Chapter 23 - The Scissors in the Art RoomAt thirteen, Maisie returned to Briarwood for an alumni volunteer afternoon.
She almost canceled.
Then went.
Mr. Ortiz was nearing retirement.
He met her in the hallway.
“You got tall.”
“You got gray.”
“Cruel.”
They laughed.
The same classroom door remained.
Rectangular glass window.
American flag beside the whiteboard.
Different teacher.
Different children.
Maisie stopped outside.
Through the window, a little girl was cutting construction paper with rounded child-safe scissors.
Maisie’s hand tightened around her backpack strap.
Ortiz noticed.
“Want to keep walking?”
Maisie looked.
Then smiled faintly.
“No.”
They entered.
The teacher greeted her.
A little girl at the table held up paper.
“I’m making a sun.”
“It’s good.”
“Want scissors?”
Maisie looked at the small pair.
Once, scissors had been forced into her hands so an adult could manufacture a lie.
Now a child was offering them because she wanted help with paper.
Maisie took them.
“Sure.”
She cut one yellow paper triangle.
Then handed the scissors back.
No ceremony.
May you like
No applause.
A tool became a tool again.
