Just then, speaking of the devil, Rochelle passed by carrying her lunch. Veronique called her name and, with a reluctant look, Rochelle walked over to her.

"What did Ms. T do to you?" Veronique asked.

"Nothing." Rochelle looked down at the uninviting lunch on her tray.

"So why'd you go off on Vecoli?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know."

"I don't know." Rochelle looked around the cafeteria and then finally returned Veronique's gaze. "He's a jerk. What he said pissed me off."

"Why?"

"It was stupid."

"Stupid, huh? You some sort of expert on cancer?"

Rochelle gazed back into her tray. "No," she muttered, "I'm no expert."

"Too bad," Veronique said. "There's something I wanted to ask you."

And Mr. Sanchez bellowed over the PA: "Attention, students. Do not return your cole slaw! I repeat: do not return cole slaw!"