Patty and Mr. Racine in “The Substitute”

My husband and I read the stuff that the kids wrote --

Hope it didn't give him a heart attack. He seemed a bit fragile.

Actually, it isn't my husband who had the problem.

I just think...there's this one piece in particular that I just don't feel comfortable printing.

Oh! You're afraid that Angela wrote it.

This has nothing to do with whether Angela wrote it.

So, this is just censorship for censorship's sake?

What?

Hand them over. I'll type them myself, and I'll have them Xeroxed.

These are children! We are adults! This is not censorship! This is guiding adolescents who need...guidance!

That is a very reasonable opinion, and very clearly stated. Unfortunately, it's total manure.

Excuse me?

It's horse manure. I sense you're angry. Are you angry?

Yes!

Yes! I sensed that! [laughs]

Why is it manure?

Good question. It is manure because this journal should be about giving these students a voice, not about having their thoughts edited. If these kids aren't afraid to put their hearts on the page, why should we be afraid of them?

You should really teach full-time.

We have a difference of opinion. Fine. But do you think you should be in the position of deciding because you run a printing press and I don't?

Do you expect me to answer that question?

Yes.

[pause] No, I don't.

So. Did Angela write it?