The atmosphere at Uphills was electric, the air thick with gossip and speculation. It was just before assembly, and the senior students were buzzing with excitement. Then, Deborah walked through the school gates, and the whispers turned to gasps.
Jessica rushed to her side, her eyes wide with concern. "Deborah, you won't believe what's happening! There's a rumor going around that you wrote a letter to Miss Lora...a letter that's supposed to be really incriminating."
Deborah's face went pale, her eyes scanning the crowd as if searching for an escape. "What kind of letter?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Jessica hesitated, glancing around nervously. "They're saying it's a love letter...that you and Miss Lora are...you know."
The words hung in the air like a challenge, and Deborah felt her heart racing with fear. She knew that she had to act fast, to quell the rumors before they spread any further.
But it was too late. The news had already spread like wildfire, and the senior students were having a field day. "Deborah and Miss Lora? It's disgusting!" Nora exclaimed, her voice dripping with malice.
Caleb, who had been watching the scene unfold, felt a surge of anger. How could they be so cruel? Didn't they know that Deborah was innocent?
But before he could intervene, Mary appeared at his side, her eyes blazing with fury. "How could you, Caleb?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with rage. "You're the one who's been spreading these rumors, aren't you?"
Caleb's face went white, and he took a step back, his eyes wide with shock. "No, Mary, I swear...I didn't do it."
But Mary wasn't listening. She turned and stormed off, leaving Caleb feeling bewildered and betrayed.
As the chaos continued to unfold, the principal emerged from his office, his face stern and unyielding. "What's going on here?" he thundered, his voice silencing the crowd.
But Deborah just stood there, her eyes fixed on the ground, her heart heavy with shame and fear. She knew that she had to clear her name, but how?
Here is the rewritten text:
"What's the matter?" Mr. Pius demanded as he entered the nearest senior class. "We don't really know, sir," the head girl, Ada said. "It seems Deborah Lain wrote a letter to the corper. I haven't seen it, but some boys in the art class have it. Let me go and get it from them."
When Mr. Pius saw the letter, which appeared to be the original, he seized it at once and instructed the head boy and head girl to bring any copies they could find to his office immediately. Then, he sent for Deborah Lain.
Deborah was throwing up in the girls' toilet when Ada came looking for her. "Calm down, Deborah," Ada said, as she sat before Mr. Pius, Mrs. Tanimoro, the counselor whose mouth was twisted in self-righteous horror, and the vice principal.
"This isn't the worst thing that has happened to you," Deborah thought, as she imagined what was going through their minds. "Oh, immorality! Shocking! I always knew she was a bad girl! Bad girl."
"Now, Lain, did you write this letter?" the principal asked. Deborah bent her head. "Yes, sir."
Mr. Pius shook his head. "I should dismiss this, but some of the students are saying some damaging things, and it concerns a teacher. There are some things written that are, er, disquieting, you understand?"
"It's not true, sir, it's not what it seems. We are very fond of each other, of course, but..." Deborah trailed off.
"Fond of each other?" Mr. Pius's voice became colder. "Please explain yourself."
Deborah said nothing, and the principal sighed. "I think we need to send for your teacher. You stay here."
When Miss Lora came, she hesitated at the doorway. She seemed confused by the trio who sat in stony silence as Deborah stood in front of Mr. Pius's desk.
"Now, Miss Lora, do you know what is going on?" the principal asked without preamble.
"No, not really," the corper said.
"It appears you are the object of affection of young Miss Lain here. She also claims you are very fond of each other. Can you please clarify that?"
The corper glanced at Deborah before speaking. "Deborah Lain is interested in some of the extracurricular activities which involve charity work."
Miss Lora's eyes flashed with indignation. "Absolutely not, sir!" she exclaimed, her voice firm and authoritative.
The principal, Mr. Pius, looked taken aback by her fervor. "Well, I have a letter here where she writes of you in a...er...indiscreet manner. She writes that you...embrace each other."
Deborah felt her face burning with shame as she listened to the principal's words. She knew that she had to clear her name, but how?
The corper, Miss Lora, quickly spoke up. "I'm embarrassed, sir. I consider Deborah Lain as a student, nothing more. She's an enthusiastic volunteer, but clearly confused and disturbed. She's just a young girl."
The principal quickly turned to Deborah. "You may leave my office. You are excused from school for the rest of today. I would like to see your mother and guardian as soon as possible."
Deborah stumbled out of the office, tears streaming down her face. She stopped when she saw Caleb passing by on his way to class.
"Caleb," she called, relieved. "Can you imagine what they're saying about my letter? Why do people think...?"
Caleb's expression was cold and unforgiving. "You wrote it," he said, cutting her off.
Deborah felt a pang of hurt and betrayal. "Caleb, you don't understand. I read the letter and then someone stole it from me."
Caleb's eyes narrowed. "Mary actually saw it first, and she didn't know what to think either. The only thing I'm sorry about is that the whole school knows."
Deborah felt a surge of anger. "You...you hid your true self under a façade," Caleb said quietly.
Deborah's eyes flashed with anger. "And what if I did? What business is it of yours?" she said, her voice rising.
Caleb's expression was bitter. "It's none of my business! I hope you two are happy," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Deborah felt a pang of hurt and sadness. "I'm proud to have known a person like her," she said, her voice trembling.
Caleb stopped, but did not turn to look at her. "Yes, and I don't care! She's ten times the person you or anyone else here could ever be."
Caleb winced at her words, but by the time he turned to face her, she was gone.