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“Follow me,” Mrs Mouser said “Not too close”

Elsa and the children followed the woman, who stopped at the end of the hall “Boy In there Go”

Ant grabbed Elsa’s sleeve, stared up at her

“You’re okay,” Elsa said

He shook his head, eyes pleading for a way out of this

“Go,” Elsa said

Ant sighed heavily His shoulders slumped in defeat With a lackluster wave, he opened the door and disappeared into the busy classroom

“No dawdling,” the ad on ahead

Elsa had to force herself to keep walking Loreda stayed close beside her

At the last doorway, marked with a seven on it, the administrator stopped “You,” she said to Loreda “Go on in See those three desks in the back corner? Sit at one of the on your way And for God’s sake, don’t cough”

Loreda looked at Elsa

“You’re as good as anyone,” Elsa said

Loreda opened the classroom door

Elsa saw the way the clean, well-dressed children snickered at her daughter A few of the girls even leaned away from Loreda as she passed thehed

It took all the strength Elsa possessed to turn away from the closed door