“Lily.” Mrs. Patterson’s voice turned sharp. “In my classroom, when a teacher asks you to do something, you do it. Now sit down at that piano.”
The room was completely silent now. Even the clock on the wall seemed to tick more quietly. Every eye was on Lily, watching and waiting. Some kids looked sorry for her. Others just wanted to see what would happen. And Mrs. Patterson stood there with her arms crossed, absolutely certain of how this would go.
The poor girl would sit down, maybe poke at the keys randomly, prove that she had no talent at all, and learn an important lesson about her place in this school.
It was perfect.
It would remind all the students that Mrs. Patterson could see right through anyone who tried to pretend they were something they weren’t.
Lily stood frozen for what felt like forever. Then slowly, she walked to the piano bench. She sat down carefully, her small frame looking even smaller against the grand piano. Her worn sneakers barely reached the pedals. Her faded sweater looked even more shabby next to the piano’s polished elegance.
Mrs. Patterson smiled triumphantly.
“Whenever you’re ready, dear. We’re all waiting to hear what you can do.”
Behind her, Rachel whispered to the girl next to her, “This is going to be embarrassing.”
Timothy looked down at his desk, unable to watch what was about to happen. The boy who sat in the middle row, the one Mrs. Patterson had sighed at for making a mistake, felt his stomach twist. He knew exactly what this felt like.
And in the back corner where Lily usually sat, her empty desk seemed to echo with all the days she’d spent trying to be invisible.