Thursday, March 29

8:02 A.M.

Discussion in Margaret Narwin’s Homeroom Class

MISS NARWIN: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Your assigned seats. I need to take attendance.

STUDENT: Miss Narwin.

MISS NARWNI: Yes?

STUDENT: Peggy Lord is sick.

MISS NARWIN: Thank you.

INTERCOM VOICE OF DR. GERTRUDE DOANE, HARRISON HIGH PRINCIPAL: Good morning to all students, faculty, and staff. Today is Thursday, March 29.

Today will be a Schedule A day.

Today in history: in the year 1790 our tenth president, John Tyler, was born. In 1918 singer Pearl Bailey was born. And today in 1954 Karen Ann Quinlan was born.

Please all rise and stand at respectful, silent attention for the playing of our national anthem.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light . . .

MISS NARWIN: Is that someone humming?

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars . . .

MISS NARWIN: Philip, is that you again?

. . . through the perilous fight,

O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? . . .

MISS NARWIN: Philip, I spoke to you yesterday about this.

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air . . .

MISS NARWIN: This is a time for listening. Now, please stop singing.

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there . . .

MISS NARWIN: Philip, stop this insolence!

Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

MISS NARWIN: Philip, leave this room instantly. Report to Dr. Palleni’s office. Now!

Excerpted from NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH © Copyright 2012 by Avi. Reprinted with permission by Scholastic Paperbacks, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.