Later, she apologized and even bought me a pretty white dress. But when I wore it out, people’s stares followed me everywhere. Finally, a teacher pulled me aside into the bathroom.
“Andie, your period started, didn’t you notice?”
That was when I discovered the truth. The back of the dress had been deliberately smeared with red paint by Veda.
I ran home in utter breakdown, only to see Veda smiling.
“I saw you were unhappy, so I just wanted to tease you a little. Why are you angry again?”
My dad and my brother laughed so hard they nearly toppled over.
“You can’t blame your mom for that, who told you not to check your clothes before wearing them?”
“Right, Mom meant well. Hurry and apologize to your mother!”
They had no idea that one careless joke of Veda’s had condemned me to endless ridicule throughout middle school.
4
With that thought, I looked at her steadily and asked, “You claim I fooled around with random men, that I betrayed Rocco? Is that your joke, or are you serious?”
The guests, who all knew Veda’s fondness for these cruel jests, quickly echoed my words.
“Veda, your jokes aren’t funny. You should stop.”