Confetti : Part 3 of 4
“I walked here from school and let mom know that I was coming here for a little bit,” she talked rather soft. “If you’re busy, I can go home. Don’t want to bother you. Just wanted to visit you.”
“What?” said Grandma Confetti. “You should speak up child, I’m old and can’t hear you!”
“I wanted to visit you and see how you are doing,” yelled Sarah, “Is it OK if I stay? Are you busy?”
“Did you say you wanted to keep me company?”
“Yes, I did,” said Sarah.
Grandma Confetti walked towards Sarah and took her book bag to place it on the couch as she closed the front door. The television was playing the local news. In minutes, Sarah had a cup of hot chocolate in her hand that matched the one Grandma Confetti made for herself. They sat on the couch, drank their hot chocolate and quietly watched television.
“How’s school going?” Grandma Confetti said to break the awkward silence. “It’s ok, “said Sarah. “I mean everything was fine today.” Actually, Sarah hated school and when she tried to tell her mother about it; she was told to stop overreacting.
“How did you like school when you were my age grandma?”Sarah asked.
“I hated it, never seemed to ever fit in. Didn’t have much of a social life back in those days,” said Grandma Confetti. “I would spend a lot of time in my room alone thinking, reading about different places. I would spend time in my mother’s garden, pick flowers. Anything that would keep me from kids my age. They were awful! Cruel! Look at this scar on my hand. This is from a kid who smashed my hand in the door because she didn’t like me. When I defended myself and beat the girl up in the classroom, I was the only one punished. My mother was so embarrassed and disappointed in me. The world is much different now though, I bet you have plenty of friends.”
“Not really,” replied Sarah with tears in her eyes. “Girls are so much worse at my school. Rumors spread so fast. I couldn’t take it today. My best friend told everyone that I liked a guy. I told her not to tell anyone. Now everyone knows my business because of her. It really hurt to find out my friend isn’t really a friend.”
Grandma Confetti said, “ oh I know all about fake friends? They are everywhere and even adults have a hard time dealing with the pain they cause.” As she wiped the tears from Sarah’s face with a tissue, she said, “Take your power back and lower your expectations for them when they show you who they are. After a few days they will try to be your friend again, they all do. When you don’t expect much, they can’t disappoint you.”
Grandma Confetti’s phone rang. She answered and heard her daughter’s voice on the other end.
“Is Sarah there!?!?” she cried. “She didn’t come home from school! I was hoping she might have come by your place. Have you seen her?”
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