Chapter 6: Ruby's Table

The math teacher unfolded the second page against my car window.

It was the same roster, retyped.

Ruby's name was gone, and Chloe's sat in the fourth line.

At the bottom of the sheet was a small gray logo that read: Ridgeline Booster Fund, Competition Sponsor.

"He gave me this one on the twelfth," the teacher said. "He told me to sign the committee minutes or find another school."

"You signed."

"I have a mortgage." He folded the pages and put them in my hand. "I'm not proud of it."

"Thank you for giving them to me."

"Please don't use my name yet."

"I won't," I said. "Not until you tell me to."

He nodded and went back inside, walking fast.

At four I picked up Ruby from the Cedar Hill math club.

She came out holding a stack of worksheets and talking with two other girls, one in a green jacket and one with a braid.

"Mom, these are the girls from my table. They want to do the regional competition in the spring."

"Cedar Hill has a team?"

"A real one," said the girl with the braid. "We came in fifth last year. We've never had anyone like her."

Ruby stared at her shoes and turned pink.

I decided right then that I liked this school.

At home I made pasta, and Ruby did her homework at the kitchen island with her pencil going fast.

She finished the sheet, tapped the last answer twice and set the pencil down.

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