I felt heat crawl up my neck. I had heard that laugh before, years ago, in a different hallway.
« She makes comments about my clothes. »
« Does she do that to anyone else? » I asked.
Lizzie shook her head again. « No. Just me. »
***
Over the next two weeks, I watched my daughter shrink. She said, « Other kids have started mimicking Ms. Lawrence. They mock and tease me, too. »
It broke my heart because Lizzie had always been confident. She loved school and science.
« No. Just me. »
Now she was quiet at dinner.
She second-guessed herself and checked her phone less to avoid seeing her class group chats.
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