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She did not think she had done anything wrong, yet that tight little knot came in her
throat just the same as she approached Miss O‘Shay’s door. Perhaps she had banged

her locker too often and too hard. Perhaps the note in French she had written to Sallie
halfway across the study hall just for fun had never gotten to Sallie but into Miss O’Shay’s
hands instead. Or maybe she was failing in some subject and wouldn’t be allowed to
graduate. Chemistry! A pang went through the pit of her stomach.

She knocked on Miss O’Shay’s door. That familiarly solid and competent voice said,
“Come in.”

Miss O’Shay had a way of making you feel welcome, even if you came to be expelled.

“Sit down, Nancy Lee Johnson,” said Miss O’Shay. “I have
something to tell you.” Nancy Lee sat down. “But I must
What you Think?ou Think?
ask you to promise not to tell anyone yet.” What y
“I won’t, Miss O’Shay,” Nancy Lee said, wondering what on Describe the scenery

earth the vice-principal had to say to her. drawn by Nancy.

“You are about to graduate,” Miss O’Shay said. “And we
shall miss you. You have been an excellent student, Nancy,
and you will not be without honors on the senior list, as I am sure you know.”

At that point there was a light knock on the door. Miss O’Shay called out, “Come in,”
and Miss Dietrich entered. “May I be a part of this, too?” she asked, tall and smiling.

“Of course,” Miss O’Shay said. “I was just telling Nancy Lee what we thought of her.
But I hadn’t gotten around to giving her the news. Perhaps, Miss Dietrich, you’d like
to tell her yourself.”

Miss Dietrich was always direct. “Nancy Lee,” she said, “your picture has won the Artist

Club scholarship.”
The slender brown girl’s eyes widened, her heart jumped, then her throat tightened

again. She tried to smile, but instead tears came to her eyes.

“Dear Nancy Lee,” Miss O’Shay said, “we are so happy for you.” The elderly white
woman took her hand and shook it warmly while Miss Dietrich beamed with pride.

Nancy Lee must have danced all the way home. She never remembered quite how she
got there through the rain. She hoped she had been dignified. But certainly she hadn’t
stopped to tell anybody her secret on the way. Raindrops, smiles, and tears mingled on
her brown cheeks. She hoped her mother hadn’t yet gotten home and that the house

was empty. She wanted to have time to calm down and look natural before she had to
see anyone. She didn’t want to be bursting with excitement—having a secret to contain.

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