Free Sophie’s World by Nancy Rue Page A

door. Out came the train of Pops. Julia Cummings. Anne-Stuart Riggins. B.J. Schneider. Willoughby Wiley. Kitty Munford.
    Fiona’s hand gave Sophie’s a clench that clearly said, We’re doomed.
    “May I ask who these ladies are?” Boppa said. He sounded proper, as if he were in a bank.
    “These are the girls who informed me on Friday that Fiona and Sophie had a secret cheating code.”
    The Corn Pops all gazed innocently at Ms. Quelling. All but Kitty, who was swallowing as if she had an elephant stuck in her throat.
    “And you believed them,” Mama said.
    “I listened to both sides,” Ms. Quelling said.
    “And you believed them ,” Mama said again.
    Ms. Quelling wafted a hand over the Pops. “I’ve known all of them except Kitty since they were in kindergarten. They’re nice girls.” She cleared her throat. “However, I think it’s possible that they were mistaken this time.”
    Julia’s eyes startled, and she raised her hand halfway. “We aren’t mistaken.”
    Anne-Stuart nodded. “We wouldn’t have said anything if we weren’t sure.”
    “I’m certain of that, girls. I just think someone else may have been privy to additional information.” She tilted her chin toward the hall and called, “Come on in.”
    Maggie stepped in, stomping to the front like a chunky soldier.
    “This is Maggie LaQuita,” Ms. Quelling said to Mama and Boppa. “Maggie, please tell everyone what you told me.”
    “They didn’t cheat,” Maggie said. “Fiona and Sophie had a code of signals. But it isn’t what you think. Fiona coughs at Sophie when she sees her daydreaming, so she can keep her mind on her work.”
    “How do you know that, Maggie?” Ms. Quelling said.
    “I heard Sophie and Fiona talking about it all last week.”
    Julia raised an arm, ponytail swinging. “Maggie could be lying for them.”
    “I don’t think so,” Ms. Quelling said, her voice soft. “That’s the same story Fiona and Sophie gave me Friday when I questioned them.”
    It sounded to Sophie as if Ms. Quelling were apologizing to the Pops.
    “I’m sure you girls were just trying to help,” Ms. Quelling said. “But next time, you might want to check out your facts a little better before you make an accusation, okay?”
    “We never meant to make trouble,” Julia said. Her friends all nodded except for Kitty, who put her face in her hands and cried.
    “Did you want to say something, Kitty?” Ms. Quelling said.
    “She’s really sensitive,” Anne-Stuart said. “She doesn’t like to hurt anybody’s feelings.”
    “None of us do,” Julia said.
    Fiona dug her nails so hard into Sophie’s palm that Sophie was sure she was going to draw blood.
    Ms. Quelling turned to the group at the table. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sure you can see why I was torn. I’ll remove my comments from Sophie and Fiona’s permanent records. Please accept my apologies.”
    “Apology accepted,” Mama said without smiling. Boppa nodded in agreement. He didn’t smile either.
    “Can we go now?” Julia said.
    “Yes. Thank you, girls,” Ms. Quelling said.
    The Corn Pops hurried through the door, and Maggie trailed out behind them. Fiona held onto Sophie for about fifteen seconds before they, too, escaped to the hall. By then, the Corn Pops were down at the other end, gathered in a circle around Kitty, who was wailing like a baby.
    Maggie suddenly appeared and stood in front of Sophie and Fiona.
    “Thanks for sticking up for us,” Sophie said. “You saved our lives.”
    “Yeah, thanks,” Fiona said. “Only from now on, could you not spy on us?”
    “I won’t have to anymore,” Maggie said. “Because I’m going to be playing with you.” She gave them a logical smile. “I figure now you owe me.”
    “Oh,” Sophie said. “Well then, we’ll see you tomorrow—at lunch, I guess.”
    As Maggie walked off in even, plodding steps, Fiona turned to Sophie, mouth already open in protest, but Boppa and Mama came out of Ms.