"You were lucky to have him. The only thing I
remember my father saying is good-bye."
Brenda glanced at her and slipped her right
hand into Celia's. They held hands up until the
moment Brenda had to turn into our driveway. Why does she feel so sorry for her and not sorry
at all for me? I thought sadly.
"April," Mama said as soon as I entered, "what
happened to you?"
I glanced at Brenda and then related the
fabricated story as quickly as I could. I was not a very
good liar. Daddy used to tell me my face turned to
glass whenever I tried, and he could see right through
to the squiggly little deceptions. Mama wasn't as keen,
especially these days. She listened, and then she felt
sorry for me, which only made me feel more terrible.
Brenda was satisfied with my performance, however.
I was sent to shower and change and come to our late
dinner.
I ate well, too well for Brenda, who watched
me like a hawk every time I reached for something.
but I couldn't help how much I ate. I had had no
lunch.
"You want to know what disappointed me the
most today, April?" she told me in the kitchen after I
had brought in some dishes and silverware to wash.
"Seeing you eat that fattening candy when we picked
you up."
"It wasn't candy: it was cookies," I said. "Yeah, right. Like that makes a difference If
you're just going to go back to your old ways. I won't
bother trying to hel