Page 120 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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“That had nothing to do with me.

I wasn’t even in the lunch hall at the time.

I was in the library with Jyoti.

Ask her.

Ask The Boys.

They’ll tell you,

I wasn’t there.”

“Take a big breath, Malachi,”

Ms. Sarpong says from the sidelines.

I look at her officious smile

and then into her kind eyes.

“Mr. Ndour only asked you how you are doing;

he did not accuse you of any wrongdoing.”

I take a deep breath in and out again

and I realize that it’s true.

Mr. Ndour didn’t say I’d caused division

but I somehow jumped to that conclusion.

I take another deep breath.

“Well done, Malachi,” says Ms. Sarpong

with a warmer smile.

“Okay. Carry on,” she says to Mr. Ndour.

“Malachi, I promise

I’m not accusing you of anything.

I’m just checking in,

which is my pastoral duty

as your head of year.

I’m speaking to everyone

in your group of friends

separately,

because I’ve realized

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