Because We Are Read Online Free

gathered her things and said to Allan, “Stay for lunch today.”
    â€œOh-h-h, no! I’m going home.”
    â€œPlease, Allan. I just hate eating alone. Stay.”
    â€œFirst place, I don’t have any money. I can’t take that long line and ole Eoil Can and his friends.”
    â€œ Eoil Can . Who’s Eoil Can?”
    â€œHaven’t you met Eoil Can, the thief? You will.”
    Strange one, that Allan. Smart, too, Emma thought as she made her way to first period. This was also Allan’s senior year. He had gone to Bel Air in the volunteer free busing programs for elementary and junior high students. He could have gone to any high school in the city on a volunteer transfer, but he had chosen Manning. Why? she asked herself as she hurried down the hall.
    The morning passed quickly. When the bell rang for fifth period, Emma rushed to the cafeteria, thankful she had homeroom just before lunch. The informal atmosphere made it possible to be at the door ready to make that mad dash to avoid the long lines. With less than a thousand seats in the cafeteria for two thousand students, lunchtime at Manning became a true test of “survival of the fittest.” Fifth period was the best, sixth not so bad, but seventh was impossible. She hoped she would never have seventh period for lunch.
    Emma was among the first to finish eating. She waded through the groups and on to the outside. The line waiting to get in was still long and the grounds seethed with others eating lunch from bags. She saw several members of her science class under the bonsai tree, gazing at the sky. As she approached them she noticed one of them was holding a watch. She stood near, but they paid her no attention.
    Suddenly someone shouted, “They’re here.”
    â€œRight on the minute,” the timekeeper said.
    Then Emma saw a flock of sea gulls heading in like raiders. Students tried to take cover, but there was no place to go as the crying gulls came to feed, raining their droppings, flapping their wide wings, their beady eyes alert, their yellow beaks ready.
    A great commotion spread through the crowd and then a scream, “He took my sandwich.”
    The scrawny bird, with the whole sandwich in its beak, soared away. It was done so quickly, Emma hardly had time to see that the sludge-colored bird was small for a mature sea gull. Its feathers were scarce and scattered, its eyes exposed beads, and its beak rough.
    â€œOle Eoil Can did it again,” someone shouted and the crowd laughed.
    So that was Eoil Can, Emma thought. A survivor. Evidently, the gull had lived through an oil slick and was making it. The other gulls settled and fed as familiars. The crowd took its usual form. Suddenly Emma felt a tap on her shoulder. “Can’t y’ say ‘hi’ t’ people?”
    Emma looked around. There was Liz. Short, stout Liz, whom Allan had often called rough. “Oh, hi,” Emma said, surprised. She had seen Liz often in that group teasing Allan. No one in that group had ever spoken to her.
    Liz smiled, but Emma noticed that even though the smile seemed warm, it did not soften her black eyes. Could Liz be deceptively mild?
    â€œI’ve been watchin’ y’ every mornin’ with Allan. What y’ name?”
    â€œEmma. Emma Walsh.”
    â€œI know y’ friend done told y’ who I am. Where’s he?”
    â€œHe went home for lunch.”
    â€œPretty outfit y’ got on there. You dress good, y’ know.” Liz reached out and touched the soft wool of Emma’s sweater.
    Emma felt her face going hot. She was not accustomed to strangers being so direct. Her friends at Marlborough knew clothes meant little to her, and what she was wearing today was not fine at all.
    â€œCome over here with me. Want y’ t’ meet my friends,” Liz said.
    Emma followed Liz toward a group of girls who looked her up and down as she approached. Suddenly she felt as