I Wear Many Masks

Abstract

The first time Caleb met Karen Manuel, she was laughing as she entered his classroom for the introductory session of Language 10. Several other girls stuck close to her like princesses around a queen. At fifteen, Karen Manuel was tall and heavy. Her hair was dusty blond, cut short, and gelled back from a pale face without make-up. Her eyes were dark magnets that drew you to her. In that first class, she never spoke, but Caleb was aware of her. He was also scared, not physically afraid of her, but scared because here was a young woman nobody seemed able to explain or predict.