Devonne Brown

“Ms. Holley, is it true you died and came back to life?” asked Ben, the kid in the third row. 

“Coach Billy said you did. Right in the cafeteria during breakfast duty. He said he did CPR until the paramedics got here. He said you were dead,” Ricardo said. 

“Celia said so too,” said Karen. She was in line when it happened. You’d just said good morning to DeAngelo. Then Celia said she saw your soul float out of your body while you fell. You died.”

Ms. Holley tapped the green pen back and forth against her palm, but smiled, and walked to her desk. “No folks, that’s what’s called a wild rumor, fiction, not true. But, I think that’s a great story about me, even if it is taking up class time.”

Ben wouldn’t let it go, “No really, what was it like Ms. Holley?”

“It didn’t happen, Ben. I didn’t die during breakfast duty in the cafeteria, then come back from the dead. That’s a rumor.”

“Well, that’s what everybody’s saying”

Ms. Holley rolled her eyes. “That’s how rumors work, Ben. It didn’t happen, but everybody says so,” She didn’t add “Dumbass,” because she was his teacher.

“Rumors start with a misunderstanding or a lie. Besides, if it were true, I’d be dead. Coach Billy doesn’t know CPR. Ask him.”