Before I could respond, Mrs. Parker picked up the classroom phone.
“I asked Mr. Harris to join us. I think the principal should decide whether this can be included in the project.”
A minute later, Mr. Harris entered.
Mrs. Parker handed him the clipping.
“This is what Sophie brought.”
He glanced at it.
Then stopped.
His eyes returned to the photograph.
He moved toward the window and read the entire article.
“Where did Sophie get this?”
“From my house.”
He looked around the classroom.
“Everyone stay seated.”
Mrs. Parker frowned.
“Why?”
He didn’t answer.
His attention had landed on a tiny section near the bottom of the clipping.
I’d never noticed it before.
Beside the article was part of another photograph, almost completely cut away when the clipping had been saved years earlier.
Only half of a man’s face remained.
Mr. Harris stared at it.
Then at Sophie.
“That’s my father.”
Nobody spoke.
Mrs. Parker gave a confused laugh.
“What?”
Mr. Harris pointed to the half-visible face.
“His name was Richard. That’s my father.”
