14. Everyone Now Looks Like Taissa

'Guys, Mr Channing Chevrolet is now almost around, be on your best behaviours,' Ms. McCullough said. 'And, kids, please stay together. Nobody wander off on their own.'

A girl raised her hand.

'Yes,' Ms. McCullough answered

'We can ask questions from him, right?' she said.

'Definitely??' Mr Quasar said. 'Feel free to, just do not ask questions that . . . ah . . . aren't . . .'

'Did you wanna say stupid?' Annoying Thing interjected.

Naima didn't know if anyone noticed, but he'd just removed a finger from up his nose—where it'd been for a long time— and had wiped the disgusting booger on the back of a row seat near him. Naima turned away in disgust before she gave in to the urge to retch.

'No, boy,' Mr Quasar gently said, smiling. The smile looked pretty forced to Naima, like the man had the thought that Annoying Thing was the stupid one. She was all heart and hands for that opinion. 'I was just going to leave my words in aposiopesis.'

He garnered himself attention at this.

'What the he