I began to cry from the pain in my foot； but I refused to let Miss Bell take off my shoe。 I could not bear for her and the others to see the hole in my faded red sock。 “e on； then。 Let’s go inside to the office。”
A trail of first graders followed after us until Miss Bell told them to stay on the playground。 I did my best to curb my tears。 Yet； each time the thing in my shoe stung me； I would let out a loud； “Oh； oh； oh！” Tears raced down my contorted3 face。
Mr。 Stewart； the principal； rushed into his office。
“What’s wrong？” he asked。
“Something is stinging her right foot； but she will not let me take off her shoe。 ”said Miss Bell。
Mr。 Stewart lifted me onto his desk。 “Let me take a look。” He just about had the shoe off when I saw the hole。 I grabbed the shoe and pulled it on and held it。 The stinging worsened the tighter I clasped4 the shoe。
“Why won’t you let us take off your shoe？” Mr。 Stewart asked as he looked from me to Miss BelI and back at me in puzzlement。 。。
食襪蟻（3）
Miss Womble； the fifth—grade teacher； came into the office。 “Can I help？ I know her；she lives next door to me。 ”
“I suspect ants are in her shoes and stinging the living daylights out of her； but she won’t let us take off her shoes。” related Miss Bell。
Miss Womble was a great neighbor。 She had even played Annie—over with us on occasion。 She put both hands on my shaking shoulders and looked into my distressed； red eyes。
“Oh； yes；” she said； as if remembering a fact。“I had a bite from one of those ants。 Did you know they are sock eaters？ By the time I got my shoe off； that ant had eaten almost the entire bottom off my sock。” She nodded her head up and down as she looked at the other two adults。 “Must be soc