Thirteen

She is an excellent student and listens to her teachers. The last girl in class to be scolded and the first to receive an honor. One day she is in line for the bus and talking to a friend. Ms. Tiano, who she later found out was anorexic and an alcoholic, screeches at her to behave herself and get back in line. Ms. Tiano blows her whistle and squeals,

"Shhhhh, no talking Sarah!!"

She is mortified.

She got yelled at.

Once.

By a woman who does not like children and should never have become a teacher.

This is unknown to her though and she cannot get over being reprimanded for acting out. She replays this lapse of perfection in the bus line in her head wondering why she was talking in the first place. She teaches herself the lesson to not speak to other students in the bus line. Even if a different teacher is on duty and all of her other friends are socializing. She has a new policy and now she will not get in trouble there again. This solution is extreme, yet it comforts her.