*****
It was better. The other kids made way for him wherever he went, and no one said "Annboy" or "vac-brain." Some of the girls even smiled at him. Yet it all irritated him somehow. Now they were friendly?
Mr. Hallod greeted him the same as usual, but didn’t start work right away.
"Does your nose bother you?" he asked, seeing Keelic touch it with a frown.
"Can’t smell anything," said Keelic.
"Small price to pay."
Not sure what Mr. Hallod meant, Keelic nodded hesitantly.
"How do they treat you over there now?" asked Mr. Hallod.
Keelic shrugged.
Mr. Hallod got up from his desk and walked to the windows that looked toward the main school.
"Better, I imagine. Do any of the girls look at you yet?"
That Mr. Hallod knew this startled Keelic, and he looked up at his teacher.
Mr. Hallod sat next to Keelic in another desk. "I lived on farming habitat very similar to this planet when I was your age. Rural societies tend to have more similarities than differences. Insular, and instinctual. The girls see you as the alpha wolf now. Do you know what that is? Never mind. I’m rambling today, let’s get to work."
"They all hated me before yesterday," said Keelic.
"Do you believe they like you now?"
Keelic had to think for a moment before answering. He wished they did, but he remembered what the kids were like before. He shook his head. To admit it hurt.
Mr. Hallod put a hand on Keelic’s shoulder and said, "You are correct. It is very good that you can see that."
Keelic felt a little better.
"Let’s take a look at what you did last night."