佚名/Anonymous
AsIsatperchedinthesecondfloorwindowofourbrickschoolhousethatafternoon, 'dlookedforwardtoforweeks:MissPace'sfourthgrade, , andourclassofnine-year-oldhadborderedoninsurrectionbythetimethemuch-anticipated“partyFriday”hadarrived.
'schocolatechipsreignedsupremeonourblock, andIknewthey''clockpassed, , droppingofftheirofferingsofpunchandcrackers, chips, .
“Don'tworry, Robbie, she'llbealongsoon,”-past.
Aroundme, thenoisypartyragedon, butIwouldn', butIstayedput, holdingouthopethatthefamiliarfamilycarwouldroundthecorner, carryingmyrightfullyembarrassedmotherwithatinofherfamouscookiestuckedunderherarm.
Thethreeo'clockbellsoonjoltedmefrommythoughtsandIdejectedlygrabbedmybookbagfrommydeskandshuffledoutthedoorforhome.
Onthefour-blockwalktoourhouse, , refusetoreturnherhugwhensherushedovertome, andvownevertospeaktoheragain.
ThehousewasemptywhenIarrivedandIlookedforanoteontherefrigeratorthatmightexplainmymother'sabsence, , mymotherhadletmedown.
Iwaslyingface-downonmybedupstairswhenIheardhercomethroughthefrontdoor.
“Robbie,”shecalledoutabiturgently.“Whereareyou?”
Icouldthenhearherdartingfranticallyfromroomtoroom, , shemountedthesteps-thesoundsofherfootstepsquickeningassheascendedthestaircase.
Whensheenteredmyroomandsatbesidemeonmybed, Ididn'tmovebutinsteadstaredblanklyintomypillowrefusingtoacknowledgeherpresence.
“I'msosorry, honey,”shesaid.“-plainandsimple.”
Istilldidn'tmove.“Don'tforgiveher,”Itoldmyself.“.”
.
?Irolledoverandfacedher, readytoletherseetherageanddisappointmentinmyeyes.
