'to what?' i ask
'to the harry potter movie.' i can't believe my ears! the phone's dead when i reach it, so i sit her down and ask what's happening.
X has been recently moved to her section, is known for being 'seriously weird,' and has no friends. probing doesn't get me details about what qualifies as 'seriously weird,' but plenty of eye-rolling happens. 'ma-aa, she's different, ok?' my daughter concedes.
'and that's weird?'
'yes!' is the firm reply.
'so X's mother is trying to get a group of girls together to go for the harry potter movie, and you don't want to go?' i clarify.
'yes,' chellam answers again.
'because X is different, and that's weird.'
the 'yes,' slower to come this time, is accompanied by a frown and some lip chewing. then... 'actually ma... say yes,' she says.
my heart's leaping up doing high 5s, but i pretend nonchalance. 'how come you changed your mind, kanna?'
'i feel bad for her ma.' chellam replies, and even as i open my mouth, warns, 'don't ask me anything else ok? and i'm not going to be like her new best friend or anything. she doesn't have any friends, nobody wants to go, and i just feel bad for her, ok? so, say yes.'
i call X's mother, say yes, chellam would be glad to go along for the movie, and feel a heavy choked feeling inside when i hear the relief in her voice. she rushes on to explain that X is new to the section and somehow hasn't made a connection with anybody yet... i can feel her puzzlement, and pain.
i put the phone down and hug my daughter. there's no need for words.
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