Miss Lode took a deep breath, wiped her eyes, and got to her feet. “Ian, what do you have to say for yourself?”
“Nothing. I have nothing more to say.” Ian pushed his lips tight together, to make clear that he wouldn’t say another word. He reminded Mimi of a young boy caught in the act of doing something naughty—a knave, she thought drowsily—and closing his eyes, thinking if he couldn’t see anyone, maybe no one could see him. He began to back away, his eyes darting here and there, as if looking for an escape route.
The heavy steps of an adult pounded toward them. “What in God’s name is going on here?” Mimi heard Mr. Brabant before she could see him. “Where’s Dee?”
“She went home,” Casper replied. “I think.”
“Is she all right?”
“I guess so.”
“What do you mean, you ‘guess so’?”
Casper was silent.
When Mr. Brabant’s snarling face came into view, it wore the ugliest expression Mimi had ever seen. He hardly looked at her on the ground before turning his fury upward. “Osei, what have you done to Mimi? Come down at once! I warned you!”
His words did not seem to affect O: the new boy remained crouched on top of the jungle gym, gazing impassively at his teacher.
A siren in the distance was gradually getting closer.
“Richard, I don’t think—”
“Did you hear me, boy?” Mr. Brabant was incandescent, like a light bulb popping. “Get down from there, nigger!”
Mimi jerked her head—the only part of her that she could move. Her parents had taught her that you never used that word. Never. Ever. You did not even think it.
The rest of the students were still and silent, rigid with the shock of hearing the word aloud—except for Ian, who continued to back away from the scene.
“Stop that!” Miss Lode cried. She had turned bright red. Mimi thought she was telling Ian to stop, but then she continued. “Stop that right now! You do not use that language, Richard. You do not.”
Mr. Brabant showed no sign of hearing her, but was glaring at Osei. The new boy was moving now: not climbing down, but standing up and balancing precariously on the top bars of the jungle gym. Hands free, he swayed above the playground. Then he clenched his hand into a fist and held it high, all the while staring fiercely down at Mr. Brabant. Mimi had seen that gesture before, in a photograph somewhere.
“You know what?” he said, not loud, but penetrating nonetheless. “Black is beautiful!”
“Osei, please come down now.” Mrs. Duke’s calm, authoritative voice emerged from somewhere behind Mimi’s head, accompanied by her cloying perfume. “I think we’ve had enough drama for one day.”
Osei glanced at her. “You want me to come down?” he responded, equally calmly.
“Yes, please.”
He swung his gaze back to Mr. Brabant. “Do you want me to come down?” He said this a little louder.
Though Mr. Brabant continued to glare at Osei, he nodded.
“All right. I will come down now.” Fist still raised, O began teetering back and forth. Was it accidental or deliberate? Mimi wasn’t sure.
“Stop that!” Mr. Brabant shouted, though he must have understood by now that he was powerless.
Mimi wanted to add: Don’t end up like me. Because she could not move her legs. This must be her last day ever on this playground. And Ian—Casper had grabbed him by the arms and stopped him from escaping. Ian was sure to be suspended, or worse. And Dee—could she ever come back after all that had been said and done in her name?
There was only Osei left, the king swaying on his throne. He would have to choose. Had chosen, Mimi realized. Just before he plummeted, she heard Miss Lode cry, “Osei, don’t!” Then darkness overtook her, and the scene went black.