When You Reach Me

Miranda and her classmates have been working lunch shifts at Jimmy’s sandwich shop for two weeks when he makes a racist comment in the guise of a “classic fake-Chinese act” (62). Miranda doesn’t say anything to Jimmy about his comment, but she reflects that had her mother been there, “she would have whacked him on the head with a plastic tray” (62).

Jimmy teaches the kids how to make his signature V-cut when preparing rolls for sandwich-making. Miranda fails miserably at cutting bread properly, so she is assigned the task of counting bread rolls while Colin and Annemarie work behind the counter together.

The boys who hang out on the street along Miranda’s walk home begin trying to get her attention with calls like “sweet” and “baby” when she passes. Her mother explains that “this happens to girls after a certain age” (64) and instructs Miranda not to give them any attention. Miranda is relieved when the boys are not around when Annemarie joins her for the walk home. She isn’t lucky enough to avoid an encounter with the laughing man, though, as he points directly at Annemarie and calls her an angel.