The Janitor

Mr. Okolie had worked at the school longer than any teacher. He was the only adult who did not flinch when I said Mara's name, and that was how I knew to ask him. He leaned on his mop and looked at me for a long time. "That locker," he said, "I painted over that number three times. Three different summers. Somebody keeps putting it back. I stopped trying. You should stop too, but you won't, will you.")