Surprise Me! by Nancy Goodman

Author:Nancy Goodman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Diversion Books

CHAPTER 48

Casey was very quiet as she walked down the street with Genie. The sounds of the playground went from faint to loud the closer they got to the school.

Genie looked down at Casey, knowing what she felt inside.

“You know the plan, right?” Casey nodded.

“You’re going to be fine, Case. You can do this.”

“I’m scared, Genie.”

“I’m going to wait right here. And by the way, it’s ok to be scared. You’re still going to go through with it. You remember why?”

“I remember. Casey standing up for Casey.”

Genie gave her a thumbs-up. Casey took a deep breath. Genie watched through the fence as Casey walked over to a group of kids in the playground and walked up to three girls huddled in conversation. When they saw Casey, they all wore mocking faces.

“Oh, it’s Pillsbury Dough Girl!”

Casey’s face stiffened. She gritted her teeth. She looked down to the ground.

“What’s the matter, Casey? Forget your lunch?”

Casey looked up. “No, Taylor, I didn’t forget my lunch. Did you forget that people have feelings?”

Taylor looked surprised. She looked at the other girls. She made a fake expression as though she was about to cry.

“Awwww. Boo hoo! Did I hurt your wittle feelings? I’m sawry.”

The other girls laughed, but Casey was stoic. “You used to hurt my feelings. You can’t hurt them anymore. So you might as well stop trying.”

“Aww, do I have to? It’s my favorite part of recess!”

For the first time since the beginning of school, Casey didn’t feel hurt. She just thought the girls looked stupid.

“Taylor, I don’t know why you feel like you have to make people feel bad. You may be pretty but being mean makes you ugly to me. And ugly is way worse than fat.” Casey looked over the girls who, at this point, were without words. She smiled confidently. “See you guys later.”

The girls kept their silence as Casey walked away. They began to talk as Casey got further, but Casey didn’t care. She looked over to Genie, standing outside the fence. She stood still for a moment. Genie didn’t know how to interpret what she saw because of the distance between them.

Suddenly, Casey sent her a thumbs-up. Genie felt a shiver of relief and euphoria. She cheered and held up both hands to send the thumbs-up back. In that moment, Genie knew what it must feel like to be a mother; to experience the thrill of another person’s happiness and the pride in their success. She watched Casey walk toward the building and didn’t take her eyes off of her until she disappeared inside.

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