"I don’t know," Freya whispered. But she did know. The rules were a cage, and Miss Raquel was the zookeeper.
Over the next three years, Freya did not become a better student. She became a more interesting one. When Miss Raquel assigned a book report on Charlotte’s Web , Freya turned in a persuasive essay arguing that Templeton the rat was the true hero because he alone understood the transactional nature of friendship. When the class planted beans in styrofoam cups, Freya’s grew sideways, twisting toward the shadow of the bookshelf instead of the window. Miss Raquel called it "contrarian." Freya called it "adaptation." miss raquel and freya von doom
"Freya," Miss Raquel said, kneeling to eye level, "why can’t you just follow the rules?" "I don’t know," Freya whispered
She never did figure out whether it was a threat or a thank-you. And that, Freya knew, was the point. Over the next three years, Freya did not