched. “Do you write about your friends?”

“Not really.”

“So I’ll ask you again, Miss Burton. What is it you write about in your journal, if not boys and friends?”

“I don’t know. I guess I mostly writewhat I’m feeling.”

“And what is it that you feel?”

Jocelyn’s pink cheeks burned crimson. “Angry.”

“Good. Now we’re getting somewhere. Angry about what?”

“My mother. She’s a drunk.”

“What about your father?”

“I’ve never met him.”

Mr. Sawyer rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb as he stared at Jocelyn. His eyes were a deep, intense green. They seemed to darken as the seconds ticked by. It made Jocelyn want to squirm in her seat, but she knew he’d see it, probably call her out on it, too. So she did her best to stay rooted in place.

“Williamsburg College isn’t too far and has a creative writing scholarship. The top submission gets a full ride. Second and third place receive partial tuition funding. I can help you improve your writing. It’s not something I do for many students. But I think you might be special. However, you’ll need to work on becoming more disciplined. You’re easily distracted.”

“How do I do that? Study more?”

Mr. Sawyer’s eyes gleamed. “Discipline doesn’t have to be about studying. It can be learning self-restraint in general. For example, you fidget a lot and often stare out the window.”

“How do I fix that?”

“We’ll work on it. That is, if you’re interested in my help.”

Jocelyn couldn’t nod fast enough. “I’m interested.”

A ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and he pointed a few rows away. “Good. Meet me here Friday. Four o’clock.”

CHAPTER

3

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