Anastasia Has the Answers (12 page)

Finally, Anastasia glanced over at Ms. Wilhelmina Willoughby. Talk about class! Even in her trench coat, Ms. Wilhelmina Willoughby looked as if she should be on the cover
of Vogue.
More than that, though, the bright sparkle in her eyes and the graceful way she moved, now, as she turned to leave,
stopping in the doorway to wave affectionately to Anastasia—well, no question; on a scale of one to ten, Ms. Wilhelmina Willoughby was definitely a ten, and Anastasia didn't care who knew she felt that way. Maybe she
did
have a crush on her gym teacher. So what? Her mother thought it was okay. It
felt
okay. And Ms. Wilhelmina Willoughby didn't seem to mind.

Watching the room full of people as they began, now, to gather their belongings in order to leave, Anastasia tried in her mind to create a newspaper story. Who? she asked herself.

Mom, Dad, Sam, Gertrude Stein, Uncle George, Daphne, Mrs. Bellingham, Dr. McCartin, Ms. Wilhelmina Willoughby, and six international educators—

What?

Had gathered together around the bed of Anastasia Krupnik—

When?

Anastasia wasn't at all sure. Probably it was Wednesday still, she decided—

Where?

In a small hospital room—

Why?

Because—Anastasia hesitated. Then she realized what the truth was. They all think I'm pretty special, Anastasia told herself, and she hoped that it didn't count as conceited if she didn't say it aloud.