Page 40 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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but what I’ll say is this:

your feelings about these

incidents are valid.

It’s not fair that you’ve been

made to feel this way.

My door is open

if you want to discuss

any of this further

and, as your head of year,

so is Mr. Ndour’s.

He and I will go away

and think about

what we can do

to better support you

because, hearing your stories,

I’m sure there are many more

students at this school

who feel the way you do

but haven’t had

the opportunity to tell us.”

Ms. Sarpong points up in the air,

like a cartoon lightbulb has come on:

“This would be completely voluntary—

it’s not another detention by any means—

but perhaps we could meet again,

one lunchtime next week,

to carry on this conversation?”

The Boys let her question linger,

before Nathan says, “Sure, miss.”

The other four shrug and say,

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