Catboy by Eric Walters Page B

Security Council,” Alexander said without raising his eyes. “They are the United States, Russia, England, France and China. There are also ten other members, who are elected to a two-year term on a rotating basis by the other member states.”
    â€œVery good. Not only did Alexander answer that question correctly, but he also answered my next two questions, and all without losing his place in the book he’s reading.” Mr. Spence paused. “Alexander, have you been peeking at my notes?”
    Alexander looked up from his book in surprise. “No, sir, I would never ever look at your—”
    â€œAlexander, I’m just joking. Great answers. Next question. What functions does the United Nations perform?”
    A series of short answers were given, including signing treaties, deciding on international laws, settling disputes, dealing with emergencies like earthquakes and floods, planning for the future and taking action on global issues like pollution, the oceans and the Antarctic.
    â€œThose are all great answers. Now my final question. What is the purpose of the United Nations? Why does it exist? And please, I don’t want anybody to repeat its function.”
    For the first time, there weren’t any volunteers to answer the question. Lots of kids liked to answer questions that had a right or wrong answer, especially if they knew they had the right answer. Me, I liked when an answer couldn’t be right or wrong. I raised my hand.
    â€œTaylor.”
    Now I had to think through my answer.
    â€œI think the world is like this classroom,” I said. “We have people from all over the world, from different countries and cultures, who speak different languages.”
    â€œWe do have a world within these walls,” Mr. Spence agreed.
    â€œAnd the same way we’ve been learning about our differences and how to say hello in each other’s languages, we’ve also been learning about how we’re all the same, and we all have the same rights. We have our classroom rules,” I said, gesturing to the big chart hanging on the wall that we made up that first day of school. “The United Nations is just a big way of helping us all get along together, peacefully and respectfully, and happily solving whatever problems we might have.”
    Mr. Spence didn’t answer right away. He had a thoughtful look on his face. “And that, class, is not a good answer.”
    My heart dropped.
    â€œThat,” he said, “was a great answer.”
    He started clapping and the rest of the class joined in. I felt myself start to blush.
    â€œI’m starting to wonder if both you and Alexander have been looking at my notes,” he said.
    â€œMr. Spence,” Simon said, “we all talked about where we’re from, but you didn’t tell us where your family is from.”
    â€œI was born in England.”
    â€œBut you don’t talk with an accent,” Simon noted.
    â€œOf course I do. Everybody talks with an accent. I just happen to talk with a Canadian accent because I moved here when I was young.”
    â€œSo you’re Canadian,” Rupinder said.
    â€œI’m a proud Canadian, born in England, whose parents were from Jamaica, just like Sally and Devon’s families are from Jamaica.”
    The bell rang, and people started to rustle.
    â€œPlease remember to read tonight and do your journal entries,” Mr. Spence said. “Class dismissed!”
    Everybody got to their feet. I was anxious to get moving. Not only was I going to be feeding the cats the KFC my mother had gotten, but I wasn’t going alone. Simon and I had been talking so much about the cats that a few of the other kids had asked if they could come along. So Mohammad, Alexander, Rupinder, Devon and Jaime were going to come with us. Initially I wondered if Jaime, being the only girl, would be uncomfortable. But then I remembered she played soccer with us at recess