The Lying Game

Isa still dreams about the sound made by the shovel as they dug Ambrose’s grave. Now, Isa asks herself how they ever thought it would be okay to conceal Ambrose’s death, and marvels at how they have coped since then. Isa remembers Kate telling the girls to return to school that night, so they will not be associated with Ambrose’s death. The next morning, Miss Weatherby surprises Fatima and Isa. She smells alcohol, notices their sandy clothes, and sees that they are hungover. She orders them to her office. Miss Weatherby also summons Thea; she instructs them to say nothing.

Miss Weatherby shows the girls a pile of Ambrose’s drawings. In most of the pictures the girls are “naked, or seemed to be” (188). Isa thinks that whoever gave the pictures to Miss Weatherby is trying to destroy Ambrose. Miss Weatherby asks them to explain themselves. Isa wants to tell her that everything was just innocent fun and friendship, but she says nothing. Another teacher enters with contraband from the girls’ rooms: cigarettes, pot, alcohol, and condoms. Miss Weatherby sends them to their rooms. She announces she is taking all the evidence to the headmistress, Miss Armitage, who will call their parents to come get them.