Chapter 18: Stress and rivalry

Joan was in the library, pretending to look for a book. She usually came up here whenever she needed to be alone, with no-one around to tease or stare at her. She knew how everybody whispered about her behind her back; "Look, there goes the mouse!" "I've never seen her look happy, not once!" "Oooh, maybe her face is stuck like that!". It was sickening! And the teasing was worse; "Hey Joan, looks like another rainy day." "You're such a mouse, Joan!" "Come on Joan, don't be sad. Here, have some cheese!"

She could feel tears starting to form, and furiously tried to blink them away. She shook her head, trying to get rid of those sickening words that haunt her day and night. She sighed, opened her eyes, and continued (pretending) to look for a book.

Eventually, after finding a good study book, she went to one of the desks at the back, placed the book down, opened it about a quarter of the way, and then proceeded to sleep. The book lay open in front of her, with her glasses (which she remov